Destin, Florida

By Jared Carr

I believe that every cigar has a sweet spot, a place in the world where it seems to fit the view and mood. The best place to smoke a cigar is just as important as the drink that brings out its best flavor. Different cigars have very different personalities, and taking this into consideration can improve the experience greatly.

Destin, Florida is one of my favorite places to smoke an Island Jim. I like to get up just before the sunrise and start my morning with a little black pepper bacon, fruit, and a lot of black coffee. Then with a full cup of coffee I wander down to the beach with my Island Jim and plant my butt in a beach chair.

Island Jim #2

The multi color torpedo tip has a Connecticut ring, and cutting it at different locations changes the flavor profile dramatically. I like to start by cutting off just the tip of the torpedo with a single guillotine cutter leaving the Connecticut ring intact. 

The broken, or shaggy, foot makes this cigar perfect for Destin. The shaggy foot is a clear representation of how my head feels early in the morning, broken and unfocused. The breeze coming off the gulf makes it necessary to use my torch to get it lit, and the first draw brings a chocolatey flavor. It plays well with my black coffee as I clear the cobwebs away and watch the sun crack the horizon.

Cut the Connecticut

As the sun climbs higher, and the cigar burns down, there comes a point when I like to cut the Connecticut ring off completely. The draw increases, and with it comes a layer of pepper that works well after the black pepper bacon of breakfast. There is a hypnotic effect that occurs while watching the waves that seems to be enhanced by the cigar and before you know it hours have passed without a care in the world. 

It is in those hours of watching the sunrise that the sweet spot of an Island Jim stands out. There are not many pairings that can make the troubles of life slip away so gracefully, but an Island Jim and a beach are one of them. This cigar’s name offers a hint of where it should be experienced and there is something special about enjoying it in Destin, Florida.