British Columbia Competes in Slow-Smoking Competition
Article: The marathon of cigars – Witnessing Berlin's slow-smoking championship
Berlin isn't just known for its vibrant culture, it's also home to some unique events, like the slow-smoking championship. B.Z. was present at the regional finals held in Neukölln. Let's dive into this exhilarating world of embers, puffs, and patience.
On a Friday night, as cigar fumes filled "The Barber Yard" cigar lounge, it wasn't just cigars at stake – it was pride, endurance, and the quest for perfection. Nine cigar connoisseurs graced the scene for the 11th regional slow-smoking competition, each vying to secure a spot at the German Championship in October. The battlefield was leveled – each participant received a Cuban Montecristo No. 4 cigar, a cigar widely available worldwide.
Lighting was the first and only battle cry allowed, with exactly two matches. After that, it was a dance with fire – keeping the ember alive for as long as possible without the cigar going out. Any missteps or pauses meant elimination.
Smoke, Sip, And Stay Focused
While it may seem laid-back to newcomers, slow-smoking is a brutal test of focus and precision. A cigar that typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes can be stretched to over two hours by pros. Each puff must be taken with precision, pauses timed perfectly, and technique is everything.
Andreas Hilmer (59), a seasoned cigar judge and aficionado, shared the art of puffing with B.Z.: "The secret lies in the balance of inhaling and exhaling. The cigar should stay lit, unlike a cigarette that burns on its own. You need to observe: how does the cigar react? Does it have a particularly light draw? You need to adjust accordingly."
Professionals even have tricks up their sleeves: "Some professionals only draw on one side of the cigar instead of taking it fully into the mouth, thus activating only part of the smoke channels, making it a spiral smoke," Hilmer revealed.
However, things don't always go as planned. Klaus-Peter Kuhlow (69) from Panketal had to withdraw early due to two "tunnel burns," where the tobacco only burns on the inside. Marko Eckert (59), an engineer from Steglitz, also had to withdraw when his ember went out, jokingly blaming "bad air conditions." Weekly practice didn't lead to victory for Eckert.
In the end, mathematician Georgi Mitsov (38) from Prenzlauer Berg emerged victorious with a time of 1 hour and 12 minutes. Overwhelmed, Mitsov declared, "This was my first competition." With unyielding skill and unwavering patience, Mitsov secured his spot in the grand finale on October 18 at the luxurious Schloss Bückeburg in Lower Saxony, complete with a gala dinner and trophy.
Sound absurd? Perhaps. But for this passionate community, it's no game – it's a serious craft. It's not about smoking, but about savoring, with style, time, and Olympic spirit. Because participation is what matters – even the last place gets a certificate.
The slow-smoking championship isn't for the faint-hearted. It's a test of focus, patience, and technique that showcases the skill and finesse required to smoke a cigar slowly and deliberately. It brings together cigar enthusiasts worldwide, cultivating a strong community built on camaraderie, love for premium cigars, and the pursuit of excellence.
In the world of cigars, the slow-smoking championship in Berlin challenges not only endurance but also the participants' focus and precision, transforming a casual occurance into a delicate dance with fire. As cigar aficionados flip the script on tradition, they savor each puff mindfully, applying mathematical precision and secret techniques to stretch a regular smoking experience into an extended art form.
The competition, which cultivates a passionate community, tests the skill and finesse required to smoke a cigar slowly and deliberately, revealing the layers of patience, technique, and camaraderie that permeate the home-and-garden setting of a cigar lounge – a far cry from the conventional home-and-garden activities that come to mind.
