Cigars & Cognac Birthday Celebration

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The goal for this party was to lend a sophisticated yet “manly” feel to the space. With every party I usually start out with a logo I have created. That helps me keep a cohesive theme.

I took my vintage window chalkboard from above my mantel and traced the party logo onto it. Then I covered up the tables with kraft wrapping paper, which I think gives a nice rustic look while staying within a neutral color scheme. I kept to wood and chalkboard accents, using trays and platters from around my home to enhance the table setting.

If you’re looking to throw a party for the special man in your life, check out my “Cigars & Cognac Celebration” board on Pinterest for lots of fun ideas!

Growing up, my dad owned a cigar bar in my home town. So, I’ve been around cigars my whole life. I enjoy a good smoke occasionally, and we always have a few cigars hanging around in our humidor at home. I really wanted something special and different, though. So, while I was perusing the Walmart shelves, I stumbled upon Cubero natural leaf cigarillos. The bright, modern packaging caught my eye; and not only are they a great price – they come in several different blends which I knew would be perfect for the party.

For this celebration it was necessary to offer something that’s friendly for the novice cigar smoker, but still a quality product. The three flavor blends I purchased are super tasty, and great for even the most discerning palate – Blend No. 35 has subtle flavors of rum, mint, and sugar cane; smooth hints of chocolate and coffee accent Blend No. 12; and Blend No. 7 contains the distinct flavor of grape and tobacco.

Some of you ladies might be a little unsure of cigars, but while Cubero cigarillos are blended for men with taste, I can say with confidence that they’re just as enjoyable for women. Trust me!

Because many of our friends aren’t incredibly familiar with smoking cigars, I wanted to offer up some tips for how to properly smoke a cigar. I created a printable “How To” guide that I placed in a simple black frame to keep on the cigar table.

Download a free copy of this printable here.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t have a party (or a cigar) without some food and drink. After conducting a bit of research, I opted to provide our guests with some sophisticated refreshments. I found that cured meats and cheeses pair well with cigars, as does cognac.

My snack platter consisted of crackers, salami, pepperoni, colby jack and pepper jack cheeses. There were also small bowls of pitted olives and sweet chili pistachios for our guests to munch on as they mingled.

Generally cigars aren’t served with dessert. But since it was a birthday party, the guest of honor had to have a “birthday cake.” For dessert, I offered tiramisu, triple chocolate strata cake, and cappuccino strata cake (from Bertolli). And what is a cigar and dessert without some pour-over coffee?

I’m thrilled that my husband had such a wonderful time with his friends while enjoying his Cigars & Cognac celebration! It was the perfect sophisticated “guys night” – though now I’m a little nervous about how I’m going to top myself for his 30th!