Corona Ole! By: Tom Halladay

I enjoy cigars of many shapes and sizes. For the fun of it I often consider time of day, season of the year, what my libation of choice will be, the company I’ll keep, the location involved, when I’ll eat, the color of my shirt, the pattern of my socks, my belt size and whether my skivvies are clean. Just for the fun of it.

For me however, the size that wears the crown is the Corona. Also dubbed #3 by some brands it generally measures approx. 44 X 5 1/2. A size that will always satisfy but leave you with a lingering yen for more.

I have three beauties for your springtime reverie. Montecristos all, I offer you the Platinum, the White and the Classic:

Montecristo’s Platinum series features a San Andres Cubano wrapper with Dominican, Nicaraguan and Peruvian filler and binder. This rich oily smoke will leave you with a peppery tingle. It’s earthy, herbal and medium-bodied. Available at Spirits at the Shops of Lake Tuscaloosa for $4.95.

My second offering is the Montecristo White. This Ecuadorean Connecticut shade-wrapped vitola also sports Nicaraguan and Dominican filler and binder. It is rich and smooth with light pepper and full-body. We’ve got this #3 at $6.95.

And lastly, the Montecristo Classic. This select Dominican dandy is dressed in a Connecticut shade wrapper and is best savored while wearing clean underwear. Got it for you at Spirits at the Shops of Lake Tuscaloosa for $7.95.

I always prefer to wind up a good smoke wishing there was more than be happy that its done. It’s an “always leave them laughing” sort of thing. The above recommendations are great! Check ’em out!

Toast it first, Tom