Rogue Culture Aficionado

This inaugural "Upgrade" post focuses on upgrading from that Coke can spiked with whiskey (that you think no ones knows about as you drive down Main St., USA) , trying your best to stow your fine cigar in tin foil which is all stuffed haphazardly into a plastic 7-11 bag. Real classy, huh? The answer gentlemen should be a resounding, No!

Start-up company, Max Benjamin, targeting the luxury-conscious traveler, introduces a way for you to actually project an image worth emulating. It's their opinion that a mini cigar bar should always be within arm's reach and therefore they have created The Mini Cigar Bar, a deluxe messenger bag that comes equipped with just about everything you need to transport your cigar wares with class.

Crafted in fine leather with metal detailing and locking clasps, the parcel's cushioned interior is partitioned into three sections large enough to fit three bottles of your favorite spirit. The leather dividers in the bag are adjustable and perfect for a bottle of Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum. Be sure to check out the new Fall Edition, designed in Crocodile embossed leather (below, right)

This fine accessory comes equipped with all of the accouterments: a quartet set of acrylic tumblers a torch flame lighter, a cylindrical cedar-lined travel humidor (7-9 cigar capacity) and another insulated, cylindrical container, which keeps ice...icy, for up to 4 hours without leakage. The pack also sports three secure pockets on the front for any other little accessories you may need. The handy Velcro flap, can be used to fasten the bag to a golf cart or to the top of a piece of roller luggage, showing that Max Benjamin has thought of everything.

Just in time for the holidays, The Mini on sale now for $267 and is only available at MaxBenjamin.com

Gurkha takes the term "burning through money" to the next level. Considered by many to be literally, "the cream of the crop" of cigars, Gurkha caters specifically to smoke collectors and aficionados. They released the Black Dragon in 2006 limited to only 5 hand-carved, camel bone cases, and cost a mind-blowing $1,150 each. Not for each case, but rather for each cigar! Each case had 100 cigars and cost $115,000. For something you set on fire... intentionally.


Gurhka didn't even attempt to out due themselves with His Majesty's Reserve cigars. So for the more frugal cigar connoisseur these only retail for $15,000 per box of 20, or $750 for a single cigar. They are limited to less than 100 boxes per year, made with the most expensive premium tobacco in the world, infused with an entire bottle of Louis XIII Cognac and then their allocation is decided by Gurkha President Kaizad Hansotia. Why is all of this done? Because they can. Head over to Cigar.com to pick up your box of either edition.

Or for us mere mortals and more frugal aficionados (read: realistic), especially in this chaotic economy, Gurkha has released the Black Dragon ranging in price from $10-$13 in three sizes. Like the elite version, this line is hand made of long-filler tobacco, in the Toraño family’s Danli, Honduras, factory. Sorry no Cognac infusion here.