Meet the man for whom the cigar is a muse, mother and child. Manish datt has roped in 14 artists from across the country to make "cigar art"
Meet the man for whom the cigar is a muse, mother and child. Manish datt has roped in 14 artists from across the country to make "cigar art"
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A man who has never smoked a cigar is like a woman who has never worn heels. But what would you call someone who converts it into an objet d'art?u00a0 Manish Dutt, managing director of Kastros, a niche cigar shop in the capital, has given his muse an all-new artistic life, in association with the Enigma Art Gallery. Called The Cigar Art Company, his project involves 14 artists from all over the country. Smokehouse art explores everything to do cigars, from its history and production to flavouring, contouring and distributing. 
Cigar art. Weird. What's it about?
The idea is to translate and portray the opulence, luxury, feel of the cigar. The joy of holding a cigaru00a0-- I thought there is nothing better than an art piece that freezes that moment.
What made it your muse?
I have been into cigars since I was 29. It makes me happy, and it's like a magnet. People light a cigar at a moment they want to remember forever. In the West, they light it when a baby girl is born. It's not an addiction.
How did you get 14 artists to sign up?
Enigma helped put it together. They have art, and I have the cigar, so, we struck a deal.
What media are you using?
For now, we have started with paintings, but we plan to inspire photographers and sculptors too. I plan to take them to a camp in Cuba (home to cigars). Artefacts will come next.
Does something that's smoked to ashes need to be aesthetically worked on?
For us, the cigar is a living being. It's like a mother, and the first ash that falls is like letting go of the child. There's a rule: never finish a cigar, let it die with dignity.
How do you expect people to quit the practice when you are make fagging fancy?
A cigar and cigarette can't be compared. A cigarette is about the smoke, a cigar, about the aroma. But overindulging in anything is bad for health.
To join Manish's Cigar Art Camp (which will travel through various cities in India),
call him on 09811667788.
How to smoke a cigar
Here's how to get it right
Like wine, single malts and gourmet food, cigars are an accompaniment to the finer things in life, meant to be enjoyed leisurely. Cigars come in light, medium to full bodied flavours suiting morning, noon and night moods.
They should be firm to touch and the size and ringage should depend on the time you have to smoke it. Cut the cigar tip neatly with a cigar cutter or scissors - the handcrafted, double-bladed guillotine for Rs 1,250 is efficient.
Light it slowly and evenly with a wooden match (once its head has burned off), or a butane lighter, as both are odourless and incapable of diluting the cigar's flavour.
Designer matchbox cases from Elie Bleu for Rs 19,000 are a cigar accessory collector's delight. While smoking the cigar, the smoke should not be inhaled. Instead, keep it in the mouth, twirl it for the taste buds to sense and savour.
And while parting with a cigar, stubbing it is blasphemy. Lay it to rest so that it goes out on its own.
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