Summer is fast approaching, so it's time to create your cigar-smoking music playlist. Those long, light evenings deserve a soundtrack that will see you through to sundown.
If you've ever been to a cigar lounge with live music, you've likely heard a mix of classic rock and country, with plenty of guitars. Tracks like Guns N' Roses' “November Rain” are perfect. And with a running time of almost 10 minutes, you can get lost in each song.
However, there are many other genres of cigar music to explore. Whether you want to heighten your nostalgia, lift your mood, or drift away into an ambient soundscape, here are some ideas for your playlist.
Jazz: The Classic Companion
Generations of smokers have puffed away on flavorful cigars while listening to live jazz or playing a few records at home. It's a creative music genre that showcases each instrument through improvised solos. These solos align with the creations of the world's top cigar makers.
Start with other people's playlists, such as Rik Clark's Cigar & Whiskey Lounge on Spotify, which features smooth jazz, swing, and big band tracks.
Blues: Soulful and Evocative
Blues can be the perfect cigar-smoking music for later in the evening, especially when you want to start winding down.
There's a wide range of blues music to explore, from the speakeasy jazz style to cowboy blues. A great example is Brad Paisley's excellent 2003 track, “The Cigar Song”, which tells the story of a man who insures his cigars against fire. After smoking them, he attempts to file a claim.
It's a great song and an excellent talking point for a cigar-smoking evening, as the story behind the lyrics is an urban legend that dates back to around the 1960s.
Latin: Vibrant and Passionate
Cigar lounges with live music often feature Latin songs on their setlists. They're upbeat and energetic, evoking the passion and culture of Cuba and the rest of South America.
This is music from the motherland of modern-day cigars, originating from Mexico and Central and South America, and extending to the Caribbean islands. It's the soundtrack you'd hear if you visited the region's cigar factories over the decades.
If you're unsure where to start with authentic Latin music, try Nasier Kassim's Spotify playlist, Cuban Cigar Lounge. This has the vibes you're looking for, with some stunning vocals and harmonies to lift your mood to new heights as you smoke.
Classical: Elegant and Sophisticated
Don't underestimate classical works for your cigar music playlist. Even if you don't enjoy great composers like Mozart and Beethoven, you might have missed lesser-known works that are more your style.
Modern movie soundtracks are a form of classical music, and there’s no shame in naming Hans Zimmer as your favorite composer. His soaring, minimalistic works can make a beautiful backdrop when smoking outside on a late spring or summer evening.
Spotify's own Classical Chillout Mix features a varied selection of classical music. Play through a few songs until you find one you like, then make a note of it and add it to your playlist later so you don’t have to stop mid-smoke.
Ambient Electronic: Minimalist Soundscapes
Ambient cigar music can transport your mind away from real-world worries, freeing you to savor the flavor profile of your favorite cigars.
Pink Floyd's “Have a Cigar” is an underrated track from the band’s 1975 record, Wish You Were Here. The album is just under 45 minutes long and includes the title track, alongside "Welcome to the Machine" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts I–V and XI–IX).
In the past, you'd flip the vinyl LP after 21 minutes. Fifty years later, you can let it run through to the end, while you relax and smoke.
Other considerations
These are some examples of cigar-smoking music and premade playlists to get you started. Pay attention to the soundtrack during your next visit to a cigar lounge with live music, and you'll discover more tracks to enhance your at-home experience.
If you're hosting guests, try to keep their tastes in mind too. Not everybody loves bluegrass or sea shanties, even if they're your perfect cigar music.
The great thing about digital playlists is that you can add and remove tracks, skip and shuffle, so you don’t have to listen to the same few songs on a loop.
Keep adding to your playlist, and you'll build something that suits you perfectly.