American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 365 Grecleiff Cigars

He turned to the old cigarette maker named Alfonso and quickly said a few words in Spanish. Alfonso nodded excitedly, a proud expression on his face as his performance was about to begin.

Lin Yu'an immediately took out his portable live streaming equipment and restarted the live stream.

"Good afternoon, everyone." He pointed the camera at the workbench covered with tobacco leaves and tools.

“I am currently at a traditional hand-rolled cigar shop in Nassau. What you are about to see is the birth of a top-quality cigar.”

The viewers in the live stream were instantly captivated by the exotic scenery and the spirit of craftsmanship.

Wow! A cigar factory tour! I love this!

That old man looks so professional! Looking forward to his performance!

[Anzi, whatever you do, don't learn to smoke! That's building airplanes and cannons for the enemy! You can learn it when you get back home!]

Alfonso was clearly used to being photographed. He first carefully selected a few tobacco leaves from a pile, each intended for the filler, binder, and wrapper.

Then, using a crescent-shaped special knife, the thick veins in the middle of the tobacco leaves were cut off with fluid, graceful movements, each motion full of rhythm.

Next comes the crucial rolling process. He skillfully folds and arranges several slices of tomato filler tobacco side by side to create a clear yet tight air passage.

Then, use a flexible binder to tightly wrap it, forming the "prototype" of a cigar.

Finally, take the most perfect, silky wrapper and, in a spiral wrapping motion, with perfect angle and force, wrap it around the outside of the cigar, circle by circle.

The entire process was completed in one go, without the slightest pause.

When he used a little bit of natural plant glue to perfectly glue the end of the eggplant wrapper and cut out a flat cap with a special mold.

A cigar with an impeccable appearance and a glossy sheen was born in his hands, just like a work of art.

The entire process lasted about seven or eight minutes. Alfonso didn't say a word, but his extreme focus and the skill he displayed through muscle memory were shown to every viewer through the camera.

"That's fantastic..." Lin Yu'an exclaimed sincerely.

“This is just the first step,” Enrico explained from the side.

"The rolled cigars need to be aged in our cedar wood aging room for at least 90 days under constant temperature and humidity."

"Only then can the flavors of different tobacco leaves be fully integrated, shedding the spiciness of new tobacco and becoming mellow and complex. This is the same principle as aging top-quality red wine."

After filming wrapped, Lin Yu-an solemnly thanked Alfonso and Enrico before starting to choose his own "fuel".

Instead of buying the mass-produced cigars, he personally selected the cigars that Alfonso and several other master cigar makers had hand-rolled that day, based on Enrico's recommendation.

“I need some drinks that are suitable for celebrating victories at sea,” Lin Yu-an said, “and also some that can be enjoyed slowly with whisky on quiet nights.”

Enrico smiled proudly and knowingly. "My friend, you've come to the right place."

"Many people come to Nassau looking for a resemblance to Havana, but here you will find a completely new legend created by the father of Cohiba!"

“We don’t sell other people’s stories, we only create our own.” He took out two labeled cedar wood plates from the humidor.

"To celebrate this victory, nothing is more fitting than our groundbreaking work, the Greycliff Blue Label."

He pointed to a plate of large cigars with light brown wrappers.

"This is where our brand began, with an extremely balanced and elegant flavor, full of cedarwood, roasted spices and a touch of creamy sweetness."

"Its smoothness and layering are enough to make you and your friends enjoy a wonderful hour together."

“As for pairing with whiskey,” he said, pointing to another plate of cigars as dark as dark chocolate, “you must try our Grecleiffe Espresso, it’s the real tough guy’s choice.”

"Full of rich black coffee, cocoa and black pepper flavors, powerful enough to dance with any Islay peated whisky without being overwhelmed."

"Believe me, these fresh cigars, which have just been made in our workshop and have not been transported long distances or over-dried, have a soul that you can't buy in any duty-free shop."

“Great, these are all I need.” Lin Yu’an was very satisfied with his recommendation; he could feel the genuine pride Enrico had in his brand.

"Blue Label, I want ten. Espresso, five."

“The wisest choice.” Enrico carefully packed the cigars one by one into a portable cedar humidor.

"Alright, let's settle the accounts." Enrico took out a pen and paper and started writing on it, muttering to himself:
"Our Blue Label is the brand's flagship product, freshly hand-rolled by master chefs. One stick costs $65, and ten sticks would cost $650."

"Espresso is a classic among strong cigars, costing $50 for one and $250 for five."

"Plus this cedarwood travel moisturizing case, it'll be $100 for you."

He turned the note to Lin Yu'an: "It's $1000 in total. If it's a cash transaction, I'll give you a captain's discount, so let's say it's $950."

This price is absolutely worthwhile for an independent brand founded by a legendary figure and renowned among top cigar aficionados.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Yu'an directly took out ten hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and pushed them over.

This straightforward attitude made Enrico's smile even more genuine.

When paying the bill, Lin Yu'an looked at Enrico and said casually, "Mr. Enrico, thank you very much for your generosity today."

He paused, then uttered something that left Enrico somewhat bewildered: "I have a feeling that your future orders... might explode."

"Oh?" Enrico smiled, taking it as a kind and polite greeting from the young customer after spending a lot of money.

"Then I'll take your kind words and hope that my little shop can benefit from the good fortune of you, great explorer."

Enrico was completely unaware of the influence this man wielded; in the near future, they might regret allowing this live broadcast.
[Guys, we found it! The shop address is...]

[Anyone have any leftovers? Please help me buy some!]

[Oh no, Chinese purchasing power is about to teach business owners a lesson.]

[Boss: If I could do it all over again, I would never serve that Chinese guy! We can't handle any more orders!]

Lin Yu'an didn't explain further, only smiled mysteriously. Carrying the cedarwood humidifier box that exuded a rich fragrance, he turned and left the little shop full of stories.

After leaving the cigar shop, he was drawn to a fruit stall on the street corner that he had never seen before, displaying fruits he had never seen before.

The stall owner was a plump woman with a brightly colored headscarf and a friendly smile. She enthusiastically introduced her treasures to Lin Yu'an.

“Try this, young man!” She cut open a brown fruit with a rough outer skin that resembled a human heart. “Sapodilla, it’s as sweet as crème brûlée!”

She picked up a fruit that looked like a green lychee, peeled off the skin, and revealed the translucent flesh inside.

"This is called Ginep (Spanish lime). When you put it in your mouth, it's both sour and sweet, just like the taste of summer in the Bahamas!"

Lin Yu-an bought a little of everything, as well as a large bunch of small bananas known as "finger bananas," and several heavy, fragrant local mangoes.

When he returned to the dock carrying his exotic spoils, it was already past four in the afternoon. The sun was no longer so scorching, casting a lazy golden hue over the entire yacht harbor.

Lin Yu'an has turned off his live stream, and he also recorded a lot of footage today. He plans to make a video, as it has been a while since he last posted one.

When he returned to his seat, he saw that Mike had also returned, and Mike waved to him warmly.

"Hey! Lin! Come over for a drink!"

Lin Yu'an walked over and handed Mike a Cohiba cigar he had just bought.

Mike accepted it with delight; he was clearly a connoisseur.

He merely squeezed the cigar, feeling its perfect elasticity and moisture, and then brought it to his nose to inhale the faint sweet aroma emanating from the wrapper. His eyes lit up. "A freshly hand-rolled Cohiba! You really know how to pick one!"

He took out an exquisite leather case from the cabin, inside which was a German cigar cutter.

"You have to use tools that are worthy of good things." With that, he made a "click" sound and cleanly cut open the cap of the eggplant, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut.

Lin Yu'an walked over and was about to sit down when Mike took out an identical Cohiba cigar and shoved it into Lin Yu'an's hand without saying a word.

“Just drinking beer is too monotonous,” Mike grinned. “You should definitely try this. It’s the best way for a captain to celebrate after a successful voyage.”

Lin Yu'an looked at the finely crafted cigar in his hand. "I... don't smoke."

"Ha! That's perfect, I'll teach you!" Mike exclaimed excitedly, as if he had discovered a new continent. "Today, I'll let you experience the true pleasure of this cigar!"

He handed the cigar cutter to Lin Yu'an, "Here, cut off this little cap. Remember, don't cut too much, about two millimeters is enough, otherwise the wrapper will fall apart."

Lin Yu'an imitated his actions and cut open his cigar as well.

“Very good!” Mike nodded in satisfaction, then took out his blowtorch lighter. “Now it’s time to light it, and that’s where the most important thing is.”

Instead of lighting the cigar directly, he patiently and evenly "roasted" the end of the cigar with the blue outer flame while slowly rotating it.

“Remember, Lin,” Mike said, demonstrating as he went, “lighting a cigar isn’t like grilling; you have to be patient.”

“We’re not going to set it on fire, we’re going to ‘awaken’ it. Using the outer flame of the fire, slowly roast it like this until the entire cut surface is evenly turned into a bright red ring.”

"Like the edge of a volcano, this ensures that it burns evenly and doesn't go astray."

After the cigar was perfectly lit, he didn't rush to smoke it. Instead, he brought the cigar to his lips and gently blew on it a few times to ensure it burned evenly.

Then he brought it to his nose, smelled the richer and purer tobacco aroma produced by the flame, and a look of ecstasy appeared on his face.

"You should try it too," he gestured to Lin Yu'an.

Lin Yu'an imitated his movements, and although he was a little clumsy, he successfully lit his cigar.

“Alright, now for the crucial step.” Mike brought the cigar to his lips. “Remember, cigars are meant to be ‘savored,’ not ‘smoked.’”

"Keep the smoke in your mouth, don't let it into your lungs. That's how cigarettes are played, it's an insult to cigars. It'll kill you, understand?"

"Understood." Lin Yu'an nodded solemnly.

Mike demonstrated by slowly inhaling a small puff, letting the rich smoke gently fill his mouth.

He closed his eyes, as if he were savoring a glass of fine champagne, not spirits.

“Like this, let it linger on your tongue for a few seconds,” his voice was muffled by the smoke.

"Take a look, does it have a... aroma like roasted coffee beans, or like toasted bread?"

He paused, then continued guiding, "Then, savor it carefully. Can you feel a faint, honey-like sweetness on the sides of your tongue?"

With an extremely blissful gesture, Mike exhaled the smoke directly from his mouth, forming a swirling cloud of blue smoke with a unique aroma.

"Use your nose to smell its aroma. The pleasure of a cigar is half in your mouth and half in your nose. Give it a try."

Lin Yu'an followed his example and took a light puff, filling his mouth with a smoke that was far richer and more complex than that of a cigarette.

You can clearly feel that the first aroma is like that of toasted bread and nuts, followed by a very distinct sweetness that slowly melts on the sides and back of the tongue.

After the smoke lingered in my mouth for a moment, a faint, fresh aroma, similar to grass dried in the sun, emerged. The flavor profile was distinct yet perfectly blended together.

"How are you feeling?" Mike asked with a smile.

“It’s…very special,” Lin Yu’an said sincerely. “I tasted the bean and honey flavors you mentioned, and a hint of grass. It’s very smooth, with almost no spiciness.”

"Ha! That's right!" Mike was as proud as if he had seen his student get a perfect score.

"That's the charm of the Cohiba Century series! Elegant, smooth, like a well-mannered gentleman."

"If you smoke Partagas, it's a completely different experience; that guy's like a muscular boxer!"

“Once you get used to this feeling,” he took another drag, “you can try the more advanced techniques.” He slowly exhaled a small amount of smoke through his nostrils.

"This is called 'retronasal olfaction,' which allows you to perceive richer layers of aroma, such as hidden floral or creamy notes. However, this requires practice, so don't blame me if you get overwhelmed."

Lin Yu'an only watched it once before trying it out. He precisely controlled the muscles in his mouth and nose and successfully exhaled a wisp of smoke slowly from his nose.

A warm and sweet aroma instantly filled the depths of my nostrils, amplifying the sweet scent of honey several times over.

He even managed to detect a faint, delicate aroma, similar to vanilla butter, without the slightest hint of pungent coughing.

Mike watched in stunned silence.

"Do you think a monster can learn this in one go?" He shook his head helplessly, but a smile of appreciation remained on his face.

“Sailing, whiskey, cigars…” Mike exhaled a beautiful smoke ring and said in a philosophical tone.

"These are all part of the captain's romance, and you need to be patient to appreciate them. When you reach my age, you will understand that the joy of life often lies in these moments of slowing down."

Lin Yu'an didn't speak. He took a puff of his cigar, letting the spicy and mellow smoke linger in his mouth for a moment before slowly exhaling.

The two leaned against the ship's railing, drinking ice-cold beer, smoking cigars, watching people come and go on the dock, enjoying a rare moment of leisure after their voyage.

Lin Yu'an's gaze passed over the shimmering water and landed once again on the huge black sailboat not far away.

Like a silent, black behemoth, it lies quietly in this world of luxury yachts composed of white and beige, appearing out of place yet extremely oppressive.

The hull features the latest reverse bow design, with sharp lines resembling a drawn battle axe.

On the towering carbon fiber mast, the Norwegian Crown Prince's flag with a red background and a golden lion flutters slowly in the evening sea breeze, silently proclaiming the ship owner's extraordinary status.

“But seriously, Mike,” Lin Yu’an looked at the flag and asked casually, “aren’t you worried?”

“Worried?” Mike exhaled a puff of smoke, glanced at the black sailboat, and shook his head. “Worried about what? Worried that Raven will be taken away by them? Ha! You underestimate my daughter.”

His tone was filled with the deepest understanding and unwavering trust in his daughter.

“But…” Mike’s voice lowered, his gaze becoming distant, “I feel a little sorry for Raven. She deserved to have a complete childhood.”

“Mette was a good woman, Lin,” he said, unusually calmly, when commenting on his ex-wife. “She just belonged to another world.”

“She tried, and I tried, but some things, like the Gulf Stream, you can’t change their direction.”

"A peaceful breakup is the best choice for both of us."

Just then, a black sedan slowly pulled up beside the dock.

The car door opened, and Raven and her mother, Princess Mette, stepped out of the car carrying large and small shopping bags.

Although Raven's face still showed a hint of fatigue, the cold resistance she had shown before was gone.

She changed into a beautiful local handmade tie-dyed dress and adorned her hair with a fresh frangipani flower, looking like a true island girl.

Princess Mette, like an ordinary mother, affectionately linked arms with her daughter, a contented smile on her face.

(End of this chapter)