Cigars: Aficionados discuss the joys of a good smoke

Mark Thibodeau has a secret weapon in the battle against the rush-hour commute. And it doesn't involve short-cuts, a vehicle with great gas mileage, car pooling, or even books on tape.

He breaks up the afternoon drive from work in Baltimore to

home in Stevensville by stopping for a fine cigar and about 45 minutes of camaraderie at Fader's of Annapolis. His current favorite cigar is a $6.25 La Flor Dominicana Chiselito, a full-bodied smoke.

"I look forward to this, yeah," Mr. Thibodeau said one day last week as he took a long, thoughtful draw on a cigar while leaning back on a chair at the tobacco shop. "This is like the...