Back in the Lounge: A Quiet Hour with the Killer Bee

It’s hard to believe it’s already been six weeks since my back surgery and lumbar fusion. The recovery journey continues—slowly but surely. I often find myself needing gentle reminders to stay patient, stay mindful, and not rush the process. There are occasional bouts of boredom, especially on those days when the ebb and flow of post-op pain settles on the lower end. Short errands, daily walks, attending Mass, and even getting a haircut help break up the monotony of pacing around the house.

One pleasure I’d been especially looking forward to was getting back to the cigar lounge — seeing friends, sinking into a big leather chair, and enjoying a relaxing smoke indoors.

After a few days of noticeably reduced pain, I did just that. After lunch mid-week, I jumped—or rather, carefully slid — into the car and headed over to the Hogshead Cigar Lounge. I spent a little time browsing the walk-in humidor, selecting a few cigars to add to my home humidor, along with one to enjoy on the spot.

Hogshead features a wide selection of cigars from Black Label Trading Company, one of my favorite brands, especially when I’m in the mood for something flavorful and full-bodied. I’ve smoked most of their line over the years, in nearly every vitola. These cigars pair exceptionally well with a strong bourbon — though that was moot for this outing. I opted for a smaller vitola than usual for lounging: the Black Label Killer Bee in Robusto.

The Black Works Studio Killer Bee Robusto is a 5 x 50 stick featuring an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper, accented with linear strips of lighter tobacco around the cap to give it a decorative bee-like striped appearance. The foot is neatly closed with the same wrapper leaf. Inside, aged Nicaraguan tobaccos make up the binder and filler.

The Killer Bee launches straight into the medium-to-full-bodied range. Right out of the gate, notes of white pepper, dark roasted coffee, and cedar spice coat the palate. The strength builds steadily throughout the smoke, settling firmly into full-bodied territory by the second half. Despite the boldness of the profile, the cigar never turns harsh. A subtle, creamy sweetness lingers in the background, tempering the spice nicely. The burn is razor-sharp and consistent, with heavy smoke output that adds to the richness of the experience.

The lounge was quiet that afternoon. I stayed for about an hour, enjoying the cigar and some light conversation — a refreshing diversion from the repetitive rhythm of recent days. I did have to remain conscious of my posture in the comfortable chairs, making sure not to slouch and aggravate my healing back.

After a tease of warm weather last week, it looks like colder temperatures are returning for a while. I may find myself back at the lounge again soon for another cozy indoor smoke.

Cheers!

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