As a new NFL season gets underway, so do fan tailgate parties. To millions of die-hard football fans, tailgating pre- or post-game represents an ideal time to partake in heaps of good food, good drinks, and for many, a good cigar or two – typically sometime on a Sunday. Of course, tailgating is not just limited to NFL games, as events such as hockey, baseball, NASCAR and concerts are also known for a serious parking lot tailgate these days.

When it comes to tailgate food, BBQ usually springs to mind first. In the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, where football and tailgating is practically a religion (see; Bills Mafia), the Buffalo Bills devoted are dead serious when it comes to their brand of tailgating, which involves BBQing up all manner of food, especially the world-famous chicken wings and roast beef sandwiches (called ‘beef on weck’) that the Western NY town has become so well known for. When it comes down to tailgating, Buffalo consistently ranks within the top 10 amongst all NFL cities for a incredible tailgating experience, and it’s fans are known as some the most fanatical and outrageous league-wide.

Bills’ Mafia: absolute fandamonium

The largest city in Western New York State is also currently enjoying a recent surge in it’s cigar culture (see: ‘Cigar Culture Ablaze in Western N.Y.’). It’s here, in Orchard Park that we at The Gentleman’s Flavor have chosen to venture to enjoy cigars and partake in football festivities as the Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals for their big season home opener, as we look at elements of BBQ, beers, cigars as well as a few key factors involved in getting maximum pleasure out of a cigars & tailgating experience. 

Pregame: BBQ, Beer and a Good Cigar

Wings: Buffalo style

It’s no surprise that BBQ translates exceptionally well at tailgates events, as it’s a relatively straightforward and unfussy form of gastronomy that simply requires a grill, meats and maybe some condiments (paper plates and plastic utensils optional). Popular add ons include baked beans, potato salads and coleslaws. Beer also translates exceptionally well at a tailgate; no mixing, no cup required. Simply crack ‘er open and enjoy. Light up a good cigar, add some fellow fans, and you’ve got all the ingredients of one helluva good tailgate good time. 

Within the colder-climate tailgate cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh or Green Bay for example, temperatures can drop substantially as the season progresses, which means staying warm, well fed and close to a source of heat. Thankfully, for our particular game day in late September, that’s not an issue as it’s in the mid 80’s and I’m in a t shirt, shorts and Bills trucker hat. Come late November, it’ll be a different story. Today, our tailgate kicks off at 10 am. Prior to marching to New Era Field with the crowds, I enjoy grilled pancakes, meatballs, beef and cheese stuffed peppers and some Buffalo wings, alongside a ‘cooler cold’ Big Ditch Excavator Rye Brown Ale (a favorite craft brewery amongst Buffalonians), followed by a Utica Pilsener. 

My pregame cigar is a La Aurora Maduro, drawn from a large, well-stocked, industrial-strength Xikar travel humidor that resembles an army field utilities box. My cigar is a rich and oily yet medium bodied Dominican beauty that exhibits nuances of chocolate and pepper throughout the first two thirds, as well as a prominent cedar finish. I enjoy this alongside the pleasant chocolate malt character of the Big Ditch Rye Beer, which cools my palette from the cigar. Especially given the hot temperatures, I let my ash grow to encourage a cooler smoke (see, ‘Etiquette 101, Smoking A Cigar’). Of course, keeping some extra cigars on hand for fellow fans is always a good idea if you’re a generous BOTL.

Cant beat the spread: cigars a-plenty at the tailgate

With a couple of jumbo meatballs and stuffed peppers to enjoy, I was in a good place under the cover of a large Buffalo Bills canopy tent, sitting in a comfortable foldable camping chair equipped with a pop up side table for my beer and personal cigar ashtray. A stadium rock anthems playlist is playing on a bluetooth boombox. A crisp Utica Pilsener and some pumpkin pie refreshes my palette after my cigar before we all march en masse towards New Era Field to watch the Bills, who ultimately defeat the Bengals 21-17.

Home field advantage: crowds are always loud at New Era Field

My pregame cigar is a La Aurora Maduro, drawn from a large, well-stocked, industrial strength Xikar Travel Humidor that resembles an army field utilities box.”

Post-Game

Post-game we venture back to our tailgate site to enjoy a victory beer. Fans line the streets cheering as they make the pilgrimage home. Later in the evening, we end up in the lounge of Buffalo Cigars‘ Orchard Park location as we take in the later games in the NFL. Here I enjoy a lovely box-pressed Diesel Hair of the Dog alongside some thick, buttery bagged pretzels. It’s said that the lounge was super busy for the big game (as always). The patrons who choose to hang around and enjoy a late night cigar are still buzzing over the win and the 3-0 start to the season. It’s been a great day of food, drinks, football, cigars and friends – new and old.

Buffalo is one welcoming city.

Buffalo Bills tailgate: warm weather edition

A Few Extra Cigar Tailgate Tips

In many NFL cities like Buffalo, temperatures can grow quite cold at a tailgate party as the season presses on (Dolphins’ fans can disregard this). Veteran Bills’ tailgater and The Gentleman’s Flavor Cigar guru Taylor Matthew recommends keeping a single hand warmer packet alongside your butane lighter in a pocket close to your body, so that your lighter stays warm and doesn’t freeze up when needed. Of course, a lit cigar also doubles as a hand warmer as you’re essentially harnessing fire between your fingers. In colder weather, keeping a flask topped up with whiskey on hand can be a better option than cold beer as it’s warming going down, and as we all know, pairs exceptionally well with a good cigar. For this, you can utilize a good cigar holder and flask 2-in-1. Of course, don’t forget to stay well hydrated with ample water too.

Aim for a shorter, fuller-bodied cigar paired with a neat spirit instead of cold beer during cold-weather tailgate days

Aiming for smaller format cigars is also a good idea in colder weather. As things cool down, I recommend veering towards shorter, fuller-bodied robustos or a half corona over a long churchill or a lonsdale. Also, in the colder air you’ll be able to get out more of the flavor nuances from a more robust cigar instead of a mild or even medium-bodied one (see: ‘Etiquette 101: Choosing A Cigar’).

Tailgate parties can get quite rowdy and boisterous, which is for the most part, generally good fun. However, don’t forget to take refuge from the rambunctious, chanting, kegstand-attempting crowd by plunking yourself down to appreciate a good cigar with some food, good drinks, and good camaraderie before the big kickoff. Tailgating is a sure-fire great time, and a good cigar amongst fellow fans serves to enhance the entire experience.

Of course a big win for the home team never hurts too.

– Kurt Bradley

New Era Field is located at: 1 Bills Dr, Orchard Park, NY 14127, United States. www.buffalobills.com/stadium. Buffalo Cigars are located in Orchard Park (2911 Southwestern Blvd Orchard Park, NY), Downtown Buffalo (500 Main St, Buffalo, NY) and in Amherst (7032 Transit Rd. Amherst, NY). www.buffalocigars.com. Big Ditch Brewery is located at 55 East Huron St., Buffalo, NY 14203. www.bigditchbrewing.com