My Favorite Cigar
Nick E. Tarabay • Actor • H. Upmann Magnum 50
In 2012, Nick E. Tarabay’s run on the popular “Spartacus” television series concluded when his character, ex-gladiator Ashur, met a grisly end. This December, Tarabay returns in the upcoming “Spartacus: House of Ashur,” an alternate timeline in which the Machiavellian Ashur lives. Tarabay says coming back is more than just donning armor. “The language on its own is very challenging . . . I had to work on Shakespeare a lot, I had to think backwards . . . to get those lines right.”
In addition, he underwent a month-long “gladiator camp” training four hours a day, with cigars providing a respite. Tarabay has been smoking cigars for 20 years, starting as a Cuban fan with the H. Upmann Magnum 50, which he calls a sleeper, as his favorite. But he’s been exploring non-Cuban cigars as well. Whatever he chooses, he usually smokes it at sunset paired with coffee or a neat Bourbon. “A cigar is not the thing itself; a cigar is an enhancer,” the 50-year-old reflects. “It’s this beautiful complement that you get, it’s that beautiful suit that you put on—it doesn’t change who you are but it definitely enhances your confidence—it enhances your pleasure.”
