丽雅古董（M.S. Rau Antiques）是世界顶级奢侈收藏品交易商之一，而它能够获此殊荣的一大原因，就是比尔·劳（Bill Rau）从不因循守旧。比尔·劳是这家位于新奥尔良古董店的第三代经营者。作为丽雅古董公司的董事长兼首席执行官，现年66岁的比尔·劳之所以成功，是因为他四处网罗拥有惊艳故事的精致藏品，并积极与富有的买家建立联系。这需要他付出日以继夜的努力。

当一天的工作结束时，他喜欢抽一支雪茄来放松一下。"罗密欧与朱丽叶的丘吉尔系列已经成为我的首选。"比尔·劳说。他发现它的厄瓜多尔康涅狄格茄衣光滑但不过分浓烈，而且庞大的尺寸可以给他足足一小时的时间来放松自己。

大约15年前，在一次漫长的采购之旅后，一个朋友向比尔·劳介绍了丘吉尔雪茄。从那以后，它们就成了他生活里的美妙调剂。"我会和一两个朋友坐在外面，喝一杯波特酒，聊天。不看手机，不谈生意——就是愉快的聊天，"他说，"丘吉尔雪茄就像我的暂停键。一支好雪茄迫使你慢下来，享受呼吸。而且，我一些最好的谈话都发生在抽雪茄的时候——分享雪茄能让人讲出你真正想听的故事。"

M.S. Rau Antiques is one of the world’s leading sellers of luxury collectibles, and a big reason is because Bill Rau, a member of the third generation to manage the New Orleans store, does not sit around gathering dust. The 66-year-old president and CEO of M.S. Rau has succeeded by pursuing exquisite items with incredible backstories and by cultivating relationships with wealthy buyers. It requires long days.

When the day is done, he enjoys unwinding with a cigar. “Romeo y Julieta Churchill has become my go-to,” Rau says. He finds its Ecuador Connecticut-seed wrapper to be smooth, but not overpowering and the large size gives him a solid hour to unwind.

A friend introduced Rau to the Churchills about 15 years ago, after a long buying trip. Ever since, they have become a delightful reset. “I’ll sit outside with a friend or two, have a glass of Port and just talk. No phones, no business—just good conversation,” he says. “They’re my pause button. A good cigar forces you to slow down and literally just breathe. Plus, some of my best conversations happen over cigars—there’s something about sharing one that gets people telling the stories you really want to hear.