Archive for July, 2009

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Cigars & Culture

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

cigar14Cigars have always played an important part of culture. From their inception they have represented the class and way of particular cultures.

In ancient times smoking tobacco was a ritual used in meditation and prayer. It was perceived as a way to empty the mind and concentrate on the inward soul. It was also used in various aspects of traditions. Whether it was a boy becoming a man or a celebration, smoking tobacco has always been a part of relaxing and celebrating.

In the late 1800’s cigar smoking developed an image of prestige and class. It represented the upper class in their freedom of having the ability to afford such a luxury. Still to this day cigars have an upper class stigma attached to them. Whereas cigarettes seem to have more of a common and low class image attached to them cigars have been able to maintain high culture.

Cigar smoking is still used to this day for relaxing and celebrating. Many people smoke a cigar after a long days work or to build friendship between two people. Many people give a cigar as a gift for a newly married man or the birth of a son. The cigar still represents happy moments and warm memories. It still holds a high place in our global community. Cigars are a timeless icon of class, tradition and celebration.

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Cigars – An Introduction

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar13Cigars have long been associated with sophisticated persona all over the world. Though they are similar in many respects to their cousins, the cigarettes, cigars have been always the more coveted of the two. More suited for the rich man, cigars have been a sign of prosperity and excellence. For a long time now, cigars have been the property of people who have made it big in life. Though cigars were not known to the general public until recently, magazines like Cigar Aficionado have highlighted the joys of smoking a cigar in very broad terms. This has been coupled with the various accessories which are available for cigars presently to make cigars very popular all over the world.

There are a variety of cigar accessories which are available right now. Ranging from humidors or storage devices, lighters, boxes and the like, cigar accessories are fast picking up popularity in a world which was regarded as the rich man’s domain until recent times. The globalization of market has made it available all around the globe which has helped in improving the popularity of the cigar. The most popular of all cigar accessories is the cigar humidor or the storage device. There are a variety of shapes and sizes in which the humidor is available. Unlike earlier times, people can afford to buy a humidor because it comes in a wide range of prices, also to suit everyone’s pocket.

Other than humidors, there are a number of cigar accessories like lighters and boxes which are also available in plethora of shapes and sizes. There are many places where you can easily take your pick of all these accessories. If you are not able to get the same from your local retailer, then there are websites which sell the same for very low prices.

One of the most famous cigar brands in the world is the one from Cuba. The Havana cigars are counted among the best in the world. Their popularity has been very high because of the rich taste and the exorbitant price. Also, the fact that it is not readily available everywhere has made this one of the most sought after cigars. Most people, who have any inkling of cigar quality, would do anything to lay their hands on a Cuban cigar.

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Cubans, Part 2

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar111One of the best reasons for the high level of popularity that Cuban cigars enjoy is because of the problems which people face when they have to buy them. They are not available easily and a lot of efforts have to be made before you can enjoy the sweet taste of Cuban cigars. The seemingly forbidden nature of these cigars has made them more coveted and cigar lovers would go to any lengths to get their hands on the same. Moreover, if you are found selling authentic Cuban cigars in the United States, then you can be fined for a huge sum of $50,000. The only legal way in which you can get these cigars is on an official licensed trip. But on the flipside, you can get only $100 worth of Cuban cigars at a time which does not amount to much.

Most of the Cuban cigars which are available on the internet are fakes. The general price for a crate of Cuban cigars would be around $500 and anything which sells for less than $100 are fakes. So, be sure to check out the cigars before you buy them because you do not want to be stuck with fakes. It is better to shell out a few more bucks rather than getting stuck with the fakes!

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The Cuban - Where to buy

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar10Anyone who is a cigar lover would be content with the fact that Cuban cigars are the best in the world. These cigars have seen an astronomical increase in popularity over the years due to a variety of factors. Though they have never been readily available due to the legal hassles over their production, Cuban cigars have always been loved by people all over the world. They come with a high price tag which keeps them out of the reach of everyone. Instead of decreasing the popularity of the cigars, this factor has managed to make the Cuban cigars even more popular by making them more coveted.

If you are planning to buy Cuban cigars, there are some rules which you should keep in mind because an inapt method to get the same could land you in hot water. These cigars are illegal for export practices because of the embargo which was placed on Cuba by President JFK in 1963. But here’s a little incident which most people do not know of. Rumor has it that President sent one of his assistants to Cuba to get him a crate of these exquisite cigars for his personal use before the ban was applied.

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Phillies Cigars

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar91Most cigars which are rich in taste and flavor cost a bomb and this is one of the primary reasons why they are not being able to be enjoyed by the general public. As a result, most people who want a good cigar at an affordable price are opting for Phillies Cigars because they are an unbeatable combination of rich taste and price. They are made of the same fillers and wrappers from which the more expensive ones are made from but they are priced very affordably which has kept them within reach of the common man. Some of the more famous brands like the Cohiba, Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey are made from the same tobacco but are much higher in price.

The best aspect of Phillies cigars is the unbeatable price which is a steal when compared to the quality of the cigars. When you buy a crate of these cigars, they are almost a $100 cheaper than other brand which is a lot. One of the main reasons for the cheaper price of these cigars is the cheap labor which is used in making them. The less wastage of tobacco while making the cigars and also the low price of labor combines to give the common man with an exquisite cigar which can be afforded by all.

You must remember that there is no let down in quality of the cigars. Most people who are novices in the field of cigars tend to commit the mistake of avoiding Phillies because of the lower price which they associate with lower quality. This is a step which the makers of Phillies have taken so that a greater number of people can enjoy the taste of good cigars. Most of the other brands tend to price their cigars at a much higher rate for increasing the brand value. But this practice keeps the cigars out of the reach of the common man who would want to enjoy high quality cigars. Phillies are a good alternative to such practices.

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Premium Cigars

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar8The best of cigars can be safely said to be Cuban cigars because of the high popularity they enjoy. There are a number of cigars which are being produced all over the world but none of them come close to the Cuban cigars in terms of richness of taste and exquisiteness. Most of these cigars are produced in the Latin American countries because of the rich harvest of tobacco over there. The USA placed an embargo on export of Cuban goods in 1963 which restricted the flow of Cuban cigars into the American market. This had an effect on the sale figures of Cuban cigars for sometime but the overwhelming popularity of the same could not be controlled for a longer period of time.

Cuban cigars are still looked upon as the best in the word even though they are restricted in their availability. This was due to the embargo placed by America. But there are a lot of fraudulent cigars which are being sold as a result of the high demand. The embargo has led to a number of dealers selling fake cigars under the pretext of Cuban cigars to generate money. Even though the Cuban cigars are very costly and most people cannot afford them, the popularity of the same never seems to dwindle. They are as popular as they were in the period before the application of the embargo.

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The Best Cigars

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar7Most people from around the world hold Cuban cigars as their favorites because of the rich taste and flavor which the cigars offer. They would go to any lengths just to get hold of these. Due to the contraband in existence, many people end up getting duped by fake dealers who are looking to make a quick buck. They sell fake Cuban cigars to customers which do not taste anything like the original. There are some ways in which a true cigar connoisseur can tell the fake ones from the originals. There are a lot of differences which may not be visible to the untrained eye but stand out like glaring neon signs to the connoisseur. Some tips to help you to recognize would be to pay close attention to the wrapping, the color of the cigars and the smell. If you get a iota of doubt in your mind, then in most cases, it is a fake because you can simply recognize the original from the fake. Make sure that you keep a close eye since you are paying a hefty sum for the same!

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The Advantages of Humidors

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar12If you are a cigar aficionado then you probably realize the fallacy of letting costly Cuban cigars lying around. They tend to be spoilt due to the moisture in the air and also due to a variety of other weather elements. So, how do you keep them safe by protecting them from the weather? The obvious answer to this is by the use of humidors which are used to keep cigars safe and sound so that they taste as good as they used to when they were freshly bought. The basic method of protection which the humidors provide is through regulation of humidity around the cigars.

The cigar humidors are usually made of costly Spanish cedar which provides the finishing touch to the entire process of smoking an exquisite cigar. At first sight they may look like an ordinary box but they are not so. There are various uses of a humidor. Primarily used for storage of cigars, they may also be used for maintaining and aging of the same. Since they are so beautifully carved, more often than not, cigar humidors are passed from one generation to the next as a family heirloom. The perfect humidity at which cigars should be stored is 68%-72% which would help in maintaining the perfect taste of the cigars. This humidity should be maintained at room temperature which should be around the mid-seventies Fahrenheit.

There is a device called the hygrometer inside the humidor which allows the box to measure the degree of humidity inside. When this is done, the hygrometer maintains the perfect degree of humidity by removing or inserting moisture inside the box. There are some tips which will help you if you are new to the world of cigars and humidors. If you have recently bought a humidor, never commit the mistake of keeping the cigars inside immediately. The humidor has to be seasoned before it is used. The principle which is used out here is that new humidors have not been used. So, the wood which is inside the box would absorb all the moisture to keep itself moistened instead of the cigars. This would result in the drying up of the cigars. The cedar which is commonly used in the humidors is a common example of wood absorbing the moisture. All these tips are very necessary if you want to enjoy the complete beauty of a Cuban cigar. These do not come cheap and neither does the chance to enjoy them!

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The Best of Montecristo Cigars

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar6One of the finest cigar brands in the entire world is Montecristo cigars which are produced by Altadis, USA. They are one of the leading brands and are synonymous with producing high quality cigars which have a veritable rich taste. They began their company in the summer of 1918 when the time was perfect for its initiation. Through the last century, a lot of accusations and mergers took place in the company but it emerged strong and is one of the biggest brands of cigars in the world today. Altadis does not only produce Montecristo cigars but a number of other brands as well like the Romeo Y Julieta, Don Diego, Turrent, and Trinidad. But among all of the aforementioned brands, Montecristo is the most famous and is loved by people all over.

The original base of these cigars was in Cuba which explains its excellence in taste and richness. After some years, the production of this cigar was shifted to Dominican Republic. These cigars are medium and full flavored ones and are sweet to taste. One of the highest selling types of Montecristo cigars is the Montecristo Cigars Classic in which the Connecticut wrapper is used. Apart from this, some variations also use the Dominican wrapper along with special filler which is the primary reason for its masterly taste.

In addition to the above two types of Montecristo cigars, there are also the platinum series and the white cigars from the same stable. The platinum series blends the San Andres Cubano wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder which provides an exquisite look to the cigars. The fillers used in this cigar are a mixture of Dominican, Peruvian and Nicaraguan fillers. Finally, the White cigar produced by the brand has a Connecticut wrapper which is used to cover the Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The binder used in this cigar is the Nicaraguan binder. This cigar is sweet to taste and is easy flavored.

These cigars are available on a number of websites online. Of course, you can go to the Montecristo website and place your orders. There is also the option of myriad websites which sell these cigars for a lower and discounted price. The best thing is that you can check out the reviews of the cigars if you are a novice to this field. Most of the websites offer home delivery of the Montecristo cigars after you place the order.

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The Magic of Dunhill Cigars Part 2

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigar5The main competitors of the Dunhill cigars when they entered the market were the Davidoff cigars which were already ruling the roost by then. These cigars were also of a high quality which made a tussle between the two very interesting. Later on, the Dunhill Company severed its ties with the Cubatobaco Company and came into the market single handedly. The business went on for a few years before Dunhill completely closed down its production of cigars. The reasons for this were unknown and speculations continue to thrive. During the last few years of its production, Dunhill used to make all the cigars over at the Dominican Republican Islands.

When news came to the world about the imminent closure of Dunhill cigars, there was a mad rush for buying them. Most people bought it to collect them as a vintage item rather than smoking it. There are still a few cigar aficionados who are selling the Dunhill cigars out of their private collections on the internet but the prices are anything but within reach of anyone but the filthy rich.

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