At first the tobacco leaves are inspected to identify whether they will be used as filler or wrapper depending on the color and texture of leaves. And then these cigars reach the rolling stage in which the three components of cigar viz. filler, binder and wrapper are used to finally shape it attractively and royally. Finally, the packaging is done by placing labels on the top quarter of the cigar, covering each of them in a cellophane tube to protect the wrapper and then putting them individually in wooden boxes specially made for aging process. These boxes are then further covered with cellophane wrapper and sealed to protect them from the physical damage caused during their transportation to various sellers.
These delicate and exquisite homemade cigars are stored further at 70 degrees with 70% relative humidity in humidor for aging process so as to enhance their flavor, aroma and taste. That is why aged cigars are of high quality and quite expensive. Diamond crown, Troya, Partagas, H.Upmann, Grupo Leon Jimenes, Montecristo, Trinidad, Padron, Tabacalera Esteli, Costa Rican are some of the exquisite handmade cigars. The cigar goes through a very long journey, which starts from a tobacco seed and ends in the hands of a cigar smoker and slowly turns into ashes.
Archive for August, 2009
Handmade Cigars Part 2
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Handmade Cigars
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
It is well said that the specialty of handmade cigars is incomparable with the machine made items. The same applies to the handmade cigars which are prepared with high precision to deliver attractive appearance, exquisite flavor and rich aroma to offer an exclusive and superior smoking experience for true aficionados. Handmade cigars always hit the top line among the best cigars.
Preparation of the handmade cigars goes through hundreds of steps, starting from plantation of tobacco to harvest and cure it so as to further send it for fermentation and then finally it undergoes rolling and packaging.
First, the tobacco seedlings are planted and tendered throughout to harvest it. Going further, it undergoes a process called curing for 5-6 weeks during which variations of heat and shade are applied to remove sugar and water from tobacco to prevent rotting. This particular process varies from region to region depending upon its climate and the type of tobacco. After this, the tobacco leaves are fermented under distinct conditions so as to prevent them from decaying. This is the most crucial step as the process of fermentation defines aroma, flavor and color of cigar.
Handmade cigars are some of the best cigars you can buy. Unlike machine made cigars, handmade cigars are unique in appearance and flavor. No two cigars will be identical. Handmade cigars embrace the art form of cigar culture. If you’ve never had a handmade cigar, buy a few today and discover the difference they provide.
Europe & Cigars
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
According to historians, the cigars were not introduced to any part of Europe before 15th century. It was only after the great discovery of America by Columbus that it came into existence in Europe through American voyagers. In one of such voyages to Cuba, the sailors found that the Cubans used to smoke a primeval cigar with tobacco leaves rolled in some other plant’s leaves. Later, they too got this habit of smoking that primitive cigar which the native Cubans used to smoke.
Slowly it reached the Portugal and Spain and finally France. Through the efforts of Jean Nicot, the ambassador of France to Portugal, the cigar smoking culture spread rapidly like fire to Italy and then America to the Great Britain.
By the early sixteenth century, the cigar had already got familiar throughout the Europe. Four five decades later the cigars were being grown commercially in various parts of Europe and America. Initially, tobacco was considered to have healthy medicinal qualities but there were many who condemned it. The word Cigar has been evolved from Cikar, an ancient Mayan Indian term used for smoking. However cigars of these days were very different from what cigar is now.
Europe played a very unique role in the expansion of the cigar. Current day you can find a large selection of machine and hand rolled cigars throughout Europe. While South America will always hold the rights to fine cigars, Europe has produced some incredible smokes as well.
Cigars - A Brief History
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
The first of the cigars which bore resemblance to the current breed of cigars were made from the fine tobacco of Cuba in the Eighteenth century in Spain. Those cigars looked more or less like today’s cigars. Then, the export of cigars from Cuba had not yet started. By the end of 18th century, many small Cigar factories were already being set up in Germany and France. Dutch too joined them bringing tobacco from their far eastern colonies.
After the peninsular war was over cigars were turned into a sort of a custom and the war veterans returning home had made cigars a fashionable habit. By twentieth century, smoking cigars had become so much popular in Europe that smoking cars were introduced in the trains and hotels brought special smoking rooms which also served wines or brandy with cigar as after-dinner custom. A cheap alternative of cigar made of paper was also introduced this time aptly called cigarette. It was due to the industrialization of cigarette making that also initiated an introduction of machines in the manufacturing of cigars. But, it also led to a slow decline in the demand of handmade cigars as the factory made cigars were a lot cheaper.
Cigars carry a very long and rich history that is filled with celebration, recognition and resting. Every time someone picks up a cigar a great tradition is carried on. Whether you’re smoking a cigar at the celebration of a new baby boy or smoking one to rest at the end of the day, you’re participating in the beautiful history of past generations.
Pairing Wine With a Cigar Part 2
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
You be thinking that just anyone can choose a random cigar and any old wine, pair them up and have a perfect match. That is so not true. It takes some incredible expertise to match these sets. Of course, there is the point that it is not an exact science. We do have different likes and dislikes, but most people will agree on the best pairings of wine and a cigar.
Globally, vineyards that are known for only the best wines are engaging experts in this matchmaking. They then can create amazing marketing campaigns around the matches suggested.
There is already a brilliantly run vineyard in South Africa that is ahead of the pack. It has come up with the plan and skills to create a cigar that is in perfect balance with the red wine they already make.
If you have never heard of matching cigars and wine, you are missing out. A quick search online will give you a comprehensive list of most of the best pairings in the world. You will not be disappointed.
Every drink has a different type of cigar to go with it. As you experiment you will discover the various combinations that are paired with the different wines. Fine cigars are the best with dry red wines and smooth white wines. Be sure to use a humidor to store your cigars so that are fresh and at their prime.
Pairing Wine With a Cigar
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
There is absolutely nothing that compares to the taste of a fine wine and the elegant musky scent of an excellent cigar. If you are a lover of high-end wines, but not a cigar smoker, you can still enjoy the combination. The rich bouquet of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the delectable sweetness of Chablis can only be enhanced when sipped near a burning cigar.
There are great advantages that make cigars better than other smoking options. The variety of tobacco alone is almost enough to set it apart. However, a cigar is so much more. It sets the smoker of apart from others. It has a welcome aroma, unlike cigarettes. When it is an excellent brand of cigar, there is nothing in the world better than taking your time and enjoying every moment of it.
Historically, the pairing of wine and cigars began in the late 1800s in the United States. Refugees from Cuba were finding respite there following their nation’s horrible two civil wars. They found work in the U.S. as the makers of high quality cigars. Those who did not have that ability were highly skilled at the winemaking process. With these two quality products coming from the new citizens, the art of matching the perfect wine with the perfect matching cigar was born.
The best thing about this elegant pairing is that the art is still evolving. There are experts around the globe who continue to experiment with different cigar and wine combinations. Just when one thinks that nothing new can be discovered, some amazing and never before seen pairing is introduced.
How to Roll a Cigar Part 2
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Take tobacco and put it in a bag preferably of plastic and close it carefully so as not to damage the tobacco leaves. It should be then left like that for about an hour after which it should be wrapped in such a way that the moist leaves squeeze into a pile. After leaving the leave as it is for one more hour, the bag needs to be opened and let the tobacco leaves dry until they get gnarled. These dried leaves will be later used as wrapper for the cigar.
Now we need to make something like glue which will consist of around one fourth teaspoonful of flour mixed with 3-4 tablespoon of water and put the mixture in microwave for 15 to 20 seconds. It should become like a paste. Leave it aside to thicken. Now, it’s the time to add the scraped tobacco with the binder leaves. Spreading the glue along the border of the binder, roll it round the scraped tobacco and cut off any excess tobacco leaves. Now it’s the time to use those wrapper leaves. With the wrapper leaves, wrap that rolled part and also don’t forget to hide the veins underside so it gives a clean look to your cigar. Now put that thin paste to the border of the wrapper leaves and roll it away. You are now wrapping the first cigar of your life. When it dries, cut off its ends but in order to make sure that it doesn’t get dried out completely, put those in a humidor.
Don’t forget to congratulate yourself for rolling your cigar. It’s all done and ready for a smoke.
How To Roll a Cigar
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
There is something about hand rolled cigars that makes those stand out from the rest of the cigars. It’s just about the finesse and the refinement with which they are made by the expert cigar artisans. Though lately most of the cigar manufacturers have automated their manufacturing processes those cigars still cannot beat the taste and quality of a hand rolled cigar.
There are many Cuban cigar makers who have gained a cult status because they stuck with old and trusted skills of master cigar artisans and that is the reason why hand rolled cigars are in so much demand all over the place. For a devout cigar smoker knowing how to roll as cigar is equally important as smoking one of those. When you are smoking a classic Cuban cigar, you sure will get the feeling of rolling it yourself someday.
So let’s learn a great process of rolling a cigar. It’s really not that difficult once you follow the procedures properly with the same dedication which can be seen while you are smoking your favorite Cohiba. First thing, first you need to get some good quality cigar tobacco leaves and with the help of your water sprayer or even with your hands, sprinkle some water on the leaves so as to make them moist. The main thing to remember is, it should be moistened lightly and it should not be made completely wet with water.
Cigars From Around the World
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
The legacy which was brought by the skilled Cuban artisans has slowly engulfed the whole world and it’s not just cigar aficionados but also the regular cigar smokers throughout the world who are in complete awe with it. Starting from few local brands to lots of premium brands, cigars now come in so many varieties offering varying taste, flavor, size and shape from all around the world.
The most famous cigars all around the world are the Cuban cigars which offer wide range of finest cigar brands along with the specialty of handmade cigars. Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagás, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann are considered as the jewels of the global brands of Cuban cigars. Cohiba cigar is an ultra-premium cigar which uses the special tobacco which is grown extensively in certain plantations in the province of Penar del Rio. Montecristo cigars have set the standard for Cuban cigars and contribute to the 50% productions of Cuban cigars. H.Upmann cigars which are the oldest cigars having it’s traces in 1844 as well are available in variety of wrappers and blend. Cuban cigars, which are very well known as Habanos are made in corporation with the government because of their exclusive flavor. Most of the Cuban cigar brands constitute the top list of cigars.
Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Ashton, Paul Garmirian, León Jimenes, Macanudo and Troya are some of the finest cigars offered by Dominican of Republic. All of these best flavored cigars are known for their rich aroma. León Jimenes is the largest company of the Dominican Republic. Arturo Fuente is one of the oldest and best flavored cigars using golden Connecticut shade wrapper and highest quality vintage tobacco. Ashton is one of the most expensive cigar which uses aged and blended tobacco to generate a rich and exclusive aroma.
Winter Cigar Smoking
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Winter is quickly approaching. Although it may still be over 90 degrees where you live, in just a matter of weeks, the cold weather is going to pour in once again. The humidity and ambiance temperature are two determining factors if you want to have a good puff of cigar during the winter months, otherwise get ready to face the usual flavor loss and burn issues.
There is also the risk of mold growth in humid weather, so getting a finely calibrated humidor to put your cigars would ensure their safety. Another problem for cigar lovers which comes with cold weather is a kind of plague by worms called lacioderma which lay their eggs in the cigar and make tiny holes through the wrapper. In this case, the infected cigars should be completely removed and destroyed and the unaffected cigars need to be kept in some safe and not so humid place.
While you are outside in a cold weather, it is not advisable to go for a mild cigar simply because it is just not enough. Though, it can be considered a good pick when you are smoking inside a lounge or something like that. And if you are outside, smoking a medium to full flavor cigar is recommended.