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Customs for giving Cigars

Friday, October 30th, 2009

There are many customs and traditions which have no reason and the origin of them is never been able to trace. Cigarette smoking around a newborn baby boy is one such tradition which has been widely practiced all around the world. There are many customs which are to be followed when you have a new born baby boy. For example, it has been a tradition that the new born baby boy will be dressed in blue and the father of the child distributes cigars to all his friends who will arrive at the ceremony.

map1Cigar distribution in such a ceremony has been an age old practice and it did not arise the previous night. It has been in practice since the 17th century. At this time of the world, cigars were not so popular and they were considered as a treasure. So, sharing it with someone was considered a great feat and was considered very emotional. But as the 18th century started, cigars became more popular and it was used as a medium of exchange. It was a popular tip which a person gave as an appreciation of the other person’s work.

The birth of a baby boy has always been considered special in any society and it has been a habit of everyone to celebrate it. In certain places, it is also considered to be a great occasion of national importance because of the value the young guy would add to his father as well as the society in the near future. So, those who could afford to celebrate it did so by giving cigars to all, as a token of sharing their happiness with their close kith and kin.

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Hand-rolled Cigars vs. Machine-rolled Part 1

Friday, October 30th, 2009

hand-rolled2The basic difference between cigars comes by its method of making and this is how cigars are classified generally. In general, cigars are either made by machines or rolled by hand, so the classification stands as Hand rolled cigars and Machine rolled cigars. Someone who is new to smoking and someone who cannot see any big difference between cigars can start off with the machine rolled cigars which are available in super markets and some drug stores. These cost comparatively less. But, if you are someone who wishes to go to the next level in smoking, it is better for you to carry yourself to the next level by spending some extra money and smoking a cigar which is hand rolled. These hand rolled cigars are not available so easily and it can be obtained only from the tobacconist in your place or can be purchased from any online store which sells them.

The difference between hand made cigars and machine rolled cigars other than its making is that hand rolled cigars are made out of 100% tobacco which is mostly imported from foreign countries such as Dominican Republic (Dominican cigars)where the best tobacco of the world is cultivated. These tobacco brands are much better in terms of quality and flavor. In case of a machine rolled cigar, 100% tobacco is not used. Along with tobacco, preservatives, paper and other chemical ingredients are also used. This reduces the quality of the cigar.

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Hand-rolled Cigars vs. Machine-rolled Part 2

Friday, October 30th, 2009

hand-rolled1The general theory is that hand rolled cigars are much costlier than machine rolled cigars. But certain cigars made from machines are also mislabeled as hand rolled cigars just because its outer wrapper was rolled with hand. This is the reason why you find certain hand rolled cigars cheaper. So, if you are someone who is interested in smoking an original hand rolled cigar, do not go for the cheaper ones.

The main components of a hand rolled cigar are the filler, the binder to hold it and its outer cover. In case of a hand roller cigar, long fillers are used which are 100% tobacco and this is the reason why a packet of them costs up to 70$ when there are cheap cigars which cost less than 1$ each. Also, the short fillers used in the case of a machine manufactured cigar do not completely consist of tobacco leaves. The filler consists of leaves, stems and other parts of the tobacco plant which are chopped into very small pieces by the machine and this definitely affects the taste of the cigar. If you are someone who smokes regularly and cannot afford to spend more money on smoking, then you can go for these cigars as they are not so bad after all. But if you are someone who are more interested to experience the original quality of a hand rolled cigar then you should definitely give it a try and get the best smoking experience.

Also, the outer wrapper of  hand rolled cigars looks more attractive, attracting all cigar lovers to give it a try at least once in their lifetime.

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Colors of Cigars

Friday, October 30th, 2009

colorIf you are someone who does not know what a cigar is, then for your information, cigars are a bundle of tightly rolled fermented tobacco which is dried before it is made. There are three different components of a cigar namely Fillers, Wrappers and Binders. All of them have a considerable effect on the quality of the cigar and its taste making it all the more important in choosing the components for its making. The filler of a handmade cigars is nothing but tobacco which determines the primary quality of the cigar. Hand rolled cigars which make use of long fillers and 100% tobacco and are much costlier than machine rolled cigars mainly because of their quality. There are many who purchase these costly cigars making one understand the difference in quality which leads people to buy them.

It is very natural for the quality of the cigar to be affected with the difference in the quality of the filler. But one would be surprised to know that even the wrapper of the cigar has a significant contribution towards its taste and quality. The outer wrapper of a cigar is not simply paper like that of cigarettes. The wrapper of a cigar is generally the leaves of a tobacco plant and in general, the widest leaf of the plant is chosen to wrap as it has to hold the filler in it. This wrapper leaf determines the character, quality, flavor and taste of the cigar and this is the reason why many cigars are often described by its wrapper.

The general colors used in cigars are Double Claro, Claro, Colorado, Colorado Claro, Colorado Maduro, Natural, Maduro, and Oscuro with Double Claro being the lightest and Oscuro being the darkest color. Double Claro which appears to be slightly greenish in color is achieved by picking the leaves before it is matured and by drying it quickly and Oscuro leaves are black in color and give the strongest flavor. Different parts of the world grow different kinds of leaves, thereby, giving a brand name to the quality of handmade cigars made from that place.

It is generally believed and commented by everyone that cigars made out of dark wrappers are a touch sweet compared to the lighter ones which taste dry. Also, statistics say that it is the wrapper which contributes 40% to the taste and the flavor of the cigar while the filler and binder contribute the remaining 60%. This is the reason why people find difference in the flavor of cigars made out from the same fillers while the wrapper being different. For example, when a Maduro cigar and a Double Claro cigar containing the same filler and binder are compared, Maduro cigars are found to be stronger in flavor than that of Double Claro cigars. But this cannot be generalized as the quality of the filler and the binder can also change.

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Europe & Cigars

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

europeAccording 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.

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Cigars - A Brief History

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

booksThe 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.

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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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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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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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