Archive for the ‘Cigar News’ Category

Cigars & Chocolate

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

chocolatreIf smoking handmade cigars is included in the list of addiction to most people, eating chocolates can be counted in the same too. They have different compositions and bring varied effects to takers though. Chocolate is made up of a number of raw and processed foods excreted from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. It further contains chemicals such as alkaloids that create physiological effects on the body. It too affects the levels of serotonin in the brain that is believed to regulate mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction and some cognitive related functions. When eaten in moderation, chocolate is affirmed by scientists to lower blood pressure. It too is further tested to be helpful in lessening the risk of cancer, dementia and heart attack. Aside from all of these, chocolates are one of the main reasons for obesity and it is very addicting once you start your first nibble.

Compared to chocolates, handmade cigars are unlikely to fatten up smokers since this have an appetite controlling elements that reduce your desire for food. Depending on who made and where they came from, tobacco smoking can be very enjoyable and pleasurable activity without you feeling guilty afterwards.

On a more positive note, many smokers claim that puffing one lessens tensions and stress and may make a difference in their social status. Some also affirm that it satisfies their pleasure and whims as well. Studies, however, show that smoking cigars does bring harmful effects to human body. These include the increase of risk for respiratory and other infections; problems in the immune system and lung cancer.

Risky are the effects it does bring, many are still into smoking such.

Like the chocolates, handmade cigars are made from the finest ingredients and other spices giving them a flavorful blend that attracts buyer and connoisseurs alike. Some companies even go to extreme lengths in order for them to achieve the best blend ever in cigars. Most  handmade cigars differ in taste and aroma. Different makers have various and unique ways of creating their own masterpieces. You cannot blame it all on nicotine alone why others become hooked up in smoking cigars. There are a lot of factors to consider also. Some would claim that they smoke only because they love the pleasure and enjoyment they get out of every puff and that would prove to be correct because if you have to understand cigar smoking, it is all about enjoyment and personal satisfaction.

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.

The Padron Way

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

cigars3The process of manufacturing a fine cigar is an arduous one and can be very hard to complete. A lot of hard working hours need to be inputted before you can get a perfect cigar which will rank among the finest in the world. But before the cigars are made, the first process which requires a lot of concentration and dedication is the process of getting good tobacco cultivation. The tobacco needs to fit the bill so that every cigar can be the best. After the tobacco is cultivated, the next step is to grow the fillers for the cigars. All of these parts of the bigger process are equally important as they all contribute equally to the finesse. When all this is done and the cigars made, the company can now offer them to the customer for ultimate satisfaction.

One of the leading companies in the world, Padron cigars uses these principles to make the best cigars. They have a rigid work ethic which allows them to stay on top of the game every single season. They have an unbeatable combination of great cigars, an even better price and great customer satisfaction which ensures that they have a loyal band of customers every season. Apart from this, they aim to grow their clientele by a huge number every year which is optimized by their continuous urge to get better.

Most of the Padron cigars are smooth to draw and have a medium to strong flavor. They have an irresistible taste which brings back customers asking for more. The best thing about this company is that they have stayed true to their motto of providing quality cigars at an affordable price. Even when the other big names in the cigar manufacturing business were regularly increasing their prices, Padron never hiked their rates. This has allowed them to have their own set of loyal customers who will give up smoking cigars before even thinking of switching to another brand. This helped them to stay in the business while some of the other big names dropped out of the fray due to intense competition. The low price combined with great taste has managed to propel Padron to the top of the business. They believe that the customer is always right and aim at satisfying him rather than earning big profits through exorbitant prices. Padron has managed to stay at the top through an impeccable desire to provide the best cigars at low prices and also bringing out products which are based on the customer’s likes and dislikes.

Why Cigar Lovers Should Visit Las Vegas

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

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Las Vegas has long been considered the top cigar-smoking city in the US. A place where everything goes, including smoking inside casinos and bars, cigar aficionados will find themselves at ease in Sin City. Many casinos even give out free cigars to players on high-bet tables, and hotels often include them as part of the welcome package for those staying in suites or attending special events.

The Big Smoke Weekend is also held in Las Vegas every November. An event attracting hundreds of fans from around the country, it features seminars, free smoking and drinking opportunities for patrons (included with the entrance fee to the event) and a series of discounts or coupons to take away or shop online.

Visitors to Las Vegas also have a chance to stop by Casa Fuente, a smoking bar located within Caesar’s Hotel and Casino. It features a counter where visitors can enjoy a drink and sample cigars, as well as shop for accessories and unique presents.

3 Great Presents for the Cigar Lover

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

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For cigar aficionados, there’s never a bad time to indulge in a cigar-related present. While your mind may immediately go to the idea of buying cigars, the truth is that there are a lot of accessories that can enhance the experience of smoking and make excellent presents. No matter your budget, here are five presents than any cigar lover will appreciate:

Cutters

Cigar cutters are used to remove the cap or end of a cigar so it can be smoked. Cutters produce different types of removal, using a V shape, a hole punch or a simple, straight cut. Experts sometimes argue that certain types of cutter are better for certain cigars, but the truth is that it’s mostly a matter of preference. Cutters sell for anything from a couple of dollars to several hundreds, depending on design and material.

Humidors

Good humidors will keep cigars in optimal humidity (68 to 72 percent), in order to prevent cigars from getting ruined by outside conditions. Humidors come in all sizes and shapes and chances are a cigar aficionado will already own one. The key to choosing one as a gift is to buy an additional one as a complement. For example, if you know the person has a large, table-like humidor, you can give a small one as a present, so the receiver can hold a few cigars in a different room.

Cigar Rings

Personalized cigar rings are a great present. Online companies sell them in packs containing different pictures or sayings, or will sometimes personalize them with your own name. For an expensive alternative, consider a company such as Bands O Gold, where bands are made in 24k gold and can be used as a ring once the cigar is gone.

Kentucky Tobacco

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

kentuckyIt has long been thought that the only place to grow cigar tobacco in the United States is in Connecticut. For close to around twenty years, there has been a cultivator in Kentucky that has sent this theory up in smoke and yes the pun was intended.

Tobacco has long been grown in Kentucky. This tobacco has been traditionally used for filler tobacco for cigarettes. If you wanted a finer tobacco for the cigar wrapper, the general consensus was that it could only be grown in Connecticut. One cultivator named Mark Barrow changed all of that.

In the 1990’s, Mark journeyed to Connecticut to find a seed that he could adapt to make work in his region. After pounding a lot of pavement and being turned down several times, he finally made his way back to Kentucky with the seed in hand. He started out with Havana 214, 217 and Connecticut shade. The year after he began growing broadleaf which has since then comprised the majority of his crop.

His tobacco is blended with tobacco form Puerto Rico. It is processed, dried, and aged in Puerto Rico between 1 and 4 years. After that it is shipped back to Kentucky and sold throughout the United States. Tobacco continues to gain popularity in Kentucky and may progress into neighboring states, producing a lot more home grown tobacco.

The Cuban Embargo Update

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

embargoSince the last presidential election and the recent developments with the Cuban dictator, there have been rumors that relations between the United States and Cuba will be changing.

There is much debate what this will mean. At this time it is appearing that travel restrictions to Cuba will be the first things that will be relaxed. This is certainly the first step in improving the relations between the United States and Cuba.

However, Cuba would prefer to see the President eliminate the trade embargos completely. This would change many things for not only Cuba but for United States as well. A more relaxed sharing of cultures could and would begin.

Cigar aficionados want to know what this will mean for them. The feelings are mixed. Some people feel like it will promote the Cuban cigar industry. The quality of cigars would only get better with the increased demand. Others believe that it will ruin the prestige of the industry and water it down with mediocre competition.

There is a fear that some prestigious brands that are named by the region will lose their prestige if other brands in the same region are allowed to join the market because of increased demand.

At this time embargos are still in place, so Cuban cigars aren’t readily available for U.S. consumption. We’ll have to let this one play out as only time will tell what will happen?

Cuba and Cigars

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

cubaThere are many different stories about the origin of tobacco and therefore the history that brought about the production of cigars. One thing is certain that during this debatable history, Cuban cigars have become the benchmark of cigars.

In the 1600’s, Cuba became a distribution hub for tobacco for Europe. During this time tobacco began being cultivated in Cuba. Many people considered the Cuban seed, the best flavor tobacco and thus it became the ultimate in tobacco.

It is rumored that Cuban locals began the cigar craze by making a crude type of cigar made from twisted and dried leaves that were rolled in another leave. This method of smoking tobacco leaves began to spread and surpassed the tendency to smoke tobacco in a pipe.

By the late 1700’s, cigar factories started to appear and to be produced. Cigars were not exported from Cuba at this time and even did not start to be exported until the 1800’s. With the continued praise about the quality of the Cuban seed, Cuban hand rolled cigars were considered the best of cigars. Even with the advent of machine rolled cigars, the popularity and the elite status of the hand-rolled Cuban cigar has remained intact. It is still the most prestigious cigar in the world.

Cuban cigars are in a class of their own. If you’re ever given the opportunity to smoke one, you won’t be disappointed. Hopefully in the upcoming months the U.S. embargo will be lifted making it much easier to buy them to be enjoyed and experienced more commonly in America.

Effective Cigar Reviews

Monday, June 1st, 2009
Imported Cigars

Imported Cigars

A good review is the one that can provide the unbiased comparisons, pros, and cons of the particular cigar under inspection. However, it is to be remembered that almost all the Cuban cigars are illegal as per the laws of many countries such as the United States. There are reviews on all the varieties of non-Havana cigars, which do not face the legal problems as of the Cuban cigars, thus will guide you in making the suitable choices. With a good review or book, you can gain the cigar knowledge to the best, which may include anything from tips on properly cutting the hand rolled cigars to the possible styles with cigar smoking. There are even websites exclusively on providing cigar knowledge to their readers.

There are several reviews that are fighting tooth and nail to offer the best of cigar knowledge and they analyze all types of cigars ranging from the factory-made cigars, namely, Phillies that are cheaper to the latest Rocky Patel handmade cigars. With the advent of internet, it will not be tough to find the sources of cigar knowledge that are free in most of the cases. Most of the sources do not stop with reviewing the cigar products but also go a step further and include videos, photos, and more to complete the cigar knowledgebase. The reviews will be ideal to compare the rates and specialties of different cigar brands that are highly useful while shopping for cigars.

The websites dedicated to provide cigar knowledge are offering to solve the most common doubts and clarifications too. In many cases, the sources provide the cigar reviews accompanied by rating of the particular product based on several factors. You can also look for special discounts provided by cigar manufacturing companies and the answers for the questions you may have related to cigars in the websites dedicated to offer the maximum of cigar knowledge.

Welcome to Don Conti .com

Monday, April 6th, 2009

In this new section of our site you will find reviews of fine cigar products and handmade cigars. Send us some information about your fine cigar products or cigar bars so we can write about them.