Archive for the ‘Cigars and Culture’ Category

Saving Time During Christmas

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

1223568_clockMany cigar products are available pre-wrapped, to save you time and trouble during the busiest season of the year. Some singles are packed in a cigar carrier which is then slipped into a velvet pouch, while samplers and boxes are usually wrapped with a nice bow on top.

If you want to give handmade cigars as a Christmas gift, you might want to know what makes a good cigar. The basic components are the fill tobacco, the inner wrap, and the outer wrap. The higher quality the ingredients are, the finer the cigar. Hand rolled cigars are usually more expensive than machine rolled. Consistency between the cigars in the box, a nice, tight wrapper with an even spiral pattern, and a fresh feel in the hand are all qualities to examine.

Excellent selections are available online, as well as from your local tobacconist. No matter where you shop, you can expect knowledgeable help to select precisely the right item. Many online sites have a frequently asked questions area that may give just the answer you need, and almost all will respond to an email promptly.

And don’t eliminate the women on your list, either. In recent years, female cigar smokers have been increasing dramatically. And whether you need to shop for a man or woman, novice or long-time smoker, you can find just what you’re seeking to give a cigar as a Christmas gift.

Organic Tabacco

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

500px-usda_organic_sealsvgThe flavor of tobacco is greatly influenced by the type of soil in which it is grown. Organic tobacco is cultivated in a truly natural way, without using any insecticides or fertilizers. Only biological fertilizers and pesticides are used in the nurturing process. Pests are controlled by natural methods. The price of organic tobacco is almost double the price of the conventional tobacco. It has to be mentioned that the yield of tobacco produced naturally will be less than half the amount when compared to the conventional tobacco farming. Still, natural tobacco production is a good option for the farmers with less cultivable land.
The tobacco grown naturally can be harvested either by priming or stalk cutting. In priming, the leaves are plucked as they reach the prime. The collected leaves are placed loosely somewhere or just hung to get ready for curing. The stalks are cut and split for drying in stalk cutting method. The plants are placed on big planks for curing.
Curing of the tobacco makes it ready for consumption. It takes one or two months to complete the air curing process. In flue curing, the leaves are exposed to high temperatures in the early stages itself so that their color lightens. Fire curing is done after a few days of drying. This alters the flavor of the tobacco leaves.
In natural farming of tobacco, the efforts put by the farmers allow them to reap great profits. But due to the paucity of people who have a good knowledge of the methodology to cultivate organic tobacco and the considerable effort they need to put in, production rates are fairly less.

Christmas Cigars

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

1117848_red_ribbonWhen it comes to finding a unique present for everyone on your list, ideas can dry up quickly. One solution that may not have occurred to you is to give hand rolled cigars as a Christmas gift. You can provide an extra-special treat or a two month supply, and often find your gift includes an accessory item sure to be appreciated by any cigar smoker.

The most expensive handmade cigars can reach more than $700 for a single cigar. While no doubt any cigar smoker would be ecstatic over such a luxurious indulgence, you needn’t spend that much to provide a quality smoke for the cigar aficionado on your list. The fact is, you can find one no matter what your budget, and for many, a single high-end cigar is more desirable than a box of smokes from the drugstore.

If you would like to give a cigar as a Christmas gift, you might also consider a sampler. These vary from a half-dozen to a couple of dozen handmade cigars, usually (but not always) variations of the same style or brand. These offer a great chance for experimenting with different smokes and frees the cigar smoker from having to choose between the many varieties available. Most often these are in beautiful boxes, although some are packaged in humidors.

Cigar accessories are also sure to be appreciated, especially since they are available with either single cigars or multi-packs. Ash trays, cutters, and cigar lighters are just a few of the choices available. Humidors for storing hand rolled cigars at home, and individual cases for travel, are also popular items.

Men and Cigars

Monday, November 30th, 2009

smokingIs it just me or is it all women who swoon at the sight of men smoking cigars? What is about them that immediately catches your eye? Why do you instantly think, he must be a rich guy? Read on to find out the mysteries of the men who smoke cigars unveiled right before your eyes.

Men who smoke handmade cigars yield power and wealth, or at least seem like they do. This may be a case of television influence but it is true that men who smoke cigars don’t do it in rowdy jeans and torn shirts. They are almost always richly clad in a suit or a tuxedo. They have a sense of class about them and are surrounded by like-minded men.

The cigar smoking man oozes with confidence, the way he picks out his cigar, smells it, nips it at the end and lights up, all very confidently and confidence spells sexy to most women out there. Men who smoke handrolled cigars treat the whole process as a carefully thought out series of synchronized moves that can only be attempted by a very confident man.

Men who smoke cigars belong to a group of elite men. There are special cigar clubs and cigar rooms in exclusive hotels and men’s clubs. It is almost treated as a cult or a religion that one joins and not everyone can join this elite group. Only a selected few are even capable and exceptional enough to align themselves with this elite group.

The act of smoking a cigar itself is a symbol of a valiant maneuver. You can almost imagine the men who ease into their sofa chairs to smoke a cigar have just returned from some brave conquering of another soul. They smoke with their heads held high and with a gallant disposition.

Smoking handmade cigars is like shaving. It’s one of those manly acts that separates the men from the boys. I don’t think watching a kid smoke a cigar would be quite as intriguing as watching a man smoke it. As I said it’s like shaving, if you don’t have the hair, then the blade will just cut through your skin. With cigars, if you haven’t matured to that level, then all that’s going to come out is a serious bout of coughing.

We can identify many famous men who are recognized with a cigar in their mouths. Some of them are Winston Churchill, statesman and orator, past prime minister of the United Kingdom, Bill Clinton, past president of the United States, George Burns, American actor extraordinaire and even JayZ, famous hip hop artist and successful businessman.

TV Personalities who we can immediately recall to mind when we think of men who smoke handmade cigars are the men of the hit series, The Sopranos (what is it about Mafias with cigars in their mouths?) and of course Tom Selleck of Magnum P.I.

So there you have it, mysteries of the men who smoke cigars unveiled. Hopefully they won’t pose a mystery any longer and yes, you can go up to them and speak. Whether they will reply or not, I cannot promise!

The Basics of Cigars

Monday, November 30th, 2009

booksTypical hand rolled cigars are composed of fillers, binders and a wrapper. Out of these, the filler gives the cigar its distinctive flavor. The quality of the filler varies in different handmade cigars. Long filler gives the best flavor and it contains mainly tobacco leaves rolled together. Short fillers contain other parts of the tobacco plant as well, giving a mixed flavor. The binders are mainly elastic leaves that keep the fillers together.

Wrappers are made of wide tobacco leaves and they confer the aroma to the cigars. A good wrapper must be oily and thick with a smooth texture. They come in various colors with the darkest being the strongest. Light brown colored hand rolled cigars are ideal for the starters as they are milder than the dark colored ones.

If you wish to enjoy cigar smoking by using the premium quality cigars, then the hand made cigars are ideal for you. Leaves for hand made cigars are picked and rolled by the cigar makers with care. As the leaves are of the superior quality, you will get the flavor of high quality tobacco. Machine made cigars, on the other hand, contain several other ingredients. Moreover, the particles are small so that it will bun rapidly.

Different brands of cigars come in varying lengths anywhere between four and eight inches. The length you select must be based on your needs. The longer you would like the cigar to last, the longer one you may choose. Thick and thin cigars again give the beginner the trouble of choosing the correct size. Thin cigars with light flavor will be ideal for the beginners. As you become used to smoking, you can try thicker ones with stronger flavors and blends. Within a short span of time, you will be used to the various flavors making you capable of selecting your special brand.

Choosing a Cigar

Monday, November 30th, 2009

cigarsCigars have been popular all over the world, especially in the European countries. Despite the fact that they are addictive as well as harmful, the numbers of cigar users are increasing rapidly. Owing to their increased demand, newer brands are coming rapidly in the market. With too many varieties of cigars, it will be difficult to choose a brand as far as the beginners are concerned. Once you are able to find your favorite cigar based on your taste, you can well stick to the brand.

The tastes of people differ. Your favorite brand may not be appealing to another person. Hence it is of no use discussing with other smokers when you try to find out a good brand. A beginner can start with milder flavors of tobacco.

Tobacco preset in the cigars come in various flavors. The way in which the tobacco plant has been nurtured, the parts of the plant being used to make the cigars, the storage conditions, all influence the flavor. The storage conditions of handmade cigars affect their quality and they are affected by temperature and light. They are usually kept in a box called humidor where they provide the ideal conditions and humidity for the cigar to age. The white powder that forms over the cigars enhances their flavor.

Do’s of Smoking Cigars

Monday, November 30th, 2009

manThere is nothing hurried about savoring the aroma of cigar smoke and having a glass of whisky, talking to your friends and taking a puff again. Smoking handmade cigars is not just about getting relief from stress, it’s about the experience. One needs to learn and master the art of unwrapping a cigar, cutting or snipping of the end and lighting it. All of these takes time and is to be carried out in a gentlemanly way.

The right way to hold a cigar is to position it between your thumb and index finger. Notice how this is different from holding a cigarette which is usually held between the middle finger and index finger.

Wait at least 15 minutes after you have finished one cigar before lighting another one. This is to showcase the laidback attitude of the cigar smoker as opposed to the fidgety behavior of the cigarette smoker.

Cuban Cigars 101 Part 2

Monday, November 30th, 2009

cubans1The taste of the any cigar is influenced, in general, by the aging process of the tobacco leaves. The more they age, the more aromas they provide to the users. The aging technique of the tobacco leaves in the process of making Cuban cigars is another factor that confers superior quality to the brand.

Cuba’s climatic conditions and the nature of the soil influence the flavor of the leaves. In fact, Cuba is one of the nations that produces the best quality tobacco in the world. The favorable environments as well as the dexterity of the cigar makers enable the Cuban cigar to maintain the superiority over other manufacturers. Pinar del Rio and Sancti Spiritus are places in Cuba that are known to produce good quality tobacco.

As the demand for the Cuban cigars is very high all over the world, fake cigars are being sold under the name of Cuban cigars. Unless you purchase the handmade cigars from legitimate dealers, it is likely that you may get fake cigars instead of Cuban cigars. To avoid that, examine the cigar box closely to see any tampering or damages when you buy them. Also you must check to see if all the handmade cigars are neatly arranged and if they are of uniform length. The Cuban cigars will be soft with an extremely soft surface. In addition to these, the characteristic aroma of the Cuban cigars is enough to distinguish them from the duplicate cigars.

Cuban Cigars 101

Monday, November 30th, 2009

cubansCuban cigars have been deemed as the top-quality handmade cigars among the various brands available. They give the most pleasurable experience for the smokers. Due to the same fact, the business of exporting hand rolled Cuban cigars to various parts of the world has been flourishing for a long time. Many of the Cuban brands were enjoyed by the richer sections in the society. In the past, United States has placed several restrictions on the importing of Cuban cigars. Now they have relaxed a bit and it is possible to bring limited amount of cigars from Cuba.

The country produces around forty brands of cigars, all maintaining the unique characteristics. The lengths of the cigars vary from ten to twenty four centimeters. They come in different thicknesses-fine type, medium type and the thick variety. The thicker type burns pretty slow and the taste is not as strong like the other brands.

Due to the high demand of Cuban cigars, they are available only at exorbitant prices outside Cuba. But within the country, it is available for a cheaper rate as well. Usually, they sell Cuban cigars as boxes containing twenty five cigars. Many sellers allow the users to test the taste before making the purchase.

What makes the hand rolled Cuban cigars so special? Adherence to high quality during the processing of handmade Cuban cigars makes them distinctive from the rest. The manufacture of handmade Cuban cigars is a complex process. They select the best quality leaves for cigar making. After the cleaning and drying of the tobacco leaves, they are hand rolled to form superior quality cigars. Some of the popular brands include Cohibas, Montecristo and Partagas.

One can experience a variety of flavors from a single Cuban cigar. The variety of long leaves they use to make the different layers give the unique experience to the smokers. The makers do the task with extreme care and never has it been made using machines. Quality has been assured for the same reason.

CIGARS for Troops Program

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

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For soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq, luxuries such as smoking a cigar have to be left behind. That is, until now. The Cigars for Troops Program allows both individuals and cigar companies to donate handmade cigars to be sent overseas.

There is no limit to the numbers of cigars that can be sent, but larger sets or packages are encouraged, so they can be shared among soldiers. The USPS offers a special $7 mailing box that can be filled with cigars or other items and shipped to be a military address anywhere in the world. Weight doesn’t matter.

More information and donation tips can be found by contacting:

Cyle Geertz
CSTC-A, CJ1
APO AE 09356