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.
Posts Tagged ‘Cigar Knowledge’
Handmade Cigars Part 2
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Pairing 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.
Alcohol and Cigar Smoking
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Some people consider smoking a cigar one of the most indulging pleasures one can afford in his or hers free time. Choosing the ideal cigar brand is an issue in itself, but matching it with the proper drink is a task worth considering. It should be noted, that there is no “right” answer on this matter but it is all down to personal choice. However, there are certain common sense rules.
The first important thing about choosing the right drink for a cigar is the time of the day. If it is 10 in the morning, you should smoke accompanied by a cup of coffee, rather than a scotch or rum. Respectively, in the evening, a type of alcohol should be considered. Second, the alcohol and the cigar should be in a balance with each other. For example, a full-bodied cigar will match an alcohol with a full flavor, like scotch or whiskey; a lighter cigar will go with a rose, white wine or champagne. This way you will find your cigar and drink of the same weight, creating the intended wonderful experience.
But, even though weight is a good technique to match your smoke with your drink, it does not let you explore the great bond that can be created between a cigar and an alcohol or non-alcohol drink. The truly incredible experience comes when the taste of the drink add up to the cigar’s taste, creating a complex synergy of the two flavors. And this feeling is different for everybody. Some people like single malt scotch with a strong flavored cigar. Others prefer a glass of rum, accompanying their smoke.
Smoking Cigars in Cold Weather
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Smoking a cigar in a chilly winter day is one hell of a task and can actually be a true bummer. In an ice cold day when you are out somewhere and are desperate to light your favorite cigar for few drags, you find that you cannot even light it in such low temperature, leave apart enjoying it; how would you feel?
It is really frustrating but this is how cigars are. These are made of tobacco leaves which are accustomed of working fine in 60-70 degrees. The shivery weather dries the cigars and makes it brittle and subjected to damage and as a result, it simply would not light up. And if you are able to light it, it would not stay lit for long. Apart from that, the usual flavor of your cigar would be lost in a chilly weather. It would not really taste the same and one could surely feel the difference. These are the times when one sincerely needs a puff or two to get rid of the coldness of a usual icy weather while the merciless weather would ensure you would not get to do that.
Frankly speaking, it is not the right place or time to smoke a cigar in a weather condition where the temperature is below zero degree and wind is blowing as if it will blow the roof off your house. The other factor is you’ll never really get the actual aroma of a fine cigar nor you will be able to enjoy it in such surroundings.
How to Match a Fine Cigar with the Proper Drink?
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Some people consider smoking a cigar one of the most indulging pleasures one can afford in his or hers free time. Choosing the ideal cigar brand is an issue in itself, but matching it with the proper drink is a task worth considering. It should be noted, that there is no “right” answer on this matter but it is all down to personal choice. However, there are certain common sense rules.
The first important thing about choosing the right drink for a cigar is the time of the day. If it is 10 in the morning, you should smoke accompanied by a cup of coffee, rather than a scotch or rum. Respectively, in the evening, a type of alcohol should be considered. Second, the alcohol and the cigar should be in a balance with each other. For example, a full-bodied cigar will match an alcohol with a full flavor, like scotch or whiskey; a lighter cigar will go with a rose, white wine or champagne. This way you will find your cigar and drink of the same weight, creating the intended wonderful experience.
But, even though weight is a good technique to match your smoke with your drink, it does not let you explore the great bond that can be created between a cigar and an alcohol or non-alcohol drink. The truly incredible experience comes when the taste of the drink add up to the cigar’s taste, creating a complex synergy of the two flavors. And this feeling is different for everybody. Some people like single malt scotch with a strong flavored cigar. Others prefer a glass of rum, accompanying their smoke.
The Best of Montecristo Cigars
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
One 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.
The Magic of Dunhill Cigars Part 2
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
The 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.