Posts Tagged ‘fine cigars’

Handmade Cigars

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Handmade cigars are the cream of the crop. They have a longer filler which means the entire length of the cigar is one leaf. The leaf is cut in half down the center of the vein to provide two separate sheets to roll with. This provides incredible consistency, superb quality and unprecedented taste.

The binder of a handmade cigar is flexible and smooth with just enough durability to hold the filler. Because these are handmade each cigar will have a slightly different variation based on who rolled it.

The wrapper is typically very high quality with just the right elements ensuring a consistent and quality burn with a smooth and satisfying texture. The wrapper should posses a slightly oily body when touched.

Many people confuse handmade cigars with hand rolled. They are very different and the wording is used to deceive consumers. Hand rolled cigars are part rolled by hand and parted machine rolled. There are plenty of counterfeit cigar makers out there who want ignorant people to buy hand rolled cigars for the same price as handmade ones.

Hand made cigars are the finest quality you can buy. They are made the way cigars were produced over a hundred years ago. They will provide you with the highest quality, best taste and overall satisfaction.

Before you go shopping for a handmade cigar do a little homework and educate yourself on exactly what you’re looking for so you can overcome any marketing techniques. Being an aggressive learner will save you a lot of time, money and frustration.

Selecting a Humidor for your Cigars

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Cigar Humidor

Cigar Humidor

With so many humidors available on the market it is important to choose the right one for your needs. A humidor is vital to your cigar collection as it can either preserve or ruin your prized possessions. Purchasing a humidor that is both efficient and in your price range is essential to building your cigar collection.

If you smoke a few cigars once in a while the best investment for you should be a basic cigar box humidor. These can typically hold up to 20 cigars and will preserve them for a good period of time. They are fairly inexpensive but a priceless investment.

If you’re planning on traveling in the near future you may want to consider purchasing a travel humidor. Travel humidors are similar to a box humidor except they are more compact and durable for travel.

If you’re a cigar collector you may want to consider buying a cigar cabinet humidor which can range in size and price. You can browse online for a wide selection that will fit in your interests and price range.

After you purchase your humidor be sure to understand the maintenance requirements and how to maintain the hygrometer calibration. If you fail to do so, your humidor may not last as long as it was intended.

No matter what type of humidor you’re purchasing always be sure that it is made from 100% Spanish cedar to ensure the best preserved and best tasting handmade cigars. Don’t settle for cheap imitations because they can’t compare. Always ask questions to the person selling you the humidor so that you are properly educated and informed.

How to Choose the Best Cigar

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Choosing the right cigar for you is based on preference. Some people prefer a short smoke while others want a long lasting handmade cigar. There are those that like a dark and full flavor and others who would rather have a light and timid taste. The best way to get to know the myriad of cigar possibilities and which ones suite you the best is to experiment. You’ll want to try variations, sizes, brands, origins and so to get a good handle of what’s available on the market and which you prefer.

The first step in choosing the best cigar for you is talk to the workers at the tobacco shop or cigar parlor you frequent. Most cigar aficionados are over joyed to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. They take great pride in their product and will be able to answer any questions and assist you in discovering the best fit for you. Who knows maybe the shop owner will give you few to try!

Next purchase a few cigars that are different diameters to see which size suites you. The larger the diameter of the cigar, the more complex and full bodied the taste will be. Also, the larger the cigar the more smoke it will produce. For those who prefer a light and simple cigar a small to medium diameter will work best.

One last factor you should notice is the shape and color of the cigar. It’s difficult to know exactly how different shapes affect the taste so you may need to try a few to get a good handle on them. The color is obvious. If you like to drink your coffee dark and strong then give a fairly dark colored cigar a try. The lighter the cigar, the less intense the taste will be.

The bottom line is to experiment and have fun learning the incredible world of cigars.

How Cigars are Made

Monday, April 20th, 2009
Rolling Cigars

Handmade Cigars

The manufacturing of cigars is centuries old and has bee perfected tremendously in the last fifty years. It is a simple process but requires perfect precision to manufacture a quality cigar.

First the tobacco leaves are grown and harvested. Once harvested, they then undergo a process called curing for about a month. During curing the leaves are aged with a combination of shade and heat to rid the tobacco of water and sugar. Without this first step in the process, the leaves would simply rot. Based on the climate, temperature and type of tobacco this process can greatly differ in varies places around the world.

After the curing stage the leaves are then fermented under very specific conditions. The purpose of this process is to aid the leaves in dying slowing so they don’t decay or rot. It is this part of the process that produces the aroma, color and flavor of the cigar. The fermentation process is very sensitive and crucial to producing a rich and flavorful cigar.

Once the leaves are properly fermented the manufacturer will inspect the tobacco until it is matured to the proper requirements. Once it is approved to be made into a cigar, it is still inspected to decide whether it should be the filler or wrapper of the cigar. Leaves rich in color and texture are reserved for the wrapper and those not as aesthetically pleasing will be used as the filler.

The tobacco is then hand rolled, if it is a quality cigar, shipped to the retailer and stored in a humidor at 70 degrees with a relative humidity of 70%. The cigars are then laid on display and wait for a buyer to enjoy!

A Brief History of Ybor City (cigar city)

Monday, April 20th, 2009
Ybor City in Tampa, FL

Ybor City in Tampa, FL

Ybor city is located in the heart of Tampa, FL and is regarded as one of the earliest cigar producing cities in the United States. In the early 1880’s Tampa was nothing more than a small village of around a thousand people. Due to the creation of a good port and a new railroad line directly to Tampa, a well known Spaniard, Vicente Martinez Ybor, decided to make this his new home.

Ybor was a very well to do cigar manufacturer who was looking for a new place to establish his cigar operation. The humid weather and the newly established railroad made the small village the perfect location for both production and distribution. As Ybor established his operation in 1885, people began to flock to his 40 acres of purchased land for jobs. The success of the cigar industry in the newly developing Tampa helped establish Tampa as a growing city.

During the 20th Century Ybor City grew by leaps and bounds. People from Spain, Cuba, Italy and Isreal all immigrated to this growing city. In 1929 Ybor city hit its peak of cigar manufacturing. It rolled a total of over a half trillion cigars. This was the same year that the Great Depression hit the US and sent the cigar industry into a huge decline.

After World War 2 the cigar industry had a rebirth but Ybor was still a distant thought of the past. In the late 1980’s local artists and urban individuals were in search for a place of expression. They found one another in Ybor City where today the streets are lined with cigar bars and high fashion and the local arts.

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.