Posts Tagged ‘quality cigars’

Tips for the Beginner Cigar Smoker

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Cigar Chart

Cigar Chart

You may just be getting into the cigar scene and you’re wondering how to choose your very first cigar. Walking in to a cigar store for the first time can be pretty intimidating, especially because everyone working there is a pseudo-expert. Here are a few tips to choosing the right handmade cigar.

First, you want to prepare yourself to buy at least a half dozen cigars. When you begin, you’ll have an idea of what you’re looking for but you won’t really be able to assess the various cigar styles, lengths and color until after you smoke a few.

For starters, it’s always good to start in the middle. Choose a cigar that is medium in color, middle of the road in size and diameter. Once you smoke a few different cigars in this category, talk with friends who smoke cigars regularly and let them what aspects you want more or less of. They can advise you on a better choice the next time.

If you were looking for more intense flavor and more smoke you would want to try a darker and thicker cigar. If you wanted less flavor and not as much smoke you may want to try a cigar that is lighter in color and has less in diameter.

Getting started with cigars is completely trial and error. You will learn the best by trying the different styles, brands, origins, colors, length and thickness. Find a local cigar bar where you can learn from other people and have company when you choose to smoke.

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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.

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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.

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The Inner Workings of a Cuban Cigar

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Cigar Tobacco

Cuban cigars are in a category of their own. Maybe it’s the embargo against Cuba that’s made them so appealing or maybe it truly is their incomparable quality. Whatever the reason is, each Cuban cigar is specially made and designed with specific qualifications. Here are the qualities that make an authentic quality Cuban cigar.

The wrapper.

A fine Cuban cigar’s wrapper will be grown under a cheese cloth canopy, cutting out about a third of the sunlight giving the leaf a very fine texture. A true Cuban wrapper will be created with a large tobacco leaf, less visible vein patterns, leaves that are more fine, no visual evidence of damage, highly oily that allows the leaf to be rolled and perfect and consistent color throughout. These qualities will provide one of the best Cuban’s you can buy.

The filling.

The cigar wrapper is mainly for visual appeal but the real test is in the filler. Of course the filling should be made of 100% Cuban tobacco; no blends or mixtures of various tobaccos. The filling should be high in nicotine, full flavors, the appropriate characteristics of region it was grown, a perfect balance of oils and resins and flexibility.

The binding.

In order to get the most of a Cuban the binding of the handmade cigar must have porous leaves, the perfect amount of nitrogen, a wonderful aroma, immature vein patterns and durability and flexibility.

Always make sure you are purchasing an authentic 100% Cuban cigar. There are many imitations that attempt to sell a blended cigar made with less than 10% of Cuban tobacco.

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