For the Love of a Good Cigar
[ Introduction ][ Anatomy of a Cigar ][ Cigar Sizes ][ Selecting a Cigar ]
[ Storing Your Cigars ][ Cigar Accessories ][ Lighting/Smoking Your Cigar ][ Cigar Links ]
INTRODUCTION...
There's nothing like a good cigar to help you relax and enjoy a nice, quiet evening. Except perhaps the company of a lovely young lady with a similar inclination. Thus the reason for the collection of smoking-inclined beauties on this page, who I like to refer to as "Ian's Succubi". (I had thought about calling them "Ian's Angels", but aside from the possible copyright infringement, angels don't smoke. Nor do they do any of the other things for which I'm so fond of lovely young women.)
Now even though cigar smoking is no longer the big "in" thing today like it was just a few years ago, the proud tradition of puffing a vintage stogie is still alive and well. But with all the PR out there about the evils of smoking and how to quit doing it, it occurred to me that there are hardly any sources willing to teach you how to smoke. This page is, therefore, my attempt to help supply this burning need (no pun intended).
As far as cigarettes and pipes go, you're on your own. But with regards to cigars, you've come to the right place!
ANATOMY OF A CIGAR...
A cigar is made up of three main parts - the filler, the binder, and the wrapper. Each part has a different function and plays a different part when the cigar is actually smoked.
The outer-most layer of the cigar is the wrapper, and it is this part which determines the appearance of the cigar. The wrapper should be smooth and soft, with a subtle bouquet, and it should be pliable so as to be easily handled during the rolling process.
The binder, located directly under the wrapper, is what helps hold the cigar together. It is usually made from two halves of coarse tobacco leaf from the upper part of the plant, chosen for its high tensile strength.
The filler is made up of seperate leaves folded along their length, to allow the passage of air through which smoke can be drawn. This is where you'll find the major difference between machine-made and hand-made cigars. Hand-made cigars, aside from being made from a much higher grade of tobacco leaf, are made with filler leafs that are long and complete, almost as long as the cigar itself. It is made up of three different types of tobacco leaf. Ligero leaves are from the top of the plant, and are dark and full in flavor due to the oils they contain produced by exposure to sunlight. They must be matured for at least two years before they can be used in cigar making. Ligero tobacco is placed in the middle of the cigar as it burns slowly.
Seco leaves, located in the middle of the plant, are lighter in both color and flavor. They mature for 18 months or more before being used. And finally volado leaves, from the bottom of the plant, are used. These leaves have little or no flavor, but they have very good burning qualities. These are matured for about nine months before being used.
On cheaper, machine-made cigars the filler is mostly made up of smaller broken and shredded leaves, similar to that used in cigarettes. Not only is the content of the filler completely random as it tends to be made from craps left over from other steps in the cigar making process, the original quality of the filler material is usually much lower.
But a proper cigar can only be rolled by hand. The filler leaves are arranged in a manner usually referred to as the "book style", meaning that if you were to take a razor and split the cigar down its length the filler leaves would resemble the pages of a book. This is why hand-made cigars are so much more expensive than the machine-made variety. The higher grade of tobacco requires more labor intensive farming techniques, and then the actual construction of the cigar requires a skilled worker taking his/her time. And while this might make the cigar a lot more expensive, it also makes it a much more enjoyable smoke.
The last touch in the cigar's construction is the addition of the cap. In most cases, the cap is formed from a seperate coin-sized piece of leaf and is fitted to the end of the cigar. However on a few of the finest hand-made cigars the cap is formed by folding down an excess piece of the wrapper itself. This method is called the "flag" style of capping.
CIGAR SIZES...
There are countless cigar sizes. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a standard size or even a comprehensive list of sizes. The girth of a cigar is graded in terms of its "ring size", also referred to as its "ring gauge". Each gauge rating represents 1/64th of an inch in thickness. Thus a cigar of ring gauge 40 is 40/64ths of an inch (and of course a ring gauge of 64 would be 64/64ths or one inch thick).
Just to give you an idea of some of the various sizes available, here is a brief listing of some of the more common sizes and some of the cigars that come in those sizes:
CIGAR NAME LENGTH (INCHES) RING GAUGE
Carolina 4 3/4 26
Laguito No. 3 4 1/2 26
Entreacto 3 7/8 30
Cadete 4 1/2 36
Seoane 5 36
Laguito No. 1 7 1/2 38
Laguito No. 2 6 38
Franciscano 4 1/2 40
Perla 4 40
Londres 5 40
Cervante 6 1/2 42
Corona Grande 6 1/8 42
Corona 5 1/2 42
Minuto 4 3/8 42
Dalia 6 3/4 43
Corona Gorda 5 5/8 46
Gran Coron 9 1/4 47
Julieta 2 7 47
Hermoso No. 4 5 48
Prominente 7 5/8 49
Robusto 4 7/8 50
Piramide 6 1/8 52
Campana 5 1/2 52
SELECTING A CIGAR...
Basically, selecting the right cigar is a personal decision. The cigar I might pick for myself may not be right for you. Even the time of day or the circumstance in which you are smoking can affect your choice of cigar. For example, a larger cigar is best suited for smoking in the evening, especially after a large meal. Such a heavy cigar is more smooth and so will sit better on a full stomach, plus as it will take longer to smoke it you will have ample time to sit back and relax and enjoy your smoke. Something else to keep in mind is that a heavier cigar before a meal is likely to spoil your appetite as well as distrupting your taste buds.
A small, lighter cigar is a better choice for earlier in the day, especially if you have a light lunch. More experienced smokers may prefer a slightly heavier cigar, perhaps a robusto, as an after-meal smoke if they have a more full meal at lunchtime.
But aside from the selection of the appropriate type of cigar, there are a few things to look for when picking out the individual cigar. The very first of which is to make sure the wrapper is complete and intact. If it isn't, discard it as this will cause problems with the draw and can cause the cigar to burn unevenly. The wrapper should also have a healthy sheen and there should be a noticeable bouquet. Make sure that it is not too dry or brittle, otherwise you will notice a very harsh flavor when you smoke it.
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect darker cigars to have a fuller, sweeter flavor to them. This is because the darker tobacco leaves have more sugar remaining in them, and this will come through during the smoking.
STORING YOUR CIGARS...
Like any other sort of produce, cigars need to be carefully kept and stored. They should remain in a protected environment of 60 to 70 degrees F, with a humidity of 65% - 70%. And whether you use the original cigar box they came in or a top-of-the-line humidor, they need to be kept in an air-tight container, away from any heat source and preferably in the coolest spot in your house. Never allow them to remain in direct sunlight, or exposed to sea breezes. Too much humidity can also be a problem, as this may lead to the development of mold on your cigars. And in warm climates you may also need to keep an eye out for insects, especially the tobacco beetle.
If you aren't using a humidor, you can still purchase a small humidifier to keep in your cigar box or whatever other storage container you're using. These range in size and shape and many are very affordable. These devices contain a small piece of sponge or chalk which you must first moisten (using distilled water only) before placing with your cigars. The most affordable method of storing is to simply use the cedar box the cigars came in. Place the entire box inside a Zip Lock bag and place a small damp sponge inside the bag before sealing it. If you store your cigars at a low temperature, remember that you need to raise the humidity in order to help compensate.
CIGAR ACCESSORIES...
There's no end to the variety of cigar accessories you can find on the market today, so a comprehensive listing is right out of the question. But here is a brief look at a few of the more common items you're likely to want to pick up at some time during your smoking career.
Cutters: All handmade cigars are closed at the end, so you will need to find some method to remove or open the cap before you can smoke them. There are many schools of thought on how best to cut your cigar, and here again there's really no one right or wrong way of doing it. Most smokers prefer some sort of cutter. These range widely from simple guillotine-types with one or two blades, all the way up to fancy cigar scissors (although these take a little practice to learn how to use properly, so don't start out using one with your five dollar cigars).
Regardless of which one you decide to use, make sure the blade or knife used is very sharp so that you avoid damaging the wrapper. The cut needs to be clean and level to get the best draw and performance. Never pierce or puncture the cap, as this will pack the filler down and prevent you from getting the proper draw through the cigar. You can even use your fingernails to simply pinch off the tip of the cap. In any event, the idea is to take off just enough of the cap to expose the filler leaves inside. You should never remove the entire cap.
Lighters: Here again it is larger up to you as to what to use to light your cigar. Lighters are fine, although you should use a butane lighter instead of a gasoline one in order to avoid impairing the flavor. Matches are also perfectly acceptable, and many quality smoke shops even stock special long and slow-burning matches just for cigar smokers. However you should avoid using a match which is high in sulfur or wax content, as again this will add an undesirable flavor to your cigar.
Humidors: Humidors come in a wide range of styles and types, but most good ones are made from high-quality wood such as walnut, mahogany and rosewood. There are also some made from plastic or plexiglass. Avoid cheap humidors, if it's worth the effort of owning a humidor can range in price from $100 to several thousand, so unless you smoke regularly or store a large variety of cigars it's probably not worth buying one.
If you do decide to invest in a humidor, you should made sure the lid is heavy and that it has a good seal. And you'll want to make sure there is a hygrometer (usually on the inside of the lid) in order to monitor the humidity level. The insides should be unvarnished. For the travelling smoker, there are even small portable humidors made of wood or leather, and you can also find a number of pocket cigar cases.
LIGHTING/SMOKING YOUR CIGAR....
Once you've selected your cigar, bought and stored it properly, and are ready to light up and enjoy it, there's a few tips you should keep in mind when lighting it. I've already discussed above the proper techniques for cutting and preparing your cigar, so let's assume you now have cigar and lighter in hand and are ready to smoke:
1. Hold the cigar level and allow the tip to come in direct contact with the flame. Slowly roll the cigar in your fingers until the end is charred nice and evenly over the entire surface. Note that you should not have the cigar in your mouth at this point.
2. One the end is charred and ready, raise the cigar to your lips. Hold the flame about a half inch or so from the tip and very slowly draw in on the cigar while turning it gently. You want to make sure the end is lit evenly all the way around in order to avoid uneven burning.
3. Turn the cigar around to look at the tip and blow gently on it. This will cause the embers to glow brightly and you can check to ensure that the tip is burning properly and evenly.
Whether you remove the cigar band before smoking is entirely up to you. It really makes no difference in the enjoyment of your cigar. The British believe that you should remove the band, as it is considered poor form to advertise the brand of cigar that you smoke. But many people prefer to leave the band on for precisely that reason.
Cigars should be smoked slowly, never rush it. You should avoid puffing or drawing on it frequently as this will cause it to overheat and will spoil the flavor. And unlike a cigarette, never inhale the smoke directly. Cigar smoke has a very strong alkaline and nicotine content and will cause you to cough and/or gag in response.
Good quality, matured cigars will develop only a narrow band of carbon at the end while smoking. Lesser quality ones will have a thicker band. The ash from smoking a cigar will drop off on its own in its own sweet time, there is no need to tap it as with a cigarette. However in order to avoid it dropping off into your lap you might want to occassionally clear it with a gentle tap should the ash begin to get a little too long. The better the quality your cigar, the longer and firmer the tip of ash will be.
When left in an ashtray, a cigar will go out by itself. There's no need to stub it out. In fact, doing so will damage the cigar and make it impossible for you to relight and enjoy the remainder later. Should your cigar go out, just tap it lightly to remove any excess ash from the tip and blow through it to remove any stale air trapped inside. Then relight it as you would a new cigar. How long is an extinquished cigar good for? You should be able to relight and enjoy your cigar even after allowing it to sit for several hours after going out. But if you wait much longer you risk the chance of a rather stale taste developing.
Finally, you should know when to give up on a cigar. There's no merit in smoking a cigar all the way down to the very end. It's often been said of cigars that the end of a Havana Corona resembles that of a five-cent cigar. When you get down to the last several inches of a cigar it will start producing hot smoke and you will detect a very strong aftertaste. That's the sign that your cigar is at its end, and you should set it in your ashtray and allow it to go out by itself. However you may want to dispose of it soon afterwards in order to avoid giving the room a lingering, stale cigar odor.
CIGAR LINKS...
Looking to buy quality cigars? Maybe you need a new cutter, humidor or lighter. Or perhaps you're just looking for interesting reading relating to cigars and smoking. Well no matter what your cigar needs are, just take a look through the links below. Chances are you'll find something right along the lines of what you're looking for.
Alcalde Cigar & Coffee Company
Ambassador Cigar Company
BC Specialties
Big Butt Cigar Company
The Big Easy Cigar Sanctuary
Cigar Aficionado Magazine
Cigar Museum, Inc.
CigarScene Northwest
Cigar World
Cigar.com
CigarPipe
Cigars Around the World
The Garman Company
TheSmokeShop.com
Smoke Magazine
Smoke Screen
Virtual Cigar Shop, Inc.
