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The Cigar Experience 

The joy of smoking rolled tobacco leaves began in the Americas hundreds of years ago and was introduced to Europeans after Christopher Columbus' return from his first voyage in 1492. Since then, the cigar has become perfected and has experienced peaks and valleys in popularity. 

The Cigar Ingredients  

Before getting into how to smoke a cigar, what goes into cigars? The answer to this question is the key to assessing the quality of a specific cigar. All but the thinnest cigars include three elements:

1. (1)the filler tobacco at the center
   

2. (2)a binder leaf which holds the filler together and
   

3. (3)the outer wrapper, which is rolled around the binder.
   

THE ANATOMY OF A CIGAR

There are typically five types of tobacco leaves that make a cigar, each type specially grown and prepared for its special purpose.

The individual tobacco leaves used in the body of the cigar. A fine cigar usually contains between three types of filler leaves. The light-flavored volado is used for combustibility, the medium-flavored seco is known for its aroma, and the ligero for

BINDER OR CAPOTE

The portion of a tobacco leaf used to hold together the blend of filler leaves called the bunch; the binder defines the shape of the cigar perfecting its smoking

WRAPPER OR CAPA

A high-quality tobacco leaf wrapped around the finished bunch and binder. It is very elastic and, at its best, unblemished. The wrapper contributes little to the flavor of a cigar, but it stands as the ultimate symbol of the cigar’s perfection.

CIGAR SELECTION: COLORS, NAMES AND SIZES

Cigar colors and cigar wrappers:

The most obvious characteristic of most cigars is the color of the exterior wrapper. Whether a green Candela wrapper or a dark Maduro-wrapped cigar, the cigar wrapper is an important element and a key in many people's purchase of specific cigars. Although manufacturers have identified more than 100 different wrapper shades, they can be grouped into seven major color classifications, as noted below:

> Double Claro: Also known as “American Market Selection” [AMS] or “Candela,”

   this is a green wrapper. Once popular, it is rarely found today.

> Claro: This is a very light tan color, almost beige in shade; often grown in

   Connecticut or from Connecticut seeds in Ecuador.

> Colorado Claro: A medium brown found on many cigars, this category covers

   many descriptions. The most popular are “Natural” or “English Market Selection” [EMS].

   Tobaccos in this shade are grown in many countries.

> Colorado: This shade is instantly recognizable by the obvious reddish tint.

> Colorado Maduro: Darker than Colorado Claro in shade, this color is often

   associated with African tobacco, such as wrappers from Cameroon, or

   with Havana Seed tobacco grown in Honduras or Nicaragua.

> Maduro: Very dark brown to almost black. Tobacco for Maduro wrappers is primarily

   grown in Connecticut, Mexico, Nicaragua and Brazil. These dark wrappers – which

   usually offer a sweeter taste – are usually created by leaving leaves on the plant longer and

   then curing them for longer periods, but there are some who take shortcuts and boil or “cook”

   leaves to create the dark shade. 

> Oscuro: This is black . . . really black. This shade of wrapper reappeared with more

   frequency in 2001 after being almost off the market in the 1990s.

Cigar shapes and sizes:

There are cigars of every shape and every size for every occasion. From tiny, cigarette-like cigarillos to giant monsters resembling pool cues, there is a wide variety to choose from. Certain sizes and shapes which have gained popularity over the years and have become widely recognized, even by non-smokers. Cigar shape names such as “corona” or “panatela” have specific meanings to the cigar industry, although there is no formally agreed-to standard for any given size. The following table lists 20 well-known shapes, and is adapted from Paul Garmirian's explanation of sizes in The Gourmet Guide to Cigars. The “classical” measurements for which this shape is known are given, along with a size and girth range for each size for classification purposes:

Shape                                     Classic Length. x Ring                                 Length range                                 Ring range

Giant                                       9 x 52                                                            8 & up                                           50 & up

Double Corona                       73⁄4 x 49                                                        63⁄4-73⁄4                                      49-54

Churchill                                 7 x 47                                                             63⁄4-77⁄8                                      46-48

Perfecto                                 none                                                               all                                                  all

Pyramid                                  7 x 36                                                             54                                                 all flared

Torpedo                                  61⁄2 x 52                                                        all                                                 tapered

Toro                                        6 x 50                                                            55⁄8-65⁄8                                       48-54

Robusto                                  5 x 50                                                            41⁄2-51⁄2                                       48-54

Grand Corona                        61⁄2 x 46                                                        55⁄8-65⁄8                                       45-47

Corona Extra                          51⁄2 x 46                                                        41⁄2-51⁄2                                       45-47

Giant Corona                          71⁄2 x 44                                                        71⁄2 & up                                      42-45

Lonsdale                                 61⁄2 x 42                                                        61⁄2-71⁄4                                      40-44

Long Corona                           6 x 42                                                            57⁄8-63⁄8                                      40-44

Corona                                   51⁄2 x 42                                                         51⁄4-53⁄4                                      40-44

Petit Corona                           5 x 42                                                             4-5                                               40-44

Long Panatela                        71⁄2 x 38                                                        7 & up                                          35-39

Panatela                                 6 x 38                                                             51⁄2-67⁄8                                      35-39

Short Panatela                       5 x 38                                                             4-53⁄8                                          35-39

Slim Panatela                         6 x 34                                                             5 & up                                          30-34

Small Panatela                       5 x 33                                                             4-5                                               30-34

Cigarillos                                4 x 26                                                             6 & less                                        29 & less

With the great increase in shaped cigars, here are our classification criteria for figurados:

> Culebras: Spanish for “snake,” a Culebras is made up of three small cigars twisted together. This shape has returned to the U.S. market and a few manufacturers have this unique shape available.

> Perfecto: This shape has two tapered ends. Until recently, there were just a few cigars which offered Perfecto “tips” on the foot, but true Perfectos have made their comeback. For the bold, take a look at the Puros Indios Gran Victoria (10 inches long by 60 ring) to see a true “pot-bellied” cigar.

> Torpedo: This was traditionally a fat cigar with two fully closed, pointed ends, but has now come to mean a cigar with an open foot and a straight body which tapers to a closed, pointed head. This “new” torpedo was popularized by the Montecristo (Havana) No. 2, which debuted in 1935. The Torpedo differs from “Pyramid”-shaped cigars, which flare continuously from the head to the foot, essentially forming a triangle. Like the Torpedo, whose meaning has changed over time, the Royal Corona or Rothschild title is seen less and less on cigars now known as “Robustos.” This change has been rapid over the past 4-5 years, but some manufacturers still label their shorter, thicker cigars as Rothschilds or even as a “Rothchild” (an incorrect spelling of the famous German banking family name). A few manufacturers use both and label their 5-51⁄2-inch, 50-ring models as “Robustos” and reserve the “Rothschild” name for shorter, but still 50- ring, cigars of 4-43⁄4 inches! Many other shape names are used by manufacturers; some cigars even have multiple names. For the sake of convenience, the many types of small, very thin cigars are grouped under the “Cigarillo” title rather than distributed over a long list of names such as “Belvederes,” “Demi-Tasse” and others. You’ll want to try different cigars of different sizes for specific occasions. Let your imagination be your guide!

CIGAR STORAGE:

HUMIDORS, CASES AND THE GREAT CELLOPHANE DEBATE

Humidors and Cigar Storage: Cigars are like any other plant product and deteriorate over time if not cared for. That’s where a humidor for cigar storage comes in. To store your cigars for use over time, a humidor is essential. As a product of the Caribbean, cigars do best in a tropical climate similar to the conditions under which they were created. The consensus is that storage is best achieved at a temperature of 70 degrees (F) and at 70 percent relative humidity.  The risks of having conditions which vary wildly from this norm can be substantial. At extremely cold temperatures or with too little humidity, cigars will dry out and be unsmokable (a.k.a. DEAD). At high temperatures - above 80 degrees F - or at high humidity levels, the dreaded tobacco beetle can hatch and begin boring its way through the cigar. The microscopic larvae are embedded in the leaf and high temps or humidity allow them to hatch and destroy any cigar they are in. Whole boxes of cigars have been turned to dust by these vermin. The only defense is to ensure that your cigars are kept at correct temperatures and at humidity levels of less than 80 percent. (If you get beetle infestations, you’ll see the holes and every cigar which has these problems must be discarded. Check all other cigars in the same box or pack carefully and make sure they are stored in a new or different container before returning them to your humidor. This is why many enthusiasts keep their cigars in their cellophane wrappers to protect against the spread of beetles, even though this slows the aging process. More on this below)

So what kind of humidor works best?  Any container which has a good seal and can incorporate a sponge or other humidification device can be used, even Tupperware. During the Cigar Boom of the mid-1990s, there was even a plastic box marketed as the “TupperDor”! But beyond that, you’re buying a piece of furniture. All humidors should close tightly and if lined with wood, must use Spanish Cedar. Other woods such as plywood or American Cedar can have strong smells which can interfere with the taste of your cigars. Take your pick of exterior decorations to match your home or office decor. One suggestion: keep your humidor away from direct sunlight to keep temperatures down. Not all humidors come with humidifiers, so you need to check before buying. If you need to buy a humidifier separately, there are plenty to choose from, but check to see which require a special propylene glycol solution and which use simple distilled water. Cigar Cases: Just going out for a few hours and need to take your cigars along? Opt for a quality cigar case, made from odorless leather in endless styles and price points. You can choose from ultra-protective hard cases with individual slots or softer cases which have open interiors to allow you to carry different sizes as desired. Don’t worry too much about humidification when carrying your cigars for a few hours on the road, unless you’re going to the desert.  There are cases, essentially small humidors, which include a humidification device inside and there are ideal for taking cigars on a multi-day trip. Be careful, however, on how you fill the humidifier. Losing cigars to overhumidification, or worse, to an exploding or leaky humidifier inside a case is all too common.