Intro to
Cigars
If you’ve ever felt intimidated by
the mysterious ways of cigar culture, rest
assured that there’s no reason to
be. Click on the sections below and you’ll
know more than enough to stand your ground
in any cigar conversation. If you can’t
find the answer to a basic question here,
please feel free to send it to us at info@rdgomez.com.
Construction
There are three parts to every cigar:
Filler: The filler is the heart of the
cigar, and comes from the middle third
of the tobacco plant. When the strips
of tobacco travel the length of the cigar
in one piece, this is referred to as “long
leaf filler.” It’s the highest
quality (and most expensive) filler,
and enables the cigar to have a lengthy
ash before crumbling.
Binder: The
binder holds the filler in place within
the wrapper. It comes from a specialized
leaf found on the top of the tobacco
plant. The ideal binder is strong enough
yet can still add a complementary flavor
to the filler and wrapper.
Wrapper: The wrapper encloses the binder
and filler, and gives the cigar its appearance
as well as its aroma. The wrapper comes
from the bottom third of the tobacco
plant. It is the highest quality leaf
on any given cigar.
Appearance
A cigar’s appearance results from
the leaf that encloses it, referred to
as the wrapper. Below are the most common
varieties of cigar wrapper:
Caracara: This
wrapper has a light green appearance,
and is generally found on mild cigars.
Claro-Connecticut: The
Claro has a light tan appearance; sometimes
it has a greenish cast. The smoke from
these cigars is typically light and mild.
Natural: This
wrapper is medium brown, and has a medium
strength. Naturals offer a good blend
of richness, smoothness, and balanced
flavor.
Colorado or
Rosado: The Colorado’s
wrapper has a reddish hue. The Colorado
is slightly spicier and stronger than
the Natural, and not quite as widespread.
Maduro: One of the most popular cigar
shades, the Maduro has a dark brown wrapper.
Maduros are rich and smooth, and not
at all as strong as their appearance would suggest.
Oscuro: This is the darkest of cigars,
with a wrapper that is almost coffee-black.
Oscuros are regarded as having a distinctively
rich taste.
Sizes and shapes
Cigars are categorized by size, each
having its own name. Each category
is loosely defined by “length” (measured
in inches) and “ring gauge” (which
is the diameter of a cigar, measured
in 64ths of an inch.) Below are the
most common cigar classifications.
Type Length Ring Gauge
Cigarillo 3 20
Panetela 4 1/2” 26-32
Robusto 4 1/2” 48-52
Corona 5” 42
Belicoso 5” - 6” 50-54
Lonsdale 6 1/2” 42
Torpedo 6” - 9” 50-54
Churchill 7” 46-50
Double Corona 7 1/2” - 8” 48-52
Grand Corona 9 1/4” 47
Cigar shapes are broadly divided into
those with straight sides (parejos) and
those with irregular shapes (figurados).
Below are the most common of the figurados:
Pyramides: Closed end with a wider foot
Belicoso: Small pyramides with a rounded
head
Torpedo: Both the end and the foot are
closed
Culebra: Three panetelas braided together
Strength and blend
The blend of any cigar refers to the
interaction between the wrapper, binder
and filler, and determines the cigar’s
taste. And, as with fine wine and gourmet
coffee, cigars have an insider’s
language to describe their flavors.
Overall, the cigar is classified as
mild, medium, or full-bodied.
When describing flavors found in the
first third of a cigar, experts use such
words as spice; pepper; toast; coffee;
chocolate; nutty; creamy; tobacco; earthiness;
grassy; vegetal; floral; salty; and cinnamon.
The last third of the cigar determines
its finish, which refers to the aftertaste.
When describing a cigar’s finish,
experts commonly use words such as mild;
medium; cedary; leathery; hot; bitter;
earthy; creamy; and spicy.
Cutting and lighting
Over time, each smoker develops a favorite
method of snipping off the cigar’s
end. Regardless of the method – wedge,
guillotine, scissors, bull’s-eye,
piercer or knife – the quality
of the tool often determines the quality
of the cut. The object is to create
an opening large enough to enjoy a
smooth draw, but not so large that
you damage the cigar’s structure
and cause it to unravel.
When lighting your cigar, cool smoke
is what you’re after. Rather than
holding the cigar’s end inside
the flame, hold it at 45 degrees so that
the flame’s tip tickles the cigar
but never quite touches it. Now rotate
the cigar so that its end toasts evenly
all the way around. As soon as a lightly
burning ring surrounds the end and creeps
toward the center, blow lightly through
the cigar. Finally, rotate your cigar
while puffing.
Storage
Preserving a cigar’s freshness
depends on controlling light, temperature
and moisture. For any cigar, the ideal
environment is complete darkness, 60
to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and 70% humidity.
If you’re a dedicated cigar connoisseur,
you should consider investing in a quality
humidor. Look for one with a good seal
and a proper humidification system, so
that the only thing you’ll have
to monitor is the humidity level. Most
systems require distilled water every
four to six weeks.
An alternative is to place your cigars
in a sealed Tupperware container, along
with a well-rung piece of sponge. Place
your container in a secluded section
of your closet, and remember to re-moisten
your sponge weekly using distilled water.
Regardless of the storage method you
use, check your cigars regularly for
freshness by applying light pressure.
It’s also a good idea to give your
cigars fresh air once a week.
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