UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CIGAR ACCESSORIES

Introduction• Nearly 4 percent of the population of the country has

smoked a cigar in the last month. This contributes to the nearly $6 billion in revenue from tobacco products that is generated each year.

• Aficionados have created an entire culture around choosing, smoking and aging cigars. Some smokers flavor the tobacco with expensive spirits while other will store the cigars for years in a carefully controlled humidor.

Introduction• The accessories and rituals that surround cigars are very

important to some smokers. Anyone interested in cigars should own a few basic accessories.

Cutters• Cigar cutters are used to remove or otherwise open the

cap of a cigar so that it can be smoked correctly. There are four main types of cutters.

• Choosing a cutter is a matter of personal preference although some aficionados feel that different cuts produce different tastes.

• The most common cigar cutter is a straight guillotine.

Cutters• This device uses two crossing blades to remove the end

of the cap.

• A different type is a wedge cutter. This device creates a wedged opening in the cap but does not completely remove it from the cigar.

• A punch or awl is just a sharp spike that is used to puncture the cap. Multi-blade cigar cutters are relatively new and create six or more small holes in the cap.

Humidors• A humidor is a container that holds cigars. The purpose of

the container is to maintain a certain level of humidity and to protect cigars from environmental elements that could change the taste or texture of the tobacco.

• Most humidors are made from wood.

Humidors• They range from small boxes to freestanding closets that

can occupy an entire room. The door of a humidor should have a very tight seal that stops air from flowing into the chamber.

• The container should also be large enough to accommodate all of the cigars that are kept in the home at one time. Humidors require additional separate components in order to maintain the correct level of humidity.

Hygrometers And Humidifiers• A hygrometer is a device that measures the humidity of

the surrounding air. They are necessary when storing cigars in a humidor.

• The two main types of hygrometers are analog and digital. Digital models are easier to use, read and calibrate.

Hygrometers And Humidifiers• Analog models are preferred by many cigar aficionados

because they often match the appearance of a wooden humidor. A humidor also requires some type of humidification device.

• Humidification devices are normally small tubes or containers that are filled with distilled water. The device raises the humidity level slowly when filled and placed in the humidor.

• The inside of a humidor must be kept between 68 and 72 percent humidity to ensure that the cigars age properly.

Lighters• The type of lighter that is used can affect the flavor of a

cigar. One of the most effective and popular designs is a torch lighter. This type of lighter produces a very hot and focused flame like the flame from a welding torch. Torch lighters have no odor or taste.

• They also make it very easy to light thick cigars. Some cigar smokers prefer standard soft flame lighters. It is important to choose a cigar lighter that uses butane.

• Choosing a standard lighter that uses naphtha will alter the taste of the cigar.