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Introduction

Chapter 1 Different types of cigars

Chapter 2 Choosing cigars based on size, length, thickness and shape

Chapter 3 Aroma, flavor and taste of cigars

Chapter 4 Cigar cutting guide

Chapter 5 Does the cost of cigar influence its quality

Chapter 6 Cigar buying tips

Conclusion

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

Before we get started with the guide to buy cigars, it is important to know what a cigar is. Most

of us know cigar only by its size, which is much greater than a conventional cigarette. Very few

people know that the cigar is a made of a tightly rolled pack of fermented and dried tobacco leaf.

The tobacco leaves are rolled in a sequence of sized and types. While the user draws the smoke

into their mouth, a cigar gives a different experience altogether than a cigarette.

Many times, you might have compared the effects of a cigar and a cigarette. As opposed to

popular myths, the effects of both these products are same on the health, as they both expose

you to nicotine. However, the cigar smokers do not really think about the health risks at present.

If you had been smoking cigarettes previously, you must know that cigars may pose a greater

health risk for you. Even if you do not inhale the smoke of a cigar, the nicotine may be absorbed

in the body by means of lining in your mouth.

Although people who love cigars do not want to consider their health risks, it is better to be aware

than be ignorant. Since you are here to learn about the tips to buy cigars, we will not delve into

the details of their harmful effects. For the cigar lovers, they want to know what makes some

cigars special, and others positively treasured. If you have been trying to find out the answers

to some of the many questions related to cigars, you have arrived at the right place. Carry on

reading to know what separates a normal cigar from an exquisite one.

Cigars have a dynamic and interesting history as well as an appealing cultivation process. De-

pending on the types of leaves used and their place of cultivation, the cigars come in different

types and sizes. We will read all about cigars in the forthcoming chapters. So next time you are

out buying cigars, you know what to look for. Best of luck!

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Contents of cigars

Three elements compose the cigars:

Wrapper

This is the outer cover of the cigar that is made of lower and larger leaves of a plant. A wrapper

is wound around a cigar to bind the remaining elements of the cigar together.

Filler

The contents of a cigar are known as the fillers; they are made of small, wrapped bundle of

leaves.

Binder

Binders are the leaves used to wrap the contents of fillers in the cigar. They are usually made

of the same leaves like that of wrappers; the only difference is that they are discolored or have

holes in them.

Categorization of cigars

According to http://cigarklub.com/, shape and size are the criteria used to categorize cigars:

Size

The size of a cigar is characterized by two dimensions, the length, and the ring gauge.

Length

Length of a cigar is measured in inches.

Ring gauge

Ring gauge refers to the diameter of a cigar and measured in 64th of an inch. An example of

CHAPTER 1

Different types of cigars

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measuring cigar- a Dalia cigar measures 6.75” in length and 43 in ring gauge. It means that the

ring gauge is 43/64 of an inch in the diameter.

Shape

A cigar comes in different shapes according to its length and ring gauge, but the shape does not

determine the taste, quality, or strength of a cigar. The most common shape of a cigar is called

Parejo. Irregular shapes of cigars are known as Figurados, which has subcategories of Pyramid,

Torpedo, Presidente, and Perfecto. The Figurados are much higher in value and quality as they

are very difficult to produce. Other kinds of Figurados are:

Culebras

It is made of three straight long cigars that are plaited together.

Tuscanian: It is an Italian cigar, which is usually thin and long with a thicker centre.

Small Cigars

Although little cigars are not similar in their characteristics to conventional cigars, they are very

popular because of their ease of buying and low taxation. They are small in size, as the name

suggests, and look similar to cigarettes as they contain filters.

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Cigars have significant differences in them just because of two simple attributes- shape and

size. As told above, these factors do not affect the strength of a cigar. A cigar 8 inches in length

can be mellow if it is made of mild tobaccos, but a short, thin cigar can be full bodied if it is made

of powerful tobaccos. However, http://cigarklub.com/ says that a thin cigar would burn faster

than a fatter cigar. You must know that the strength of a cigar is not consistent in the same cat-

egory of different brands.

PAREJOS

A parejo is a straight-sided cigar with an open foot meant for lighting, which has to be cut for

smoking. It can be box-pressed or round, implying that the sides of a cigar are pressed square

before packing or sometimes using pressure in its box.

Corona

Corona is the yardstick size, which is used to measure other sizes of cigars. The conventional

dimension of a corona cigar is 5.5 to 6 inches and a ring gauge measuring 42- 44. For instance,

Montecristo number 3.

Petit Corona

This is a miniature of Corona and it measures almost 4.25 inches and has a ring gauge measur-

ing 40- 42. For instance, Montecristo number 4.

Churchill

This is a larger format of Corona. Churchill has a standard dimension of 7 inches and a ring

gauge of 47. For instance, Romeo y Julieta Churchill

Corona Gorda

Corona Gorda is also known as toro and it is gradually becoming popular. Traditionally, it meas-

ures 5 5/8 inches in length with a ring gauge of 46. It also comes in size measuring 6 inches

CHAPTER 2

Choosing cigars based on size,

length, thickness and shape

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with a ring gauge of 50. For instance, Punch Punch.

Robusto

This is a fat, short cigar that is very popular in America. It measures 4.75- 5.5 inches in length

with a ring gauge of 48- 52. For instance, Cohiba Robusto.

Double Corona

Double Corona comes with a standard dimension of 7.5- 8.5 inches and a ring gauge of 49- 52

inches. For instance, Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona

Lonsdale

Lonsdale cigar is often longer than corona cigar, but thicker than panetela. Its classic size is 6.5

inches of length and a ring gauge of 42. For instance, Montecristo number 1.

Panetela

This is an elegant, thin, and long cigar, which has decreased in popularity in the last few years.

Yet, it looks elegant in size and comes in various lengths ranging from 5 inches to 7.5 inches and

a ring gauge ranging from 34 to 38. With a length more than 7 inches, this cigar is often called

Gran Panetelas. For instance, Cohiba Lancero.

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FIGURADOS

Even though most of the cigars come in the category of Parejos, several companies are increas-

ingly expanding their portfolios with creatively shaped cigars. These new forms of cigars are

known as Figurados, which includes any kind of smoke that is not a cylinder with straight sides.

Although the interpretations of cigar manufacturers differ greatly, the basic types of Figurados

are:

Pyramid

A pyramid cigar has open feet, just like parejos, but its head is tapered to some point. They

generally come with a length of 6- 7 inches and a ring gauge of 40 at its head, which widens to

52- 54 at its foot. Cigar lovers often treasure a Pyramid cigar because the tapered head of this

cigar lets the intricate flavors to set in the mouth. For instance, Montecristo number 2.

Belicoso

Conventional Belicosos are kind of short pyramids, usually with a vaguely rounded head of the

Pyramid. They measure in the range of 5- 5.5 inches with a ring gauge of 50. Presently, the

belicosos are Corona Gordas or Corona with pointed heads. Of late, cigar manufacturers have

started producing mini-belicosos that are short cigars with tapered heads and little ring gauges.

For instance, Bolivar Belicoso Fino.

Torpedo

Even though several companies include Torpedo cigars in their portfolios, they are often Pyra-

mids in reality. An actual torpedo cigar is very rare today; it has a closed foot and the head is

somewhat tapered. It is also bulged in the centre. For instance, Cuaba Millennium.

Perfecto

Just like Torpedo, a Perfecto cigar comes with a bulge in the centre and a closed foot. The differ-

ence here is that the head of the Perfecto is slightly rounded as the head of Parejo. The Perfec-

tos come in various lengths ranging from 4.5 inches to 9 inches and a ring gauge ranging from

38- 48. For instance, Partagas Presidente.

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Culebra

Culebra used to be very popular in the olden days than it is at present. It is probably the most

bizarre shape of a cigar. It comprises of three panetelas plaited together, which are then tied

using a string and it is sold as a single cigar. The smoker unbraids the three joined parts smokes

them separately. Generally 5-6 inches in length, Culebras often has a ring gauge of 38. People

often use Culebra as a means to unite with friends by smoking the three braids in a group. For

instance, Partagas Culebra.

Diadema

A Diadema is an enormous cigar with a length of 8.5 inches or more. Its head is slightly tapered,

which does not conclude the point, and it has a ring gauge of 40. Diadema tapers down to an

open foot like that of Parejo or it may have a close foot like a Perfecto, generally with a ring

gauge measuring 50. You need to have significant time on hand to enjoy Diadema. For instance,

Hoyo de Monterrey Diadema.

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You must have heard a lot about the aroma of the cigars, but when you actually smoke a cigar,

the taste defeats the aroma. For cigar connoisseurs, aroma is more important than the taste of

a cigar. An important thing about the aroma is that it is an objective attribute of a cigar. What

you like in a cigar’s aroma may seem displeasing to someone else. So, http://cigarklub.com/

suggests that the important thing is that you should enjoy your cigar rather than seek approval

from someone else. For instance, you may like the earthy smell of a cigar, but this may be the

last thing on the agenda of another cigar buyer.

Aroma of a cigar comes from its wrapper as well as the tobacco filled in it. When you are smok-

ing a cigar that smells great, an experienced nose will quickly judge that and come to you ask-

ing, ‘May I know what you are smoking?’

The flavor is an intricate blend of sensation recognized while tasting a cigar. These two sensa-

tions influence the flavor of a cigar:

Aroma: The aroma is perceived through the nose, indirectly as well as directly, and it makes up

for almost 75% of the total sensation of the cigar.

Taste: The taste of a cigar is perceived through the mouth and it makes up for almost 25% of

the total sensation.

Aroma of a cigar

The following is the compilation of various aromas available in cigars worldwide:

Wood: Cedar, oak, pencil, sandalwood, and shavings.

Mineral: Graphite and iodine.

Earth/ fungi: Humus, moss, mushroom, peat, truffle, undergrowth, and yeast.

CHAPTER 3

Aroma, flavor, and taste

of cigars

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Animal: Leather, manure, meat, milk, stable, and venison.

Pepper: black pepper, green chili, white pepper, and red pepper.

Spice: Allspice, anise, balsamic, bittersweet, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, fresh spice,

ginger, licorice, nutmeg, sweet spice, turmeric, and vanilla.

Flowers: Dried flowers and lavender.

Fruits: Black current, citrus, dried fruit, prune, raspberry, and ripe fruit.

Sweet: Rum, pastry/ tart, nougat, marzipan, honey, gingerbread, chocolate milk, chocolate dark,

cappuccino, and brown sugar.

Nut: Walnut, peanut, hazelnut, fresh walnut, fresh hazelnut, chestnut, cashew, brazil nut, bitter

almond, and almond.

Toasted: Toasted bread, smoked, roasted meat, malt, cocoa bitter, caramel, brioche, bread, and

biscuit/ cookie.

Herbs: Fem, grass, hay, tea, and wet leaves.

Vegetable: No categories

Others: Tar, sulfur, pharmaceutical, fermented hay, dust, coal, cardboard, and ammonia.

How to taste a cigar

All the cigars have some common traits and if you know even some of them, you can easily spot

the cigar you want. The wrapper of a cigar comes in the following colors:

• Candela

• Natural

• Maduro

• Habano

• Oscuro

The look of a cigar can be categorized into:

• Toothy

• Veiny

• Oily

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When you squeeze a cigar gently, it will feel:

• spongy, tight, or soft

• properly humidified, cracked, or dry

• it may have hollow spots that cause canoeing

Before lighting a cigar

Before lighting a cigar, smell both the filler and the wrapper. The aroma you feel right then may

not appear in the aroma. Take a drag of the unlit cigar and hold it. Now, try breathing out from

your nose and keep your tongue almost touching the roof of the mouth.

Lighting a cigar

Do not light or toast a cigar using the direct flame as it may destroy the oils due to high tem-

perature. You must use the heat of a flame to light a cigar. When you blow the cigar on its end,

ensure that it is lit evenly, providing a leveled burn from the beginning.

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Smoking a cigar

A cigar gives most flavor when it is burnt at the coolest temperature possible. You must take

even and slow draws with just one or two puffs a minute. Try to chew the smoke as it immers-

es your sense receptors in the flavor and aroma of your cigar. Blow out the smoke as slowly as

possible to absorb the flavors to the maximum.

The flavors of a cigar are divided into three parts of its body. It means that every third part of

the cigar will enhance, decrease, or change the taste. Try retro-haling, i.e. blow the cigar smoke

out of the sinuses or nose. If you are not used to retro-haling, you can try doing it with a mild

cigar in the beginning. A spicier cigar may give you the burning sensation in the beginning. If

you cannot do retro-haling, try to keep your sinuses open while you exhale through your mouth.

Keep the smoke in your mouth for as long as possible and you may experience a combination

of two flavors such as leathery cocoa or sweet earthy. You will start experiencing the secondary

flavor of your cigar as you go.

When the cigar starts tasting tarry and bitter in the third last portion, it is finished. Do not stub

out the cigar as it releases severe flumes. It will self-extinguish in a few minutes.

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To cut a cigar, you may buy cigar scissors or a cigar cutter in guillotine style if you are not an

expert at cutting cigars. You must watch that you do not cut the cigar beyond its cap. In addition

to the guillotine cutter, cigar smokers employ a cigar punch, a sharp knife, or a V-cutter to cut

the cigar. Some people are even expert at using their teeth to cut the cigar. The cigar scissor is

the most difficult tool to use as it requires a keen eye and a steady hand.

The shoulder of a cigar is where the round shape is finished. You need to cut a cigar at its head

and reach just beyond the shoulder. Usually 1.5 cm or 0.5 inch is the ideal distance to cut it, but

this may vary because of the different lengths of cigars.

You will find a cigar in three shapes according to http://cigarklub.com/: Pyramid, Torpedo, and

Round. You should not cut a torpedo behind its shoulder as its head inclines too slowly. In the

case of pyramid, you can cut it slightly prior to passing its shoulder as it straightens itself more

quickly than a torpedo.

CHAPTER 4

Cigar cutting guide

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The Guillotine Cut

The Guillotine Cutter comes with one or two blades. One blade cutter is cheaper than the two

blade guillotine cutter, but the latter gives a neater cut. The single blade cutter may smash one

side of the head of a cigar.

The V-cutter

A V-cutter for a cigar places a notch in the shape of the alphabet “V” in the tip of your cigar

while making the cut. The V-shape gives more surface area and does not expose the tongue to

the loose tobacco that you need to frequently spit from your mouth. The enhanced surface area

is often desired as it lets you bring in more air through your cigar. This cutter is used only for

smaller ring gauge cigars.

The Pluck Cutter

The pluck cutter cuts out an ideal hole in the cigar’s cap.

The cigar scissors

The cigar scissors are created from the surgical quality of stainless steel with high precision.

Although they are a great tool to cut a cigar, they are quite expensive. You can find the cigar

scissors in small size to fit in your pocket.

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A cigar humidor is the airtight container meant to keep the tobacco or cigars moist. A great

quality cigar humidor may not come cheap, but it does not mean that you always have to pay all

that is in your pocket to buy a good quality humidor. The best materials and workmanship come

for a price. A humidor containing 150 cigars generally costs almost $300. If you cannot afford

it, you must wait before you buy one. However, an igloodor is an insulated, large container used

to store cigars. You can buy an igloodor, which is cheaper than the humidor of good quality, but

it does not compromise on the quality as a cheap humidor does. On an average, one everyday

cigar should come in the range of $3- $5, according to http://cigarklub.com/. For special occa-

sions with your friends, you may want to spend more on a classic cigar.

If you can find out the rating of a cigar on its pack or online, it is the best yardstick to judge

whether the cigar costs reasonably or it is simply overpriced. The Cigar Aficionado magazine

uses the following rating system to value a cigar.

Rating Quality

0-70 Do not buy the cigar

70-79 Regular to good quality of commercial cigars

80-89 Excellent to Very good

90-94 Exceptional cigar

95-100 Masterpiece

CHAPTER 5

Does the cost of cigar

influence its quality?

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With so many cigars on the stores and a huge ocean of vocabularies, you may find it a daunting

task to buy your first cigar. However, http://cigarklub.com/ suggests the following tips when you

go to a cigar store to buy your first set of cigar.

• Pick your choice of wrapper color you want- light or dark.

• Gently touch the cigar with your fingers to check if it is too dry or moist.

• Do not roll the cigar as it may crack the wrapper.

• Check the cap of the cigar; it must be in good state.

• While cigar lovers may like to take the cigar up their nose and keep it back in its box, other

people may not like this kind of sniffing. If you want to smell the cigar, just bring the box close

to your nose at a distance of at least 12 inches, breathe in the aroma, and keep it back if you do

not want one.

• In the beginning, you may not know what quality and strength of cigars you may like or

hate. Your preferences may change quickly. That is why; prefer not to buy too many cigars at a

time; this will allow you to experiment with various cigars and find out the one you like.

• Try to buy various varieties of cigars than buying a set of just one flavor.

• In the beginning, prefer buying mild cigars to ease your experience of smoking. You may

find the full- bodied cigars unpleasant and overwhelming.

• Cigars can cost anything between cheap to very expensive. It all depends on what you can

afford and the quality of cigars you like. As a beginner, prefer paying less than $10 for a cigar

with high quality. When your palate for cigar develops, you can spend more on extravagant ci-

gars if you want.

• http://cigarklub.com/ says that even if you do not remember what to look for in a good

quality cigar, you should buy them from tobacconists. They have a large selection of cigars and

CHAPTER 6

Cigar buying tips

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you can trust them for taking care of their cigars well. They may even guide you to buy a cigar

according to your preferences and needs.

• Prefer buying a shape that you can comfortably hold while smoking.

• A good quality cigar will have a flawless wrapper without any tears or gaps.

• The cigar should be uniform in color; it should not be spotted or mottled.

• Do not buy an excessively dry cigar, or the one that crumbles or flakes when touched. If

they do, it implies that the cigars were not kept in adequately humid conditions.

• Buy a cigar with slight sheen or luster, which indicates their good quality and that they were

well taken care of.

• The cigar should be properly stuffed with tobacco. The cigar must feel steadily firm without

divots or any weak spots.

• Ask the store owner to remove the wrapper before sniffing the cigar. If they allow, bring the

cigar close to your nose and inhale the smell from a proper distance. If the smell appeals you,

you may like the taste as well.

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CONCLUSION

Reading about cigar feels so good; you must have felt the various kinds of aroma while reading

about them. If you did not, you need to access whether you are truly passionate about cigars

or not. These handmade cylindrical objects are not just tobacco rolled in tight sticks; they are a

means to take your personality a notch higher. This does not mean that you just have to smoke

a cigar to look good. A cigar is meant to be felt deep inside when you have all the time in the

world. That is why; most cigar connoisseurs often prefer to smoke it alone or in the company

of cigar lovers only.

People who do not smoke cigar or do not know much about it do not really like its fragrance.

However, you do not have to explain it to anyone why you love cigars. You can simply step out of

the room and enjoy it on your own. It is better not to displease anyone, but your own enjoyment

is also important. Find a few friends who would like to give you company and enhance your

knowledge about this beautiful creation.

Since cigars come in hundreds of shapes and sizes, it is better to begin with some of the classic

cigars that you can afford. You can research online and find out the best-rated cigars and buy

them from a tobacconist. Becoming a connoisseur in cigars takes time and a lot of patience. You

may find it annoying in the beginning that you are not able to judge a good cigar from a bad one,

but time will teach you the required knowledge you need. Although you have read a lot about

cigars in this book, you need to practically experience dozens of cigars to find a few favorites.

And once you find your preferred flavors, you can keep them forever and ask for them whenever

you want to buy more cigars. Cigar smoking is quite an expensive hobby, but it takes you to a

completely different world. You will fall in love with cigars once you know what you love in them.