Cigars 101
|
Lighting the Cigar This pre-smoke ritual is one of the most enjoyable aspects of cigar smoking. First, prime the cigar by rotating the end just above the flame, allowing equal exposure to the entire foot of the cigar. This allows the natural oils in the leaves to heat up and prevent a burning haystack of a smoke! Then, without letting the flame actually touch the cigar, hold the flame ½ " from the end and draw gently while rotating the cigar to ensure an even burn. Return to Top Cutting the Cigar Truly a grand moment. To prevent a difficult or tight draw, or an unraveling of the wrapper, be sure not to cut too shallow or too deep. Using a guillotine style cutter, snip the cigar at the shoulder, where the head begins to slope toward the body of the cigar. If you prefer a punch-style cutter, simply poke the sharp end into the head of the cigar, gently twist and remove. Although both of these moves sound like something you'd see in Braveheart, these simple techniques will enhance your enjoyment of fine smokes. Return to Top What does Ring Gauge mean? Ring gauge simply measures a cigars thickness. The larger or thicker the ring gauge, the fuller the flavor; the longer the cigar, the cooler the smoke. In technical terms, it's a measure of a cigar's diameter where one "ring" equals 1/64th of an inch. So, a 48 ring gauge is 48/64, or 3/4, inch in diameter. Return to Top Smoking Cigars - When to Smoke? Smoking a cigar is best done: anytime! Whenever it feels like a good time for a smoke, it usually is. Generally, smoking enjoyment can be optimized after a great meal. Unless you're a long-time connoisseur or are very familiar with the cigar you are about to smoke, don't smoke on an empty stomach, as you may experience some discomfort. Don't inhale either - concentrated cigar smoke in your stomach is no fun. As you smoke, the flavor changes as the cigar becomes shorter, thanks to the intensity and burn of the smoke. Smoke down to the nub? Your choice, but the taste will get pretty hot and harsh down that far. Return to Top Evaluating a Cigar There are no rules for selecting that perfect cigar, only guidelines. Discovering a cigar that is perfect for you is a matter of taste. How does the cigar look and feel in your hand? Is it oily, dark, light, moist, consistently firm or does it have soft spots? These are a few characteristics that will help determine if a cigar is worthy of being your favorite. Plus, different cigars are appropriate for different occasions. I enjoy short quick smokes in early afternoon, long, flavorful cigars on the golf course, and thick, spicy robustos in the evening. We have samplers and 5-packs to help you widen your horizons if you want to branch into some other brands. Return to Top Bands on or off? Have you been witness to a debate questioning the proper etiquette regarding removal of the vaunted cigar band? Just as there is no complete agreement on the origin of the band, differences of opinion exist on contemporary band manners. Etiquette guides of 19th-century England, the land from which most manners were dictated, insisted that only "lower classes" failed to remove the band. These same guides did approve, however, of turning the face of the band toward one's fellows if "the cigar was of sufficient quality to impress them." Most modern U.S. tobacconists tell customers that band removal is strictly a matter of choice. Interestingly, the majority of tobacconists queried said they personally removed bands so as not to show favoritism, except, predictably, those smoking their own house brands who view the display of the band as inexpensive advertising. Why remove it? The arguments range from the potential of the band damaging the wrapper to the steadfast belief that only the most naive smokers would actually leave the band on. Most experts, including Zino Davidoff, believe that the removal of a cigar band is a "personal choice," claiming that in today's world there is no shame in leaving the band on a cigar, citing references to both practices in literature as evidence. He personally removes his bands, but only after a few puffs, when the cigar is well-lighted and "running." Waiting a few minutes allows the heat of the smoke to make the gum on the band less adhesive and easier to remove without tearing the fragile wrapper. One country does still take a rather strong view with respect to the band - the British. They still consider it "bad form" to advertise the brand you are smoking - as you wouldn't want to embarrass another gentleman smoking an inferior brand. No matter whether you decide to remove the band before, during, or not at all be prepared to support your choice. There have been more than a few stories contemplating the origin of the cigar band - here are three: First is that of the Russian Queen, Catherine the Great who ordered all of her cigars to be wrapped in silk in order to protect her fingers. In an effort to mimic the queen all cigars in Russia eventually had the same bands applied. But, why would Cubans be influenced by the extravagances of a queen over 5,000 miles away? Story #2 stems from the need to keep white gloves in England from being soiled. There are three reasons this most likely is not the origin. For one, a properly rolled and smoked cigar would not stain fingers. Secondly, smokers most often did not wear these gloves while smoking (as shown in photographs of the period). And third, keeping in mind your own experiences, how often have you ever noticed anyone actually holding the cigar by the band while smoking? The third story suggests the most logical development of the cigar band counterfeiting. During the 1800's as the popularity of the cigar was steadily increasing, the demand for Cuban cigars overwhelmed the supply. Don Francisco Cabanas (owner of a prestigious brand of Cuban Cigars) estimated that "for every one of the 2 million Cuban cigars that I ship to Europe, 6 million are being sold there." So in an effort to combat the fake Cuban cigars, a local factory owner named Gustave Bock, a European immigrant well versed in the practices of Old World Merchants, ordered that a paper ring with his signature be placed on every cigar intended for export. Return to Top Nip the tip Cutting your cigars is a time-honored ritual And the better the cigars you smoke, the more attention you'll want to pay to the cut, as a poorly cut cigar can ruin the whole experience. The object is simple: create an opening for smoking without affecting the rest of the cigar's structure. Therefore, this means cutting away part of the cap that covers the head of the cigar, while leaving some of it glued around the end to keep the filler leaves together. On most, make the cut about one-sixteenth of an inch from the end. A rule of thumb is to cut at the "shoulder" - where the curved head begins to straighten. The old "caveman-style" method - in which you use your teeth to chomp off the end - will always work in a pinch! But the other four most popular methods are Guillotines, Scissors, Punch cutters and V-cutters. Guillotines, including both double and single-bladed versions, as well as scissors are designed to make a cut across the end of the cigar. These are generally the best options. Of the guillotines, the double-blade is the better choice if you want a cleaner cut. The advantage of double-bladed cutters is that the cutting proceeds from both sides simultaneously. There is less chance that the cigar wrapper will be torn as it's pushed against the dull inside of the blade chamber. The best technique is to rest the cigar against a blade before clicking the cutter shut. Cigar scissors are different, of course, from regular household scissors. Cigars scissors are specifically manufactured for the purpose of snipping cigars. Usually made from surgical-quality stainless steel, some models, such as the Wenger Swiss Army cigar cutter, is the optimum choice for a cigar cutter. A high-quality cigar scissor will guarantee you swift, precision cuts. However, be careful, because dull, lower-quality scissors will cause more harm than good, potentially smushing the ends and damaging the cigar's construction. A punch cutter is simply a circular, razor sharp blade that you push gently into the head of a cigar, which cores out an opening. This is an excellent choice if you smoke mixed filler cigars, as it minimizes the chance of bits of tobacco ending up in your mouth. However, punch cutters are usually not a good choice for torpedos, or small ring gauge cigars. Finally, the V-cutter. A V-cut makes a notched hole in the end of the cigar. The advantage is that it can offer you more surface area without exposing your tongue to loose tobacco, and it allows you to draw more air through the cigar. This is a good choice for small ring gauge cigars. However, do not penetrate the V-cutter too deeply into the cigar, as often the draw can be too good, and the cigar will smoke too hot. Return to Top |
