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A Beginners Guide To Cigar Smoking
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Why You Should Smoke Cigars & Why You shouldn’t
Your Local Tobacconist – Your best friend
Shapes, Sizes and Shades, Making Sense of Them All
How to Choose a Cigar
Off With Its Cap – How to Cut a Cigar
The Art of Lighting a Cigar
Cigar Storage
Cigar Repair
Cigar Etiquette
Cigar Transportation
Glossary of Common Terms
In Closing
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INTRODUCTION
Let me start off by saying that I am in no way a writer or author. In fact, I do not consider myself a CIGAR EXPERT.
What you will get from reading this eBook is a better understanding of cigars, how to store, repair, cut and light them as well as some other useful information along the way.
I will present this information in as light hearted a way as possible so you will not only learn, but hopefully will have a laugh or two. You are not going to get a lot of filler copy just to make this eBook look bigger. It contains some really good information, condensed to be read in one or two sittings ( depends on where you are sitting and for how long ).
I hear lots of questions. All the common questions, the Cuban questions ( Yes, Cuban Cigars are still illegal ), as well as some of the rather unique ones.
After some time of fielding these questions, I figured it was time to put all this
information into a resource that would be useful and easy to access. Just keep
this one key fact in mind, this isn’t a secret society.
If you want to enjoy a fine cigar, you should be able to do so, without feeling like you are doing something wrong or breaking some unwritten rule of etiquette. After reading this eBook you will enjoy cigars more, feel more comfortable in front of others, and not act like a boob in front of your local tobacco retailer.
So, sit back, relax and light up a cigar. Don’t worry, nobody is watching you --
yet. So go ahead and use that Zippo lighter to spark that baby up. After all,
you’ll soon learn why that is the worst thing to do.
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WHY YOU SHOULD SMOKE CIGARS
& WHY YOU SHOULDN’T
Don’t worry, I won’t be preaching to you in this section. What I really wanted to
do was lay the groundwork on reasons people start to smoke cigars, and reasons
they shouldn’t. Kind of like the title of the chapter.
Cigar smoking is definitely something that you acquire, either through watching
others, or reading about it or for some other reason. But the point is, cigar
smoking is much, much different than smoking cigarettes. In fact, most people
who smoke cigars, would never smoke a cigarette. Think about this. How many
adults, in their 30s, pick up smoking cigarettes for the first time? Not many, huh?
Big tobacco companies target teenagers, simply because that is who starts
smoking. Now think about this, how many people in their 30s pick up cigar
smoking for the first time? Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands.
Cigar smoking is a very social activity. You are sitting on your porch with a
few friends and you all start to light up a cigar. Or perhaps you are playing a few
rounds of golf, or its poker night with the guys, and you all have cigars sparked during the game. Like fine wine, cigars all have different tastes, aromas, bodies, colors, etc. It is the perfect conversation piece. You can sit with a few friends and talk about the various attributes of this cigar, or that cigar. You can taste and test different ones.
This is totally different than smoking a cigarette.
Like everything else, you should never start smoking cigars because you feel
pressured into it by friends or other social influences. Regardless of what
anybody says, you are introducing a foreign substance into your body, and the
implications of that should be well thought out before you start truly enjoying
cigars. You should start to smoke cigars because you want to learn about the
differences in various cigars. Because you want to talk about these differences,
and because you want to do something that relaxes you and makes you feel
good inside. I know this sounds silly, but coming home from a long day at work,
opening a bottle of rum or scotch, lighting up a nice cigar, sitting on the porch with the summer breeze in your face, and just relaxing, is one of the most enjoyable experiences you can imagine. So in short; you should start smoking cigars because you feel it is right for you and it is what you want to do.
Cigar smoking is a hobby, cigarette smoking is a habit.
YOUR LOCAL TOBACCONIST –
YOUR BEST FRIEND
Ok, so you have decided that you really want to get into the hobby known as
cigar smoking. Now what? There are hundreds of brands of cigars available,
each in different sizes, shapes, colors, etc. How is anybody supposed to know
what to do or where to start?
This is the most common problem with new smokers. The easy answer to the
problem is experimentation. You know, just like you used to do in college.
Perhaps that is a different story. Regardless, you will never know what you like
or dislike unless you try a variety of cigars. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the
more a cigar costs the better the cigar is. That is just hogwash. There are some
fantastic cigars for $5 that taste much better than $25 cigars. Also, just because
you like a certain brand of cigars, doesn’t mean that you will enjoy all the sizes
and shapes they make that cigar in. You really need to try before you make a
large investment.
Speaking of investments, never purchase a box of cigars until you know you
truly enjoy that brand and until you have a decent place to store them. We
will get into storage a little further on, but there is nothing worse than buying a
box of cigars and ruining them all because you didn’t have a good storage area.
Now, how do you find the right cigars for you? There are thousands of retail tobacco stores that sell cigars, magazines that talk about cigars, and a plethora of other information available. Internet sites that sell tobacco are too impersonal for most people. These resources are fantastic, but in my opinion, there is nothing better than the relationship you develop with your local tobacconist. This is a person who can recommend a great cigar based on what you like and what you dislike.
They can reserve special stock for you if you are a regular customer,
and at most tobacco shops, they even allow you to sit down and enjoy your cigar
in a nice lounge. Much more relaxing than getting yelled at for smoking in the
house.
What I suggest you do, is tell your tobacconist that you are just starting to smoke
cigars and would like some suggestions. The best idea is to start with a mild
cigar and work your way up to more full bodied, richer cigars. Ask them to put
together a little sampler for you and name a budget, say $30 or so. They will
walk around with you, pointing out different cigars, and explaining the difference
between each one. This is the same experience as if you went to a wine store
and asked for some nice red wines. Let them help you as much as possible.
Don’t go by the pretty labels or boxes that you see around you. That is all
merchandising mumbo-jumbo. You can’t tell the quality of a cigar by the colors
on the label or the type of packaging, you can tell a lot by the wrapper however.
Listen to what he has to say, and be sure to ask tons of questions. I suggest
going to the store at an off time so he doesn’t have to rush due to other
customers.
Whether you smoke the cigars in the store or take them home, it is important to
make notes about each one. You don’t have to write a thesis, but a few short
blurbs about the cigar will help you in the long run. There are some great
computer programs that can help you organize your notes, or you can just take a
notebook and jot your thoughts down. Take the ring off the cigar and paste it to
the notebook for reference after you have finished smoking the cigar, not before. Be sure to write the exact name of the cigar, the size, the color, the shape, the condition of the wrapper, etc.
This will help you in the long run. Make notes of things like how well did it burn, did it draw well (was it easy to take in the smoke), was it bitter, was it fruity, was it woody, etc. Notice the ash. Was it white/gray and firm; the characteristics of a good cigar? There will be little differences, or sometimes big differences, between cigars that you can note. You aren’t expected to be an expert and know all the characteristics of the cigar, but there will be some things you will notice. And for Gods sake, if you start to smoke a cigar, and it just tastes awful to you, then put it out, mark it off your list and move on. There is no time to smoke dog rockets (terrible cigars).
Now of course, with this information in hand, you can go back to your local
tobacconist and tell him that you enjoyed this and that cigar, or you hated this
cigar and why. This information will allow them to pick out more cigars in your
budget to try and test. You should continue this practice indefinitely since there
are always new cigars coming onto the market. You will start to learn that you
like specific sizes or mild or harsh cigars, etc. You eventually will get to the point
where you can do some research on the Internet or in magazines and find some cigars that you think you will like. When you are ready to purchase a larger quantity of cigars,
I suggest you turn to your local brick and morter ( retail tobacco store ). You can search online yellow pages for retailers in your driving area. You will almost always get the best deal on full boxes of cigars. Deal with reputable merchants who have a good customer service policy. I and other friends have come to realize most online cigar fronts/stores are open today and gone tomorrow so I suggest you buy locally. But again, don’t invest in a large quantity of cigars until you have the proper place to store them.
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SHAPES, SIZES AND SHADES, MAKING SENSE OF THEM ALL
Why do some things have to be so difficult? I mean,
isn’t it hard enough that
there are thousands of different cigars available.
Now they have to throw in
things like sizes, colors, shapes, etc. Believe me,
this stuff wasn’t created to
confuse you, it just adds to the breadth and depth of
what is available for you to
enjoy. Like any hobby, you can start off doing things
the easy way, then you can
get more advanced the better you understand what is
available.
SIZE of the cigar
The size of a cigar, in name, is a nearly meaningless
designation, the reason
being that the size of a cigar, when determined by a
name such as corona or
robusto, is not a universal standard. In other words,
one company's corona is
another company's churchill even though both measure
the exact same length
and ring gauge. Once you understand this, most of the
confusion regarding cigar
size disappears.
There are, however, "classic" measurements
for cigars that most cigar makers
attempt to follow, But remember, just because a cigar
is 7 inches in length with a
48 ring gauge doesn't necessarily mean that the
manufacturer will designate that
cigar as a churchill. All you really have to know is
that cigars are categorized by
length and ring gauge which is a fraction of an inch
measured in 64ths. A cigar
with a 52 ring gauge, for example, measures 52/64ths
of an inch in diameter.
Below is a ring gauge chart that will give you a good
idea of the different gauges
available in cigars:
Go with
the cigar you feel most comfortable holding. A 50- or 52-ring gauge
cigar should offer the best balance of comfort,
taste, and draw, but ultimately it's
a question of personal style. As a rule of thumb, a
larger ring gauge will
generally give a fuller draw than a slimmer gauge.
Large and unique shapes are
harder to roll properly, therefore only the most
experienced rollers are allowed to
make them. Also, the larger shapes are more prone to
construction flaws than
the more easily rolled shapes. Most handmade cigar
shapes can be put into two
groups. Straight shapes are referred to as
"parejos" and irregular shapes known
as "figurados". Cigarillos, dry-cured, and
most any other cigar with a ring gauge
of 34 or less are referred to as generically as
"small cigars".
SHAPE of the cigar
As you have probably already figured out, cigars come
in all sorts of shapes. The
irregular shapes, or figurados, cover all out of the
ordinary shaped cigars. Here
we have listed and displayed six of the most popular
figurados.
Diademas: This huge cigar, which measures 8 inches or longer
has both of its
ends closed. The ring gauge increases towards the
foot.
Pyramid: This 6" cigar with a 40/52 ring gauge has a
tapered head with an open
foot.
Culebra: 3 panatelas braided together as one cigar which is
smoked separately.
This cigar measures 5" with a 38 ring gauge.
Belicoso: This cigar usually measures 5" with a ring gauge
of 50 and has a
rounded head rather than a point.
ends.
Torpedo: A shape with a pointed head, a closed foot and a
bulge in the middle.
And now the more common straight shaped cigars, or
Parejos:
Panatela:
(7x 38) or smaller,
"pencils".
cigars.
Lonsdale: (6 3/4 x 42) - Said to be the easiest shape to roll.
Toro: (6/1/2 x 48) - Delivers a full draw, in a medium
length.
Churchill:
(7 x 47) - Larger sizes in general
are referred to as
Churchill sizes. However, this size categorization is
very loose.
For example
the H. Upmann Churchill is much smaller than what
most
companies refer to as a Churchill size.
Double
Robusto: (5 x 50) - Full draw in a shorter cigar provides a rich in
a
less time-intensive smoke.
I suggest you start with a straight shaped cigar for
your first few smoking
experiences and leave the irregulars for a time when
you want something a bit
different. I would say the Robusto ( short smoke )
and the
Churchill ( long smoke ) are the most popular sizes
of cigars and a good cigar size for the new smoker.
SHADE OR COLOR of the cigar
As if the size and shape weren’t enough to make your
head spin, let’s throw in
the shade or color of the wrapper. There are six
grades of wrappers commonly
used today.
Double
Claro - . A green shade of
wrapper also known as
"Candela" and sometimes referred to as
"American Market
Selection " or "AMS". This shade of
wrapper is not as fully
fermented as the darker shades. A heat curing process
fixes the
chlorophyll in the leaf and results in a somewhat
grassy
sweetness. It is generally a little harsher than a
more thoroughly
fermented and aged, darker wrapper. This shade is not
common in
premium handmade cigars, however, it is used on many
of the
inexpensive American machine-made cigars.
Claro
- A very light tan colored
wrapper that is somewhat neutral in
flavor. Much milder than a Double Claro wrapper. This
grade is
usually of the shade-grown varieties.
companies refer to shades in this range as "English
Market
Selection" or "Natural". This is the
most common grade among
today's premium cigars. Most of this grade is from
sun-grown
varieties.
and has a subtle aroma. Usually it is from the shade-grown
varieties
wrapper is also from shade-grown varieties.
Maduro
- From the Spanish
word meaning ripe, this very dark
brown leaf is the last to be harvested, is fermented
longer and to
allowed to reach higher temperatures during
fermentation than the
other grades of wrapper leaf. Sometimes, this darker
color is
produced by a "cooking" process. Often the
resulting leaf can be
rich in flavor and have a slightly sweet, roasted
flavored.
Oscuro, a.k.a. "Double Maduro", is an almost black
variation of the this
grade but again, don’t let all of this confuse you too
much. Start slowly and you will
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HOW
TO CHOOSE A CIGAR
Choosing a cigar that is perfect for you is a matter
of personal preference. I am
going to give you a few guidelines and a few pointers
that are sure to help you
out. But remember what I said before. The most
valuable resource you have
when you are starting out is your local tobacconist.
Just give them a chance to
help you and you will be thrilled with the outcome.
Before we choose a cigar, lets talk briefly about the
anatomy of a cigar so you
know what all this stuff means. Cigars are made up of
essentially three
components:
Wrapper : holds
the cigar together, these leaves are beautiful and classify
the cigar by its color.
Binder : holds the filler and acts as the structure of the
cigar; the binder
leaf has little flavor and is about 1-1/12 inches in
width.
Filler : is the inside of the cigar, it is made of long or
short cuts of Tobacco
leaves; the leaves are blended for taste and burn.
COLOR
The color of the wrapper will effect the taste of the
cigar. The darker the color,
the stronger the taste. The lighter the color, the
milder the taste. In the case of
cigars, you can determine a book by its cover. At
least somewhat. In this
instance, the wrappers color can tell you a lot. As a beginner I recommend
that you choose a cigar that has a lighter
wrapper.
As mentioned previously, don’t get caught up in the
merchandising of cigars. The color of the box, or the way the cigar is packaged
is not important at all.
SIZE
The length of the cigar is going to determine how hot
or cool the smoke is. The
longer a cigar, the cooler the temperature will be.
The shorter a cigar, the hotter
the smoke will be.
For new smokers, I recommend
you start with a longer
cigar so you can enjoy some of the flavors of the cigar by
drawing in the cool
smoke. It will also make the cigars less harsh. Harsh
cigars are one of the main
reasons that people do not enjoy smoking cigars. So
work from the mild to the
wild.
INSPECTION
When picking out cigars there are a few things you
want to examine before you
make your purchase.
1. You DO want to make sure the wrapper has a
consistent look at feel to it
2. You DO want a shine on the wrapper which shows it
has started to age
3. You DO want veins running the length of the
wrapper
4. You DON’T want blotches, nicks, tears or holes in
the wrapper
5. You DO want to make sure the cigar is soft and
supple, not hard and cracking
HOW IS IT
MADE
There are three ways a cigar can be made:
Hand
made - Made by human hands from start to finish.
Hand
rolled - Machines bunched the filler and applied the
binder,
but human hands wrapped on the wrapper.
Machine
made - You guessed it start to finish this cigar was
high
tech, and probably never saw a gentle hand until
yours.
Since you will be purchasing your cigars from a
tobacco shop, you won’t
have to worry about this too much as 99.99% of the
cigars they sell are all
hand made and of the highest quality.
TIP - A lot of people roll cigars between their fingers to determine if the cigar has been stored properly. This will destroy your cigar. All cigars crackle when you squeeze them. If you have to man-handle your cigar before selecting it, pinch it slightly near the foot, it should give slightly and bounce back into place