Guide to Cigars and Cigar Smoking

A Quick Guide to Cigars Copyright 2008 by Daniel B. Vocelle www.vocelle.com/cigars.doc

Preface: Surgeon general's warning aside, cigars can be a lot fun. For some it still maintains the allure of the late 1940’s gentlemen’s club full of rich tycoons. Others may still maintain cigar smoking as a rich family tradition or right of passage. However, the majority associate cigar smoking with manhood and being macho as is depicted in the scene from "Scarface" where Al Pachino proclaims his timeless phrase “Say hello to my little friend.” Moving past your reasons and motives for smoking, it’s time to press on to a basic level of cigar education, because frankly speaking, no one wants to look like a fool when smoking. The following is just a short and basic guide to cigars. It won’t make you a cigar aficionado but it will provide you with enough information to evolve from beginner to enthusiast.

Choosing the right cigar for you Deciding which type of cigar is right for you is always a complicated and timeconsuming process, especially if you are new to the cigar-smoking world. The best advice I can give is to experiment and test out as many different types and brands of cigar as you can. In time you will learn which kinds suit you better than others. Experience is the key in this area. Like the amount of water to put in whiskey, the type of cigar you smoke is a matter of personal choice. The three factors to consider are size, shape, and color. There is no right or wrong answer, and it’s important that whatever cigar you end up choosing matches your own preferences and is not influenced by external factors.

Size: The size of a cigar determines the length of the smoke as well as how much smoke will be produced. The length of a cigar determines the length of the smoke and is measured in inches. The diameter of the cigar determines how much smoke will be produced and is measured in units called rings (1 ring = 1/64th of an inch).

A good size to start with is something between 6 and 7 inches and a ring size from 35 to 45 (a corona). This will let you judge how long it takes you to smoke a cigar as well as help you to shape your preference to your desired amount of smoke. Remember: if you desire a longer smoke, increase the size of the cigar and if you desire more smoke increase the ring size.

Color: The color of a cigar signifies the type of smoke you will experience; a general rule is the darker the cigar, the more full bodied the cigar will be.

Claro Claro: Light green and often called Candela. The leaves are cured with heat to fix the chlorophyll in the leaf. They often taste slightly sweet. Claro Claro is not as popular today, although at one time a majority of American market cigars came with a light-green wrapper.

Claro: A light tan color, usually grown under shade tents. It is prized for its neutral flavor qualities but is also rare like the Claro Claro.

Natural: Light brown to brown. It is most often shade-grown with subtle flavor and subtle aroma.

Colorado: Brown to reddish-brown. It is also usually shade-grown and has rich flavor and a subtle aroma.

Maduro: From the Spanish word for "ripe", it refers to the extra length of time needed to produce a rich, dark-brown wrapper. A Maduro should be silky and oily, with a rich, strong flavor and mild aroma.

Oscuro: Meaning dark, it is also called negro or black in tobacco producing countries. It usually is left on the plant the longest, and it is matured, or sweated the longest giving it the most full bodied taste with strong flavor and aroma. A good recommendation for a beginner is to start with a Natural or Colorado to determine if you want more or less flavor and aroma. One should try and work up to an Oscuro so that its rich flavor and aromas can be thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. By moving too quickly to an Oscuro, you can easily convince yourself to never smoke another cigar. Beginners smoking Oscuros are usually the ones who find themselves coughing after every draw and sick at the end of the night.

Shapes: Cigar come in several shapes and each shape adds a different affect to the cigar. Among the basic shapes the only difference for a beginner is personal preference. As you become more of an aficionado you will notice how the shape contributes to the overall enjoyment of the cigar. For now just find a shape that feels right to you. The two main categories of cigars: Parejos (meaning straight sides), and Figurados (meaning irregular shapes).

Parejos (Regular, Straight Sides)

Corona: (the classic size is 6 inches with a 42 ring gauge) Traditionally it has been the manufacturers' benchmark against which all other cigars are measured. Coronas have an open "foot" (the end you light) and a closed "head" (the end you smoke); the head is most often rounded.

Churchill: Measures 7 inches with a 47 ring gauge. The favorite of Sir Winston Churchill himself.

Robusto: Measures 5 inches with a 50 ring gauge. A shorter but thick cigar used for a short but thick smoke.

Double corona: Measures 7 1/2 inches with a 49 ring gauge. The older brother of the Corona a little longer and a little thicker but the ratio is the same.

Panetelas: (a standard size is usually 7 inches with a 38 ring gauge) They are usually longer than Coronas, but they are dramatically thinner. They also have an open foot and closed head.

Lonsdales: (6 3/4 inches with a 42 ring gauge) They are thicker than Panetelas, but slimmer and longer than coronas.

Figurados (irregular shapes) Now for the irregular shapes, or Figurados. They encompass every out-of-the ordinary shaped cigar, their length and ring size vary drastically so they are not listed. The following list comprises the major types:

Pyramid: It has a pointed, closed head and widens to an open foot.

Belicoso: A small pyramid-shaped cigar with a rounded head rather than a point.

Torpedo: A shape with a pointed head, a closed foot and a bulge in the middle.

Perfecto: These look like the cigar in cartoons with two closed rounded ends and a bulge in the middle.

Culebras: Three Panetelas braided together.

Diademas: A giant cigar 8 inches or longer. Most often it has an open foot, but occasionally it will come with a Perfecto tip, or closed foot. For a better visual compression see the chart below

The recommended type for beginners is the Corona; from there you can judge which you prefer. Try to stick with the regular types before you move to the irregular.

Cutting: Now that you have chosen your cigar it is time to move on to how to cut your cigar Straight cut: The tip of the cigar is cut off usually using a guillotine. On most cigars, you'll want to make the cut about one-sixteenth of an inch (about two millimeters) from the end. When you aren't carrying a precision measuring device, you can simply look for the shoulder--the place where the curved end of the cigar starts to straighten out--and make your cut there. See image below for what a clean cut looks like as well as what a straight cutter looks like.

Wedge: a V-shaped wedge cut in the end of the cigar. Again, you'll want to make the cut about one-sixteenth of an inch (about two millimeters) from the end. This style of cut exposes a lot of surface area and makes it easy to draw smoke through the cigar. Unfortunately, the draw is sometimes too good, and the cigar will smoke too hot. Wedge cuts are a particularly bad idea for people who tend to chew their cigars. If they chomp down hard enough while the wedge is horizontal, the opening may collapse and tear the structure of the cigar, closing off the draw. See image below for what a clean cut looks like as well as what a wedge cutter looks like.

Punch: Sometimes called lances, are intriguing, but hard to use. A small hole it cut or pierced into the opening of a cigar. Again, you'll want to make the cut about onesixteenth of an inch (about two millimeters) into the cigar. If a cigar is pierced too deeply, a tunnel may form that causes the center of the cigar to burn too hot. Moreover, the area opened by piercing has two drawbacks: 1) the smoker may not get the even draw that would give him or her the full benefit of all the different leaves blended into the bunch in the cigar; 2) since tars and nicotine tend to accumulate at the openings that channel the smoke, the small hole produced by a piercer will likely concentrate these nasty substances even further, sending more of them into the smoker's mouth and air passages. See image below for what a clean cut looks like as well as what a punch cutter looks like.

The recommended type of cut for beginners is the straight cut, but as your level of experience in cigars increases you may find that you prefer a different type. Once again it’s all about your personal preference. If you don’t have any of the proper cutting tools you can use a knife to cut off the end of your cigar but be careful to make a clean cut. Worst case scenario you can bite off the end. This should only be used as a last resort.

Lighting: Now that we have our cigar cut, we are now ready to properly light our cigar. Never light a cigar with a flame from a source that will alter the essence of your cigar. Matches can leave a sulfur essence, lighters a butane essence, and candles a waxy residue. The best way to light a cigar is from a cedar strip. Some stores also sell odorless cigar lighters that also work very well. But when you are a beginner you probably won’t notice a difference. Light your cigar the same way you would toast a marshmallow over a campfire-keep the cigar above and near the flame, but don't let them touch. Burning a cigar directly in a flame makes it too hot. And, as with a marshmallow, you'll want to rotate the cigar so

all parts of its tip are equally heated. Be patient, and keep at it until there's a glowing ring all the way around the cigar's tip. Once the cigar is lit, gently blow on the embers to create a smooth, completely rounded ash. Failure to do such will make your cigar burn unevenly and it will leave a very noticeable difference in the taste and enjoyment of your cigar.

Smoking: Now that your cigar is lit, it is time to smoke and enjoy your cigar. The first rule in smoking a cigar is that you should never inhale cigar smoke like you do a cigarette. While some do prefer to inhale the smoke, this can be dangerous, make you sick, and in health aspects is much more worse then smoking cigarettes. However the choice is yours. That aside, a cigar is made to be puffed. The method used for drawing the smoke through a cigar is much like the motion of drawing in water from a straw. Make a firm seal around the cigar with lips. Make sure you mouth is puckered so that you don’t get the end of your cigar wet with spit. If your lips resemble that of a kiss, then the tip of your cigar will become soaked and will need to be discarded. You don’t inhale but rather you let the smoke fill your mouth. You should let the smoke enter you mouth, hold it for a second or two to enjoy the flavor and aroma, and then blow out the smoke through your mouth. One should experiment to find exactly how they like to puff their cigar. Some prefer to hold the smoke for a longer duration of time. Others like to take several quick and short puffs and never hold the smoke in their mouth. Too many quick short puffs and the cigar will overheat and the smoke will burn you. A short quick puff is where you don’t allow the smoke to settle in your mouth, just pass from the cigar into the air. A good recommendation for the beginner is to take two quick short puffs to warm the cigar and on the third puff let the smoke settle in your mouth to enjoy the flavor.

The 5 senses of a cigar: Now that you can properly chose, light and smoke a cigar here are a few extra tips to make you a more knowledgeable cigar enthusiast. Sight: Look over your cigar; it shouldn’t have any cracks or tears in the skin. Something you may notice on your cigars is a white powder accumulating (bloom). This is nothing to worry about; it is simply the oils of the cigars drying out. You may need to add moisture to your humidifier but other then that you can brush off the powder and still enjoy your cigar. If your cigars accumulate a blue powder, then you should worry

because this is mold accumulating on your cigar. All moldy cigars should be thrown away and your humidor dried out and cleaned thoroughly before using again. Sound: Another check for a well humified cigar is to take the cigar and hold it up to your ear as you role it back and forth. A well humified cigar should make no sound as it is rolled back and forth. A dry cigar will crackle in you fingers. Touch: A well humified cigar should be kept between 70-80% humidity. This allows the natural oils of the cigar to secrete, making the cigar’s outer skin feel like silk. A dry cigar’s skin will feel like paper. Smell: Just like a fine wine, a cigar carries its own unique aroma that contributes to the cigars over all flavors. When selecting a cigar, make sure that you enjoy the rich aroma of the cigar without it being to overpowering for your taste. Taste: Once your cigar is lit, you should take the time to enjoy all of its rich flavors. You should smoke a cigar about half way or two thirds down the cigar. Any longer and the heat from the cigar will ruin the flavor and taste. However, if you reach the half way point and you are still enjoying your cigar then keep on smoking. Remember that beyond the basics, cigars are all about personal preference. So, what ever makes the experience of smoking the most enjoyable for you, do it! As you try more and more cigars you will develop a favorite brand and type. A last suggestion is after every cigar you smoke, remove the band and write on the inside of the band you impression of the cigar. Save the band and you’ll never forget which cigars you like and which you can’t stand.

The Do’s and Don’ts Zino Davidoff's Guide to Cigar Etiquette

In 1967, a man named Zino Davidoff published a now-famous essay for cigar connoisseurs. It includes a charter and code for cigar smokers everywhere, telling them how they should behave when smoking or preparing to smoke their cigars. As to his reasons for publishing what is effectively a guide to cigar etiquette, Davidoff has this to say: “The important thing to remember is that we cigar aficionados should present ourselves as considerate and understanding individuals. Changing people’s preconceived notions and giving the growing numbers of aficionados a good name is well worth that little extra effort.” Davidoff featured the following Dos and Don'ts for smoking cigars in public.

Do’s       

Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it. Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar. Take your time in smoking it; a puff a minute is about right. Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb. Let the cigar die a dignified death. After it's smoked half way, it will go out on its own. Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly. Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behavior.

Don’ts                 

Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar. Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead, simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly. Ask someone else for a light (the lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair). Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly. Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking. Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf. Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights. Clench it between your teeth. Likewise do not get the end of the cigar wet, chew it, or slobber on it. Smoke too quickly. Use a cigar holder, or worse, stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth. Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill. Smoke while working. Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger. Smoke when you're walking. Smoke more than half the cigar. Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray. Chain-smoke cigars.