Cigar Fundamentals Archives - Page 2 of 9

Best Cold Weather Cigar Smoking Solutions

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Staff

Finding the right smoking solutions for winter is challenging if you don’t have the luxury of living in a warm-weather environment. A cigar is meant to be savored, but risking frostbite isn’t worth even the finest cigar.

Joining a cigar lounge is an obvious choice. We have discussed the various lounge options, and many cold-weather smokers find the daily or yearly fees well worth it. However, trudging out of the house in a blizzard is not ideal. Sometimes it’s best to enjoy your smoke from the comfort of home.

Building a smoking room is another option. There are affordable ways of converting any room into a private smoking lounge. If you’re not looking for a construction project, there are alternatives. Here are some tips for when the temperatures dip below freezing, and you want to smoke a cigar.

Smoking Solutions: Garage to Man Cave

A garage isn’t only for parking your car and storing dusty tools. You can convert your garage into a multipurpose cigar-smoking space with ingenuity. Ventilation is the primary concern in any smoking room. It’s not wise to invest in an expensive professional-grade ventilation system for this occasional solution, especially if your garage is far enough away from your house. Leaving the door open, cracking a window, or using a box fan are all tried and true methods that keep smoke from lingering. Most guys attest to the smoke smell clearing after a day or two.

Ok, you’re out of the wind and snow, but a garage can still get pretty cold with the door ajar and a window open. You can’t hold a cigar if your fingers are numb. Patio heaters are an excellent investment. Some quality heaters cost as little as $100.

Furniture can be as simple as a few folding chairs and tables. This allows you to conveniently reconvert your garage for parking the car and storing the snow shovels. Adding more permanent furniture is another great idea; this is particularly beneficial if you have plenty of room and winter lasts for months.

Obviously, take precautions whenever smoking indoors. However, keep gasoline containers and flammable materials far from the smoking area.

Tents and Hotel Canopies As Smoking Solutions

Many people brave the elements all year long. Campers, hunters, and outdoorsmen spend plenty of evenings in extreme conditions. So if you can’t utilize the garage, pitch a traditional camping tent in the backyard and smoke away.

Companies are now making specialized tents designed for smoking cigars. However, most extreme weather or even standard tents have ventilation, are flame resistant, waterproof, and provide a cozy space on a frigid night. You’ll want to get the specs before you purchase. Prices will vary depending on the size and features. You’ll want enough space to stand up. You’ll want something significant if you plan on entertaining or outfitting it with comfortable seats. Be sure to research the tent’s materials as well. No tent is fireproof. Be careful and selective when it comes to fire resistance. Synthetic materials are best.

Wait to store your tailgating canopy. Then, if the temperatures don’t dip too far below freezing and you only need shelter from the rain, break out the football tent. If you want to conjure summertime and the poolside vibe, cabana resort-style tents will provide more protection from the wind.

Smoking and Pre-Built Sheds

This might be a pricier option, but sheds are a long-term solution to your winter smoking woes. Smoking sheds have many benefits. There’s no need to worry about smoke odors creeping into your home or the complaints that may follow. These self-contained units function like a custom smoking room right in your backyard. They can be outfitted with ventilation, heating, quality furniture, and all your smoking accouterments.

Building a smoking shed with basic materials should be easy if you are a regular DIYer. However, big-box stores have a wide variety of pre-built sheds. Some require assembly but come in different sizes and styles, so finding one that suits your needs is easy. A shed can be wired for electricity. Watch the big game with friends or catch up on work while enjoying a cigar.

Remember, ventilation is critical. Sheds have doors and windows, but better solutions exist than the old-fashioned garage method. Invest in a quality ventilation system or an air purifier. You won’t regret it.

If building a shed yourself sounds like too much work, don’t worry. The smoking shed trend is gaining some traction. Many companies will now build sheds customized for cigar enthusiasts.

Indoor smoking bans have made it difficult for cigar smokers. In colder regions, it’s incredibly challenging, but you don’t have to give up the cigar lifestyle when January comes around. Instead, with some imagination and resourcefulness, you’ll learn to love the winter months and smoke on.

Photo credit: “Cigar Teepee,” by Kent Wang from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Cigar Humidifier: Humidification Options for Cigars

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Staff

An experienced cigar smoker knows that storing cigars requires little maintenance. For example, you should keep your cigars under particular conditions to ensure they taste the way they should. Preserving cigars between 68-70% humidity and 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal. Sixty-eight to seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for both moisture and temperature, which is why a cigar humidifier is essential.

We recommend investing in a home humidor if you buy cigars by the box or in bulk rather than a few sticks at a time. Most of these options will also work if you are a casual smoker and must preserve three or four cigars. Have a look at the many ways to humidify your cigars properly.

Cigar Humidifier: Why Cigars Need Humidity

Cigars are agricultural products; Like produce, they won’t taste right (or smoke right) without the proper care. The tobacco in your Robusto is grown in a tropical climate with high humidity and warm temperatures. The leaves dry during the curing process, but cigar makers reintroduce moisture during fermenting and aging.

Many newbies erroneously think cigars store well in the refrigerator or the freezer. But, unfortunately, cold temperatures can’t retain humidity.

Without humidity, cigars become brittle, and the exterior wrapper cracks. Too much moisture can also cause problems. Like the walls in a dank basement, cigars can grow mold. Soggy cigars are challenging to light and burn unevenly.

Whether too damp or too dry, improper humidification affects the taste of your cigar. Keep cigars out of extremes, and remember that 68-72 is optimal.

Cigar Humidifier: Products to Improve Humidity

Most humidors come with a “sponge.” However, these are typically the floral foam variety. Humidification systems have evolved and improved in recent years. If you want to upgrade your cigar humidifier or stash a few sticks inside a Tupperware or Ziplock, these products will help maintain the proper humidity.

Note: It’s crucial to use distilled water or propylene glycol when using these products or refilling a humidor sponge. Tap water contains chlorine and other impurities that can create mold.

Boveda Pouches

These pouches provide humidity using a “2- Way Control” system that adds and removes moisture. Made from natural salts and water, they are leakproof and offer a wide range of humidity levels (from 58-84% relative humidity or Rh).

Whether seasoning a humidor, adding extra moisture during the colder months, or traveling with a few sticks, Boveda pouches are easy and safe. First, remove the exterior packaging and toss the brown bag wherever you store your cigars. Depending on the surrounding environment and the quality of the container’s seal, Boveda bags can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year.

Boveda won’t advertise it, but you can always reuse the pouches. Submerge the bag in distilled water for a day and allow it to dry.

Cigar Humidifier Crystals

These polymer crystals are incredibly absorbent and, once activated with distilled water or propylene glycol, expand to hold up to 100 times their weight in moisture. Xikar makes several varieties.

The puck-shaped humidifiers are magnetized and a nice upgrade for the standard units with humidors. XiKar also makes a larger rectangular-shaped unit.

Crystals also come in jars and tubes. These are often already activated, so it is as simple as dropping them in your humidor or wherever you store cigars. Crystals provide a consistent 70% Rh but do require a bit of monitoring and maintenance.

The crystals will become noticeably smaller as they lose moisture. Refresh the crystals with the recommended mixture of distilled water or propylene glycol.

Longevity will depend on your environment. Colder, dryer weather will require more refilling, but crystals produce humidity anywhere from 1 to three months. The units can last up to six years if adequately maintained with moisture.

Heartfelt Beads

These beads work on the same principle as crystals. Spritz them with distilled water, and they will regulate the humidity in your humidor. They come in tubes or mesh bags.

Unorthodox Methods Humidification Methods

Some guys swear by kitty litter. We wouldn’t recommend it because the options above are inexpensive and designed for cigars. However, if desperate times call for desperate measures, ensure the litter is fragrance-free and add distilled water.

What To Do If You Don’t Have a Humidor

A tried and true, but the last-ditch solution is to use damp paper towels in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware. Just be sure to wring out the paper towel and only store sticks wrapped in cellophane. But, of course, you don’t want to place your cigars on a wet paper towel.

Monitoring Your Cigar Humidifier

Invest in a humidor if you’re investing time, care, and money into smoking premium cigars. Even small travel-sized humidors will come with humidifiers. They can hold anywhere from 2 to 10 or more cigars. But, of course, a traditional cedar-lined box is the best option.

They come with cigar humidifiers and hygrometers designed to seal in the humidity. In addition, all humidification products promise an exacting Rh level.

As you become familiar with the feel and taste of your cigars, you’ll know when to add humidity or let your cigars dry out a bit. However, having storage with a digital or analog hygrometer that provides an accurate Rh reading removes the guesswork. You’ll know when it’s time to add a Boveda pouch or refresh that crystal jar.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

The Cigar Life Guy® Rating System

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Staff

Cigar Life Guy isn’t a website full of cigar reviews, but plenty of those websites are out there. Make no mistake. You won’t find our website full of reviews and with a complex or confusing numbered rating system. We don’t sit around smoking bunches of cigars just for show or have many opinions about each stick! Cigar Life Guy has a pretty simple system: “Consider buying, yes or no?”

Typical Cigar Review Rating System

Most popular cigar reviewers use a 100-point scale, 1-100. Typically, cigars are evaluated on appearance, flavor, construction, smoking performance, and overall impression.

Some of those attributes may be weighted differently, but a maximum amount of points are allowed, say 15 or 20, per attribute. So there’s usually much bunching for overall scores in the high 80s and low 90s.

You don’t want to look at cigar reviews like the letter grades you got in school, meaning an 80 is a ”B” or above average or 90 is an “A” or excellent.

Out of courtesy to the makers, unflattering reviews are typically not published. However, some sources of reviews, including the most famous, Cigar Aficionado, are done blind, meaning the removal of the bands is necessary, so the reviewer doesn’t know who made the cigar, and the reputation of the brand isn’t a consideration.

Some reviewers do not review blindly. Also, most reviews are done without regard to shelf price (obviously, this has to be the case when done blind).

Cigar Life Guy’s Take: Reviews and Rating Systems

Simply put, Cigar Life Guy believes the actual moment of truth for the consumer is when they go into a humidor (whether literally in a brick-and-mortar store or virtually shopping online) and are confronted with hundreds or thousands of options and decide what cigar they want to buy. As a result, shelf price, or value, must be considered when evaluating cigars.

Our rating system doesn’t use a 100-point scale and is relatively simple. The reviewer asks, “If I was in a humidor, would I consider buying this cigar at regular retail prices?” The system is individual, and smokers can have different takes on the same cigar for reasons like palate and pocketbook.

More on the Cigar Life Guy Rating System

Recognizing that the simple up or down leaves a lot of unanswered questions, we’ve added a few categories that provide a little more perspective.

Regularly Buy

These are our favorites, and we regularly purchase them in the humidor. These are in our wheelhouse. Not only do we love these cigars we think the shelf price is fair or represents a terrific value relative to other cigars. These are 10% of the cigar universe we sample.

Note: The percentages in this and the following categories aren’t meant to be precise but an order of magnitude approximation.

Occasionally Buy

They are not our favorites, but we buy these occasionally in the humidor. We enjoy these cigars and think they represent a fair value. However, we don’t enjoy them quite as much as the “Regularly Buy” category. These are approximately 15% of the cigar universe we sample.

Good But Wouldn’t Buy, Palate

These are cigars we can appreciate, but they aren’t for us. Typically they are flawlessly made and smoke well, but the flavor doesn’t align with our palate. As a result, we wouldn’t buy these. That doesn’t mean they aren’t great cigars, and they may certainly deserve all the accolades they receive from others; they don’t work for us. These are roughly 10% of what we sample. (They are a much more significant portion of the cigar universe, but we naturally gravitate to what we think we’ll enjoy).

Good But Wouldn’t Buy, Value

These are cigars we enjoyed but put, but the shelf price is just so high that under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t buy them; there are just so many other good alternatives. You’ve probably heard your buddies talking about a cigar and say something along the lines of, “it was a good stick, but it wasn’t a $20 ($30 in high tax States) stick,” or “for that kind of money I could have gotten an XYZ cigar!” That’s what we’re talking about here.

Yeah, suppose you’re at an event for that cigar maker. In that case, you might buy another to be supportive, but you wouldn’t under normal circumstances. The value equation – what you get vs. what you pay – is just off. These are roughly 20% of what we try.

Smokable But Wouldn’t Buy

It isn’t a bad cigar. It was smokable. The value equation may or may not be okay, but with so many other choices out there, we aren’t going to rebuy it. Palate differences may play a role here; others might enjoy it, but it isn’t for us. These are roughly 35% of the cigars we try.

Wouldn’t Smoke Again, Period

These cigars were just not enjoyable to smoke. Typically these cigars have issues with the construction or smoking experience; it isn’t just an issue of preference or palate. These are cigars we’d be embarrassed to give to a friend. But unfortunately, many of these are out there, and they are probably 10% of what we sample.

A Final Thought on Cigar Reviews

Our approach, using value as a criterion and keeping it simple, works for us. Use what works for you; that’s all that’s important. Don’t rely too much on anyone’s review system. Also, recognize that individual taste or palate will play a role in anyone’s plan. If you find someone’s reviews helpful, follow their work and tell them you appreciate them.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Groucho Marx Loved Laughs and Cigars

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Staff

Many young people today might not be able to identify Groucho Marx, but the famed Groucho Glasses remain one of the most iconic costume props of all time. It’s a shame that while the bushy eyebrows, mustache, and glasses are still around, the man who inspired them is fading from memory. Likewise, many might not know that the complete costume includes a large cigar.

For Groucho, the cigar was no prop. Instead, he was an avid smoker who enjoyed his daily cigars. Here’s a look at the man many consider the most remarkable American comedian.

Early Life With Groucho Marx and Vaudeville

Born Julius Marx in 1890, Groucho Marx’s vaudeville and smoking career started when he was 15. Like other era performers, he began as a singer before moving to comedy. His stogie was a valuable prop when searching for a line. Improv and smoking seem to go hand and hand. George Burns also insisted that his cigar was his favorite stage companion when he needed time to think of a quip. Like Burns, Groucho Marx would become famous for his one-liners.

In the early years of their act, Groucho and his brothers adopted various personas. Chico used an Italian accent. Harpo, who didn’t like to talk on stage, wore a curly red wig. Groucho initially used a German accent. However, he dropped the accent when anti-German sentiment spiked at the start of World War I, and his familiar wise-cracking schtick was born.

It was around this time that Groucho began using his signature look. The mustache and eyebrows were actually theatrical greasepaint. Legend has it that Groucho did not have time to apply a prop mustache before a show one night, so he quickly painted one on his upper lip. Whether the story is true or not, the rest is history. The absurd get-up, complete with eyeglasses, would become classic.

Groucho Marx’s Cigars

When he was starting out and short on money, Groucho smoked nickel cigars. Later, when he could afford it, Groucho smoked expensive cigars. La Preferencias, a Cuban cigar, was one of his regular smokes, but the Dunhill 410 was his favorite. His son, Arthur, also recalls him having Belindas in the humidor for special guests. Belinda was a pre-revolutionary Cuban line. They were discontinued in the 1960s but were a prestigious brand in Groucho Marx’s day.

Groucho once said, “Marriage is the chief cause of divorce.” He was probably an authority on the topic. He married three times. When his third wife, Eden, complained about his smoking Groucho responded, “A woman is just a woman; a cigar is a smoke.” She allegedly banished him from the bedroom for six months.

Groucho Marx: Movies and Television

Groucho honed his comedic routine on stage, and like many vaudeville stars, he and his brothers took their act to the movies. The Marx Brothers made 13 movies in all. Many are considered classics. Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera, and several others were listed on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 Best Comedies. Nearly a hundred years old, Marx Brothers’ movies remain some of the most influential of all time.

Groucho Marx also wrote books and starred on radio and television. Later, fans may know him as the host of You Bet Your Life, a radio and television game show that aired from 1947 to 1961. The popular quiz show was recently revived with Jay Leno as host.

Bantering with contestants was the perfect platform for Groucho’s comedic talents. However, one interaction of the show was the source of his most debated one-liners.

Groucho Marx’s Most Famous One-liner That Never Was

Groucho is known for his one-liners. He could be self-deprecating: “I would never belong to a club that would have me as a member.” Somewhat political: “Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.” Considering he was a television and movie star, he could also be self-sabotaging: “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book”.

However, Groucho’s most famous one-liner is one that some historians insist never happened, and plenty of fans insist they remember vividly. But, of course, it was a cigar quip.

It took place during a taping of You Bet Your Life. Groucho was talking with a contestant who told him she had ten children. When Groucho asked her why she answered, “Because I love my husband.” The quick-witted Groucho replied in kind. “I love my cigar too, but I take it out of my mouth every once and a while.”

In interviews late in life, Groucho denied saying it, but it does appear in one biographer’s account. The debate continues. Many fans claim it was a male contestant. They claim to have heard it live, but the year of the show varies. Others say Groucho would have never been so crass. The show was also pre-recorded. A line like that would have never gotten past censors in that era. Unfortunately, no one has confirmed a recording of the comment, so we may never know.

Still, who else could we attribute such a zinger but Groucho Marx? A man who took comedy and his cigars seriously.

Photo credit: “Groucho Marx 1957,” by McFadden Publications, licensed under CC By 2.0

Holiday Gift: How to Buy for the Cigar Lover

Posted on November 6, 2022 by Staff

So you’re looking for a holiday gift for the cigar enthusiast. The first question a cigar shop owner might jokingly ask is, “How well do you like the person?” That’s because there are plenty of options at a wide range of prices. You can spend as little as $10 on a gift. If you like them, you can spend plenty more than that.

Whether it’s Christmas, a birthday, or just because, shopping for a cigar smoker does not need to be a chore.

Novices and nonsmokers may feel overwhelmed when they first step into a cigar shop. They may get the same feeling scrolling through cigar catalogs online. Here’s a guide on how to shop for the cigar smoker in your life.

Holiday Gift Shopping Cigars

Experienced smokers can identify a cigar by its band, size, and color from across a room. To the newbie and the nonsmoker, all cigars look the same. However, newbies see oblong rolls of tobacco with an array of colored bands. Additionally, cigars come in different sizes, shapes, and outer wrappers. Finally, there are dozens and dozens of other brands.

Holiday gift shopping for cigars can be confusing if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Where to Start Holiday Gift Shopping

Pay attention to your smoker. Noticing the size of the cigar is an excellent place to start. If you’re shopping in person, you’ll be able to narrow the scope of your search. Is the cigar short and thick or long and thin?

Peek at the cigar band if you can. Many cigar lines print their name on their bands or have identifiable designs and artwork. Then, you’ll at least be in the ballpark. Now it’s a matter of finding your seat.

Cigar employees are helpful, knowledgeable, and glad to answer questions. Boldness is challenging to determine because it can’t be identified simply by looking. Here’s where you’ll want to get an expert opinion.

Most cigar shop employees would advise you to err on the side of caution and go with milder cigars. If a smoker is not used to robust cigars, they probably won’t be able to handle a full-bodied cigar. However, someone who regularly smokes heavier cigars won’t refuse a mild blend.

Loose Sticks vs. Full Box for Holiday Gifts

If you’re wondering whether you buy loose sticks or an entire box of cigars as a holiday gift, it depends on how much you like the person. But, all kidding aside, the cost is a factor in cigars.

A box of twenty or even ten cigars will cost more than a selection of loose cigars. In addition, buying a box of cigars is risky if you don’t know the exact brand, size, and shape.

Cigars are agricultural products, and many shops, especially smaller ones, do not accept returns. Buy the wrong box, and you may be out of luck.

A wiser option may be to buy a variety of loose cigars. Of course, you’ll want to get advice from an expert. They’ll find a selection in the price range of your choice. Any cigar lover would welcome a mix of a half dozen cigars.

Gift Cards as Holiday Gifts

Consider a gift card if you know where your favorite smoker likes to shop (brick and mortar or online seller) or hang out but don’t know what they smoke.

Like any other retailer, most cigar stores offer gift cards. One advantage is your favorite smoker gets what they want. Another is if they are an excellent “shopper” and hunt for deals or watch for sales; if you get them a gift card, they stretch that face value more than what you’d pick out for them. The downside, like any other product category, is it just isn’t quite the same as a physical holiday gift you can wrap up (or, in this case, smoke right away!).

Holiday Gifts: Cigar Accessories

Cigar life involves accessories. Accessories make excellent holiday gift options if finding the right cigar proves too difficult or tedious.

Cutters and Cigar Lighters

You can’t smoke a cigar without a proper cut. But, if the smoker in your life is using a simple plastic cutter, maybe it’s time for an upgrade. Whether choosing a scissor, butterfly, or V cut, a first-class cutter made with surgical steel, is a holiday gift any cigar smoker can use.

A lighter is an obvious essential as well. Refillable butane lighters can get expensive, but companies like Xikar and Colibri offer a variety of styles at different price points. Shopping for a lighter is more straightforward than shopping for cigars. However, there is a wide range of designs and colors.

Triple jet or double jet? Gunmetal or Black? Any shop employee can provide guidance. Reading online ratings is also helpful. Many companies make high-quality lighters that cost anywhere from $30 to $100.

Carrying Cases and Carriers

Frequent travelers, golfers, fishermen, and enthusiasts who take their cigars on the road can always use a carrier. These come in different styles and sizes. Some simple leather cases hold 2 to 4 sticks, perfect for the golf bag. Others are made of plastic and have solid seals and humidification sponges so cigars won’t dry out.

Humidors

Every cigar collector could use a place to store and age their cigars. Prices will vary based on size, the exterior woods, and the type of finish, either high gloss or matte; this may seem aesthetic, but a quality humidor is not only for storage. They make a fine centerpiece for an office or den.

When shopping for a home humidor, be sure it has a good seal and interior woods made of nonaromatic cedar. Most will come with humidification sponges and an analog hygrometer. Upgrade to a digital hygrometer if you like the person.

Buying a holiday gift for the cigar lover doesn’t need to be stressful. You don’t even have to visit your local cigar shop. Cigar Life Guy has shirts, hats, jackets, and more if you’re too skittish to visit a shop. All net proceeds — 100% — go to Operation: Cigar for Warriors.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Smoking Habits: How Many Should You Smoke?

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Staff

The cigar industry has evolved over the past few hundred years. Cigars were plentiful and relatively inexpensive for much of their history. Smoking didn’t carry the same social stigma. Most men enjoyed at least an occasional cigar. However, men like Mark Twain and Sigmund Freud enjoyed smoking habits that included puffing on 10 to 20 cigars daily.

These days well under five percent of the population regularly smokes premium cigars. It is considered a luxury item, but the wide range of brands and price ranges attracts smokers from all walks of life whose smoking habits are as diverse as the types of cigars available.

How many cigars should you smoke? The short answer is as many as you’d like. That may not be realistic or even desirable. The number of cigars someone smokes daily, monthly, or yearly will vary. Cost, size, strength, and time all factor into how much someone smokes.

Smoking Habit Factors

Cigar Cost

Smoking habits that include multiple cigars a day can be costly. Depending on the brand of cigars, you can spend a good deal of money if your smoking habit progresses to one or more cigars a day. However, if smoking a Davidoff or a Padron 1926 every day is not in your budget, there’s good news. Plenty of brands offer high-quality cigars that are inexpensive.

Cigar Strength & Size

Cigar blends have gotten stronger over the years. But, again, this all depends on the individual smoker. The typical enthusiast knows their limits. But on the other hand, smoking too much, especially fuller-bodied cigars, can lead to nausea and cigar hangovers.

Cigar size is another reason some guys can’t squeeze in a cigar during the day.

Churchills, Toros, and cigars with bigger ring gauges can take an hour or longer to smoke. Some guys are wedded to a particular cigar size, but many smokers will enjoy a “dog walker” (a smaller smoke) now and then.

Time and Place

Smoking the right way takes time. Not having the time is probably the most common reason guys don’t smoke as much as they would like. Purists smoke cigars to relieve stress, think, and relax. There’s no sense in rushing the ritual. If a guy doesn’t have the time to smoke the right way, he might not smoke.

The world has not been kind to smokers in recent years. Unless you’ve built a smoking room and work from home, finding a place to squeeze in a cigar is challenging. If you live in a cold weather environment, it’s even more difficult. Belonging to a lounge helps.

Smoking Habits by Smoker Types

Cigar smoking is not a contest. Smoking frequency depends on the individual. So there’s no need to compare your habits to others, but here’s a look at a few different types of smokers.

The High-Volume Smoker

It’s tough to find time for one cigar daily, let alone multiple. However, there are plenty of cigar lovers who smoke all day long.

A smoking habit of ten cigars daily might sound like a lot, but plenty of people have the time, money, and endurance to smoke one after another. Shorter cigars with small ring gauges, like Robustos and coronas, are more manageable for the high-volume smoker. Even the most experienced smoker probably can’t smoke a dozen of the kind of full-bodied cigars made today. They’re more than likely smoking smaller mild-bodied cigars.

Guys that smoke larger cigars might need more time, but the high-volume smoker makes the time for a cigar or two every day. It’s a mid-morning or lunch-hour smoke followed by, perhaps the best of all, the after-dinner cigar.

The Slow Burn Aficionado

A premium cigar — especially one that costs a good buck — is meant to be savored. Most smokers prefer not to rush the experience, but aficionados are perhaps the most attentive. Aficionados have sensitive palates. A smoking habit of few cigars a week is all it takes. They read the ratings and the year’s best lists a little more closely than the average smoker. Then, over a few weeks or months, they may taste a variety of cigars but only smoke a few.

Seasonal Smoking Habits

Ask any cigar shop owner, and they’ll tell you some of their customers disappear in November. It probably only pertains to cold weather regions, but plenty of cigar enthusiasts only smoke on the golf course and during the warmer months. They are tried-and-true smokers but their smoking habits include associating cigars with the outdoors. So they hibernate in winter and come back when the weather turns.

Weekend Smoking Habits

Chalk it up to not having enough hours in the day or simply not having a place to smoke during the work week, but it’s common for some guys to only smoke on the weekend. But, of course, a midweek stick for a special occasion is never out of the question.

Victory and Occasional Smoking Habits

Even the uninitiated will indulge in a fine cigar once or twice a year. For many people, smoking is social, and there’s no better reason to smoke than a celebration. So you’ll find plenty of occasional smokers at Super Bowl parties, graduations, and weddings. While not true brothers of the leaf, some eventually take to the hobby. You’ve got to start somewhere.

The Chewer

Chewers might be a dying breed, but we would be remiss if we didn’t at least mention them. Newbies and those unfamiliar with cigars might be unaware that some smoking habits include never lighting cigars. Since most of a cigar’s flavor comes from the outer leaf, you need only touch it to taste the tobacco. Whether due to health concerns or a pure appreciation of flavor, chewers gnaw a few cigars throughout the day.

The Upshot on Smoking Habits

In the end, the frequency smoking habits is subjective. How much to smoke is up to you. Do what makes you comfortable.

If you’re a newbie, take it slow. Don’t attempt to smoke multiple cigars in a day until you know how your body will react. If you decide to smoke more than one cigar a day, be sure to start with a milder blend. Cleanse your palate between cigars. Don’t smoke on an empty stomach, and don’t smoke too fast. Rushing a fine cigar can lead to nausea or ruin the relaxing experience of a good blend.

Photo Credit: Cigar Life Guy

Diversity of Cigar Lounges: Here’s What You’ll Find

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Staff

So that cigar you smoked at your best friend’s wedding became a once-a-day experience. You’ve started collecting cigars and purchased an at-home humidor. You’re a regular brother of the leaf. Everyone who enjoys a premium cigar is part of an exclusive club. Most smokers eventually look for a place to share a smoke with friends. From the high-end cigar bar to the cozy storefront club, you’ll find a wide variety of venues when smoking outside the peacefulness of your home. If you live in a small town, you might not have as many options as you would in a larger city. However, there are loyal cigar enthusiasts everywhere, so what does the diversity of cigar lounges look like today? Here’s what you might find when heading out to smoke.

Diversity of Indoor Smoking and Laws

Smoking laws these days are as complex and varied as tobacco tax codes. Many states have ordinances that ban the sale of alcohol in establishments that also allow smoking. Getting a license for food and alcohol sales often depends on a certain percentage of revenue from tobacco products. Private clubs are typically not subject to these laws but allow members to bring alcohol and food.

Know the laws in the area. They will often dictate the type of lounges you’ll find. For example, smoking accommodations run the gamut from first-rate service to the shabby and everything in between.

The Diversity of Lounges

Free Front-of-the-House Smoking

Many cigar shops allow “front of the house” smoking at no charge. These technically don’t fall into the “lounge” category, but they are worth mentioning. All some guys need is a comfy chair right in the retail space of their local cigar shop. They smoke the merchandise and talk up the newbies about the latest blends.

Front-of-the-house smoking might not be the right fit for everyone, but it is cost-effective, and there is a genuine sense of belonging when you become a regular at your local shop. There are plenty of drawbacks, however. Most shops that allow smoking have limited seating. Depending on local laws, many lack the proper ventilation and won’t allow you to enjoy your favorite stick with your favorite spirit.

The Retail Store Lounge

Many lounges connect to small retail shops. They charge a yearly or per diem fee and have various amenities worth the money. Regarding cigar lounges and cigar bars, there are plenty of choices and a wide range of quality.

The size, decor, and ambiance of a lounge matter if you plan on spending time there. You’ll know what kind of place it is by evaluating the diversity of furniture and the interior design. For example, are there leather chairs with firm armrests or ratty chairs with broken springs and burn holes?

You’ll also want to know how many members belong. For example, if the lounge has ten chairs for 200 members, you might be out of luck during busy hours or cold weather.

The No-Frills Lounge

These establishments may seem dumpy, but some smokers feel at home in a fusty old room with a pool table and video poker.

Since small shops are typically in the business of selling cigars, many pay little attention to their lounge accommodations.

The no-frills clubs may charge you for a day pass, but they are usually inexpensive. Here you’ll find a few folding chairs and a table or two. The room may be small and poorly ventilated. You might not want to bring that bottle of 100-year-old scotch. Chances are you’ll be drinking it from a red Solo cup.

If you’re traveling for business or want a quick stick out of the elements, there’s nothing wrong with these establishments. They can be quaint with plenty of locals and friendly staff. However, don’t expect a diversity of amenities. While they may offer yearly memberships, these establishments devote little time or money to their lounge atmosphere.

The Traditional Private Lounge

For the classic lounge, there is a range of choices. These lounges become affiliated with a storefront but typically provide a more comfortable setting for frequent smokers — a simple elegance with a quiet calmer vibe.

Owners of these lounges spend a good deal of time and money designing rooms devoted to smoking cigars. So expect a first-rate ventilation system, decor, and atmosphere more akin to a charming Irish pub.

Most have televisions, comfortable seating, glassware, and soft drinks. Since paying members are the only smokers allowed, finding a seat isn’t a problem, nor is dealing with crowds and foot traffic from customers buying cigars.

They often provide merchandise discounts and host events like Super Bowl Parties, poker nights, and holiday gatherings for members. Since owners work closely with vendors, you can also count on special events hosted by cigar companies.

Since membership costs extra, most places don’t mind if you bring your cigars, but it’s always nice to support a local brick-and-mortar store by buying from the humidor.

BYOB Cigar Lounges

Small shops are typically in the business of selling cigars, so most lack a diversity of licenses like selling alcohol or food. However, membership has its advantages. Since they aren’t private clubs, lounges allow members to bring alcohol and food.

Conventional lounges also typically offer humidified storage lockers for an additional fee, but basic lounges are inexpensive and provide a home away from home. Besides yearly memberships, they welcome walk-ins and travelers.

However, not all lounges are the same. Some BYOBs and private clubs cater to wealthier clientele, others to a more blue-collar crowd. Nevertheless, there are plenty of classy lounges that appeal to everyone, no matter what your income. In the end, everyone is there to smoke. As long as you know cigar etiquette, most places welcome new members and walk-ins.

The Full-Service Lounge

Like the BYOB lounge, a full-service lounge typically offers large modern televisions with cable stations, streaming, and sports packages. The furniture is comfortable and plentiful, and members prevent crowds from getting too large.

The difference is a full-service bar and possibly appetizer and entrée menus. These full-service lounges keep the private club feel, but many attract a diversity in clientele. Non Smoking patrons with friends who smoke are often welcome, so the crowd may not be just cigar enthusiasts. However, the draw is the freedom to smoke. A membership might cost a bit more than a traditional lounge, but expect top-notch service and a business that appeals to the cigar smoker foremost.

The High-End Cigar Bar

Although many cities outlaw smoking and alcohol consumption or at the least make it difficult or costly to get licenses, larger businesses can afford it. Cigar companies like Ashton and Davidoff have elegant, spacious venues in big cities like New York and Las Vegas.

They provide a full-service experience that focuses on the accommodations and the satisfaction of their members and patrons. Expect a bar fully stocked with top-shelf liquors and expert advice on pairing cigars with spirits. Depending on the region, they provide indoor and outdoor seating. Perhaps it’s the novelty of lighting up a premium cigar in a sophisticated setting, but novices, enthusiasts, and everyone in between patronize genuine cigar bars.

Diversity in Cigar Lounges: The Right Place and Time

Cigar smoking is a bond no matter where you decide to smoke. Part of smoking cigars is being open-minded. You’ll meet people of various backgrounds in various lines of work. Remember to keep politics and religion out of the conversation. Nothing spoils the atmosphere like an untimely political barb. From construction workers to Wall Street traders, cigar smoking attracts people from all walks of life. It’s part of the camaraderie of the hobby.

Some venues attract a younger livelier crowd, others an older one. If you’re looking to relax and watch the news after work, a lounge that feels like a nightclub might not be for you. Alternatively, paying a day fee at BYOB is a good bet if you want to network or share a smoke with a few like-minded individuals. Ultimately, it’s about comfort and what you want when you light your next premium cigar. There’s always a place with the right atmosphere for the moment.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Pipe Tobacco vs. Premium Cigars: Which is Best?

Posted on September 19, 2022 by Staff

When smoking pipe tobacco comes to mind, most people picture Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective, brooding over clues. Perhaps you think of Hugh Hefner kicking back in his smoking jacket.

No matter what comes to mind, the pipe smoker was once synonymous with the perfect gentleman and sophistication. That image has changed over the years. These days, pipe smoking is wrongfully associated with a stuffy professor. Some consider smoking a pipe antiquated. It’s not as common as it once was and trails cigars and cigarettes in popularity, but pipe smoking maintains a loyal following.

The nonsmoker bundles all kinds of smoking, but this is the furthest thing from the truth. Each experience is unique. Cigarettes aren’t even in the same category as cigars and pipes. Although there are differences, smoking a pipe is perhaps the closest experience to smoking a premium cigar.

Plenty of regular cigar smokers will indulge in a pipe occasionally. Here’s what you need to know if you’re looking to experiment.

Pipe Tobacco Similarities

A pipe smoker smokes for the same reasons as a cigar smoker: to relieve stress, relax, or spend time with friends. For centuries, cultures have used pipe smoking in ceremonies, celebrations, and as a social experience.

Like cigars, you can smoke pipes for the aromas, flavors, and rituals of the experience. But, unlike cigarettes, pipes and cigars are savored, not inhaled.

Although the flavor profiles are different, like cigars, pipe tobacco does not contain chemical additives (like the ones found in cigarettes). Instead, cigar and pipe tobacco use the natural features of the tobacco plant. As a result, making pipe tobacco does not entail the craftsmanship of constructing a fine cigar, but the aging and fermenting process and the care it takes to make high-quality products are similar.

Pipe Tobacco and Cigar Differences

The most apparent difference between cigars and pipes is how they are smoked. Cigars are made from 100% tobacco; this affects how cigars taste and where you experience the flavors.

You smoke a pipe by lighting a bowl of loose tobacco and inhaling it through a plastic stem; this, too, affects how you experience the flavors.

A pipe can be made from a variety of materials. Corncobs are an inexpensive option. Meerschaums, a Mediterranean sea sponge, are some of the most expensive. Their elaborate and sometimes unusual carvings and styles make them some of the most distinct pipes. Many people mistake a Meerschaum for ivory because of its color and delicate appearance.

Briar, a durable tree root in the Mediterranean region, is the most common material used in pipe making. Some pipes use other woods, but most contain at least some briar because of its high resistance to heat. A bowl that burns too hot can hurt the balance of the smoke and burn your fingers.

The length and bend in the stem also affect the pipe smoking experience. The longer the pipe stem, the cooler the smoke. And those curved stems? They aren’t just for show. A pipe is puffed somewhat like a cigar. However, between each draw, it’s held in the smoker’s hand or between the teeth. A curved stem affects how the smoke reaches the mouth, but there is a more practical reason. The curved stem redistributes the weight of the pipe bowl and eases the tension on the smoker’s jaw.

Like cigars, pipes come in various sizes, shapes, and designs, but the smoking experience is distinct, especially considering how you experience the flavors.

The Palate

There is a good reason some guys only chew cigars. A lot of flavors are absorbed simply by placing a cigar between your lips. Lighting and smoking release even more pronounced flavors as the smoke passes over the tongue, and the combination of binder and filler tobaccos integrates with the wrapper. Smoking a cigar is all-encompassing.

Pipe smoking is more localized. A pipe smoker experiences most of the flavors on the tongue. As you draw smoke from the bowl through the stem, the smoke cools and passes over the tongue. One of the most common complaints of pipe smokers is “tongue bite,” which occurs when the bowl burns too hot.

Aroma

Whether it’s a fine wine, cuisine, or a fine cigar, a portion of taste comes from the scent. Even some nonsmokers appreciate the sweet billowing aroma created by fine tobacco.

Cigar aromas go a long way toward the flavor, but they may be a close second to pipes. A pipe’s aromas are unmistakable because they are sweeter. Many pipe tobaccos infuse natural sugars and familiar scents of vanilla and cherry.

Everyone has known a smoker, and one whiff of Captain Black can remind people of their grandfather or favorite uncle. Whether it’s nostalgia or aesthetic appreciation, a niche industry has developed over the last few years that replicates tobacco scents as candles.

Tobaccos

Most cigar tobacco is grown in Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Dominican. Seasoned smokers know the differences in various leaves, the curing process, and how they will taste. There is plenty of mild tobacco, but cigars are stronger.

Compared to cigars, most pipe tobacco has a very different flavor profile. There is a wide variety of styles, but in the broadest sense, there are aromatic and non-aromatic. Like cigars, blenders combine different tobacco to create a distinct character. The most common tobaccos in pipe blends include Cavendish, Virginia, Burley, or the exotic Latakia grown in Syria. Most are milder, especially the aromatics, but some non-aromatics can pack a punch.

If you’re thinking about dabbling, you’ll be in familiar territory. Many popular cigar brands, like Ashton and Dunhill, also make pipe tobacco.

Maintenance

Smoking a cigar is as simple as cutting, lighting, and enjoying. A pipe entails a little more work. However, most pipe smokers find this an enjoyable part of the experience. Packing your pipe is the first step. Ask any veteran pipe smoker. They’ll give you several techniques. Packing too tightly or loosely is not advised. If you pack the bowl too tightly and there isn’t enough oxygen. A clog will impede the draw (much like a stray stem in a cigar can).

If you decide to try a pipe, count on relighting it several times during your smoke. Stoking tobacco with a pipe tool is also necessary.

Of course, after smoking, you’ll need to clean the bowl. Pipe aromas are potent and can linger. In addition, you might taste the residual flavors of your last smoke if you do not clean the bowl correctly.

It sounds like a lot of work, but most pipe smokers attest to it all being part of the pleasure of the experience.

The Upshot on Pipe Tobacco vs. Cigars

Smoking is all about the ritual. A pipe isn’t much different from a cigar. If you want to add a slight variation, try smoking a pipe. You might spend a bit of money upfront for a decent pipe, but pipe tobacco is relatively inexpensive compared to some cigar habits.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Expensive Cigars: Do You Need to Smoke Them?

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Staff

Gurkha’s Royal Courtesan fetches a cool $1.36 million per cigar. Made from Himalayan tobacco, grown with Fiji water, and banded in diamonds, it is the most expensive cigar in the world. With a price tag like that, you might think that a Yeti (the legendary abominable snowman) rolled your smoke. If that’s too rich for your blood, there is always the Mayan Sicar. Uncovered in Guatemala in 2012, these six hundred-year-old smokes rank second as the most expensive cigars. A collector paid just over half a million for the still smokable relics.

Compared to those prices, Gurkha’s His Majesty’s Reserve -allegedly former president Bill Clinton’s favorite- is a reasonable $750 per cigar. No, these are not everyday cigars, even if you are an ex-president. Rare and collectibles are in a category all their own.

Most premium cigars fall within the $4-30 range. A price tag is not necessarily indicative of the quality of a good smoke, but a good smoke isn’t “good” because it costs a bundle. The average smoker does not need to smoke a million-dollar cigar to get premium quality.

Seasoned smokers know length and ring gauge matter—a cigar’s construction matters. Sometimes the packaging factors into what you smoke, but does price matter?

Are Expensive Cigars Better?

The short answer is a decisive no. Plenty of cigars provide premium quality without a hefty price tag. However, cigar pricing is not arbitrary, and for all the novices and nonsmokers out there, cigars are not “all the same.”

What Makes Expensive Cigars?

The Construction

The quality of any product shows the time and care it takes to create it. Raw materials and craftsmanship are integral. It’s the difference between a chair from Ikea and a chair from Bernhardt. It is the difference between furniture hand-crafted from sturdy wood and furniture mass-produced with particle board. Cigars are no different.

The most respected cigar lines have been honing their blends for decades. The intricate process of cultivating various tobacco leaves and then aging and fermenting them takes time and money. Before a cigar is even rolled and boxed, cigar makers are developing new combinations of tobaccos. They are also careful to maintain time-honored techniques in making traditional favorites.

Premium cigar companies take pride in their product and employ the best rollers to create top-shelf cigars. It is in the company’s best interest to find the best rollers in order to deliver the best products. Having experts construct cigars is also in the customer’s best interest, even if it costs a few extra dollars.

Davidoff has long been a benchmark in the industry. Even their standard blends have price tags to prove it. A Davidoff can cost anywhere from $10 to $30. They have been in business for over 100 years. Noone’s palate is the same, but most smokers can attest to Davidoff’s balance, flavor, and quality.

Specialty Cigars and Rarity

Many companies come out with specialty cigars and limited edition blends each year. There are only a certain amount of these cigars, so sometimes pricing is simply a case of supply and demand.

Smokers and collectors have long coveted Arturo Fuente’s Opus X line because of its scarcity. The company is notoriously secretive about this unique blend. Fuente won’t even reveal an exact timeline for how long they’re aged. In any year, there are only a few hundred thousand Opus sticks to go around. It’s no wonder they cost a bit more than the average stick.

Branding and Packaging

Taste is the highest priority for most smokers and cigar makers, but packaging and presentation is also vital to branding and pricing. The best companies hire top designers to create cigar bands and boxes. Like the quality of the taste, good companies take pride in the look of their product. The most recognizable brands often have the most recognizable presentation. Think of Ashton’s minimalist boxes, Davidoff’s elegant white bands trimmed in gold, Padron’s insignia in a wine red background flanked by golden tobacco leaves.

These lines have developed a loyal clientele and consistently deliver top-shelf cigars. However, some boutique lines and upstarts often go for a sleek look and skimp on the quality. Beware of frilly boxes, flashy bands, and giveaways. They may deliver on the image, but might not deliver the quality big price tags promise.

The Upshot on Expensive Cigars

“Expensive” is relative. One guy’s everyday smoke is the next guy’s trophy cigar. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with buying that end table from Ikea or smoking that $4 stick. The beauty of the cigar industry is that premium lines are all hand-rolled, and companies hold their products to high standards. If you can’t afford to smoke a Davidoff every day, there are plenty of quality lines to choose from that are priced in the medium to lower range.

What cigar to smoke is often about context. Taking your best cigars to the golf course might not be the best idea. A windy day can ruin even the finest rolled cigar. A cheaper stick might be the best bet. Mark Twain preferred the cheapies all his life, and some guys stick to a few brands, but aficionados taste around regardless of cost.

Some occasions might call for something special, and that might entail shelling out a few extra bucks. In most cases, you will not be disappointed. Our best advice is to rely on a knowledgeable smoker, a friend from your local lounge, trusted reviewers, and your own palate to decide whether a pricey cigar is worth it.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Cigar Ring Gauges: Everything You Need to Know

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Staff

If you’re an aficionado, you are probably familiar with how size and shape affect the way cigars taste. When selecting cigars, smokers should consider the type of rolls, the lengths, and the girths or ring gauges. Length, measured simply in inches, is the most apparent cigar characteristic, but the diameter of cigar ring gauges is equally important. Learning how diameter is measured is tricky but easy to learn.

The Math on Cigar Ring Gauges

There’s no mystery behind cigar ring gauges. They measure the diameter in fractions of a sixty-fourth of an inch. A sixty-fourth of an inch equals one ring. The most common cigar sizes measure within the 38 to the 60-ring range, although there are plenty of exceptions. Said differently a 60-ring cigar is 60 sixty-fourths of an inch in diameter — nearly an inch.

In the beginning, cigar makers gave little thought to varying diameters of cigars. As the industry grew, they began experimenting with the thickness of a cigar and how it changed and enhanced a blend. For a long time, cigar makers in Cuba made nothing larger than a 50-ring gauge. Larger ring gauges didn’t grow in popularity until the 90s boom.

Trends come and go, and unique cigars debut every year. Here is a rundown of the typical vitolas and their corresponding ring gauges.

Common Cigar Ring Gauges and Sizes

With cigar ring gauges, there are no absolute standards. You will see some overlap among the ranges, but here is a general breakdown.

38-42 Gauge

The smallest variety of premium cigars, this range includes Panatellas, Lanceros, and Petit Coronas.

43-49 Gauge

The Churchill is one of the more iconic cigar sizes. Even nonsmokers would recognize this long medium gauged cigar at a glance. The Churchill serves as a good baseline for familiarizing yourself with cigar ring gauges.

Most Churchills measure between the 46-50 range, so if you have a good visual on a typical Churchill you should have a handle on what this thickness looks like. Other styles within this range include Lonsdales, Rothschilds, Double Coronas, and in most cases Coronas.

50-54 Gauge

This range includes Belicosos, Toros, Robustos, and the occasional Churchill.

55-59 Gauge

There is a noticeable leap here in thickness. Different brands have their own definitions of these styles, but this range includes larger Robustos and Toros. Torpedoes and Gigantes also fall within this range.

60 and Up Gauge

More brands are making cigars of this size. These are mammoth cigar ring gauges that include Gigante, Double Toros, and Magnums.

Remember that these are not the only style of cigar. Figurados could have several ring gauge measurements as they are tapered and bulkier at various points in their construction. This contributes to the unique way a cigar smokes and tastes.

Cigar Ring Gauge vs. Taste

What do all these numbers add up to? The flavor and essence of a cigar.

The true character of a cigar and close to 80% of its flavor comes from the exterior wrapper. This was why Fidel Castro preferred his cigars thin. The Cohiba plant even created a special size with Fidel in mind when it made Lanceros in the 1960s. Long and thin (usually 34-40 ring and up to 7.5 in length), this cigar spiked in popularity over the years. Many cigar lines still make them when they want to highlight the quality of a particular tobacco leaf and blend. Since these cigars have less binder and fill, many cigar makers still attest to the Lancero, capturing the purest aspects of an exterior leaf.

That is why size matters for smoking cigars. It’s not just about how much time you have or mere appearances. Cigar ring gauges affect the taste.

The flavors of the exterior leaf will not be as pronounced in thicker cigars simply because they use more binder and filler. The thinner the cigar, the more you’ll taste the exterior wrapper. Thicker cigars burn cooler. Thinner cigars can burn hot especially if they are not properly constructed. As with any premium cigar, the rolling process is precise. Balance is always the goal. With less binder and fill, the wrapper’s flavors are more stressed in thinner cigars like Coronas and Lanceros.

Cigar construction is an art form — one that you can taste for yourself. First, choose a cigar line you enjoy, and then experiment by smoking the same blend in a variety of sizes. Start by smoking the Corona. Note the traits of this relatively thin cigar. Then move up to a Toro and then Churchill. You’ll start to notice how the tobaccos from the binder and fill complement the exterior wrapper.

Learning the nuances of cigar features — lengths, shapes, cigar ring gauges as well as how the three tobacco components interact — is only one way to gain a deeper appreciation for your next stick.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy