Cigar Fundamentals Archives - Page 4 of 9

Cigar Lounge Etiquette for the Frequent Traveler

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Staff

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, you’re never far from home or a premium cigar, if you can find a good cigar lounge. Practicing good cigar lounge etiquette is essential, regardless of where your travels lead you. Here are some tips to consider when taking cigar life on the road.

How to Choose a Cigar Lounge

Smoking restrictions will vary depending on where you are in the country or the world. Some cities allow smoking in restaurants and bars, and others restrict it to designated smoking lounges or private clubs. But if you’re traveling for business or on vacation looking to relax, avoid some of the flashier settings. Consider the size and what a place offers. Restaurants and bars that allow smokers might attract larger and rowdier crowds.

If you’re simply looking for a place to have a stick and sip on your favorite cocktail, traditional cigar lounges and local shops remain the best option. Since they are typically filled with paying members who are aficionados themselves, they are often the most welcoming.

There are apps out there to help you find smoke-friendly venues and Reddit and Facebook groups can provide information, but sometimes the best resource is your hotel concierge or simply asking a local. Asking a local can also help you avoid the trendy places you wouldn’t visit when you’re in your hometown.

Cigar Lounge Etiquette Rules Differ

Each lounge has its own policies. Some lounges will allow you to bring your own sticks, while others prefer you purchase a cigar on site. But conventional (cigar) wisdom says if you’re patronizing a store, it’s best to make a purchase. Don’t presume that because you’ve purchased a cigar, you can kick back and smoke for free. Since many lounges have paying members, some may charge a small smoking fee.

The same etiquette applies to booze. Some lounges and cigar clubs have fully stocked bars and serve alcohol, and others are B.Y.O.B. Phone ahead to find out store policies rather than showing up with your own bottle of bourbon.

Assume nothing. Be polite and simply ask. And don’t haggle the owner over policies and prices. Cigar life is about camaraderie and enjoyment. Most places graciously welcome tourists. Lounges, especially independently owned smaller shops, may even waive the smoking fee for travelers.

Each Lounge Has Distinct Atmospheres

Whether you’re in New York, Rome, or smaller cities across the country, every cigar lounge will have its own unique atmosphere.

When you sit down as a guest at a cigar lounge, read the room how Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would read a defense. Cigar life is about leisure and the satisfaction of a great smoke. If guys are settling in for the big game or watching the local news, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Don’t change the channel. Also, sometimes cigars are best savored in silence, so take your phone calls outside.

Smoking is a small exclusive community, but cigar smokers are not exclusive. Know cigar lounge etiquette. Respecting the regulars goes a long way to being welcomed as one of their own. There’s nothing wrong with making conversation. So share a drink. Talk cigars, football, baseball, maybe some business, but keep politics and religion out of it. Remember, local lounge members are there for the same reason you are: to enjoy a premium cigar.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Smoke Odor Eliminators: 4 Ways to Fight the Smell

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Staff

A cigar aficionado loves the aroma of a fine cigar, but the smell clings to clothes and furniture. The good news is there are easy ways to fight the effects of a fine cigar with smoke odor eliminators.

Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, graduation, retirement party, or simply sitting down to relieve stress, a good cigar is all about ritual. It’s no wonder relaxing amidst the aroma of a premium cigar is often a transcendent experience. But the 21st century hasn’t been kind to cigar smokers. One person’s ritual is another person’s “smoke smell,” and the smoke odor has staying power. Cigar ash creates noncombustible minerals like potassium and magnesium, and like cooking odors, it clings to clothing, car upholstery, and furniture fabrics.

Household Cleaners as Smoke Odor Eliminators

If you live in colder climates, there’s no avoiding having to smoke inside. Cigar lounges are equipped with ventilation systems, and building a smoking room is an option, but if you’re looking to enjoy a cigar at home and are worried about lingering odors, you won’t need to get too creative. Household cleaners are all you’ll need.

Setting out bowls of vinegar for a few hours will absorb odors rather than merely mask them. Baking soda also absorbs smells. Sprinkle baking soda on furniture fabrics and carpets and let it stand for a few hours or overnight. Vacuum the excess with a hose attachment, and the room will have no trace of a cigar.

Air cleanses remain one of the most effective ways to rid a room of odors. When all else fails, open a window and let Mother Nature do her work.

Commercial Smoke Odor Eliminators

Commercial air purifiers from companies like Dyson work well but can be expensive. An economical and more compact solution is Lampe Berger™ (pronounced: Bershay). These oil lamps were originally used to disinfect morgues and hospitals, so eliminating odors from a Robusto or Toro won’t be a problem. Using state-of-the-art catalytic combustion technology, they became a staple in smoking clubs in the early 1900s.

Some designs have become collectibles, but there is no need to get fancy. Basic models are inexpensive and can purify a 400-square-foot room in about an hour and remove 68% of the bacteria.

Protecting Clothes with a Smoking Jacket

Cigar life is all about special occasions, and sometimes that means being dressed in your best. Dry cleaning will remove smells from formal wear, but everyday clothes are a different story.

Smoking jackets, long associated with Hugh Hefner and the Playboy mansion, were not just novelties. They protected clothes from smoke and ash. Because most are made from silk, they don’t absorb smoke odors like porous materials. It wasn’t just “Hef” who wore one. In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Cary Grant all wore smoking jackets as part of their formal attire. Smoking jackets are still around, but there are other options if you simply want to freshen your clothes after a smoking event with friends.

Removing Smoke Smells from Clothing and Fabrics

Eliminating odors from clothing doesn’t have to be a chore. Over-the-counter products, like Febreze™, are effective, but all-natural cleansers and household products are all you need.

Washing clothes with a half cup of white vinegar removes stubborn odors. Sprinkling baking soda and letting it stand for a few hours before running clothes through the wash also works wonders. Hanging your clothes outside may sound old-fashioned, but fresh air with the added benefit of a sun cleanse (not for too long — UV rays can fade colors) will have clothes smelling like new.

Photo credit: Unsplash

Culebra Cigars: A Unique, Twisted Smoke You Can Share

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Staff

Culebra cigars are the most curious-looking cigars in the industry. The uninitiated may not even know that they’re looking at a cigar let alone how to go about smoking one. Appearance aside, it’s a pretty straightforward process even if the history is ambiguous.

Cigar or Tree Branch?

Enjoying a good premium smoke is fairly simple. Choose a ring gauge, a length, and then an exterior wrapper. Sure, you’ll find ornately designed boxes and some beautiful-looking bands, but other than some of the more delicately constructed sticks like perfectos, torpedos, and figurados, cigar smoking is a no-frills lifestyle. You should smoke a fine cigar, not admire it on the shelf. Still, even the least discerning eye can’t help but notice and admire a Culebra sitting in a cigar shop.

Culebras are known for their distinct appearance- a contorted braid that resembles a tree limb more than a traditional cigar. At first glance, a novice cigar smoker may not even know what they’re looking at. But aficionados and experienced smokers are familiar with the Culebra and its surprising contortions. Culebra means “snake” in Spanish. The Culebra cigar is actually three panatellas twisted together, and it’s about as novelty as it gets in the cigar world.

How to Smoke Culebra Cigars

The Culebra can be smoked all at once, but no cigar pro would recommend it. The proper way is to remove the ribbon or band that holds the cigars together and carefully separate them. Cut the cap as you would a standard cigar and enjoy. And don’t worry, most guys who have smoked them attest to getting a pretty good draw despite their exotic shape.

Twisted Origins of Culebra Cigars

No one knows exactly how the Culebra came about, but most cite its origins to the Philippines in the 1880s. The most popular origin story is that factory owners gave these curious-looking smokes to their rollers to prevent theft. According to tradition, manufacturers allotted cigar rollers three smokes a day. A Culebra was the perfect ration- 3 cigars wrapped in one. These cigars might look like a single smoke, but you smoke individually. Once separated, their easily recognizable contorted appearance would be a telltale that employees weren’t pilfering from the regular stock.

No one has ever confirmed this bit of cigar lore, and if it ever was actually practiced, no factory does so anymore. But if it ever was the case, factory owners probably saved a buck or two because in order to attain their unique proportions and that signature twist, Culebras are purposely rolled with less tobacco.

More Oddity than Icon

When you think of iconic cigar smokers-Winston Churchill, Michael Jordan, Arnold Schwarzenegger – you picture them with a traditional stick. Toros. Robustos. Coronas. And of course the eponymous Churchill. You don’t picture them smoking something that resembles Harry Potter’s wand. Not that cigars haven’t made their way into film and television. Clint Eastwood in Spaghetti Westerns. Al Pacino in Scarface. Tony Soprano. You simply can’t separate the man from the cigar. And not a Culebra in sight.

But the Culebra has made at least one appearance on television. You’d just have to catch it as a late night rerun of Rod Serling’s Twilight Episode. Burgess Meredith, perhaps best known for his role as Mickey Goldman in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, champs on one of these twisted rarities throughout the episode, “Printer’s Devil”. Since Meredith played the devil who bargains with a failing newspaper reporter, the snake-like cigar and its allusions to the first temptation in Eden was more than a suitable prop.

No, you won’t need to make a deal with the devil to give a Culebra a try. Although they are rare, plenty of companies, like Partagas, Davidoff, and Tatuaje, still make them. You can smoke all three of them at once, but remember it’s best to unbraid them and share with a couple of friends.

Photo credit: J.C. Newman Co.

Smoke on the Water: Cigars, Beaches and Campfires

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Staff

There is something primal about being in nature and relaxing with a nice cigar, much like the scenes of many James Bond movies. There is also nothing like a good smoke on the water whether you are on the water and enjoying a nice yacht show, are powering through a rough afternoon of fishing, hanging with the family at the beach, or taking in the country views. However, there may be some things to worry about that James Bond never seemed to consider such as mold and humidity, especially when traveling. If you’re looking for the ultimate guide for cigars when boating, sitting on the beach, or relaxing at a lakeside resort, then read on!

Smoke on the Water and Boating

If you’re ready to hop aboard, then we’re excited for you to join the crew! We have some great tips and tricks that’ll have you pulling anchor and joining James Bond on the water in no time. When you combine one passion with another, like smoking and boating, it’s a heavenly match.

Your cigars are a high maintenance pastime, so if you’re looking for the ultimate experience, keep these tips in mind:

Humidor

Travel-sized humidors and portable humidors are available to keep humidity out and flavor in. Pick one up before you bring your cigars on board to protect them from any fish flop or swampy winds.

Cigar Cutter

This is an essential tool for any cigar aficionado looking to enjoy a smoke on the water. Don’t leave home without one or two. They’re like guitar picks; you can’t have too many.

Windproof Lighter

If your stogies are stored properly, and you remembered your cigar cutter, then there’s one more tool you must have, a good, windproof lighter. There’s nothing like the disappointment you’d experience if the wind prevented you from lighting up. Stash a windproof lighter with you so you can always enjoy that cigar with gusto regardless of wind conditions.

Beachside Spirits and Cigar Pairings

James Bond didn’t just smoke his cigars on boats, he paired his cigars with sun-soaked Mojitos and classic Martinis. When you talk about things that pair well, like salty and sweet, or bacon and well… everything, then cigars and spirits are no exception. When you talk about pairing cigars with a specific spirit, there is a general rule. Cigars are categorized into full-bodied cigars, medium body cigars, and light body cigars. Likewise, spirits are categorized as full-bodied, medium-bodied, and light-bodied. A full-bodied cigar should be paired with its counterpart, a full-bodied spirit.

There are, of course some spirits that you will find at a beachside cabana that are probably not a part of your normal repertoire of drinks, such as spiced rum, tequila and vodka. So, what are you to choose? Start by considering the flavor profiles of each option.

Spiced Rum is at the full-bodied end of the spectrum. It offers nutty, leather, maple, and dried fruit flavors. Pairing a full-bodied cigar with spiced rum brings out the natural flavors in your drink.

Not all beach parties begin or end with rum, though. What if your beach party is serving up tequila? There’s an easy answer for that as well. Go for an aged agave tequila. It offers a slight wood influence, which can add a creamier vanilla flavor for you to enjoy. It also does a great job of complementing a light-bodied cigar.

Finally, what smoke on the water experience would be complete without a vodka pairing? We can’t think of any, nor can we think of any vodka drinking bad boy who doesn’t smoke a cigar. Yet, what kind of cigar should you choose? For starters, fruity vodka pairs well with a spicy cigar and potato vodka pairs better with a medium-bodied cigar. Then, you have your grain vodkas, which are more common in the U.S. Grain vodka is better for your cocktails, which are best paired with full-bodied cigars.

Smoke on the Water vs. Campfire Cigars

Although boats and beaches allow you to channel your inner James Bond, sometimes it’s better to gravitate more towards John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. Think of kicking back with a good cigar and a campfire to create your own stories. It’s hard to say whether it’s the smell of burning wood that enhances the cigar flavor or the cigar smoke that enhances the campfire, but these two activities build on each other’s strengths. Why or how is a question best left to the cosmos, but it’s likely that it’ll remain a mystery until the end of time. Instead, it’s better to just focus on your relaxation, the s’mores, scary bedtime stories, and the wonderful tastes and smells that go along with a great cigar.

Whether you’re on a boat, at the beach, or enjoying a lazy evening next to a campfire, a good travel humidor is your best friend. If you remember this, then you’re ready for a good smoke on the water anytime. We hope your next cigar and water adventure is more enjoyable than the last.

Photo credit: Pixabay

The Dominican Republic Cigars

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Staff

The Dominican Republic is one of the largest producers of high-quality cigars in the world, and has been for a while. Through time and a tremendous effort, the growers and blenders created some of the best products in the industry. According to industry experts, the Dominican Republic produces around 44% of the world’s cigars.

The core to cigar culture in the Dominican Republic is quality. In fact, it takes a mind-bending level of effort, attention and quality control when creating each cigar. This same attention to quality also is sewn into the wider Dominican Republic lifestyle and perspective. It represents their award-winning and world-renown tobacco.

Dominican Republic Cigars and Tobacco

Growing conditions vary from one part of the Dominican Republic to another. Thus, a variety of tobacco grows here. Perfect conditions and generational expertise enable the Dominican Republic to cultivate many of today’s top cigar companies and brands.

Piloto Cubano, Olor and San Vicente are the main tobacco types grown. Some Dominican Republic cigars also use other types of tobacco from other regions throughout the world. Yet, some brands are only rolled in the Dominican Republic and still considered Dominican Republic cigars.

Piloto Cubano is bold and rich in flavor and aroma. It contains hints of cinnamon. Olor can be dry and salty with a neutral flavor. Finally, San Vicente grows widely, and it’s used for binder and filler. It’s lighter than Piloto Cubano and slightly more acidic.

Quality control and effort don’t vary depending on which tobacco forms the filler. Company owners, tobacco blenders, cigar rollers, farmers and processors all place excruciating emphasis on quality daily. It’s part of what makes Dominican Republic cigars so special.

The Dominican Republic Makes a Name for Itself

The roots to Dominican Republic tobacco growing and cigar culture trace back to the early 1900s. Several generations of farms and brands existed throughout that era. Exporting the country’s cigars to the rest of the world came later.

Fuente Fuente Opus X was the first fully Dominican ultra-premium cigar. Before the Fuente release in ’95, the cigar’s ability to produce quality mainly went unnoticed. Since the Opus X breakthrough, it’s been an upward trajectory for cigar making in the country.

The Dominican Republic also is home to Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Macanudo, Partagas, and Montecristo — all high-quality cigar brands known for their excellence. The high scrutiny and quality control embedded in the industry never fails to astound.

Quality of Dominican Republic tobacco easily matches and exceeds its Cuban rival. It’s hard to ignore that nearly half of the world’s cigars are from the Dominican Republic, but it’s easy to understand why.

A large part of the country’s cigar history is linked to the Cuban situation with the US and the ensuing embargo. Tobacconists and farmers migrated to the supple regions of the Dominican Republic that were comparable to those in Cuba. Santiago is one of the largest tobacco growing regions in the world.

The magnitude of the tobacco farming and processing efforts in the country supplies a percentage of its economy. It’s easy to understand why cigars became part of the overall lifestyle and culture of the country. The extreme detail in every facet of cigar making is magical and inspiring.

Cigar Culture and Commitment to Quality

One Dominican Republic cigar goes through about 170 individual steps in its creation. This takes place over a five-year period. Meticulous and painstaking attention to detail exists at every step and turn of the process.

Within this world of incredible passion and quality, there’s also the connection between an aficionado and their cigar. Dominican Republic cigar makers successfully capture the quality of relaxation and gratitude in each premium smoke they create. It might be the rich history or maybe it’s part of ancient tobacco history that expert tobacconists tap into. Either way, it makes for one of the best cigars any cigar enthusiast can appreciate.

Modern farming and production techniques have changed little over the last hundred years. Cigar rollers sometimes favor traditional cutters and equipment even if it slows production. Many consider the rollers, like the blenders as the best, so no one argues with them.

It takes about ten years to become a cigar roller for premium quality cigars in the Dominican Republic. This dedication and loyalty to the craft is present across the country’s entire cigar industry. In fact, loyalty plays a large role in the mentality of the larger cigar industry and community here.

There’s No Secret to Dominican Republic Cigars

Enthusiasts and experts already know about the rich flavor profile and depth that comes with a fine Dominican Republic cigar. Many claim that the tobacco is smooth and mild compared to that of other global tobacco producers. Yet, some Dominican Republican cigar companies compete with their own Cuban brands.

Davidoff has cigar farms and other facilities in the Dominican Republic and offers tours of them. There is a really great YouTube video that shows the cigar production process. Check it out.

If you take a tour, you’ll notice that most of the employees are women. This is because of the extreme attention to detail and gentle pressure and touch required for processing the leaves. Cigar factories employ thousands of women to handle multiple stages of the cigar creation process.

The shade-grown, hand-wrapped 100% Dominican Republic stick released by the A. Fuente Company in the ’90s grew in popularity. In fact, it helped spread commitment and loyalty to quality that’s core to the country’s way of life today.

A Final Word

The Dominican Republic tobacco rose from its humble beginnings as filler tobacco. From there, it has taken the entire world and cigar industry by storm. It’s takes the perfect combination of heritage, climate, experience, passion, dedication, loyalty and knowledge to produce some of the finest cigars in the world.

Tobacconists have perfected their farming and processing techniques over the past 100 years. In fact, entire generations of families have engaged in perfecting the cigar making process. Dedication to the process has paved a path to one of the best smokes available today.

The city of Santiago is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic and the cigar capital of the world. Subsidiary businesses flourish in Santiago to support the tobacco industry. Here, cigars are bigger than the moments taken to share and enjoy. They carry cultural significance and they represent pride.

Here are a few brands to look for:

Avo and La Gloria Cubana
Partagas
Romeo y Julieta
Montecristo

You may have already had a Dominican Republican cigar, but if not, they’re easy to come by. Next time you’re at the cigar shop talk to the owner. Ask them to recommend some Dominican Republican cigars to try. When you sit down to light up and enjoy, remember all the time, work and effort that went into creating such magical quality.

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that taking a minute to enjoy life is part of the cigar experience. The Dominican Republic cigars reflect this within the lifecycle of their creation. Don’t rush the slow, pleasant ride of enjoying a premium cigar. It’s also stopping to enjoy moments as they pass.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

4 Reasons Your Next Cigar Encounter Won’t Be Your Best

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Staff

If you’ve been smoking cigars for a while, you’ve probably noticed that you can smoke identical cigars from the same box and have incredibly different experiences. Sometimes you hit that magical sweet spot of an incredible smoke — the tobacco equivalent of an orgasm. Other times the same stick might be less than extraordinary or ho-hum. Here are a few reasons that explain this variation in your cigar encounter.

You Got a Bad Stick

Sometimes it’s as simple as a bad stick. It happens! Think of getting a bad stick as being like finding a bad, or “skunked,” bottle of wine in a case of an amazing vintage. Even the best brands and labels will experience this rarely. Premium cigars are natural, handmade products and despite best efforts at quality control at the factory, invariably now and then you’ll get a bad one. It could be the draw, the construction of the cigar, the tobacco itself, or a variety of other reasons. Not much you can do about it. Just can suck it up and muscle through it or decide to just put it down and start a new one.

If you purchased it at your local store and experience a bad stick while in the store, most reputable tobacconists will replace the bad one for you, assuming you point it out early in the smoke. If you’ve left the store, returns or exchanges are less likely to be honored as the reason for the bad stick could have to do with how you store it (e.g., it’s out of the store’s control).

Your Environment Affects Your Cigar Encounter

Are you outside? In the wind? On the golf course? Inside but walking around or standing? Driving in the car? You can enjoy a cigar while on the move or in the elements, and a cigar might make an otherwise monotonous activity (like rush hour traffic) seem doable. That said, nothing will replace your favorite spot, maybe a relaxing, comfortable chair in a climate-controlled environment.

Your Palate Needs Cleansing

What you’ve had to eat, drink, or smoke just prior to smoking or lighting up your cigar can have a huge impact on your smoking experience. Much has been written about different pairings and what can optimize your smoke. Similarly, what you’ve had to smoke just prior can affect your enjoyment of your cigar. It is difficult to appreciate a lighter cigar just after smoking a heavier, fuller-flavored cigar. You’re still smoking, but you can’t taste or appreciate what you’re smoking. If you want to cleanse your palate, consider gargling a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water (1 part each).

Multi-tasking Changes Your Cigar Encounter

Do you ever find it hard to concentrate on a stick while you are multitasking? Maybe you’re trying to knock out some work while smoking or you’re trying to finish some yard work? Perhaps you’re at a cigar event and much of your time is spent talking with others and not concentrating on your smoke? If your mindset is off, you’ll be less focused on appreciating your cigar and too focused on whatever is stressing you out. Anything that keeps you from paying attention to your smoke can sub-optimize your enjoyment of your cigar.

Optimize Your Cigar Encounter

You’re never going to eliminate getting a bad stick. Patronizing high quality brands and retailers that properly store their cigars will minimize your bad ones. Yet there are other variables you can control to optimize your cigar encounter and improve your smoking enjoyment. Find an appropriate physical environment, minimize your distractions or other activities, and start with a clean palate!

On final note: just because it’s going to be a suboptimal experience doesn’t mean you shouldn’t smoke a cigar! A mediocre cigar experience beats the heck out of no cigar experience! Just one example, but a long car ride is often made better with a cigar. Just consider not smoking your best stuff when your experience will not be optimal and saving your trophy cigars for those times when you know you’ll really be able to enjoy them!

Photo credit: Unsplash

Pairing Cigars and Chocolate

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Staff

For flavor, a good cigar should stand on its own. Aromatic touches of leather, spice, and nuttiness are a few of the palate stimulating profiles you can experience when indulging in a quality stick. Of course, as any cigar smoker will tell you, there’s nothing like pairing your favorite stogie with the bite and depth of a top-shelf glass of bourbon or scotch. Food pairings are also common among avid cigar folks — a smoky, barbecue dish really meshes well with the right cigar. Yet, one of the lesser-known, but just as enjoyable may surprise you — pairing cigars and chocolate, and it’s easy to understand why.

A look at the origins of chocolate, the similarities between the cultivation and processing of cacao beans and tobacco leaves, and finally, a guide to finding a proper paring between types of chocolate and cigars should help to clear up any doubts you might have about this delectable duo.

A Brief History of Chocolate

To appreciate a good cigar, you must understand the rich history and complexity of the cultivation of the tobacco leaf. You’ll find the same level of depth in chocolate history. Looking at it from this angle sets the stage for a solid pairing.

Some within the historic community say that the origins of chocolate date back as far as 1400 B.C. with ancient Central and South American civilizations. Back then, ancient peoples such as the Mayans and the Aztecs revered the cacao bean as a gift from the gods, and even used it as currency. These ancient peoples referred to this earlier chocolate as xocoatl. Elite members of society used it as an aphrodisiac.

By the middle of the 19th century, it had taken on the common chocolate bar form we know today. Since then, it’s amassed global affection. In fact, the chocolate industry is now valued at over $100 billion, and contains more varieties of chocolate than we know what to do with.

Cigars and Chocolate: Flavorful Philosophies

As most cigar smokers know, the flavor profile of a cigar is heavily affected by the region where the tobacco is grown. Things like temperature, rainfall, drainage, and soil nutrients all contribute to the flavorful complexity that aficionados appreciate.

Chocolate is no exception regarding the impact of these elements on the final product. In fact, cacao cultivation occurs in many of the same locales as tobacco with plantations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Much like tobacco, the cacao tree thrives in rich, nutrient-packed soil warmed by tropical sunshine.

The fermentation process of both plants contributes to their similarities while adding complexity of the flavor to the finished product. Like a cigar’s tobacco wrapper, the cacao beans are fermented in boxes. These boxes break down cacao bean seed coats, kill germs, and give chocolate its unique taste — one that offers a natural pairing of cigars and chocolate.

A Guide to Pairing Cigars and Chocolate

With so many varieties of cigars and chocolate, the prospect of pairing the two might seem overwhelming at first. Yet, it’s important to note that pairing anything — be it food or drink — with a cigar is a subjective journey. Beauty is in the beholder’s eye. Use this guide more like scaffolding and a place to start, rather than a hard and fast rule.

Matching the strengths of the cigar with the cocoa content of the chocolate is a great place to begin. Chocolatiers roast and grind cacao into powder, forming the cocoa we know and love. The higher the cocoa content, the less sweet the chocolate will be.

Like cigars, top-shelf dark chocolate has a rich and complex flavor profile. It also often has a bitter, earthy taste. Yet, a refined palate also may detect notes of spice, licorice, and dried fruit.

A milder cigar will pair well with milk chocolate. Aim for a cocoa content of 30% to 40%. The dark chocolate spectrum begins at about 50% cocoa, so something in this mid-range of chocolate compliments a medium-potency smoke. Finally, consider pairing a stronger, full-bodied stick with anything above 70% cocoa for a great match.

To ensure you experience all the subtle flavors of chocolate, don’t chill or refrigerate it. Now, take your time and enjoy the complexity of the chocolate contrasted with the flavor of the cigar. Try rotating different varieties of chocolate with one or more sticks to see what works best for you. Remember, cleanse your palate before switching things up, bon appétit!

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Prevent Cigar Mold From Ruining Your Stash

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Staff

If you’ve spent any time amassing a collection of cigars in your humidor, the thought of cigar mold has undoubtedly crossed your mind, and rightfully so. As cigar smokers know, there are few scenarios more terrifying than an entire stash of expensive smokes ruined by the forces of nature, leaving the owner of the furry mess devastated — not to mention smokeless.

As critical a facet of the hobby as it is, cigar mold is one of the more ambiguous topics in the realm of the homegrown tobacco enthusiast, which may have something to do with the cornucopia of opinions that the subject conjures. A cursory search through any cigar forum will illustrate that it is a topic wrought with confusion and debate.

In this article, we’ll look at common talking points surrounding the matter — the causes of mold and how one should avoid it. Finally, we’ll ponder the toxicity of cigar mold and the potential for saving a moldy cigar.

What is Cigar Mold?

As the ‘A students’ will have probably guessed by now, cigar mold is a fungus that grows on cigars subjected to specific environmental conditions. But, if we’re getting technical, mold is more of a catch-all for the wide varieties of fungi that thrive in the oxygen-rich, moist home that a subpar approach to humidor husbandry can inadvertently provide.

Candida parapsilosis and Penicillium ascomycetous are two common fungal names provided by a cigar mold study performed by an Australian biotech laboratory. Cigar mold feeds on natural sugars secreted from the tobacco leaves. It can appear in many colors — white, red, green, blue, or yellow. The fungi reproduce at an alarming rate, sending millions of airborne spores to dance the Maduro mambo all over your precious cargo, so vigilance is vital.

How to Prevent Cigar Mold

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; that’s how the argument goes, anyway. And there’s no exception when we’re talking about cigar mold. Avoid the avoidable. Whether your cigar stash is worth a couple of hundred dollars or several thousand, a quality collection is an investment. Nobody wants to toss their investment in the garbage over something easily avoidable. Attention to detail in the following categories will pay dividends and help you save your smokes.

Prevent Mold with Digital Humidity Control

Number one on the list is — you guessed it — humidity. An adequately controlled humidity level is critical to preventing cigar mold from growing inside your humidor. Of course, this assumes that you’ve invested in a quality humidor and taken the time to season it.

To avoid moldy cigars, carefully maintain your humidor between 65% and 70% relative humidity. The most precise way to do this is to use a digital hygrometer. Think precision — while an analog hygrometer might suffice in the early stages of a collector’s journey, there’s just no comparison to the accuracy of its digital successor. They’re also pretty inexpensive, ya cheap-o.

You Used What in Your Humidor?

When you’re in a pinch, it might seem tempting to use tap or bottled water in our humidity reservoirs. Yet, you may be pouring that water over the cigars themselves. Using these liquids is equivalent to setting up a tiny neon vacancy sign for mold. The mold spores might already live in the water. Alternatively, distilled water or propylene glycol significantly reduces cigar mold risk in your humidor. Humidity pouches also make a convenient alternative if you’re looking for a little plug-and-play action. The best part is you don’t need to refill them.

Know Your Cigar Source

Would you allow someone you didn’t know to enter your home, roll on your bed, make a sandwich, or take the Cadillac for a spin? Of course not! Try to think of your humidor similarly. Limit your suppliers to trustworthy vendors to minimize the risk of introducing mold into your stable of healthy sticks. You might find killer deals from poorly established, less-than-reputable online sources. But, ask yourself, is it worth the potential of contaminating your entire collection with even one contaminated cigar?

Is Cigar Mold Dangerous?

To address mold dangers precisely, you need to know what mold is growing on your cigar. Many of the molds that we encounter are harmless. But, many are nothing more than an aesthetically unpleasant nuisance. Unsurprisingly, there are also no shortages of toxic mold variants waiting to do lasting damage. So, how do you know the difference?

Ask any cigar aficionado, and you’ll likely hear different opinions. However, the general rule is if it’s white, brush it off and smoke away. However, if it’s blue or green, toss the stick.

For many, any mold on the foot of the cigar is the point of no return; this also shows that the cigar mold has gone deeper than the wrapper. Ultimately, it boils down to a subjective risk assessment. However, an important point to consider is the mitigations to avoid humans ingesting mold within the confines of a home or a building.

Can You Save Your Cigar?

Remove the contaminated sticks from the humidor if you plan on salvaging and smoking a moldy cigar. Then inspect your remaining cigars like a hungry Capuchin monkey looking for fleas. Remember, cigar mold spreads quickly. So quarantine your contaminated smokes fast to prevent more significant problems later.

You can then brush the mold from the cigar with a soft paintbrush, taking care not to damage the wrapper. If the mold brushes right off, you’re in the clear. If it doesn’t, you can dip a Q-Tip in some 151-proof rum or the like and spot-treat the stick like a civil war field surgeon. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the taste of victory over nature.

Photo credit: Unsplash | Sandy Millar

Nicaraguan Cigars Pack a Punch

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Staff

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and has the most cigars imported into the United States, beating out the Dominican Republic and Honduras. According to Cigar Aficionado, during the first two months of 2021, Nicaragua shipped 16.4 million cigars, compared to 7.3 million from Honduras and 10.9 million from the Dominican Republic. Most cigar makers offer some blends of Nicaraguan cigars in their portfolio, and for a good reason. Nicaragua has some of the most fertile soil and ideal climate conditions for growing tobacco that produce smooth, full-bodied tobacco for premium cigars. Initially, Nicaragua grew tobacco primarily for cigarettes. The great exodus of tobacco farmers from Cuba then prompted the development of tobacco leaves for cigars.

History of Nicaraguan Cigars

Cuba lost many of its tobacco growers after the Cuban Revolution. During the late ‘60s, Simon Camacho (who started Camacho Cigars) and Juan Francisco Bermejo fled Cuba and sought other countries to grow tobacco. In Nicaragua, they discovered that the dark volcanic soil was rich in nutrients and yielded tobacco leaves that were sweet and earthy. They were the first to establish the first Nicaraguan cigar manufacturer in 1968, The Nicaragua Cigar Company. They planted Cuban-seed tobacco in the regions of Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa and built cigar factories in central Esteli.

After the Embargo

After the Cuban embargo by the United States, President Richard Nixon needed a new official cigar for the White House (is that still a thing?). When he invited Nicaraguan president Anastasio Somoza to the White House, Nixon offered a box of cigars from the Nicaraguan Cigar Company, his pick for the official White House cigar. Somoza would later take control of the Nicaraguan Cigar Company from Camacho and Bermejo.

Nicaraguan Cigars During the ’70s and ’80s

During the ‘70s and ‘80s, Nicaragua had its own revolution, and the cigar industry suffered because of the fighting. In 1978, unrest came to a head, and the Sandinista National Liberation Front fought for control of Nicaragua. During riots, protestors torched Somoza-owned businesses, including the Nicaraguan Cigar Company facilities. When the Sandinistas gained control of Esteli, Somoza feared losing control and bombed the city, resulting in more damage. Somoza fled Nicaragua and was assassinated in Paraguay. The Sandinistas formed their own government, nationalized the Nicaraguan Cigar Company, and rebuilt its factories. However, in 1985, the US imposed another embargo, this time banning all Nicaraguan imports, including cigars. During this time, the Dominican Republic and Honduras became the predominant shippers of premium cigars to America.

Nicaraguan Cigars During the ’90s Elections

In 1990, Nicaragua held elections, and Violetta Barrios de Chamorro won and formed a non-Sandinista government. Later that year, President George H. W. Bush lifted the embargo, allowing Nicaragua to sell their cigars in America, and kicked off the cigar boom of the ‘90s. Unfortunately, as business was picking up, Hurricane Mitch devastated many tobacco farms in Nicaragua. The country rebuilt and recovered. Now, decades later, Nicaragua has some of the best cigars on the market.

Tobacco Growing Regions for Nicaraguan Cigars

There are four primary regions in Nicaragua where tobacco is cultivated: Esteli, Jalapa, Condega, and Ometepe. Each area has its own soil and climate, giving tobacco distinctive flavors and aromas.

Esteli Region

Near the Honduran border, Esteli is the second-largest city in Nicaragua but is the heart of the country’s cigar industry. Esteli is to Nicaragua like Havana is to Cuba, or Danli is to Honduras. Most of the factories are located here, and it is the business hub of many cigar makers, including Joya de Nicaragua, Padron, Perdomo, and many more. Farmers grow tobacco in the hard, black soil that produces rich, dark tobaccos. Combining this with plenty of sunlight during the growing season results in tobacco that is rich in flavor, full-bodied, and strong.

Jalapa Valley

To the northeast of Esteli lies the Jalapa Valley. It is a remote area that also borders Honduras. Farmers grow smooth, sweet, and creamy leaves in the region’s red clay soil. The tobacco is more mellow than the darker leaves grown in Esteli. Jalapa Valley also produces beautifully elegant and highly prized cigar wrappers.

Condega Valley

Also north of Esteli is another valley. The Condega valley’s soil is rocky and most of the tobacco cultivated there is sun-grown. The thinner tobacco leaves grown here are mainly used for filler and binder tobacco that is earthy, sweet, and spicy.

Ometepe Region

The final region where tobacco grows in Nicaragua is a volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua, called Ometepe, near the city of Granada. Twin volcanoes form it with a thin isthmus connecting them. The volcanic soil is rich and highly fertile. The tobacco grown here is like Jalapa, but more earthy with hints of sweetness and spice.

The Wrap-up

As a whole, Nicaraguan cigars range anywhere from medium to full-bodied. The flavors are bold but smooth with little to no bite. Some tasting notes include earthy notes that are salty or metallic. Tasting notes also include baking spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, strong espresso notes with dark cocoa, or spicy white and red peppers; and sweet cream and toasted nuts.

Nicaraguan cigars have become very popular over the recent decade. The United States imports many Nicaraguan cigars thanks to the full-bodied flavor the cigars offer. The country’s tumultuous history has resulted in some of the best cigars today.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Maduro Cigars: Deep, Dark, and Delicious

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Staff

Cigars usually come in one of two classifications of wrappers: Natural wrappers or Maduro wrappers. Natural wrappers range in color from light yellow Connecticut Shade to brown Habano. Maduro cigar wrappers vary from dark browns to black. There also is a green leaf variety of wrappers with Candela-wrapped cigars, but these are rarer. Maduro cigars can be a little confusing, as the term refers to the color of a wrapper leaf. Mostly, this refers to the fermentation process of making the Maduro wrappers.

The Maduro Fermentation Process

The fermentation process is how Maduro cigars get their dark, rich colors and slick sheen and their sweeter, deeper, and more robust flavor notes such as dark cocoa, molasses, and black pepper. Maduro leaves come from the top of the tobacco plant, where they’re heartier and thicker. These top leaves get more time and sun, allowing photosynthesis to create more sugars and natural oils to build up and more protection against harsh sun rays. After the leaves are harvested and air-cured, they are stacked into large piles to ferment.

The fermentation time is longer than natural wrapper leaves. A longer fermentation time translates to the darker color. The spices in the Maduro wrapper also round out. They develop into a more mellow flavor. This is how Maduro gets its name, which means “Ripen” or “Mature.” Oscuro is another term used for Maduro cigars. They are closer to black, like La Flor Dominicana’s Colorado Oscuro No. 5.

Maduro cigar leaves also are fermented under more intense heat than other wrappers. Temperatures reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit as organic decomposition transforms starches in the leaves into sugars. This is also because of the weight of the large piles being fermented. Sometimes, manufacturers add more weight to the stacks to press the leaves tighter. Once the fermenting piles reach the correct internal temperature, blenders shuffle around the bundles, ensuring the leaves are fermenting evenly. High temperatures also contribute to caramelization of the sugars in the leaf. This creates dark wrapper leaves and eliminates more ammonia for smoother and milder tastes.

Maduro Cigars Leaf Growing Regions

Typically, Maduro cigars come from U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf, Mexican San Andres Negro, or Brazilian Mata Fina and Arapiraca tobacco varietals. Connecticut Broadleaf is the most common leaf used for Maduro cigars. They originated in the United States’ Connecticut River Valley and have broad leaves that turn dark brown or black. You can find Connecticut Broadleaf on the wrappers of Diamond Crown No. 3, Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Mi Querida cigars.

San Andres Negro comes from the San Andres Valley of Mexico near the gulf. Their tough leaves make them prime candidates for the intense fermentation process to create a Maduro wrapper. They were primarily associated with Te-Amo brand cigars in the 1970s, but now Drew Estate uses San Andres Negro in their Undercrown Maduro blends.

Brazil grows its Maduro wrappers in the Bahia region off the Atlantic coast. Mata Fina, meaning “Thin Forest,” has three types coming from different areas: Mata Sul, Mata Norte, and Mata Sao Goncalo. Each has different microclimates they grow in and different taste characteristics. Brazil also has Arapiraca tobacco leaves which are thicker than Mata Fina but have a milder flavor. Micallef Grande Bold Mata Fina is one cigar that uses a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper.

Top Myths for Maduro Cigars

The darkness of a Maduro-wrapped cigar doesn’t equate to the strength of the smoke. Some cigar smokers believe that all Maduro cigars have a more pungent flavor or have higher nicotine content, but that is a myth. Since Maduro wrappers are aged for an extended period and under higher heat, the taste is sweeter thanks to the higher sugar content. The additional time allowed for them to mature gives these leaves a mellower flavor as well. The aging time doesn’t add nicotine content or make cigars more potent. As Maduro cigars age longer in a humidor, the flavors marry more. The oils also move more toward the surface, creating a rich and complex smoke.

Pairings and Conclusion

Dark beer makes a good pairing with Maduro cigars. Hearty dishes like seared steak and baked potatoes, or anything rich and fatty, complement the taste of dark Maduros. Dark rum, Scotch whiskey, and dark red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot go well with Oscuro sticks.

Whether you’re new to the cigar hobby or are a seasoned cigar aficionado, Maduro cigars are worth a consideration. The care that goes into the aging process ensures rich aromas and deep flavors and the process to make these glistening wrappers requires time to develop their dark colors. So, cigar smokers should spend more time with these artisanal delights.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy