If you’re new to the world of premium cigars, welcome to a place where long-leaf tobaccos rule and humidors are standard equipment. Americans consume more cigars than any other country, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. In fact, those three countries together purchased three-quarters of all cigars last year.
Cigars are a matter of preference, but there are some questions you should ask to help ensure you’re getting your money’s worth for your premium cigar.
1. How can I tell if a cigar is fresh?
A fresh, handmade cigar starts with high-quality ingredients. And once it’s rolled, the cigar needs to be stored properly while in transit. If it was stored correctly, it should have a rich, oily sheen. If it doesn’t – and the wrapper appears dull – it may still be a good smoke, but the appearance is a good place to start your evaluation.
The best way to test for freshness is to pinch the cigar between your index finger and thumb. A fresh cigar will be firm and it will spring back after you pinch it. If it does not spring back – or it feels too spongy in some spots – it’s not the freshest cigar you can get.
2. Is it handmade or hand-rolled?
Premium cigars can be either handmade or hand-rolled. Hand-rolled cigars feature high-quality wrappers and long filler, but they can be machine-bunched and then rolled by hand. (Bunching is the combination of up to four types of filler tobacco that are blended to create the cigar and then held together by a binder.) A handmade cigar is made by hand every step of the way, also using high-quality wrapper and long filler. Because there’s no machine involved in handmade cigars, it can be created with a more delicate wrapper.
3. Is it a good cigar or a great cigar?
When you’re selecting your cigars, you want the best cigar you can afford. There are five categories by which you should judge cigars. Once you know what you like, you’ll know how to evaluate future purchases.
Appearance: Look at the cigar’s appearance. Does the wrapper have a consistent color? Is it wrapped uniformly? Is the wrapper oily and does it have sheen?
Draw: When you light the cigar, how easy is it to draw smoke through it? If it is almost too easy, then it’s “hot.” If it’s really difficult to draw any smoke through, it may be “plugged.” This means there’s something blocking the passage, like a stray stem. Try rolling the cigar to unplug it.
Rate of burn: Once it’s lit, does the cigar burn too slowly, too quickly or unevenly?
Construction: The way a cigar is assembled will affect the way it smokes. It can be rolled too loose or too tight. You want the wrapper and filler to burn evenly. Sometimes the wrapper will start unwrapping while you’re smoking it. If this happens at the head of the cigar, moisten it with your tongue and try to glue it down. If the unraveling occurs at the lit end – or can’t be glued down with moisture – throw the cigar away. Smoking a cigar without the wrapper can be messy.
Taste: How does the cigar taste? It might be described as smooth, light, strong, powerful or even bitter. Ask yourself when the taste presented itself? Was it about halfway through the smoke or three-quarters of the way into it? Maybe you were able to enjoy the taste for most of the cigar – or maybe it started out with a good taste, but ended on a bitter note.
Finish: What is the flavor left in your mouth after you finish the cigar? A light cigar will have light finish, but those with strong filler will leave a distinct finish.
4. How will I store it?
Cigars not stored in a humidor stay fresh for only about a week. Tubos (wood, metal or glass tubes) will protect them from damage, but they will not keep them fresh. Plan to take the cigar out of the tube and put it in the humidor.
Should the cigars stay in the cellophane wrapper?
Cellophane wrappers around a cigar are designed to keep the cigar’s wrapper safe from damage. Why keep something natural like a tobacco leaf wrapped in a chemical plastic? Once you’ve got the cigars safely home, unwrap them and store them in a humidor where they can breathe and age. Humidors keep the environment a comfortable 65 percent to 70 percent humidity and the temperature hovering between 63 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, if you’re not planning to smoke them at home – and the cigar will be traveling with you – keep the cellophane wrapper on to keep it safe.
Consider these five important factors before purchasing your next cigar, and you’re bound to get even more enjoyment out of one of life’s finest luxuries.
