For the young Cigar Entrepreneur, choosing the right smoke can be the most difficult of matters. One has to know what one is looking for, as well as looking at. There is such a wide variety of high-profile cigars on the market today, that one just about has to have some instruction prior to that first purchase.
First, we will cover the subject of flavor. The layman would assume that all cigars are made from the same tobacco, as well as have the same flavor. The truth is, there is a massive variety of tobacco flavors available, each particular flavor having its own level of intensity. Your own personal favorite could very well be one that everyone else despises. Everyone has a different pallet for a cigar. Regardless, the actual mix of tobacco, the time elapsed since the making of the cigar, the condition it is in (storage, humidor, etc) and what you have drank or ate before or during the smoking of the cigar all have a bearing on the actual taste.

As far as only being one flavor of tobacco initially grown, this also is a fallacy. Tobaccos will attain different flavors depending upon the soil in which that particular plant is grown. In addition, different parts of the actual tobacco plant are utilized to define a particular flavor. All of these factors are blended together by cigar gurus who know what will go well with what to produce an original and excellent cigar.

With all this in mind, we can assume that picking that right cigar is going to be difficult at best. It takes more than just a random pick or a glance. It takes knowledge.

First, always refer to a smoker. If you know someone within your circle that enjoys a good high-quality cigar, ask him or her about what they like. Tell them your favorite flavors of food and fruit. This will give them a good idea as to what will lay best on your pallet. If you don’t know a connoisseur of fine cigars, ask the individual that runs your cigar shop. He/She may not smoke, but you can be certain that they know what cigar smokers come back for over and over.

Once you have chosen a cigar for consideration begin your inspection. Before we go too deeply into this, however, let’s discuss the occasional white powdery substance that you may come across on a cigar. Do not let this turn you away, as this is what is called “Bloom.” Bloom is simply the result of ageing on a cigar and is in no way a bad thing. Actually, it may very well be considered a positive aspect. This enhances the flavor. Mold, on the other hand, should be avoided. If a cigar is kept at extreme levels of humidity, it will form a blue-green tint on the packaging. Avoid it at all costs.

Ask yourself if you would prefer a mild cigar, or a more full-flavored smoke. If you would lean more towards the full-flavor option, then choose a cigar with a larger ring. The ring is the actual diameter of the cigar. The larger the diameter, the more intense, and multiple blends you will experience.

Another way to get a feel for the taste of a cigar is the smell. Take a good whiff of it. If the smell is overwhelming, then it will likely be very strong. Take notice that we use the word “likely” in that reference. This is not always the case. Some smokes smell a level or two more intense than they actually taste.

Next, how long do you want to smoke a cigar? Common sense tells us that the longer the cigar, the longer the smoke-time. However, another way to tell is to gently squeeze the cigar ¾ of the way up. If it seems very tight, it will have a more difficult draw and take longer to smoke. If it is loose, the smoke will proceed at a faster rate.

Moving on, we have the construction of the cigar. Does it appear lumpy or feel loose at spots here and there? If so, you probably do not want it. You see, the creation of a good hand-rolled cigar is actually considered a work of art in some circles. The way a cigar looks is at least 40 % of the selling value. If it does not look good, it is far more difficult to move, commercially speaking.

In choosing the right cigar for you, the one and only true manner is to just shop around. Research reviews online. There are a number of very effective and consistently updated review sites, such as Cigar Inspector Online. These sites will give you individual reviews by people who have tried the cigar. Then, once you pick out one to try, do not go in with the attitude that if you don’t like this one, you will never try another. Expect to invest a little time in finding your perfect cigar. Even then, when you find that perfect Robusto or Maduro, keep shopping. Variety is truly the spice of life.

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Los Angeles, April 7 – Kaizad Hansotia missed his calling. The head of the Gurkha cigar empire should have been in television programming.

Audiences are always asking for new and different kinds of entertainment and for the cigar smoker, few can match his track record for inventiveness, presentation and flair. Welcome the Gurkha Signature 1887.

This newest blend has a personal aspect to it, as Hansotia notes his family’s history. “1887 was the year my family entered the world of business and commerce,” he said. “Their first venture was a long-lived, successful import-export business. Commerce and prestige items have been a part of my family’s heritage ever since.”

Made in Honduras as with almost all of the Gurkha lines, the Signature 1887 is offered in just one shape, a 6 1/2-inch by 55-ring toro, but in two styles. The 1887 Red uses an aged Connecticut Shade wrapper while the 1887 Black has a Nicaraguan-grown wrapper, but both blends such a common, Dominican-grown binder. The filler is the same for both styles, but is unique in itself, using powerful Peruvian tobaccos and East Indian leaf, heretofore mostly unknown for use in cigars. Hansotia uses the Indian filler as a tribute to his own heritage: “My father founded a watch-manufacturing company in India in 1950,” he recalled.

These are flavorful cigars, but aren’t expected to overpower most smokers. They will be – as is typical for the Gurkha line – a treat for the eye, packaged in chests of 48 cigars each in either a red lacquer or black lacquer finish, depending on the style.

“We launched the line with 300 boxes of each,” said Hansotia, “which were sold out in four days. We plan to produce 1,500 more boxes of each in 2008, although we expect shortages as we expect customer demand will exceed supply.” With a total of just 172,800 cigars made in total, it’s not likely the brand will last long.

Gurkha-Signature-1887 Black  - Gurkha-Signature-1887 Red

By: David Faulkner

People talk about the Cuban cigars as if they are best and only cigar with taste. This resulted in the market Cuban cigars held over any small manufacture of cigars. These cigars where rated as the best cigar to ever satisfy the tastes of the connoisseur. Today we see many company’s with brand name cigars that offer the fine taste and flavor that was offered by the Cuban cigars. The Dominican cigars have taken the lead in the fall of the Cuban cigars in this country.

Sunshine and fertilized soil helps with producing quality tobacco and the Caribbean has both to produce an even more tasteful cigar. This area thrives in the area of cigar tobacco and has since become a leader in supplying many manufacturers with quality and great tasting fillers. The Dominican cigars have definitely taken the place of many cigars by offering a fine cigar with plenty of flavor and a strong draw.

What this means to us, is that Cuba is not the only supplier of rich tasting cigars. Dominican cigars gain popularity because they use the rich leaves to produce fine cigars. The Caribbean shares this soil and sunshine with Cuba, Bahamas, Dominican and other islands in the area. The ecosystem nurtures the plants and the soil, which is rich in nutrients, produces the most favorable tobacco. Curing and fermenting the leaf along with the techniques used give the right mix for the quality of the tobacco. Cuba had a knowledgeable understanding of cigar making unknown to others, but since many companies have gained some insight into the makings of a fine cigar.

Because of all the technology and the liberation of the tobacco industry, Cuba no longer holds the status of being the best cigar around. Many connoisseurs tell you a Cuban cigar does not necessary remain necessary have now that they have all the other fine cigars available. The manufacturers of cigars now have a better business relationship now that the Cuban cigar has left the country.

Dominican cigars came to us at the appropriate time and have since become a high quality-tasting cigar. Cuba does not allow for a competitive market for cigars and has since lost there ability to house the best plants. Most of the Cuban named cigars have since moved to the Dominican, which should be called the Dominican cigars rightfully. Look at some the cigars such as Cohiba and you will see Dominican cigars as a manufacturer.

Buy Dominican cigars, smoke them and see if you do not agree that they are truly a fine cigar that has taken away from the need for Cuban cigars.

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Military Boutique Premium cigars are handcrafted in small batches and in limited quantities by Tabacalera Esteli. They make great Military gifts for those that serve in, or have served our country. They are also a great Military retirement gifts. 25 cigars are packaged in a cedar wood humidor box that displays the emblem in full color on the box and on the cigar wrappers.

Salute to Arms - Air Force
http://www.thecigarstore.com/product.php?p=85177

SALUTE TO ARMS Air Force Gifts Boutique Premium cigars are handcrafted in small batches and in limited quantities by Tabacalera Esteli. They make great Military gifts for those in the Air Force, or have served our country in the U.S. Air Force. They are also a great Air Force retirement gift. 25 cigars are packaged in a cedar wood humidor box that displays the US Air Force emblem in full color.

SALUTE TO ARMS Air Force cigars celebrates those that serve our country in the United States Armed Services, and are perfect gifts for Air Force men and women. Each cigar is handcrafted by Tabacalera Esteli using super premium aged Cuban Seed Habano long-filler tobacco. The Binder is a wrapper quality Cuban Seed Habano 2000 leaf and draped in a beautiful and delicious shade-grown Sumatra Cuban-Seed Wrapper. With a large ring size of 50 and a full 7 inches long, these Churchills have a mouth-watering aroma and taste. 25 cigars are hand packaged in a collector’s humidor that proudly displays the insignia of the Air Force in full color. Each individual cigar also has a band embossed with the insignia.

MEDIUM BODIED. Their distinguished taste is medium-bodied with mellow and well balanced floral flavors and hints of mild orange peels and toasted nuts.

Salute to Arms - Army
http://www.thecigarstore.com/product.php?p=85178

SALUTE TO ARMS Army cigars celebrates those that serve our country in the United States Armed Services. They are perfect for army men or wowen. Each is handmade by Tabacalera Esteli using super premium aged Cuban Seed Habano long-filler tobacco. The Binder is a wrapper quality Cuban Seed Habano 2000 leaf and it is draped in a beautiful and delicious shade-grown Sumatra Cuban Seed Wrapper. The cigars have a large ring size of 50 and a full 7 inches long, these Churchills have an exquisite aroma and taste. 25 are hand packaged in a humidor box that proudly displays the insignia of the Army in full color. Each individual cigar has a band embossed with the logo of the U.S. Army.

MEDIUM BODIED. Their distinguished taste is medium-bodied with mellow and well balanced floral flavors and hints of mild orange peels and toasted nuts

Salute to Arms - Marines
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SALUTE TO ARMS Marine Corps cigars celebrates those that serve our country in the United States Armed Services, and make perfect gifts for marines men or women. Each boutique cigar is handmade by Tabacalera Esteli with super premium aged Cuban Seed Habano long-filler tobacco. The Binder is a wrapper quality Cuban Seed Habano 2000 leaf and each cigar is draped with a beautiful and delicious shade-grown Sumatra Cuban Seed Wrapper. With a large ring size of 50 and a full 7 inches long, these Churchill length cigars have an exquisite aroma and taste. 25 are hand packaged in a military gift humidor box that proudly displays the insignia of the US Marine Corp in full color. Each individual cigar has a band embossed with the emblem of the Marines. They make a perfect military gift for active personnel or those in retirement.

MEDIUM BODIED. Their unique taste is described by cigar aficionados as medium-bodied with mellow and well balanced floral flavors and hints of cocoa and nuts. They have true boutique premium cigar flavors

Salute to Arms - Navy
http://www.thecigarstore.com/product.php?p=85180

SALUTE TO ARMS Navy cigars celebrate those that serve our country in the United States Armed Services, and are perfect for navy men or women. Each boutique cigar is handmade by Tabacalera Esteli using super premium aged Cuban Seed Habano long-filler tobacco. The Binder is a wrapper quality Cuban Seed Habano 2000 leaf and each cigar is draped in a beautiful and delicious shade-grown Sumatra Cuban Seed Wrapper. Navy cigars have a large ring size of 50 and a full 7 inches long, these Churchill length cigars have an exquisite aroma and taste. 25 are hand packaged in a military humidor box that proudly displays the insignia of the US Navy in full color. Each individual cigar band has the logo of the Navy embossed in full color.

MEDIUM BODIED. Their distinguished taste is described as medium-bodied with mellow and well balanced floral flavors and hints of sweet orange peels and toasted nuts.

Despite their similarities to cigarettes, cigars have long possessed a much more sophisticated persona. Though they have often been portrayed as accessories of the rich and powerful in years past, cigars have seen a much broader degree of mainstream popularity recently. Magazines like Cigar Aficionado extol the joys of cigar smoking, and the whole array of elegant humidors (used for storage,) boxes, lighters and other related products available to cigar smokers exude a distinctive style or persona.

The humidor, the most well known cigar accessory, comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and price ranges. In addition, one can find many other boxes, display cases, lighters, cutters and cigar-related gifts available at local stores or online retailers. Websites like Cigarworld can direct you to a local outlet that will serve all your needs.

Despite a remaining stigma regarding their legality, Cuban cigars still count themselves among the most highly regarded and sought after brands. Due to their superior taste and quality, and also because of the geographical obstacles to obtaining them, they have traditionally been difficult to buy and very expensive once located. Fortunately, recent relaxations of various U.S. sanctions regarding the importation of Cuban Cigars has made their availability to American buyers much more common.

The increased availability of discount prices on premium brand cigars has also contributed to the rise in popularity of cigars and cigar smoking. Online merchants such as Payless-cigars offer many high quality brands at prices much lower than those found in traditional stores. Plus, they can be shipped to your doorstep quickly, cheaply and anonymously.

With all the other cigar accessories available for purchase, cigars have become big business in the States in recent years. In fact, since the early 1990s sales for cigars and cigar products have risen to heights previously unseen. Due in part to their popularity among celebrities, cigar smoking has taken on a hip, youthful image that elevates smoking cigars from a simple recreational hobby, to an integral part of a luxurious lifestyle.

VISIT: www.TheCigarStore.com

Introducing a new premium cigar for cigar lovers. Don Conti Cigars. These new cigars use Cuban seed & Dominican tobaccos, grown in the Cibao Valley which is the very heart of the tobacco industry.

What’s cool here is that they have this great promotion where you buy a box and get three free cigars with it. You try them and if you are not satisfied, return the unopened box for a full refund including your return shipping. The Cigar Store believes that Don Conti Cigars deliver a smoking experience you will savor. Once you have tried a Don Conti, you will want to make sure you have humidor space available for them at all times.

A Don Conti cigar is unlike any other you have smoked before. The Conti tobaccos, grown and harvested in the Cibao Valley in the heart of the tobacco world, are some of the finest the valley can produce. In fact, the Conti tobacco fields are rated A and B, the very best as ranked by the Dominican Tobacco Institute. The fertilizers and the attention to the land are among the very best guaranteeing a superior tobacco and a superior cigar.

The Conti family has over 30 years of experience in cigar manufacturing. The raw materials used in their cigars - filler, binder and wrapper - are aged 4-6 years, just the right time. Some manufacturers age their product 12-18 years - far too long! Such a long period of time causes the tobacco to lose its body.

Finally when the tobacco is ready it is hand rolled by some of the very best rollers into the finest cigars. For those with a passion for perfection.

We invite you to buy a box. We know you will come to treasure them and appreciate the time and love put into their creation.

Don Conti Cigar special offer

Knowing how to entertain with cigars is the perfect prelude to business

There’s an old adage: “a cigar is just a cigar, but a good cigar is a smoke.” If you’ve ever puffed on a premium robusto, corona or Churchill, you know exactly what that statement means. Nothing quite compares to the fresh bouquet of the fine brown tobacco wrapper, the spicy or peppery taste that fills your mouth as you puff, the meditative feeling that comes over you as you watch swirls of smoke waft through the room.

Cigars have always been associated with success, accomplishment and conquest. In fact, one of the highlights of the BLACK ENTERPRISE/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge continues to be the annual smoker in which some of the nation’s richest and most powerful African Americans engage in banter, comradeship and deal making while puffing on coronas and sipping cognac.

But before you invite a client out for a smoke, make sure that you know how to identify a quality cigar. pick up a copy of The Cigar Companion: A Connoisseur’s Guide, which gives you details on the history and structure of the cigar as well as important advice. For example, you should know that handmade cigars have three components: the wrapper, which gives the cigar its appearance; the filler, a series of tobacco leaves that provide for the passage of smoke and dictate how quickly the cigar burns; and the binder, which holds the tobacco together. The book also informs budding aficionados that cigars should be kept in a humidified environment–preferably at a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees with humidity at 65% to 70%.

To get a better sense of the cigar culture and how you can use cigars as a part of business entertainment, we talked with Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr., president of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia, one of the world’s largest family-owned handmade cigar companies, which produces such top-notch smokes as the Fuente Fuente OpusX, a 100% Dominican cigar, and the Fuente Hemingway line, which was voted “the best of the best” among premium cigar brands by the June 1999 Robb Report, the lifestyle magazine for the rich. The company also makes such top sellers as Ashton, Diana Silvius and Diamond Crown. Here’s what Fuente had to say about cigars:

BLACK ENTERPRISE: Over the past few years, cigars have been extremely popular, almost faddish. Do you think the industry will be hurt now that the fad has ebbed?

CARLOS FUENTE JR.: Fine cigars are like fine wine and watches. There will always be a demand. They will always attract connoisseurs, people who are sophisticated or successful in business and in life. At this point, the demand is still far greater than the supply, and I don’t see any change in the near future.

B.E.: What sets Fuente cigars apart from others in the marketplace?

FUENTE: Each cigar is an individual, natural product that has a personality. We grow our own tobacco and make our cigars by hand. We blend various types of Cuban seed tobaccos, depending on the cigar. But most of all, my family’s passion is in the product.

B.E.: You had a unique experience in creating the Fuente Fuente OpusX cigar. How did the production of that cigar come about?

FUENTE: In the early 1990s, my father and I had this idea that great wrapper tobacco could be grown on our plantation in the Dominican Republic. [The most common wrappers grown in Connecticut, Cameroon, Honduras, Ecuador and Nicaragua.] Many tobacco experts doubted that we could do it. So we decided to keep it a secret. Besides my father and I, only two other people worked on it. We harvested the first crop in 1992 and the leaves were oily and rich, leading me to describe them as being opulent. By chance I came across the word “opus” in the dictionary, which meant “creative work,” “masterpiece,” “a work of a lifetime.” It was a dream come true. We were overwhelmed by the great response.

B.E.: How professionals and entrepreneurs use cigars in business entertaining?

FUENTE: Cigars can be extremely valuable in business entertaining. You smoke a cigar in a leisurely fashion. It gives you an hour or two to communicate and connect with another person–whether it’s a business associate or a friend–when his or her guard comes down.

Premium cigars also serve as a great gift, since you would give them to someone as a sign of respect or to deepen a relationship. Like golf, cigars create the right atmosphere to bond [with a person] and find common ground.

B.E.: Cigars seem useful as a strategic tool as well.

FUENTE: I find that when you smoke a cigar in private, it relaxes you. It allows you to think and, in some cases, come up with creative solutions. I have been around cigars all of my life and I know that it has worked for me.

Choosing a cigar can be an overwhelming task when you are confronted with hundreds and maybe even thousands of choices. What color do you look for? What size do you want? Are there tell tale signs to watch out for when buying a cigar? All these questions will be answered.

COLOR

Without getting into too much detail, let’s look at the most obvious aspect of a cigar: color. The shade of the wrapper usually is an indication of the flavor of the cigar. The darker the cigar, the more likely it will be spicier. This is more of a rule of thumb than a hard fast rule. Most new cigar smokers will appreciate a lighter color. These are the general categories of color:

Double Claro - Known to have a greenish tint on its wrapper. It’s a light cigar that has had limited aging.
Claro - Typically signifies that the cigar will be mild. It has a light brown color.

Natural - (also called English Market Select) light brown to brown. These are most often sun grown, meaning they are not protected by canopies like shade grown leaves. Fuller bodied flavor than shade grown leaves, but still very smooth.

Colorado Claro - This wrapper is your standard brown color. Slightly stronger than the Claro but still considered mild.

Maduro - These wrappers are dark brown and give off an excellent aroma. They are considered medium to strong cigars.

Oscuro - The Oscuro has a very dark brown, practically black wrapper and is strong in flavor.

The darker the color, the sweeter and stronger the flavor is likely to be, and the greater the oil and sugar content of the wrapper. Darker wrappers will normally have spent longer at the tobacco plant or come from higher altitudes: the extra exposure to sunlight produces both oil (as protection) and sugar (through photosynthesis). They will also have been fermented for longer.SIZE

The names of cigar sizes rarely have anything to do with the actual size of the cigar. There aren’t any universal standards to go by, so the best you can do is keep in mind that the size thing is just a guideline. And that is no more readily apparent than after you notice that one manufacturer’s churchill is the the same size as another’s double corona.

There are, however, “classic” measurements which will, when you become more familiar with them, allow to to make some general assumptions about a cigar’s size. For instance, after you get to know the classic measurements, the next time you see the words “Double Corona” on the outside of a cigar box you’ll know right away that what’s inside is not a collection of short cigars.

But then you’ll also want to keep in mind that just because the box says “Churchills” doesn’t mean the cigars are going to be 7 inches long with a 48 ring gauge.

All you really need to remember is that cigars, in terms of their size, are generally listed by length in inches and the ring gauge, or the cigar’s girth, which is in 64ths of an inch. So, a classic Churchill is 7 inches long and 48/64ths of an inch thick.

When choosing a size, it is important that you remember that the bigger the cigar, the longer it will take to smoke it. For new cigar smokers it is a good idea to stick with Coronas and Robustos.

Warnings

There are 3 warnings for choosing a cigar:

1. The cigar should not be too soft or squishy. When you give it a little squeeze, it should only “give” a little. If it is too soft then it is a sign of an over-humidified cigar.
2. The cigar should not be too dry or fragile. This is a sign of an under-humidified cigar. Some people like them this way, but it is best to stay away from these until you want to experiment.
3. Moldy cigars should be thrown away. Be sure you do not confuse mold with plume. Plume is the white ash like residue that can be brushed off. This is a sign of good aging.

Storing your Cigars **

Cigars are hygroscopic in nature. In lay terms, this means that they will over time dry out when in a dry climate or absorb moisture in a humid one. And they will continue to do so until their own moisture content matches that of the ambient climate around them.

A damp cigar will not burn properly. Not only will it be difficult to keep lit, but also difficult to draw on. The smoke may become too dense leaving the smoker with a sour taste and a rank aroma. Also, over moist cigars will commonly split their wrappers.

A dry cigar will burn too hot. Without the proper level of moisture, the combustion temperature of your cigar will be too high and the smoke will be hot and acrid against your palate. The smoke may become overly aggressive and you will lose many of the subtle nuances of flavor that a properly humidified cigar would of given you. Also, dry cigars will lead eventually to the early evaporation of their essential oils and reduce their overall flavor and aroma.

Typically for the most enjoyable smoking, a cigar should contain approximately 12 -14% of its total weight in moisture. This corresponds to 60 - 70% relative humidity, but can be up to 75%. Relative Humidity (RH) is a measurement of the amount of moisture in the atmosphere compared with that of complete saturation regardless of the temperature.

The primary criteria in the proper storage of cigars is to achieve a stable and ideal relative humidity within this 60% - 70% RH range. The secondary, but also important requirements are to store them at temperatures below 75 degrees Fahrenheit and in a darkened environment. Doing these three simple things will allow your cigars to not only be stored well, but also age well resulting in cigars that will draw easily, burn steadily, and share their optimum flavor and nuances with your palate.

Cutting, Lighting, Smoking and Ashing

Cutting ***

Cigars are made with a cap over the head. Most good cigars, therefore, have only one open end. This is NOT the end that you put in your mouth - that open end is where the smoke comes out. So you need to cut the cigar at the head.

Cutters come in different styles, but the most common is the guillotine. The double-bladed guillotine has a hole in the middle, two blades, and two notches where your fingers can grip it. You should absolutely buy a guillotine as your cutter - they’re easy, small, and they make a clean cut with less of a tendency to tear the tobacco than other styles. You can also use a knife or your teeth, but cutters are really cheap, and a knife may ruin the cigar.

Here’s how to actually make the cut (it’s really simple):

1. Cut the cigar on the tapered part (the cap).
2. Try to leave about 1/8th of an inch of the cap.
3. Never cut on or past the cap line - you’ll be cutting the wrapper leaf. All hell will ensue.

Lighting

This can be tricky for a newbie, but our tips will get you through it:

1. It’s best to light a cigar yourself - lighting a cigar takes longer than lighting a cigarette, and it’s best not to feel rushed by having a friend reach over with a lit match.
2. Matches or butane lighters are fine, but if you use a match, make sure the sulfur is burned out first so it doesn’t impair the taste of the cigar.
3. Never use a candle - the wax particles will enter the cigar and taint its flavor.
4. Hold the cigar in your hand, not your mouth, and rotate it near the flame.
5. Do not actually touch the flame with your cigar.
When the entire surface is charred and embers appear, place the cigar between your lips.
6. Gently puff to blow out any foreign particles or odors that may have come from the lighter or match. Check to see that the cigar is lit evenly.
This probably goes without saying, but just in case you happen to have a pompadour with a lot of hairspray: remember to not set your hair on fire.

Smoking

Now that the cigar is lit, you should be able to draw smoke gently through it.

1. Draw slowly by pulling in your cheeks. Do not suck or inhale.
2. Do not smoke the cigar too forcefully or quickly - it will make it taste harsh and burnt. Just puff occasionally, making sure the cigar stays lit.
3. After a few minutes, you may want to remove the cigar band (label). Some people think it is obnoxious to keep the band on while you smoke, and it’s not really necessary to keep your fingers from getting stained. Make sure that you’ve smoked the cigar for a bit, though. If you remove the band too early, the glue will not have softened and you will risk tearing the wrapper.

Ashing

People smoking good cigars like to keep the ash on for as long as possible. Indeed, a solid tower of ash is a sign of a well-made cigar. But don’t let the ashy end grow too long - this is both pretentious and an invitation for a mess on the floor. Every once in a while, just gently press the ash against an ashtray - the ash should fall off easily without you having to tap the cigar. If your cigar goes out, it’s okay. This does not mean you are a bad smoker - just remove the ash and re-light it.

Smoke the cigar for as long as you want - the only time you should stop smoking is when it stops being enjoyable for you. When that becomes the case, just set the cigar down in an ashtray and it will go out on its own. Do not grind it out, as that will produce excess smoke. Just take one last draw, set it down, take a sip of your drink, and revel in your smoothness.

Never light another’s cigar; the smoker will most likely draw in too hard, which is bad for a cigar, so offer your lighter or matches to them.

Label on, or off -? That is a long standing debate that has no clear end in sight. Leaving it on allows people to see what you’re smoking (Oh! I see you smoke Don Collins, have you another ?). Removing the label takes a little practice. They are glued on, and you don’t want to tear the wrapper. You should smoke the cigar a bit to warm it up, then carefully remove the band.

Smelling a cigar is frowned upon in most cigar stores. It is better to test its quality by lightly grasping it – but take care to not hold it too tightly or else you’ll crack it.

Ashes. Don’t wait too long to knock them loose; you don’t want it to end up smudging your clothing, tablecloth or carpeting. Keep an eye out for a small crack in the ash, then tap into an ashtray.

You don’t have to grind out your cigar in an ashtray because it will go out on its own very quickly. If you do, you could wind up releasing even more odors into the air.

Be considerate of non-smokers. When you find yourself in a non-smoking area, put out the cigar or move to a designated smoking area if asked. If you’re dining or relaxing in an establishment that allows cigar smoking, it is your privilege to continue; should a patron question your right, let the management handle it.

Cigars cannot be placed into a brand new humidor and be expected to stay fresh. Why? Unless it is properly prepared, there is not an adequate amount of humidity inside your humidor. That said, here are instructions on how to prepare a new humidor.

1) Using a paper towel or a soft cloth, wipe down the entire inner surface of the humidor, including the inside of the lid, with distilled water. (It is crucial that only distilled water be used for this since water drawn from any other source will contain bleach, calcium, chlorine and other chemicals and minerals that will clog your humidification unit and, worst of all, impart those flavors to your cigars.)

2) Dip the humidification unit in a shallow bowl of distilled water and let it soak for 5 to 10 seconds. After it has been soaked, shake out any excess water and place it on a paper towel for a few minutes. This will allow any additional excess water to drain out. After a few minutes, affix the humidification unit to the roof of your humidor (or in the case of the glass top humidors, place it to either side or follow the instructions that came with your humidification unit) and close your humidor. It should be allowed to sit for at least 12 hours.

3) After 12 hours repeat step 1. Do not skip this step. Any cigars placed inside your humidor too early will be competing for humidity with the still porous cedar lining and will not be adequately humidified.

How do I maintain my humidor?

Assuming it was properly prepared when you first purchased it, the only real maintenance required will be to refill the humidification unit from time to time. How often this is necessary depends, of course, on the reading of your hygrometer and the condition of your cigars.

If you use only distilled water, once a month ought to be sufficient. If you are using a 50/50 mix of distilled water and propylene glycol in your humidification unit, the humidity will remain constant for a considerably longer period of time.

However, if you open your humidor several times a day or live in a particularly dry climate, more regular maintenance may be needed. Keep in mind that you will have to be more attentive to the humidity level inside your humidor during winter months when the relative humidity inside your house may drop significantly and draw some of the moisture out of your humidor.

Besides refilling your humidification unit from time to time, the only other precautionary steps you need to take to ensure a great-working humidor are to keep it away from windows or heating or air conditioning vents. Direct contact with sunlight will fade the wood and cause the internal temperature to rise above acceptable levels, while rapid changes in temperature that may occur near a heating or air-conditioning vent may damage the humidor as well as any cigars contained inside of it.

Are the hygrometers accurate?

Analog hygrometers (the round dials included in most humidor boxes) are often as much as 20% off in their reading when brand new. This does not indicate that they are defective, just that they haven’t been exposed to any humidity in a while and in some cases they need to be calibrated.

Remember most small inexpensive hygrometers are only accurate to within 3% so do not be surprised if it reads 72% or 78% RH.

Do I really need a wooden humidor box to store my cigars?

Yes, you do. Though there are many inexpensive plastic “Tupperdors” being sold these days, none can do the job of an authentic cedar-lined humidor box. Although the plastic devices may have an attractive price, they will not and can not provide the air circulation or humidity regulation needed for cigars to age. At best, a plastic Tupperdor will prevent your cigars from drying out, while a cedar-lined wooden humidor box allows for the slow and steady release of air and exchange of gasses created during a cigar’s maturation process. An airtight plastic humidor will normally over-humidify your cigars and cause them to get moldy or burst open.

My humidor was accidentally left open for several days. Do I need to re-humidify it? How do I do that? What should I do about my cigars?

If your humidor has been left open for a few days and the humidity inside of it has evaporated, simply re-prepare it as you did when it was new. (Including re-moistening the humidification unit.) However, there is likely still a fair amount of humidity in the interior cedar, so you will probably only need to wipe it down once. (If too much moisture is applied, you run the danger of warping the interior.) While you are letting it sit overnight, place your cigars in a temporary plastic humidor or Humidi-Pak so that they don’t dry out any further. Once the humidity has been restored to you humidor, return your cigars to it and let them sit undisturbed until they have been adequately re-humidified.

Can’t I just keep my cigars in one of those cheap plastic “Tupperdors?” A friend of mine just got one and he swears by it.

Yeah, and he’ll be swearing at it the first time he opens it up to discover that his cigars have burst open or they’re covered with mold. These devices will work, as a temporary fix, when you don’t have room for a few cigars in your authentic humidor box, but they are neither a reliable or dependable substitute for the long-term storage provided by a wooden humidor box.

How long will my humidor keep my cigars fresh?

If properly maintained, there is no reason a good humidor shouldn’t be capable of storing your cigars for the duration of your life. In fact, there have been reports of pre-embargo cigars “discovered” in walk-in humidors that were placed there 40 or 50 years ago and they were said to be out-of-this-world-delicious.

What qualities should I look for when buying a humidor?

The qualities you want to look for in a humidor are as follows: it should be cedar lined, solidly built with a good, tight, seal and a raised lip around the inside of the box, and be large enough to hold at least 25 to 30 cigars.

What kind of humidor should I buy? That depends on what your storage needs are.

Aesthetically, your choice will be a reflection of your own personal sense of style. A good humidor can be much more than a well-working and functional piece of equipment, it can be a piece of furniture that adds charm and distinction to a room.

As far as size is concerned, we recommend a box that can accommodate at least 50 or more cigars. Why? Although you may not plan to keep a lot of cigars around at any given time, larger humidors offer the ideal amount of air circulation for properly aging cigars.

In addition, you should not preclude the possibility of stocking up or buying a box or two simply because you do not have enough room for them. Also, once word gets out that you own a humidor box, you might get lucky and receive a box of cigars as a gift from someone and it would be a shame for them to dry out because you didn’t have enough room to store them in a smaller box.

We do sell smaller travel humidors that hold 10 to 20 cigars but these units are, as their name suggests, designed for travel, and not intended to be used for longer, indefinite lengths of time. We carry humidors that can hold from 10 to 750 cigars, so we are sure to have one that meets your specific needs.

Why do I need to use distilled water in my humidor?

Water drawn from any other source, whether bottled, straight from the tap, or put through a Brita system, will still contain bleach, calcium, chlorine and other chemicals and minerals that will clog your humidification unit and, worst of all, impart those flavors to your cigars.

What is a hygrometer?

A hygrometer is a device used to measure the humidity levels within an enclosed space. Most tabletop humidor boxes include the analog variety, which provide a reading on a small round dial. These are usually accurate within 5 or 10 degrees but they require semi-annual re-calibration in order to keep them working properly.

I just bought a new humidor and I can’t get the humidity to 70%. Is there a problem with the seal?

Probably not. If it’s a brand new humidor, you need to have some patience.

Any humidor worth its salt will be cedar-lined and will take some time to break in. Cedar is an extremely porous wood and it will absorb much of the water from your humidification unit before it even gets a chance to enter your cigars. This is why the interior of all brand new humidors need to be wiped down with distilled water and allowed to sit with no cigars in it for at least 24 hours.

If you immediately put cigars in a brand new humidor box, they will be competing with the wood for the humidity that your humidification unit provides.

If you’ve already wiped down the inside of your humidor box, and it is still not reaching 70% humidity, you may not have a humidification element large enough for the size of your humidor box.

The hygrometer inside my humidor isn’t reading 70% but it’s pretty close. Should I worry about this?

How are your cigars? Press down in the center of a cigar with your thumb. (Make sure you don’t press down on the head or you could crack the cap if it has gotten a little dry.)

Depending on the size of your humidor you may need to repeat this procedure on a number of different cigars. Cigars in particularly large humidors can be exposed to different amounts of humidity due to their varying proximity to the humidification element.

How do they feel? Cigars that are properly stored should give a little when you press down on them but still offer some resistance. If you press down on a cigar and you thumb goes nearly all the way through it as though you were pressing down on a wet sponge, it’s too moist.

On the other hand, if it’s so hard that it feels like it was mined rather than rolled, it is clearly too dry. Although 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% humidity are the ideal conditions for cigar storage, the best gauge for measuring up the effectiveness of your humidor is the condition of your cigars.

Slight variations from the 70/70 ideal are fine if your cigars are still in good shape and should only be a cause for concern if they’re too dry or too moist.

Will the different cigars in my humidor impart their flavors to one another? If so, how can I stop this?

Since cigars are porous by nature, they can impart flavors to one another while in your humidor.

The best defense against this is leaving them in their cellophane wrappers when you put them in your humidor box. Unfortunately, this will not allow the cigars to age properly.

If you plan to keep both strong and mild cigars in your humidor and you’re worried about their flavors intermingling, you should keep them apart by using the dividers that are included in most good humidors.

We sell a variety of humidors featuring dividers as well as trays that can be lifted out altogether.

If you like keep a rather large amount of cigars of varying strengths around and are worried about their flavors intermingling with one another, we recommend a Cabinet or Armoire humidor from Cristom Imports. These units allow you to devote entire shelves to one kind of cigar.

If that’s not an option, or as a quick fix in a small humidor, a layer or two of the thin strips of cedar that come in some cigar boxes ought to do the trick.