Cutting a Cigar

Over the years I have seen some pretty ingenious ways people will cut their cigars.  Sometimes I am impressed, and at other times I cringe because they have just completely ruined the smoke-ability of their cigar. Taking into account that some resourcefulness can go a long way, there are only 3 basic suggested ways to cut your cigar.  They are a straight cut, a V-cut, and a punch.

Straight Cut

 A straight cut is when you clip off the whole tip of the top of the cigar (usually referred to as the head).  In essence what you want to do is remove a small portion of the cap without removing too much of it.  

I feel the need to take a moment and clarify how much of the end you are supposed to snip (when using a straight cut).  Most of my cringing ensues when I see a person clip damn near an inch off the top of their cigar!  By cutting this much off you are well beyond the cap, and what usually happens is your cigar will begin to unravel - not fun! I have even seen guys bring these cigars back thinking there is a flaw in construction - never realizing the flaw was of their own doing! 

Proper protocol calls for only taking off 1/8 of an inch.  But if you are anything like me - I have no clue what that is! So here are a few tips to make sure you cut properly.  When looking at the cigar you can clearly see a ring around the head that denotes where the cap is.  What you want to do is cut on that line.  If it is a triple cap, you want to cut near the first or second ring (or cap).  If you are using a non perfect straight cut what you can also do is set the cutter on a hard surface, like a table or counter.  Place the cigar in the ring and then slice while still on the counter.  That way you are only cutting off the perfect amount.  

There are many different varieties of cutters out there that create a straight cut.  There are single guillotine (one blade) or double guillotine (2 blades) cutters.  There are also cutters called perfect cuts, which have a back on it.  Perfect cuts force you to cut the correct amount because you physically cannot push the cigar through through the opening.  

V-Cut

V-Cuts will put a triangular cut in the head of the cigar.  It really looks like half a diamond or part of a triangle.  When you use a V-Cut you are not slicing open the whole cap therefore, you get a more concentrated draw.

Punch
The punch cut will cut a certain diameter ring on the head of the cigar. Punches do come in various sizes for instance, a 7mm, 9mm, or 11mm for larger ring-gage cigars. By punching a cigar you again are not cutting off the entire cap therefore giving you a more concentrated draw.

In my experience no cut is better or worse than the other, what it boils down to is a matter of preference.

Posted by: Michele     

   

Cigar Wrappers

A cigar really is the sum of its parts.  The overall taste and flavor profile of a cigar is the combination of the wrapper, binder, filler, and the blenders ability to pair and match tobacco that will create an amazing taste.  The wrapper does play a big role in that it is the only leaf you really see.  The appearance, and therefore overall desirability, is based on the look of the wrapper alone.  A gorgeous looking wrapper can make you purchase a cigar even if you know nothing else about it.  Whereas a poor looking wrapper can make you steer clear of that cigar or even that line.  Also most of the flavor you taste from your cigar comes from the wrapper.  So I think it is important to know the differences between the various wrappers on the market. 

Candela
Candela wrappers have a very high chlorophyll content to them so they retain their green color.  This is due to drying immature tobacco leaves.  These cigars are very mild in strength with distinct earthy notes. Sometimes called Double Claro.

Connecticut
Connecticut wrappers are named Connecticut because they are either grown in the US or from Connecticut seed grown in Ecuador.  These wrappers are shade grown; the tobacco plants are grown under huge sheets of cheesecloth so that the leaves are not exposed to direct sunlight.  This gives the leaves  a lighter color as well as ensures a mild strength.  The flavor profile can range on these wrappers from creamy, earthy, woodsy, coffee, chocolate, cedar, and slightly spicy but will always remain on the milder side.  Sometimes called Claro.    

Natural
Natural tobacco leaves may or may not be shade grown and also tend to be more mature when picked than Candela and Connecticut leaves.  Natural leaves have the capability of being sweeter and/or spicier but with the same flavor profiles and Connecticut leaves.  These cigars tend to be on the on the milder side as well.  Sometimes called English Market Select. 

Corojo
These leaves are typically grown in the Jamastran region of Honduras.  They tend to be a very oily reddish brown color.  They are known to have a spicy flavor profile that can range from pepper, earth, spice, and chocolate.  Generally these cigars tend to be medium to full in strength.
  
Criollo
Criollo wrappers on average are slightly milder than Corojo wrappers but still have a spicy flavor profile that can also include chocolate, earth, nuts, spice, and maybe even a touch of sweetness.  These cigars are more medium in strength.   

Sumatra
These wrappers originated from the Indonesian Island of Sumatra (go figure!!) but nowadays Sumatran seed can be grown in Honduras or Ecuador.  This wrapper will lend a sweet undertone to the smoke.  Possible flavor notes include; earth, cinnamon, and floral.  These cigars will be considered medium in strength.     

Cameroon
The Cameroon Wrapper originated from Cameroon in the west central part of Africa.  The wrapper often gives a very grainy appearance.  It is not oily and often very delicate.  This wrapper gives the cigar a very rich flavor profile without being too strong.  Possible flavor notes include; butter, black pepper, leather, and toast.  These cigars can be medium to full - depending on the particular blend.   

Rosado  
This is still somewhat of a rare wrapper.  Rosado translates to pink or rosy which gives tribute to the color of the wrapper.  These leaves are very hard to grow outside of Cuba, this is what makes them so rare because only a few companies have access to these leaves.  Rosado wrapped cigars tend to be on the spicy side with possible flavor notes of; cedar, coffee, earth, and pepper.  These cigars can be medium to full - depending on the particular blend.  

Maduro
To make a true Maduro wrapper is a lengthy process.  The leaves are stored in a curing barn for 45 days until their color turns from green to brown.  They are then aged to make the leaves an even darker and richer brown.  This process naturally brings out the sugars in the leaves giving these wrappers their distinct caramel like sweetness.  Also the leaves tend to be on the thicker side because of the lengthy fermentation process - thinner leaves just cannot stand up to this process.  Possible flavor notes include; dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, molasses, and black pepper.  These cigars can be medium to full bodied depending on the particular blend.    

Habano
Habano wrappers tend to be the spiciest.  The most popular place to grow these wrappers is Nicaragua although it can be grown elsewhere.  Possible flavor notes include; intense spice, leather, cocoa, espresso, and cedar.  These tend to be fuller bodied cigars and not a good choice for someone who has never smoked a cigar before.   

Oscuro
These leaves are the darkest wrapper you can find on a cigar.  They are fermented for longer than Maduro leaves.  This gives Oscuro cigars an even richer flavor profile of; dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, molasses, and black pepper.  These are full bodied cigars.  Sometimes referred to as Maduro Maduro. 

Posted by Michele

Aging a Cigar

Escaparate Case at Casa de Montecristo

                                

I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about aged or vintage cigars.  There are many people who believe aging a cigar does impact the taste and then there are people who believe aging a cigar is nothing but hype.  I’ve had the pleasure of smoking what one would call an aged cigar and I did notice a significant difference in the taste.  A cigar, like fine wine, truly will get better with age. 

More often than not when speaking of premium cigar manufacturers, your cigar has already been aged naturally as a part of the process of creating the cigar.  This is why you can smoke most cigars immediately upon delivery. 

Occasionally, though, you might find a new cigar that has a very bitter taste.  It does not necessarily mean that the new cigar is bad; it just means that the production was rushed and the cigar wasn’t given enough time to age.  Unfortunately high demands for cigars sometimes forces manufacturers to release cigars sooner than they would like.  Then, on the other hand there are people out there that can smoke a cigar (one that most people think is pretty damn good as is) and know that it would only get better if it were aged for a year.  

So what does it mean to age a cigar?

In its most basic definition aging a cigar is continuing the fermentation process.  A fermentation process is absolutely necessary in the creation of your cigar and happens to every one of them before they are even sent to distributors.  Fermentation is simply the changing of starches into sugars; it’s more complex but that is the basic idea.  As the starches turn into sugar, impurities and ammonia are also released from the cigar.  To age a cigar one must maintain a constant temperature and humidity, 70/70 rule.  Humidity and heat inside the cigar force the different tobaccos in the cigar to “merry” and release oils.  This overall process leads to a mellowing and blending of flavors. 

Aging a cigar only makes a good cigar even better.  You cannot take a bad cigar, age it, and expect it to be good. Say for example, a Maduro cigar that has been colored or cooked to achieve the dark wrapper.  They do not age well because the techniques used to create them ruin the tobacco, thus making the aging process useless.   Larger ring gages are better suited for aging because when more tobacco is used the more complex the end result will be.     

How long to age a cigar is a matter of personal opinion.  There is a noticeable difference in the taste as early as two to three months.  From my research aging cigars for one year seems to be the most common time frame.  Again my research suggests trying your cigars every few months during their aging process.  The aging process does reach a plateau and then any time after that plateau the cigar no longer ages.  So by trying a cigar every few months you can be sure that you smoke an aged cigar an the optimal time and not waiting an extra year or few months for nothing.

Posted by Michele