CIGARS

Cigars and Cigarettes

A cigarette (French: small cigar) is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a
cylinder of thin paper for smoking. Most modern manufactured cigarettes are filtered and include
reconstituted tobacco and other additives.

A cigarette is distinguished from a cigar by its smaller size, use of processed leaf, and paper
wrapping, which is normally white, though other colors are occasionally available. Cigars are
typically composed entirely of whole-leaf tobacco.

The first modern observation of the cigar occurred with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in
the New World. On October 28, 1492 Columbus noted in his log reports that the natives of San
Salvador burned and inhaled the leaves of a local plant. Rodrigo de Xeres, a lieutenant on
Columbus's expedition became the first European to smoke the Indian's form of a cigar. Rodrigo
smoked on every subsequent day of the expedition.
The Indians in South and Central America did not smoke cigars as we know them today. The
natives smoked tobacco wrapped in maize, palm or other native vegetation. The Spanish created
the cigar industry, and are given credit for creating the modern cigar.
The Origin of the word cigar comes from the native language of the ancient Mayans. The
Mayans called the cigar a "Ciq-Sigan" which the Spanish word "Cigarro" is derived from. The
New English Dictionary of 1735 called the cigar a "seegar", and was later adapted into the
modern word "cigar".

Manufacturing process of Cigars

The tobacco that is rolled into cigars is primarily grown in the tropical regions of the world.
Africa, Brazil, the Canary Islands, Connecticut, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Nicaragua, and Sumatra are world renown in growing the quality tobacco that is used in the
various components of a cigar.
Tobacco is planted in late September and generally takes two months to reach maturity.
Harvesting begins before the plants flower and can take several months as the leaves are
harvested in different phases.
Once the tobacco is harvested the leaves are sent to "tobacco barns" where the tobacco is dried.
Leaves are tied in pairs and hung for the curing process. The tobacco barn faces from east to
west so that the sun hits one side in the morning and one side at night. The doors at either side
can be opened or closed to keep the temperature constant. The tobacco is kept in the barn for
approximately 2 months while the leaves change color from green to yellow to brown.
After the leaves are dried, they are carefully laid into large piles for fermentation, where they are
kept for several months. The piles are moistened and covered in cloth and are watched closely as
the temperature can rise and harm the tobacco. The fermentation reduces natural resins, ammonia
and nicotine present in the tobacco leaves.
The fermented tobacco is taken to warehouses, stored in large bales and allowed to slowly
mature. The aging process can last from several months to many years depending on the quality
desired.
Once the aged tobacco reaches the factory, the leaves are graded according to size, color, and
quality. Leaves that are torn or have holes are set aside and used primarily as filler. Finally the
leaves are de-veined by removing the center vein from the leaf.
There are three basic components that make up a cigar.

1. The filler.
2. The binder.
3. The wrapper.

Handmade cigars are composed of filler tobacco bunched together with a binder leave and finally
covered with the wrapper leaf. Cigars with long leaves bunched together as filler are called "long
filler" cigars. Cigars with short, fragmented leaves bunched together as filler are called "short
filler" cigars. The binder holds the bunch together and is enclosed with the wrapper leaf in an
aesthetically pleasing manner.
Machine made cigars are generally produced using short filler. A processed tobacco binder
which resembles brown paper is used as the binder, and in most cases a natural wrapper is used
to complete the cigar.

Cigar Styles and Sizes

A cigar shape can vary greatly in size from brand to brand, so describing a cigar by its size as
well as shape is important. Cigars are measured by two factors: length, which is given in inches,
and "ring gauge," a designation of a cigar's diameter broken into 64ths of an inch. A cigar with a
42 ring gauge, for example, is 42/64 of an inch in diameter.
There is no correlation between the size of a cigar and its strength. An 8-inch cigar made with
mild tobaccos will be mellow, while a thin, short cigar rolled with powerful tobaccos will be full
bodied. While a cigar's strength is determined by the tobacco it is rolled with, thin cigars have a
tendency to burn hotter than fatter ones. Also important to note is that there is no consistency of
strength from brand to brand: one company's corona is likely to taste very different from
another's.

Types of Cigars –
Cigars can be divided into two broad categories by their shape. Parejos, which have straight
sides, and Figurados, which include all "irregular" shapes.
Parejos include 3 basic divisions, by the relative proportion of their dimensions. There's Coronas
(a broad category including Coronas, Dbl. Coronas, Presidentes, Robustos, and Churchills). An
open “foot” and a rounded “head” characterize all Coronas. Next are the Panatelas. Longer than
coronas, these are generally considerably thinner. The third division is Lonsdales - thicker than
Panatelas, but generally longer than Coronas.
Figuardos, or "irregular" shaped Cigars are a little better defined. The smallest is the Belicoso - a
small tapered cigar with a rounded head (not pointed) and a larger foot. Next are the Pyramids,
tapering from a large foot to a small head. A "true" pyramid always has a pointed head. Although
many smokers call a large pyramid a torpedo, a "true" torpedo has a large foot, smaller, pointed
head, and a slight bulge in the middle. The Perfecto is tapered on both ends to a smaller size than
its straight middle section - a classic "cigar shape". Finally, there's the Diademas, the giant of
cigars. These are 8 inches or greater. (hmmmm - does that make the Aliados General a
"Diademas-and-a-half"?)
Cigar size names did originally specify the exact physical size and shape of cigars. After a dozen
decades of manufacturers "individualizing" their cigars, these original standards are long gone.
As far as I know, only Cuban manufacturers have stayed with these original standard sizes.
Whether Upman, Partagas, or Cohiba produces it, a Habana Corona is still Corona sized...

The Classical Cigar Shapes Ordered –

Parejos
Parejos are straight-sided cigars; most have an open foot for lighting and need to be cut before
smoking. They may be either round or box-pressed, meaning that the sides of the cigar were
pressed square prior to packing or, in some cases, by pressure in the box.

Corona
This is the benchmark size against which all
other sizes are measured. The traditional
dimensions are 5 1/2 to 6 inches with a ring
gauge of 42 to 44. Example: Montecristo No. 3

Petit Corona
Basically a miniature corona, this cigar generally
measures about 4 1/2 inches, with a ring gauge of
40 to 42. Example: Montecristo No. 4

Churchill
A large corona format. The standard dimensions
are 7 inches by 47 ring gauge. Example: Romeo
y Julieta Churchill

Robusto
A short, fat cigar that has become the most popular cigar size in America. The size is generally 4
3/4 to 5 1/2 inches by 48 to 52 ring gauge. Example: Cohiba Robusto

Corona Gorda
Also called a toro, this cigar is steadily growing in popularity. The traditional measurements are
5 5/8 inches by 46 ring gauge, but cigars of 6 inches by 50 ring have also become popular.
Example: Punch Punch

Double Corona
The standard dimensions are 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches by a 49 to 52 ring gauge. Example: Hoyo de
Monterrey Double Corona
Panetela
Long, thin and elegant, this size's popularity has decreased in recent years. Still, it is an elegant
size, with a wide length variation of 5 to 7 1/2 inches with a ring gauge of 34 to 38. Cigars longer
than 7 inches in this category are often referred to as "gran panetelas." Example: Cohiba Lancero

Lonsdale
A lonsdale is generally longer than a corona
but thicker than a panetela, with a classic size
of 6 1/2 inches by 42 ring. Example:
Montecristo No. 1

Figurados
Although the majority of cigars are parejos, a
growing number of cigar companies are
broadening their portfolios with more
creatively shaped smokes. These cigars are
called figurados, and they include any cigar
that is not a straight-sided cylinder. Although
cigar-makers' interpretations of the shapes
vary as widely as the flavors inside their
cigars, the basic categories of figurados are
as follows:

Pyramid
Pyramids are cigars with cut feet, like
parejos, but with heads tapered to a point.
Generally the cigars measure from 6 to 7
inches in length, with ring gauges of about 40
at the head widening to 52 to 54 at the foot.
The pyramid is treasured because the tapered head allows the complex flavors of the cigar to
meld in the mouth. Example: Montecristo No. 2

Belicoso
Traditional belicosos are short pyramids, often with a slightly rounded pyramid head. They often
measure from 5 to 5 1/2 inches, with ring gauges of about 50. Today's belicosos, however, are
often coronas or corona gordas with tapered heads. Recent years have also seen the production of
mini-belicosos, short cigars with small ring gauges and tapered heads. Example: Bolivar
Belicoso Fino

Torpedo
Although many companies include cigars called torpedos in their
portfolios, the cigars are often pyramids. A true torpedo is a rare
cigar today, a smoke with a closed foot, a head tapered to a point,
and a bulge in the middle. Example: Cuaba Millennium
Perfecto
Like the torpedo, the perfecto has a closed foot and a bulge in the middle. Unlike torpedos,
though, the head of a perfecto is rounded like the head of a parejo. Perfectos very greatly in
length, from a diminutive 4 1/2 inches to unwieldy 9-inch cigars, with ring gauges from 38 to 48.
Example: Partagas Presidente

Culebra
More popular in the past than it is today, the culebra is perhaps the most exotic shape of cigar
made. It consists of three panetelas braided together and tied with string, sold as one cigar. The
three parts are then unbraided and smoked separately. Usually 5 to 6 inches long, culebras most
often have a 38 ring gauge. Since they are difficult to come by today, you might consider sharing
the other two braids of the cigar with two friends, turning the smoking of a culebra into a special
occasion. Example: Partagas Culebra

Diadema
Diademas are enormous, 8 1/2
inches or longer. The head is tapered,
though often not to a complete point, usually with a 40 ring gauge. The cigar then tapers down to
a foot that can be open like a parejo or closed like a perfecto, usually with a ring gauge of 52 or
greater. This is a cigar to be enjoyed when time is no object. Example: Hoyo de Monterrey
Diadema.

‘Partagas Presidente’ cigar

Storage of cigars

In many ways, fine cigars are like wine, orchids or humans traveling in space. They are natural,
organic and sensitive to their environment. They are the mature products of a carefully controlled
combination of temperature and moisture. 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.

Cigars are affected by light, temperature, humidity, and friction. Cigars should never be exposed
to ultraviolet light (especially directly). Light will bleach the cigar wrapper, making it less elastic
and more likely to tear or rip. Ultraviolet light also changes the molecular composition of the
wrapper leaf in a rolled cigar. Direct light will also likely raise the temperature in your humidor.
Temperature is an important factor in cigar storage for two reasons: it affects humidity, and
higher temperatures may make tobacco beetles active, allowing them to devour your cigars. Try
to avoid temperatures above 75 degrees F in your humidor. (See below for more information on
this dreaded pest.)
Humidity is relative to temperature, thus the term “relative humidity” (RH). Most people prefer
their cigars at about 70% RH; however your cigars will not be harmed at levels ranging from
65% to 75% RH.

The Humidor –
A humidor is, quite simply, a storage container designed to allow controlled air flow and
equipped with a device that maintains the internal humidity in the range of 70 to 75 percent; its
internal temperature should be maintained in a narrow range of about 68 to 70 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The purpose of a humidor is to keep your cigars at their peak "smokability". The most crucial
characteristic of a fine humidor is that it can provide a constant environment of about 68' to 70' F
and 70-72% humidity. It doesn't really need to be fancy, but it does need to be functional.
Havana Shapes in Alphabetical Order
• Almuerzos (5 1/8 x 50)
• Britanicas (5 3/8 x 46)
• Cadetes (4 1/2 x 36)
• Campanas (5 1/2 x 52)
• Carlotas (5 5/8 x 35)
• Carolinas (4 3/4 x 26)
• Cazadores (6 3/8 x 44)
• Cervantes (6 1/2 x 42)
• Coronas (5 1/2 x 42)
• Coronas Gordas (5 5/8 x 46)
• Coronas Grandes (6 1/8 x 42)
• Cosacos (5 3/8 x 42)
• Dalias (6 3/4 x 43)
• Delicados (7 1/2 x 38)
• Delicados Extra (7 1/4 x 36)
• Entreactos (4 x 30)
• Especiales (5 1/4 x 45)
• Exquisitos (5 3/4 x 46)
• Favoritos (4 3/4 x 41)
• Franciscanos (4 1/2 x 40)
• Franciscos (5 5/8 x 44)
• Generosos (5 1/4 x 41)
• Gran Corona (9 1/4 x 47)
• Hermosos No. 4 (5 x 48)
• Julieta 2 (7 x 47)
• Londres (5 x 40)
• Minutos (4 3/8 x 42)
• Ninfas (7 x 33)
• Numero 1 (7 1/2 x 38)
• Numero 2 (6 x 38)
• Numero 3 (4 1/2 x 26)
• Palmas (6 3/4 x 33)
• Palmitas (6 x 32)
• Panetelas (4 5/8 x 34)
• Parejos (6 1/2 x 38)
• Perlas (4 x 40)
• Petit Bouquets (4 x 42)
• Piramides (6 1/8 x 52)
• Placeras (4 7/8 x 34)
• Prominentes (7 5/8 x 49)
• Robustos (4 7/8 x 50)
• Seoane (4 7/8 x 36)
• Superiores (5 3/4 x 40)
• Tacos (6 1/4 x 47)
• Trabucos (4 3/8 x 38)
The first dimension is the length of the cigar in inches. The second is the ring gauge of the cigar
or the diameter of the cigar measured in 64ths of an inch.
Cigar color

The color (which ranges from light green to darkest brown) of a cigar can affect its taste. For
example, darker wrappers indicate a concentration of sugars in the leaf and such cigars often
taste sweeter; not bitter as you'd expect. Conversely, a light
coloured wrapper usually offers a drier taste There are over
65 different shades of Havana cigar wrapper alone. All
Havanas in a box are colour matched with the smallest tonal
variances, arranged with the darkest cigar to the left and the
lightest on the right, and banded by hand at exactly the
same height on every cigar. Beware of any box of Havanas
containing multi-coloured cigars.
From light to dark, the seven commonly used wrapper color
descriptions are:

Double Claro (also called Candela)

This wrapper is light green, a hue created by a quick-drying
process using heat that locks in the green chlorophyll of the tobacco. Years ago, this wrapper was
tremendously popular in the United States, and it was a point of amusement for Europeans.

Claro
A light tan color, most commonly achieved by growing in shade under cheesecloth tents, picking
the plants early and air-drying the leaves. Flavorwise, these wrappers have little to offer, and
allow the flavors of the filler tobaccos to dominate the taste of the cigar.

Colorado Maduro
Darker than Colorado Claro in shade, this color is often associated with African tobacco, such as
wrappers from Cameroon, or with Havana Seed tobacco grown in Honduras or Nicaragua.

Colorado
The center of the color scale. These cigars are medium-brown to brownish-red and full flavored,
though soft and subtle in their aroma. These wrappers are often shade grown.

Colorado Maduro
Darker than colorado, lighter than maduro.

Maduro
Very dark brown to almost black. Tobacco for Maduro wrappers is primarily grown in
Connecticut, Mexico, Nicaragua and Brazil. These dark wrappers – which usually offer a sweeter
taste – are usually created by leaving leaves on the plant longer and then curing them for longer
periods, but there are some who take shortcuts and boil or “cook” leaves to create the dark shade.

Oscuro
This black-as-night wrapper shade is achieved by leaving the leaves on the plant as long as
possible, by using only the leaves from the top of the plant, and by fermenting them for an
especially long time. Most often Brazilian or Mexican in origin, oscuro wrappers are often very
rough, a result of the extra fermentation. This category is sometimes referred to as "black,"
"negro" or "double maduro."

Cigar Strength Guide

This is simply a basic strength guide to give you an idea of how the various cigars compare in
strength with one another. This meant just as a basic guide, everyone tastes will vary.
Legend:
- very mild to mild-bodied
- mild to medium mild-bodied
- medium to medium full-bodied
- full bodied
- very full-bodied

Strength
Baccarrat - - Macanudo (Regular)
Canaria D'Oro - - Temple Hill
Casa Blanca - - Don Diego
- Pleiades
Montesino - - Cuesta Rey
Bances -
- JR Jamaica
Licenciados - - Don Juan
El Sublimado - - Cuesta Rey
La Aurora - - Bering
Joya da Nicaragua - - Royal Jamaica
Por Larranaga -
Troya - - New York
Macanudo Vintage - - The Griffin's
Don Tomas (Special Edition) - - Peter Stokkebye
Santa Damiana - - Don Lino
Bauza - - V Centennial
- La Unica
Jose Benito - - Caballeros
 Sosa -
Vueltabajo - - Dunhill
Calixto Lopez - - Davidoff Nos. 1-4
Partaga - - Ramon Allones
La Finca - - La Fontana
Belinda -
Henry Clay - - Caballeros
Santa Clara - - Hidalgo
Montecruz & Montecrus Sun
- Romeo y Julieta Vintage
Grown -
Davidoff 1000 Series - - La Gloria Cubana
Primo del Rey - - Don Lino Habano Reserve
Te Amo - - Diana Silvius
Credo - - Petrus
Ashton (regular and vintage) - - Arturo Fuente (regular line)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway
- Onyx
Series -
Fonseca - - Savinelli ELR
Juan Clemente - - Maria Mancini
Jose Llopis - - Nat Sherman
Zino Honduran - - Arturo Fuente Chateau
H. Upmann -
- Davidoff Gran Cru Series
Davidoff Double "R" &
Special "T" -
Oscar - - Butera
- Punch Gran Cru Series
Thomas Hinds - - Habano Gold
Arturo Fuente Reserve Series - - Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur
- Cuba Aliados
JR Ultimate -
- Hoyo de Monterrey
Paul Garmirian (PG) - - Don Tomas
Avo Uvezian - - Punch regular line
 El Rey del Mundo -

Service of Cigars

The first step involves presentation of the cigars to the guest using a portable humidor.
Knowledge about the cigars is a must for the waiter. If the guest so desires, remove the ring
around the cigar.

The second step involved in preparing a cigar for use is to open a passage way allowing air to
circulate from one end to the other. Some smokers elect to bite the tip off the cigar; its quick and
easy solution and there is no need to carry around any tools along. Most cigar connoisseurs
however use specialized clipper that provide a clean, manicured cut.

If a cutter is used, the incision should be made quickly and decisively. The cutter should be
placed just above the cigar's cap line (the curved area that covers the head of the cigar) and
clipped in one swift motion. This produces a clean cut which is desirable for smoking a cigar.

Types of cuts –

 The "Guillotine" or "Traditional" Cut -

This cutter takes a straight slice across the cigars
cap line. It is the best cut to create an easy, well
circulated draw; however residue and tar from
the burning tobacco will come in direct contact
with the smoker's mouth.

 The "Bullet" or "Punch" Cut -

A bullet cutter pierces a small hole into the

cigars cap. Depending on the diameter of the
cutter, air circulation may be restricted and the
smokes tar and residue can accumulate around
the opening.

The V cutter creates a wedge shaped notice in

the cigars cap. This cut allows proper air
circulation to occur. The smokes tar and residue
accumulate on the sides of the wedge keeping
the bitter taste away from the smoker's mouth. It
can be difficult to keep a V cutter sharp because
of its unique shape.

 The "V" Cut -

Once the cigar has been clipped using the smokers preferred method, it is ready to be lit.

Tobacco will absorb any aroma or fragrance that it comes in contact with. Paper and sulfur based
matches or the use of a fluid based lighter can leave the cigar with an unpleasant taste. The
preferred method to light a cigar is the use of butane based lighter. A lit wooden match can be
used once it has burned off the chemicals used in the ignition process.

Once the cigar is cut, hold the open end of the cigar over your flame and slowly rotate it. This
will "Toast" the cigar and prime it for lighting. While it is still warm, hand over the cigar to the
guest and hold the flame at an angle. Allow the guest to slowly puff and rotate the cigar while
maintaining slight contact with the flame. A Good cigar will light easy and burn evenly.