The smaller sized El Ray del Mundo Café Noir, meaning "King of the World," packs an incredible amount of flavor into its 4.5x35 size.
This cigar has been featured in the industry since before the Cuban Revolution in 1882. Developed by Antonio Allones, The El Ray del Mundo is celebrated as one of the best quality cigars on the market. Known for the dark oily wrappers, this cigar was one of the most expensive Havana's in the 20th century. Most of the El Ray del Mundo cigars are produced in the same factory as notable brands as Hoya de Monterrey.
This medium bodied cigar is loaded with the finest blends of Honduran filler and is wrapped in the Connecticut Broadleaf. The Café Noir is known for the intense spice blended perfectly with earthy hints of cedar, pepper and sweet chocolaty cocoa. As the cigar burns, notes of nutmeg and baking spices appear and transition into cocoa, then with slight suggestions of leather. The initial heat is reintroduced at the end of the cigar rounding out the taste profile. The white ash contrasts the beautiful dark wrappers making it aesthetically pleasing from beginning to end. The spicy gems pair well with creamy desserts and sweet liqueurs.
This cigar is perfect for any and all occasions and fits well with any enthusiasts' collection. The smaller size enables this cigar to be enjoyed in a timely manner, perfect for lunch breaks, or for enjoyment in a time crunch. These little guys boast the same full bodied flavor as their larger predecessors, and stand up to the negative assumptions revolving around smaller cigars. Some have claimed to have had issues getting the perfect draw, but that has not deterred them from continued loyalty to the Café Noir. Like any handmade product, there will be imperfections, but that comes with the territory. These delicious black as coal beauties come in a gorgeous box of 24.[/vc_column_text]
Cigar prices will vary across different retailers. Below are some of our favorite online stores that have competitive pricing...
Handmade in the Dominican Republic, the Casa de Garcia Connecticut is a light, mild-bodied cigar offering a smooth blend of premium tobaccos. The affordable smoke is consistently smooth, with a light and creamy flavor that makes this cigar a wonderful every-day smoke. One of the most affordable cigars out there, this particular stick offers a great value.
Smooth and creamy, mellow tobacco notes. Very mild smoke. Light touch of leather.
A hint of vanilla comes through. Still very light flavors, mostly creamy with the subtle notes on top.
Slight caramel notes come through in the final third, complements the other flavors nicely. The vanilla comes and goes. Blended well.
Wrapped in Connecticut Broadleaf, the Casa de Garcia Connecticut imparts a smooth, creamy texture and soft wood notes. Small veins can be seen throughout the beautiful brown wrapper. At first glance, you can tell that the Casa de Garcia is well constructed, despite its low price point.
The Broadleaf surrounds a lovely aged blend of Dominican, Honduran & Connecticut long filler tobaccos, a combination that results in a light, sweetly flavored cigar that is consistently creamy throughout. The filler provides a consistent draw and steady burn, although the draw can be quite firm.
Offering a fair amount of cigar for your money, the Casa de Garcia Churchill Connecticut measures just over 6 inches long with a 50 gauge ring, a nice fat smoke that can last upwards of an hour and a half. Great for long, lazy mornings when you want something smooth to wake you up. The large size feels good in the hand and the tobacco blend burns smoothly, needing few, if any, touch-ups.
Its light, creamy flavor and incredibly mild body make the Casa de Garcia a fantastic daily smoke for anyone and a great introduction to cigars for new smokers. While enjoyable, the smoke is fairly simple in flavor and there isn't a lot of complexity going on. Primarily smooth and creamy, with a slight touch of leather and wood, you'll need to look elsewhere for a more sophisticated flavor profile.
However, simplicity is not inherently bad. Because of its simple flavors, the Casa de Garcia is fairly easy to pair. Suggested pairings run a wide spectrum, everything from a medium roast coffee with cream and sugar to a glass of good scotch, perhaps a 12 year, whose spicy honey, buttery caramel, and peppery cocoa would add some complementary complexity to the flavors. Overall, you can and should smoke this stick with anything.
It is simple, it is smooth and mild. The Casa de Garcia is a perfect cigar for daily smoking because it prides itself on the smooth flavors of premium tobacco, letting nothing get in the way. In doing so, this cigar becomes a must try for everyone. The simplicity is perfect for newcomers, and it offers a nice palate cleanser for more experienced smokers. The long smoke makes this stick a great way to start off a lazy morning or wind down a busy day.
Cigar prices will vary across different retailers. Below are some of our favorite online stores that have competitive pricing...
Each cigar's journey from an idea to a relaxing, calming, and ready-to-smoke stogie is long and arduous. First, a cigar's style—including its size, binder, wrapper, tobacco type, and taste profile—must be determined by the maker; striking just the right balance between these elements is of the utmost importance. Then, this tobacco will need to be carefully grown and seasoned over a period of multiple years, as will the binder and wrapper. Finally, these components have to be put together in a way that produces an even burn, appealing flavors, and an enjoyable overall smoking experience. And of course, in a final testament to the care and effort put into cigars, rollers must combine all the components of stogies together by hand.
As you have probably gathered from this brief description of the cigar-making process, cigars truly are works of art; the delight they bring smokers is indicative of the considerable thought put into their conception and creation. The magnificence of cigars and their provided benefits haven't been lost on some of history's greatest individuals. The likes of Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, 
Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, and John F. Kennedy all derived pleasure and relaxation from cigars; it's been said that President Grant smoked 20 or more stogies per day![1]
The larger point to take away is that cigars are fantastic for taking it easy, conducting business, and marking special occasions. A wide variety of the world's most influential and respected figures have used cigars in all three of the listed ways, and by deciding to take up the hobby, you're placing yourself in good company. However, such a detailed and multifaceted practice as cigar smoking does, as you'd expect, require an abundance of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to fully enjoy.
That's where this convenient and accessible guide comes in. Here, every single consideration of cigars—from their sizes, types, smoking styles, lighting styles, cutting methods, storing procedures, purchasing process, and more—will be detailed in an easily readable fashion. The guide's broader aim is therefore to bring the joy of cigar smoking for beginners to any and all individuals who are or might be interested in it.
Every cigar smoker has to begin somewhere, and conceivably, the future's brilliant men and women could be introduced to and acquainted with stogies through this guide. Only time will tell whether or not this'll happen, and until then, you can learn quite a bit about one of the world's most long-running, sophisticated, appreciated, and respected practices by reading on.
It was previously mentioned that cigars are forms of art, as they require a great deal of thought, attentiveness, and effort to create, and are also crafted with the maker's image and ideas in mind. Individuality and creativity are therefore encouraged by cigar customers and the industry as a whole, and what this means for you—the new or prospective smoker—is that there are a lot of different cigars to choose from, each with a completely unique taste and feel.
With that said, you can certainly find a cigar that's personally appealing, but at the same time, you can easily come across a cigar that's designed to appeal to an entirely different smoker. The only way to understand what cigars are perfect for you is to develop an understanding of cigars generally, and the following size, type, and style information will help you to do so. Additionally, this information will aid you in determining the best cigars for beginners, and also, in choosing one of these cigars based upon your preferences.
Let's take a look.
The listed cigar sizes are some of the most commonly found today, but it must be mentioned that they aren't all the cigar sizes found today. On the contrary, quite a few precise variations and sizes other than these do exist, and are sometimes used by adventurous and/or experimenting cigar professionals. Generally speaking, though, the vast majority of cigars can be classified as one of the following sizes, and fall into one of the specified broad categories:
ParejoThere's very close to a 100% chance that whatever you picture when thinking of a cigar is a Parejo variation. This term is simply used to describe "normally shaped" cigars, or those that're cylindrical, require a cut on one end, and are straight. As the cigar industry has evolved alongside technology as of late, more and more oddly shaped stogies have debuted. As such, while the vast, vast majority of cigars you'll encounter are Parejos, some "oddballs" do exist, and will also be described.
But first, let's take a look at all the Parejos cigar sizes and styles.
Cigarillos are more or less miniature cigars that are small in size but generally reliable in terms of taste and flavor. These quick-burning smokes typically come in sizable bundles, given that their cigarette-like ring gauges (as a quick side note, ring gauge is cigar-talk for the thickness of a smoke. Ring gauge is measured in 64ths of an inch, and thus, a cigar with a 32 ring gauge is half an inch in diameter and thickness) and two to five inch (give or take) lengths mean they'll last somewhere around 15 minutes each.
Cigarillos are great if you're smoking on the go, if you're seeking a short-and-easy cigar experience, and/or if you've been tasked with providing smokes to potentially wasteful friends. The convenient sticks often draw the ire of "old-school" smokers because most of them are made by machinery (as opposed to being hand-rolled), but if you try a respected brand's miniature offering with an open mind, there's a good chance you'll be impressed.
As its name suggests, the Petit Corona is more or less a small version of the Corona (which is detailed next). The little cigars often pack a large taste punch, however, and what's more is that they normally burn for a respectable amount of time (this obviously depends upon the smoker and the cigar at-hand, but Petit Coronas can be expected to burn for the better part of an hour). Accordingly, they are ideal for individuals new to cigars, those who don't want to spend a tremendous amount of time smoking in a single sitting (but desire a full-sized stogie), and most importantly of all, persons who are likely to be intimidated by a physically massive cigar (seriously, this does happen).
Technically speaking, Petit Coronas are usually four to five inches in length with a ring gauge of around 40.
The Corona is essentially the "default" cigar size; it isn't too big nor is it too small, for nearly every smoker, and as such when most individuals offer or request a cigar, this is probably the size they're speaking of or expecting. Technically, Corona cigars are five to six inches long with ring gauges of 40 to 42 (most smokes fall into the "40" category).
Coronas are fantastic because they allow smokers to experience all the complexities and flavors of a cigar's tobacco, build, and style. Moreover, because they're so common, Coronas are generally rolled to an outstanding degree of quality, both in terms of the resulting draw and evenness of burning.
Robusto cigars typically provide robust flavor profiles and experiences to smokers, hence their self-identifying title. The short, stubby, wide-gauged cigars have become more popular than ever before in recent years (perhaps at least in part because of their longer burn times), and if you're seeking a thick cigar that isn't particularly long, you've found your ideal size.
Robustos are generally four to five and a half inches long, and they usually feature ring gauges of 48 to 52. However, it must once again be emphasized that this cigar's size (and to a slightly lesser extent all other cigars' sizes) is far from set in stone or universally acknowledged; cigar makers can and do adjust their smokes' sizes based upon their own preferences, specifications, and findings, and as this variation is once again ultra-popular, it's expectedly subjected to frequent tailoring.
Toro (also referred to as Corona Gorda, in rarer instances) cigars are long, thick, and sure to leave a lasting impression not only on you, the smoker, but on most individuals you encounter while smoking. The eye-catching sticks normally boast ring gauges of 46 to 50 as well as a length of six or so inches. The result is once again an attention-drawing and satisfying cigar size that, when properly built and crafted, tastes even better than it looks.
Named after the aforementioned stogie lover Winston Churchill, this cigar size is very similar to the Toro; both sticks feature ring gauges right around 50, and both boast considerable lengths. The biggest differences between the two types of cigars, however, result from the Churchill's more specific measurements. While Toros are less clear cut in terms of size, Churchills hover right around seven inches in length and feature a 47 ring gauge. Deviating from this standard typically results in a cigar receiving the Toro classification.
Churchills are ideal for smokers who love long, multilayered cigars that're filled with a variety of different flavors. The cigar size's generally long burn time is also a big selling point for many customers.
Presidente cigars are fit for, well, presidents. These massive—both in length and ring gauge—smokes feature a tremendous amount of tobacco, burn for a very long time, and manage to pack an astonishing number of flavors into individual sticks. Although the Presidente is used rarely by cigar makers, serious smokers must make a point of experiencing at least one of the sticks at some point. Plus, the seven to nine inch cigars, despite their 50 to 60 ring gauges, are normally crafted with mild tobacco to ensure that smokers aren't overwhelmed during the multi-hour burn.
Figurado is the umbrella term used to describe a cigar that isn't traditional and cylindrical in shape. And while this newfound cigar style might seem quirky and unnecessary, you'll find through experience that uniquely shaped Figurado smokes provide unique taste profiles as well.
And of course, it must be reemphasized that these aren't quite all the Figurado cigar sizes and variations, but they are the most common. Additionally, each size and style's technical specifications, including length, ring gauge, and even name, are far from set in stone, and are rather decided upon at the discretion of the maker.
Unlike Pyramid cigars (which are discussed next), Belicoso smokes feature only rounded smoking ends, as opposed to full-scale "pyramid" ends. The differences between the smoke types are much easier to understand (and relay) through pictures than with words, but the style at hand—Belicoso—is simply a straight, traditional cigar with a curved head.
These smokes typically measure five to six inches and feature ring gauges in the ballpark of 50. Fans claim they light, burn, and draw exceptionally well, and the only way to find out if Belicosos are for you is to give them a try.
The Pyramid cigar style is very similar to the Belicoso, except that its smoking end—that which needs to be cut—does in fact look like an actual pyramid. Additionally, traditional Pyramid cigars fall somewhere into the range of six to seven inches in length, with a corresponding ring gauge of around 50 at the thick end (that which is lit).
It should be noted that Pyramid cigars, as a result of their "odd" shapes, cannot be cut with some cigar cutters, including the punch and certain guillotines. Moreover, the difficulty associated with perfectly cutting these smokes is considerable, and as too low a cut can result in a cigar coming unraveled, it's probably best if Pyramid cigars are enjoyed by experienced smokers.
Torpedo cigars lay claim to essentially the same physical dimensions as Pyramid cigars, and to be sure, the most significant difference between the two styles of smokes is that Torpedo cigars are shaped like classical, cartoon-style torpedoes that join together at a lower point than Pyramid cigars. Expectedly, the general size of this cigar type is all over the place depending on the maker's preference; a given Torpedo cigar is probably around the same size as a given Pyramid cigar, on average.
Far and away the most unique of the Figurado cigar styles, the Perfecto is thin on either end but grows progressively thicker near the middle; this middle area is the thickest portion of the cigar. Perfecto cigars don't feature ends like the Pyramid or the Torpedo, but are rather rounded on both sides; the Perfecto's lighting end is always ready to ignite out of the box, but depending on the maker, the smoking end may be pre-cut or require a cut.
More so than any of the other described smokes, Perfectos' general measurements are all over the map. Very, very broadly speaking, these cigars are four to 10 inches long and feature ring gauges in the ballpark of (no, the neighborhood of!) 40 to 50.
If you've ever wondered what the differences are between cigars that're darker and lighter, you've already but some thought into wrappers, or the outer binding of cigars that determine not only color, but also, taste, burn style, nicotine content, and more. Every cigar's wrapper is in many ways its nucleus; everything else, including the binder and the tobacco, revolves around and is affected by it.
To help you decide upon a personally appealing cigar, let's take a look at four of the most prominent wrappers. Again, these aren't all the cigar wrappers you'll come across by any means, but they are far and away the most common variations.
Connecticut cigar wrappers are light in color, mild in strength, low in nicotine, and ideal for anyone seeking a casual and laid-back smoking experience. More specifically, most any Connecticut smoke is likely among the best cigars for beginners. The wrapper's shade and taste profile are achieved through special growing and treating procedures—namely limiting exposure to the sun. As the wrapper's title suggests, Connecticuts are often grown in the United States—an interesting and important distinction, given that most other wrappers and tobacco are grown in different parts of the globe besides America.
If you're worried about cigars being too strong or are interested in experiencing unique and subtle flavors that other wrappers cannot match, consider purchasing some Connecticut smokes.
Primarily grown in Honduras, the Corojo wrapper isn't quite as powerful and dark as the next two types, but it does pack a sizable taste punch. Moreover, the medium-strength wrapper also veers more towards spice than sweetness, in terms of its taste, which is ideal for certain cigar blends but not particularly well suited for others.
Importantly, the fan-favorite Corojo wrapper serves as a solid medium ground between the Connecticut and the Maduro, and it's incidentally very good at conveying spicier and more noticeable flavors, as well as some particular tastes that're subtle in nature.
The Habano wrapper is admittedly very similar to the Corojo, as you can determine from its produced taste, typical shade, and more. Unlike the Corojo, however, the Habano is usually grown somewhere in Nicaragua, features a considerable amount of nicotine, and is even more partial to spice and wood-filled taste profiles.
If you're seeking a darker, stronger, and exciting cigar, you can probably find the ideal stogie by checking out your local cigar store's (or favorite online website's) Habano selection.
Dark brown (and sometimes closer to black) in color and very versatile in flavor, Maduro cigars are the go-to smokes of many well-versed tobacco aficionados. The wrapper can be made most anywhere, but interestingly, its darker color is the result of extensive sun exposure and/or amplified aging processes. And unlike the Habano and Corojo smokes, Maduro cigars are just as likely and able to feature spicy flavors as they are sweetness and a variety of other sensations; there're few limits to the smoking experiences that Maduro cigars can produce. It should additionally be noted that Maduro cigars are, on average, stronger than Connecticut and even Corojo stogies.
Purchasing cigars is a riveting experience that's anticipated by most every smoker in the world. Who wouldn't get excited by the prospect of trading a small amount of money for a carefully made and incredibly detailed tobacco creation that required multiple years and substantial effort to craft? Exactly—no one.
One of the most pressing questions asked by new cigar smokers is this: What's the better place to buy cigars—the local cigar store or the internet? These individuals are often partial to the latter because of today's fast-moving digital landscape, but sympathetic to the former because it's a local business that's, well, local. Accessibility isn't an issue for either cigar-purchasing method. As such, the answer to the presented question is both, as there are inherent and unique benefits to buying stogies online and purchasing through a local store.
Buying smokes online is convenient to say the least. You simply visit one of the many excellent cigar websites available today, find what you want, check out, and wait for the delivery to arrive. Online cigar shopping is more affordable than buying from a physical store, and you're in all likelihood best off buying bundles, boxes, and packages of cigars over the web. Be sure to look for sales and specials, too!
But that doesn't mean there's no reason to visit your local cigar store. On the contrary, the small and inviting businesses are worth checking out for several key reasons. First, they allow you to—no, encourage you to—buy single cigars. Consider yourself lucky if you've never had to experience the pain and annoyance of buying an entire box of lackluster stogies! The point is that cigar stores are perfect for trying appealing individual cigars before you make a largescale purchase (or decide not to do so).
Next, cigar stores are great places to get awesome stogie advice, tips, and recommendations. Artificial intelligence technology is developing at a rapid pace today, but nevertheless, cigar websites simply don't offer personalized and tailored smoke recommendations based upon your preferred cigar size, taste, strength, brand, wrapper, and more. Cigar store professionals do offer these recommendations (and a whole lot of other knowledge that can come in handy).
Finally, cigar stores are outstanding spots to relax and socialize with other smokers. Meeting fellow enthusiasts is always a blast, as is being able to light up in a welcoming, interesting, and warm setting; this latter point is especially significant in the winter, for those unlucky individuals who are forced outside to smoke!
As was said, there are benefits to shopping at cigar stores and through online cigar websites, and wise cigar lovers will therefore maintain a careful balance between the two purchasing styles.
Now that you've been introduced to the cigar world's most popular stogie shapes, sizes, variations, styles, and purchasing tips, it's time to focus on the actual smoking experience. Just like the creation process and the steps responsible for making cigars, the steps responsible for producing an enjoyable individual experience—from the time a smoke is removed from the humidor until its final puff has been drawn—are diverse and complex.
However, diverse and complex aren't synonyms for limitless and mentally demanding, respectively, and as such you can learn the ins and outs of cigar enjoyment simply by reading on.
Many cigar "experts" will lead you to believe that humidors are difficult, problematic, and troubling byproducts of the smoking experience that'll likely be your undoing. These very same "experts" are in all likelihood attempting to foster a dependence upon their advice when they paint such a picture, as humidors are easy-to-use and straightforward storage products.
To expand upon this point and provide a working definition of humidors, cigars are partial to moist and warm environments (like those they were grown in). By this standard, the general atmosphere is too dry for cigars, and they will become tasteless and brittle if left out in the air for more than two or so weeks.
Furthermore, you'll need to store them in a humidified atmosphere to assure that they not only stay fresh (and free from invasive bugs), but also, to help their flavors develop and season through aging.
This atmosphere is most easily maintained in a humidor, or a cedar-lined (often, that is; other wood types can be and are used) container designed to retain moisture and effectively keep cigars tasting and burning as best they can. Humidors are available for purchase online, in cigar stores, and from cigar experts (check your local newspaper's classified advertisements for proof!). While you won't have a problem buying a humidor, it's worth noting that finding a type of humidor that's aesthetically pleasing, able to house all your cigars, and within your budget could require some time. Be sure to take the process slowly, and if you're looking for a good place to get started, check out the leading cigar websites' introductory deals, which often include a humidor and a bundle of cigars for a very affordable price.
After you've purchased a humidor, you'll need to season it, or introduce it to moisture so that it effectively becomes humidified. This straightforward and important process is detailed next.
As was said, seasoning a humidor isn't challenging, but like many things in life, administering some initial attentiveness and effort will ensure the process's success and save you a lot of time and hassle later on.
Start by using a clean (and preferably brand new), uncolored hand towel to gently wipe distilled water—the only water that should ever, under any circumstances, be used in a humidor—around the interior wood. Be sure not to saturate the wood, but also, try to cover most of its surface area with water.
After this, place a small bowl of distilled water inside the humidor and shut the lit or door. As you've activated the wood by exposing it to moisture, it'll slowly absorb the water in the bowl. Nevertheless, the process will take roughly two to four days, and it's imperative that it not be rushed. To assure that seasoning proceeds at a steady rate, continue gently wiping the distilled water on the wood twice per day, once in the morning and once at night, or until the hygrometer—the internal measurer of humidity—displays a moisture level of 67% to 72%, and more importantly, maintains this moisture level without change for at least a day after the bowl of water has been removed
You should also be sure to use 50/50 solution, or a specially designed formula that helps humidors to hold a humidity level that's ideal for cigars, on your humidor's moisture pad, or the small sponge that's included with most units. A few drops (along with some distilled water) will more than suffice for this pad when you're seasoning your humidor, and after the seasoning process is complete, you can simply add another drop or two weekly, as you see fit and as your hygrometer permits.
Don't be surprised if your humidor's humidity level drops after you place cigars inside it. As was mentioned, cigars thrive in damp environments, and even after a few days in the mail (or outside of a proper storage area), they'll immediately begin absorbing moisture when placed inside a humidor. You might need to refill your humidor's sponge right after you store your first cigars, but the practice won't be common in the long term, as cigars themselves will hold moisture and contribute to the stability of your humidor's relative humidity.
And as a final note on the seasoning process, the relative humidity (or moisture level) of humidors is an important consideration, and also, is a major point of contention amongst cigar smokers. Some individuals claim that a humidity level of 65% is the best, while others tout a much higher humidity of around 75% as the ideal cigar-storage condition. You'd be wise to ignore the arguments of these extremists and simply work to maintain a middle-ground humidity level of 67% to 72% in your humidor. This moisture level will accentuate cigars' flavors while working to assure that they burn evenly and smoothly.
Those are the brass tacks of humidor seasoning, and to help you avoid headaches in the future, here're a few humidor tips that might come in handy:
Hot and wet humidors—particularly those that feature temperatures above 72 degrees and humidity levels above 72%--are the perfect breeding grounds for beetles and other cigar-destroying bugs. To avoid having your stogie collection ruined, try to make sure that your humidor doesn't surpass these levels for more than a few days at a time, if at all.
Most humidors come equipped with analog hygrometers that measure humidity non-electronically, and while these tools are generally accurate, they do sometimes produce a relatively sizable margin of error. Moreover, they are obviously unable to measure a humidor's internal temperature (which as you now know is fairly important).
Digital hygrometers measure exact humidity and temperature, and as they can be purchased for around $10, it's recommended that you equip your humidor with one right off the bat.
Whether an air vent or return is blowing hot air or cold air, regularly or rarely, you shouldn't place your humidor near it—even on a table above it or in its vicinity generally. This constant airflow will evaporate your humidor's water and dry it out in no time at all. This phenomenon may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many smokers frustratingly troubleshoot their humidor for not holding moisture, only to find that the real culprit in drying the storage unit out is a nearby vent.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/E6W5Q9FxbOY" align="center"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text]
To cut your cigar properly and in a way that maximizes the quality of the smoking experience, assure that you're using an actual, specially made cigar cutter. Scissors, knives, and especially your teeth just won't get the job done correctly! Moreover, proper cigar cutters can be bought for next to nothing online and in cigar stores, so there's no reason or excuse to inhibit your enjoyment by not making the purchase.
Assuming you're using the traditional guillotine cutter (comprised of one or two blades and featuring a center hole for the cigar tip to be placed inside), insert the bottom portion of the smoke's cap between the blades. For reference, the cap is the top of a cigar on the mouth end that's defined by a clearly visible line spanning the circumference of the smoke. Importantly, you should only cut one or two millimeters down any cigar. As you'll find, it's much easier to cut a cigar again if necessary than it is to try and smoke a cigar that's become unraveled as a result of a sloppy incision—a point which further demonstrates the value of conservative cutting.
Hold the cigar steady with one hand and use the other to gently bring the blades together. Be sure not to apply an overwhelming amount of pressure to the cut or rush it; doing so commonly leads to a low-quality and potentially cigar-damaging chop.
If you're seeking the simplest possible cut, purchase a punch cigar cutter. To operate this cutter, all you have to do is place it on the back of a cigar, gently turn it, apply pressure, and watch as it creates an ideal, pre-measured hole. Notably, you might need to punch twice on larger cigars, and this cutter obviously won't work on non-Parejo smokes.
That's really all there is to cutting cigars, and the described methods are the two most popular and generally accepted cutting styles in the tobacco community. It's worth mentioning that quite a variety of other stogie-slicing methods do exist, and can be explored as you become more experienced and interested in smoking.
In order to get the most out of your cigar taste-wise and assure that it burns as evenly as possible, it's important that you properly light it. Like the process of seasoning your humidor, lighting a stogie up obviously isn't difficult. With that said, the benefits of doing so correctly cannot be understated.
Start by using either a cigar lighter (characterized by a powerful flame or flames capable of providing an even and timely light) or wooden cigar matches (which're unique from traditional matches in that their wood build allows for plenty of time to light up) around an inch or so from your smoke. Hold the flame source steadily with one hand and either rotate it or the cigar itself around to maximize flame exposure, puffing semi-frequently as you do so. Be sure to light not only the center of your cigar, but also, its edges (which actually play a considerable role in the burning process).
Plenty of smokers have found through experience that traditional lighters, small matches, and other flames simply aren't well-suited for lighting cigars, and because of their brave adventuring and this excellent guide, you won't ever struggle to light a cigar or come across a stogie that tastes like lighter fluid!
And to save you even more time, hassle, and frustration, here're some additional useful tips:
Wooden matches are all but sure to prematurely extinguish outdoors, as even a mild breeze can immediately put them out. You should accordingly only use the (somewhat expensive) matches while you're indoors. Furthermore, wooden matches take a bit longer to catch than normal matches, and to assure that each match does catch, you must tilt it downwards directly after striking it, and also, wait until the flame visibly progresses down the wood. Otherwise, the light will go out in a matter of seconds.
You'll find through experience that cigar smoking is about the only hobby in the world wherein unexpected fire isn't a bad thing! The lighting end of a stogie commonly adopts a small (but immediately worrying) flame during the burn-initiating process, and this typically surprises new smokers. Don't panic if your cigar catches fire, but instead, gently blow the unwanted flame out. Your smoke will be saved and you'll look pretty darn cool!
You've done it—you've reached the end of this (nearly perfect) guide to cigar smoking for beginners. Congratulations, and welcome to the wonderful world of cigars! Whether you plan to be a casual smoker or a regular, there's a fantastic chance that your favorite cigar will become more than a hobby, but rather, will become a thought-provoking and engaging experience that perfectly complements life's happiest and most magnificent moments, from witnessing magical events to relaxing in gorgeous environments and everything in between.
[1] http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/Our-Presidents-and-Cigars_6103
Let’s talk about the dark: the expectant quiet of midnight, the thick black swirl of espresso, the sheen of fresh-roasted coffee beans, the dark dissolve of chocolate. Heavy against the tips of your fingers is a smooth stick, The Edge, by Rocky Patel. Grey twists of smoke stretch and curl lazily in the air as you surrender to the serenity of the evening. Does life get any better than this?
Luxuriantly oily and smooth as a raven’s beak, the glossy wrapper of The Edge catches your eye almost at once. Both the robust red Cuban-seed Corojo and the dark-cocoa Maduro are full-bodied, hearty smokes. Made with aged Nicaraguan and Honduran Ligero, The Edge's filler is a proprietary blend carefully guarded by Rocky Patel himself. At six inches of solidly-packed tobacco, The Edge has a satisfyingly muscular feel that promises a powerhouse experience and doesn’t disappoint. Above all, Rocky Patel prides himself on consistency -- the assurance of enjoying a high-quality stick every single time since 2004.
The hand-rolled Cuban-seed Corojo begins with the spicy tang of freshly-ground black pepper that gradually mellows into woodsy cedar and French roast, while the smoother, slightly sweeter Maduro with its dark wrapper starts with deep gourmet chocolate before maturing into earth and warm spice. With no lingering bitterness, both flavors of The Edge peak in intensity before smoothing out in the last third to a full, smooth finish. It’s easy to imagine savoring this stick between shots of espresso thick with crema, swirls of smoke intermingling with coffee steam.
Not for the novice smoker, as the package for The Edge is happy to tell you, this stick will leave you weak in the knees and pleasantly adrift. As one reviewer put it, “You won’t want to get up and mow the lawn afterward.” This is true -- plan on a relaxing evening enjoying the nighttime. For $30-35 for a pack of five, the slow-burning Edge makes the experience worth your while. Either the Corojo or the Maduro would make a great gift for a cigar connoisseur who prefers a classic flavor. While this cigar is not for everyone, it’s worth waiting for.
Cigar prices will vary across different retailers. Below are some of our favorite online stores that have competitive pricing...
Whether you’re a cigar aficionado or you’ve just started smoking stogies, it’s always exciting when you get a new humidor.
Just make sure that in your excitement, you don’t put your cigars in right away. Before you use the humidor, you need to season it. You should also do this with old humidors that you haven’t used lately.
Why do you need to season a humidor? The wood in your humidor helps maintain a humid atmosphere inside and keep your cigars fresh. But it can only do that if you season it first. Otherwise, the dry wood is going to take the moisture from your cigars, causing them to dry out and ruining their taste. You definitely don’t want to get a beautiful new humidor only to have it ruin your favorite cigars.
Now, when it comes to seasoning a humidor, there are different schools of thought in certain areas. This guide will let you know which areas are debated so you can make your own call. Of course, it’s always a good idea to go with the manufacturer’s instructions when in doubt.
Before you get started with seasoning your humidor, there’s one other step you should take first.
Your hygrometer measures the humidity in your humidor, which means you need to make sure it’s giving you accurate readings. To check it, get either a shot glass or a plastic bottlecap and fill it with about a teaspoon of salt. Add a few drops of water – you want enough to make the water damp, but not so much that the water dissolves. 
Put this mixture in a sealable plastic bag with the hygrometer. Seal the bag up, but leave a bit of air inside.
Look through the bag after about six to eight hours to see what the hygrometer reads. The mixture of salt and water will give the atmosphere inside the bag a humidity level of 75 percent. If your hygrometer reads any differently, adjust it to 75 percent so it’s accurate.
This first step is optional. It will make the process a bit faster, but you need to be careful to avoid damaging your humidor.
Get either a cloth or a sponge and soak it with distilled water. It’s important to use distilled water and not tap water. Tap water has minerals in it, and these can leave deposits in your humidor and the humidification device. Wring the cloth or sponge out if it gets too wet. You also want to use a new cloth or sponge that hasn’t had any soap or dirt on it, which can also cause damage to the humidor.
Use the cloth or sponge to gently wipe down the entire interior of the humidor. The goal is to dampen the inside of the humidor without getting it too wet. Excess water can damage the wood.
If you don’t want to bother with this, you can skip to the next step. You’ll still be able to season your humidor correctly, it will just take longer to reach the proper humidity.
Your humidor likely came with a humidification device, which is what keeps it at the proper humidity. You need to soak it with an activating solution (typically a solution with propylene glycol) or distilled water.
After you soak the humidification device, wipe it off and place it on a towel for at least a few minutes. This ensures that it doesn’t drip any liquid inside your humidor.
Remember to check the instructions that came with the humidification device, as certain devices will come pre-filled and not require any activating solution or distilled water.
Most humidors will come with a green foam humidification device. Although these work, they often don’t quite hit optimal humidity and you need to refill them often. Consider upgrading your humidification device for better results. Gel humidification devices tend to work very well and are inexpensive.
After your humidification device is ready, put it inside the humidor.
“Seasoning agent” may sound fancy, but it’s really just a water source that can help get your humidor to the correct humidity level. The most popular options are a sponge that has been soaked with water or a small glass of water (again, using only distilled water).
Whichever option you choose, it’s important that water doesn’t leak onto the wood. If you go with a sponge, you’ll want to make sure it’s damp, not soaking wet, and put it on top of plastic wrap. If you go with a cup of water, just make sure that your humidor is in a safe place where there’s no risk of an impact knocking over the water cup inside.
After you have the seasoning agent and the humidification device in your humidor, you can close it up and begin the waiting process.
The optimal humidity for a humidor is at about 70 percent, but anywhere in the 65 to 73 percent range will keep your cigars in good shape.
With the humidification device providing moisture, it will gradually raise the humidity level in your humidor. How long this process takes will depend on several factors, chief among them the climate. If you live in a dry area, it will take longer for the humidity to increase and you may even want to use more than one humidification device.
You can take the seasoning agent out of your humidor after the first 24 to 48 hours. If you want, you can also wipe the inside of the humidor down again, but this isn’t necessary.
After you remove the seasoning agent, keep your humidor cigar-free for another 24 hours. As long as the humidity is in that acceptable range after that, go ahead and add your cigars.
Your humidor should stay at a stable humidity. If you notice the humidity dropping, the most likely reason is that you need to recharge your humidification device. Simply take it out, use either distilled water or activating solution, let it dry, and then put it back in the humidor.
There are a couple other reasons that you could notice the humidity dropping:
One common issue is that you’ve blocked the humidification device with your cigars. Move the cigars out of the way and this won’t be a problem.
Less common is an issue with your humidor’s seal. With a quality humidor, this is unlikely, but you should still check. Open your humidor, place a dollar bill where it opens, and close the humidor. Gently tug the dollar bill. If it doesn’t move, that indicates a tight seal.
Although any humidor will require a bit of setup, once you’ve done that properly, you’ll have the peace of mind that any cigars you put in there will keep their flavor. Check your humidor from time to time, recharge the humidification device when you need to and enjoy your cigars!
Unless you have smoked a few before, lighting up a cigar can be a somewhat perplexing activity. You should begin by choosing a top-notch quality cigar. Cigars can be up to an inch thick, and a smaller one should be chosen by new smokers. You should enjoy the scent of the cigar you buy, because if you find the scent appalling, then you will likely not enjoy the experience. Once you have successfully chosen a cigar, one that has no soft spots when felt, there are still a few things you need to think about. There are certain things that all cigar smokers tend to do, and you do not want to be the one caught not knowing what you are doing. The following are all the things you need to know about lighting up a cigar for the first time.
Before you light your cigar up, you want to clip off the end of the cigar. The finest way to cut off the end is with a purpose-built cigar clipper. Using a knife to cut a cigar is only suitable if you do not have a cigar clipper on hand. Biting off the end of a cigar like in an old movie ought to be avoided if at all possible. For the best smoking outcomes, you should slice off the end with a swift, solid gesture to avoid ripping the cigar.
You have got a lot of options, but a torch lighter is considered the greatest choice for lighting the tip of the cigar. Wooden matches will also work, but they are hard to keep lit for the long periods of time that is necessary. The matches have to remain lit for a while to let the sulfur burn off before the cigar can be lit, which makes them an unfortunate choice for novices. On the other hand, normal cigarette lighters will light a cigar, but had better be evaded if possible. Many connoisseurs claim that the naphtha lighter fluid used chemicals that can disturb the taste of the cigar. You should never use random flames from things such as candles, paper matches or a stove to light a cigar otherwise the essence can be affected. 
Once you have an ideal flame, you can initiate lighting the cigar by holding it at a 45-degree angle above the blaze. Keep the blaze around three inches from the tip of the cigar and keep the cigar spinning and slowly puff on the cigar while waiting for the base to catch fire. Never let the direct flame touch the cigar. Keeping the fire a few inches away will bind the outer layers of the tobacco and hold the cigar together. If you touch the flame to the cigar, only the filler will catch fire, and the cigar will burn irregularly. The outer wrapper with become ashen and white when it has been properly toasted.
After the initial light, take a look at the tip to make sure the cigar is burning evenly. Lightly puffing on the foot will warrant an ample lighting. Once the cigar has started burning, let it simmer for a bit. This small suspension will permit the newly ignited cigar to even out.
Next, is the time to light the filler. Using a longer wooden match will generate a bigger flame range so that you can ignite the total filler steadily. Holding the match about a half an inch from the cigar, with it between your lips rotating it as you suck in air. A gush of a blaze ought to sprout out from the end of the cigar, and a cloud of smoke should leave your mouth when the cigar is successfully lit.
Most of the first-class handmade cigars that are more pricey will hold a very long ash before falling off. The higher quality cigars will have a whiter, less gray ash as well. The ash of a cigar should never be tapped off like with a cigarette. Bigger ash is a sign of a well-made cigar, but it should not be left too long. A lot of ash on the tip of a cigar can delay the airflow and make it burn unevenly or disturb the taste. It is suggested that you should not let the get any longer than an inch before you ash it by gently rolling it on the ashtray while waiting for it to break off.
Sometimes cigars begin to burn unevenly or get a run that is burning faster than the rest (this is called "cigar canoeing" or "running"). One way to fix this irregular fire is to rotate the cigar where the part that is burning too slow is on the bottom. Since fire needs oxygen to burn, the bottom of the cigar burns more quickly. This method should even out the cigar's flame. Another, method to solve the irregular burning is to apply moisture to the wrapper where the fire needs to slow down. Be sure not to touch the tip that is on fire, only touch the wrapper to keep from being burned. A final way to solve the problem is to burn off the uneven section. Roasting the end of the cigar with a flame will cause the end of the cigar that is too long to fall off. Just be careful not to be burned by the falling ash.
Getting rid of a cigar's label is left up to personal preference. If you want to remove it, an excellent tip it to leave it on for a few minutes first. The high temperature of the cigar will relax the paste, and it is less probable for damage to be done to the cigar's wrap.
Relighting cigars is an important thing to know because by nature they will go out if not puffed on every few minutes. Some people believe that you can save an incompletely smoked cigar for more than 24 hours; however, it is best to dodge relighting a cigar that has not been smoked in more than two hours. Relighting a fresh cigar is not a problem. When reviving a cigar, hold the flame in front of the tip and puff outward to assist in ejecting any long-standing vapors or ash that may have become surrounded in the cigar. After that step, you can follow the same typical lighting actions as when igniting a cigar for the first time. To put out a cigar, lay in on an ashtray and let it go out naturally.
Lighting your first cigar can be a daunting task if you are uninformed. After selecting a superior quality cigar, that does not flake or have any other flaws; you should cut off the tip. A cigar clipper is suggested, but a knife can be used to cut a cigar. Never bite off the tip of a cigar because the cigar will rip. Choosing what to ignite the cigar with is very important for preserving the flavor. A long wooden match or butane lighter is suggested for conserving the best essence of a cigar. Lighting the outer layers of the cigar first will hold it together so that the filler can then be lit. Once you learn how to light your cigar properly, you can really relax and enjoy the hobby.
Films, television shows, and other media forms commonly depict cigars as always-ready, spur-of-the-moment impulses that are enjoyed in an instant. Like many other subjects and topics, popular culture seems to have overly simplified and completely misunderstood stogies, including their composition, crafting process, aging benefits, and need for humidification.
Rather than being quickly made and enjoyed indulgences, cigars are slowly and steadily formed in a process that can take the better part of a decade. Tobacco must be grown in ideal conditions before being dried and seasoned, cigar wrappers must be similarly grown and cultivated, binders must be considered, the health and moisture levels of the plants must be monitored, and many other factors must be accounted for, by industry professionals. The larger point to take away is that cigars endure a long and impressive journey from conception to smoking.
More than being very, very awesome, this means that cigar smokers need to do their part in assuring the quality of their smokes by purchasing and using a well-suited humidor. As you probably know, humidors are like houses for cigars; cigars can be carefully stored inside these tight, well-built, and moist containers for years upon years. And more than maintaining their quality as opposed to becoming dry, cigars stored in humidors will actually season and improve in terms of taste and burn. It's accordingly not uncommon for some experienced smokers to store their stogies in a humidor for multiple years!
Popular culture has it wrong—smokers don't just pick cigars up out of a box or off the ground before lighting up. They attentively store and age them inside humidors, thereby maximizing their quality and providing them with valuable time to improve. Then, they precisely search the contents of their humidors to find the perfect cigar for a particular mood, setting, and time of day. This process might require more time than simply starting a scene with a smoke, but it's a lot more enjoyable too.
To help you get the most out of your cigars and benefit from a stress-free purchasing experience, here's some information on the different kinds of humidors, the perks and drawbacks of each humidor type, and considerations of each stogie storage unit.
Like cigars themselves, humidors are diverse and intricate, and every type of smoker will be able to find a suitable model.
Jar humidors are small, compact, clear, inexpensive, and to-the-point cylindrical containers—perfect for cigar smokers who don't have many smokes on-hand at once, who don't want to spend a lot of money on storage, and who don't want their storage unit to occupy much space.
Jar humidors are air-tight and easy to keep moist, and as was said, they don't require much room to store or money to buy. On the other side of the coin, they cannot hold very many cigars at once and are prone to accidental breaks, just as dishes and glasses are.
As is suggested by the name, tabletop humidors are those that're small enough to be placed on tables and desks. These humidors are ideal for smokers who will only be storing a box or so of cigars, those who have limited space for their stogies, and those who're seeking an often unexplored way to look cooler than their coworkers.
Tabletop humidors are once again small and compact, and they can also be purchased for very, very affordable prices. However, if there's any chance that you'll receive or need to store more cigars, the humidor type's limited size can actually become a liability. Finally, some tabletop humidors don't come equipped with built-in hygrometers, or the tools used to measure the humidity of humidors and assure that they're well-suited for cigars. In these instances, you'll need to purchase a standalone digital hygrometer.
Bar and countertop humidors are large, vertical-rising units that are perfect if you have a medium-sized number of cigars to store, an entertainment area to spruce up, and a fair amount of free space. And as you've likely gathered, this type of humidor is generally designed for placement on a counter or bar, as its front door opens perfectly from this angle (relative to one's height, that is).
While bar and countertop humidors can hold more cigars than desktop units, they don't boast the largest capacity of stogie storage units by any means. However, they look excellent and can be purchased for "middle-ground" prices.
Cabinet humidors are massive, all-encompassing cigar containers typically owned only by the most serious and avid smokers. These colossal cigar havens can easily store hundreds if not thousands of smokes, and your biggest use challenge may in fact be remembering where you placed a cigar! As you'd expect based upon the humidor type's convenience and size, cabinet units cost quite a bit to buy.
Often very large in capacity and not overly imposing in terms of size, chest humidors are perfect for smokers without the space for a cabinet, as well as smokers with a ton of cigars to store! You'll be impressed with how easily entire boxes fit inside chest humidors, and the biggest potential drawback to the model is that crowded units can take some time to sift through, to find the desired cigar. Furthermore, chests often cost more to buy than every other humidor type besides the cabinet. It should also be noted that cold floors—perhaps in the basement during the winter—can throw-off the humidity and temperature of chest humidors, as they obviously rest on the ground. In serious instances this can lead to damaged cigars.
A hybrid between the refrigerator and the humidor, coolidors are electronic cigar storage units that allow users to control both the humidity and the temperature stogies are stored in with the simple press of a button. These units typically boast large capacities and are normally shaped like the bar and countertop humidors—although they may be too heavy to place on some surfaces. The ability to once again control both the temperature and humidity of the humidor is a big selling point.
However, the coolidor does use a fair amount of electricity, can make some noise as it operates, and costs quite a bit to purchase.
Hopefully this guide helped you to better understand the different types of humidors and to also select a unit that suits your situation and needs. Thanks for reading, and remember that a quality smoking experience starts with a quality storage experience!
Finally, after a tremendous amount of anticipation and quite a bit of stress, it's time to smoke what could very well be your favorite cigar to date. You researched the cigar's taste and flavor profile, checked reviews from industry professionals and fellow smokers, placed an online order or visited a local shop, and maybe even let the carefully crafted stogie rest in your humidor for a while—just to make sure it's fully seasoned and in peak smoking form.
And then it happens. Instead of being treated to an excellent once in a lifetime smoke, you're forced to suffer through a horrible once in a lifetime smoke. The reason for the trouble? You didn't properly cut the cigar.
Maybe you cut too far down the stogie, or perhaps you used a style of cutter that doesn't work particularly well for the cigar at-hand. You might have even tried to cut and smoke the incorrect end of the cigar (seriously, this does happen)!
Whatever the case, the point is that low-quality cigar cuts result in low-quality smoking experiences wrought with required relights, incomplete taste profiles, and stiff draws. Even worse, you risk the entire wrapper coming unraveled, ruining the cigar entirely.
In many ways, the fashion in which individuals cut their stogies affects the quality of the smoking experience just as much as the actual cigar does.
That's where this all-encompassing, comprehensive guide comes in. Here, the proper way to cut a cigar, the different ways a cigar can be cut, the pros and cons of each of these methods, and some useful hints and tips that can only otherwise be picked up on from some embarrassing smoking errors will be relayed in to-the-point fashion.
Read on to learn general cigar cutting tips, each of the ways to cut a cigar, and the benefits and drawbacks of these methods.
Regardless of what type of cutter you're using to pierce a cigar, some fundamental and universal laws of cutting exist and should be adhered to. These stogie-slicing laws are sure to come in handy both when you're chopping a cigar and when you're helping others do so:
1. Don't cut below the cap; try to cut only a couple millimeters from the end of the cigar. First and foremost, it must be emphasized that cutting below the cap—or the mouthpiece end of the cigar that is clearly noted by a line in the wrapper—is a huge, must-avoid mistake.
More than looking rather poor and causing you to miss out on valuable tobacco and smoking time, cutting a stogie too far below the cap can result in the outer wrapper coming undone, thereby inhibiting the overall light and smoking experience. If you cut below the cap and you're lucky enough not to have the entire cigar come unraveled, keeping it lit will still be a frustrating and annoying challenge.Instead, be sure to cut just below—say one to three millimeters—the cap. You should be able to see packed tobacco as opposed to just the inner cap composition.
Additionally, you can dry puff an unlit cigar to see if air moves through it—if you're able to draw air the cigar is properly cut. New smokers will probably have trouble telling whether an unlit stogie allows air to travel through it, but as a little bit of practice and time will make the skill second nature, it's worth starting now.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]2. Don't be timid - cut with authority. Some cigar aficionados claim the best way to slice a stogie is the same way you cut a piece of fruit: definitively and with one smooth motion. We would have to agree with that.
However, be sure to take your time in getting your cut right. Slicing a minor portion of the cap and then, if you need to, taking a bit more off is far better than taking too much off. As any barber will tell you, precise and gradual cutting efforts maximize the chances of success. This same principle holds true for cigars just as it does for hair.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]3. Don't run with scissors (or cigar cutters). Finally, it's strongly recommended that anyone looking to enjoy a cigar cut it in a way that encourages a quality smoking experience. Furthermore, just as you wouldn't run with scissors for personal safety reasons, you shouldn't run with cigar cutters for stogie safety reasons—nor should you move too much while cutting a cigar or do so in an environment prone to vibrations and moving.
This means that moving cars, lawn mowers, horses, mechanical bulls, and just about anything else that rocks back and forth are not great platforms for cigars to be cut upon. Instead, find flat, comfortable furniture—perhaps a table and chair—and focus on the cutting task at-hand.
This might seem overly obvious and unnecessary, but too many cigars have been lost to sloppy cuts from behind the steering wheel for the tip to not be mentioned. A few extra seconds cutting in a suitable area will save you a lot of time and hassle later.
There're quite a few different ways to cut cigars, each with several positives and drawbacks. The following information will help you to choose a cigar cutter that's best for your needs and to use this cigar cutter like a pro.
Single-blade guillotine cigar cutters feature a single blade and easy-grip handles. These cutters are simple and convenient to use, affordable to purchase, and perfect for storing while on the go. Especially because of their low cost, they're well-suited for beginners.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Using the single-blade guillotine cigar cutter is a breeze. Just place a stick in the allotted circle, gently and slowly push the handles together, and watch as a tremendous cut is made. Be sure not to take too much of the cigar off.
Single-blade guillotines are once again easy to transport, cheap to buy, and simple to use.
On the other hand, single-blade guillotine cutters can also create rather underwhelming cuts (due to the inherent limitations of a single blade), some larger-gauge cigars won't properly fit inside them, and it's rather easy to overcut, taking too much of a cigar off and putting a huge damper on a smoke in the process.
Essentially the same as the single-blade guillotine plus a useful second blade, double-blade cutters make clean slices and require a bit less force to operate than single blades. However, they typically cost more to purchase.
Just as with single-blade cutters, double-blade cutters are operated by placing a cigar between the blades, gently applying pressure, and slicing the desired portion of a stogie.
Double-blade cutters are smooth, make clear cuts, and can be operated without hassle.
Like single-blade guillotines, double-blade cutters are high stakes cigar piercers in that they can unravel an entire stogie in a second if they're used too far down its body—and cutting too low with the double blade is far from difficult. Additionally, large-gauge cigars won't fit between the blades. Finally, double-blade cutters generally cost more than other types of cutters.
Used simply by pushing the cap end of a cigar towards the cutter and moving this cutter's blades together, the v-cutter is a useful stogie slicing option for smokers to consider. 
As was said, using a v-cutter is effortless. Spread the cutter's blades, push your cigar towards the cutter (so the blades pierce the appropriate section), and slowly bring the cutter's handles together to chop your smoke.
V-Cutters are affordable and easy to use. Plus, v-cutters present a smaller risk of unraveling cigars than single and double-blade guillotine cutters because, stylistically, they don't come close to passing the cap.
With that said, v-cutters do have some drawbacks. First, they are very difficult to use on petite cigars, as their blades will encompass the majority of a smaller smoke's mouth end. Next, v-cutters do sometimes get caught in the ends of cigars that're being cut—especially if their blades are dull. This can potentially damage a stogie. Finally, v-cutters might not make a large enough incision for wider-gauge cigars to burn comfortably; making multiple v-cuts may damage a cigar.
Perhaps the most stress-free cigar cutter available, the punch is perfect for smokers on the go, which is probably why so many of them come equipped with a keychain ring.
As was stated, using a punch cigar cutter is a no-brainer; you'll find its ease of use is especially awesome when you're smoking away from home and when you're smoking medium-sized cigars, which are perfectly suited for punch cuts.
Just place the punch's metal edge in the center of a cigar's cap, gently apply force and pressure while ever so slightly twisting the cutter, and continue doing so until the punch has fully (or mostly) "punched" through the cigar. Slowly twist the punch out and then use the included "cleaner" to remove the tobacco from the cutter's inside. You should be left with a perfectly circular hole in the back of your cigar.
Messing up a punch cut is a challenge, and the cutter is ideal for travel and on-the-road smoking. What's more is that it can typically be purchased for next to nothing online and in smoke shops.
It's been said that 500 punch cutters are misplaced every hour. That might be an overstatement, but the tools are susceptible to drops, set-downs, and being wedged between couch cushions. What's more is that punch cutters may not work very well on large-gauge cigars, and multiple punches could accordingly be required for these bigger stogies; this is both inconvenient and annoying.
Some smokers prefer ultra-sharp, medical-grade scissors for cutting their cigars. Other smokers yet are entirely uninterested in the cutting style, and like many things in life, the truth of the matter's merit can probably be found somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.
Just as you would with the guillotines, place a small portion of a cigar between the blades, gently bring the handles together, and complete the cut. You can also place a cigar on a table's edge and hold it with one hand while using the other hand to perform the cut; this improves the stability and precision of the chop.
Scissors can be used to cut cigars of any size and shape, and also, they look pretty cool when used by an expert.
Scissors are tough to accurately cut cigars with, their blades will need to be sharpened semi-often, they're not portable or designed for use outside the home, and finally, they can quickly surpass a cigar's cap, much like guillotine cutters can.
This guide is sure to help smokers like you—whether you're completely new to the experience or a well-versed aficionado—choose a cutter that's perfect for your situation and needs. Thanks for reading, and remember that a good smoke starts with a good cut!
Even on the low end, purchasing cigars can cost you a bit of coin. The last thing you want is for your investment to go to waste. Choosing the best humidor for your needs is something to consider carefully.
Humidors keep your cigars from drying out and going stale. And although there are lots of varieties at all price ranges, you need to consider a few things before making your selection.
Humidors under $50 are good for keeping on your desk, in your office, or closet. They generally hold under 25 cigars at a time and can be made of real wood or synthetic wood. We generally recommend using a real wood (typically Spanish cedar) because the humidity level is easier to control and maintain.
Keep in mind that most of these less expensive humidors don’t come seasoned or with a hygrometer. (To learn how to properly season your humidor, please see our guide, “How to Season Your Cigar”)
Cigars are generally rated in strength from mild (sometimes called mellow) to full-bodied, depending upon the type and quantity of tobacco used in the process of making it. You essentially have 5 levels to choose from:
As a beginner cigar smoker, you’re going to want to stick to a mild or mild/medium bodied stick until you get accustomed to the nicotine levels. Smoking a full-bodied (or even medium-bodied) cigar when you’ve just started can make you light-headed, dizzy, and even nauseated.
Just remember to build up your tolerance over time and stick with mild or mild/mediums for the first few months of smoking. When you do decide to make the jump choose a smaller cigar at the next level, such as a petit corona or a smaller-sized robusto.
For our tastes, we have selected 10 mild-bodied cigars that are perfect for the beginner cigar smoker…
Tell anyone that you’re smoking a Macanudo and they’ll immediately think you’re a pro. I mean, there’s good evidence that mob boss Tony Soprano smoked Macanudos on occasion, so your manhood will never be in question with this top shelf brand. 
Just because it’s a mild cigar, don't let it fool you. This baby is packed with flavor. Whether you’re enjoying it with your morning coffee, smoking it on the back 9 of your favorite golf course, or in the early evening with group of buddies, this cigar will really hit the spot.
Smokers across the board point to the price value this cigar offers. With a perfect blend of vintage tobaccos from both the Dominican Republic and Honduras, this cigar has a smooth and creamy flavor with a great punch of flavor. 
The light brown, Connecticut wrapper has beautiful color and great draw while burning evenly. There have been issues with the draw on the bigger sticks, so you may want to try the smaller sizes for best results (like the Robusto here).
As far as tobacco companies go, Alec Bradley is a relative newcomer to the market, having been established in 1996. After a little bit of a rocky start and trying to carve out a spot for themselves in a crowded market, Alec Bradley has released a series of cigars that have been a hit among new smokers and veterans alike.
The American Classic cigar is a mild/medium blend, but leans more mild than medium which makes it a great smoke for a beginner. With a smooth and creamy taste this cigar belongs in every new smoker’s humidor.
When you’re ready to step up your game a bit and venture into bolder flavors and a little bit of a spicier taste then the Davidoff Nicaragua Series deserves a spot in your humidor. The dark Nicaraguan binder made of Habano-seed Rosado leaf is sure to please the eye as well as the palate.
These are a little on the pricier side, so save them for that special occasion for maximum enjoyment.
Chances are, even when you were a non-cigar smoker, you had heard of the Montecristo. It is probably the most famous non-cuban cigar on the market. The No. 2 in particular is not only smooth and creamy, but has a great nutty flavor with hints of coffee throughout the smoke.
Even though it is a mild smoke, the flavors are full and complex and sure to please you.
One warm summer night several years ago a buddy of mine had invited me to his cabin for a boys weekend. When cigars were distributed he knew I was a new smoker and tossed me an Isla del Sol by Drew Estate.
I immediately took to this cigar from the first sweetened draw. The sun-blessed Sumatran wrapper houses a unique and flavorful blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos. Even though I have moved on to stronger bodied cigars I will return to the Isla del Sol for the nostalgia and the even-bodied smoke it offers. Give it a try.
With a light, rich taste the Oliva Connecticut Reserve is a great addition in an already great line of Oliva cigars. Hints of cedar and butter round this baby out and leave you with a great aftertaste.
Always constructed well and highly consistent, you can’t go wrong with the Oliva Connecticut Reserve.
Copyright © 2020 – 2024 CigarS and Whiskey Life. All Rights Reserved
