When you look at a Cuban cigar, what is the first thing that you judge it on? If you are like most people. you would say the outside part or the ‘look’ of the cigar. In Cuban cigar terms, what you are really referring to is the construction of the cigar or to be even more exact, you are referring to the ‘wrapper’ of the cigar.

The job of a wrapper is to hold the Cuban cigar leaves inside it nice and tight so you can get the most perfect draw. A wrapper is what holds your Cuban cigar together. If you get a Cuban cigar and the wrapper on it isn’t intact? Than put that cigar away and simply pick another one. Just by looking or observing the wrapper of your cigar, you can actually tell a lot about it.

The wrapper should never be too dry or too brittle, neither too hard or too soft. Also your Cuban cigar wrapper should have a slight oiliness to it’s surface. A good way to check is to simply hold your Cuban cigar sideways and roll it around in your hands. Your Cuban cigar should be firm throughout and not leaning towards extreme hardness or softness in any areas. While your are examining your Cuban cigar, avoid the ones with really big veins in them. Large veins usually mean that your Cuban cigar wasn’t stored properly.

Also make sure your cigar doesn’t have any holes in them. If they do, chances are your cigars have ‘cigar bugs’ in them. This is the worst of all possible scenarios. Cigar bugs can leave tiny eggs within the cigar (Filler) that can actually survive the whole cigar making and fermentation process. Than they will appear once the conditions are right - that is when you place your Cuban cigars in your personal humidor - YIKES!

They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, but please judge your cigars by the way it looks - all the time.

Ever wondered what those fancy terms the Cuban cigars smokers drop in their conversations? Well don’t be left out and get your Cuban Cigar vocabulary on par!

Anilla: The label or ‘band’ around a cigar. Anilla is the ‘Cuban’ version.

Aporque: The process of making the roots stronger of a Cuban tobacco plant.

Bonche: They cylinder shaped group of leaves that are formed when the Cuban cigar wrapper is filled with the last remaining leaves.

Boquilla: The other end of the cigar also referred to as the ‘foot’ of the cigar.

Capa: Their are certain layers used to wrap a Cuban cigar. This refers to the outer leaf.

Capote: Leaf used to ‘bind’ all the initial tobacco. The ‘binder’ leaf used in this process comes from the largest and is of the highest quality Volado leaves.

Casa de Tabaco: Another word for ‘House of Tobacco’ or where the cigar leaves are prepared.

Casquillo: The small part used to ‘cap’ the Cuban cigar - this cap is cut before lighting the cigar.

Catadores: These guys have the best job or what! Catadores are official ‘testers’ of the Cuban cigars and get to try different cigars daily.

Cedros: Another wrapper used to wrap cigars in and also used to divide them once the cigars are placed in a box.

Cepo: Every cigar has to be perfect, this is the template used to check the ring size, length and guage of the cigar.

Chaveta: Blade used by cigar assembles (Torcedores) that is semi-circular in shape.

Claro: Refers to the light brown wrapper on a finished cigar.

Colorado: Refers to the dark brown wrapper on a finished cigar.

Colorado Claro: Refers to the mid brown wrapper used on a finished cigar.

Colorado Maduro: Refers to the darker brown wrapper used on a finished cigar. Same wrapper used on most Cohiba cigars.

Cuje: After the cigar leaves are sewn in pairs, they are hung on this metal pole.

Curacion: Cuban for ‘curing’ or the drying process the Cuban tobacco goes through.

Desbotonar: The process of removing the top ‘tobacco bud’ which promotes the growth of further leaves.

Deshije: Removing the remaining extra ’shoots’ after the ‘Desbotonar’ process.

Despalillo: Before the leaves of the Cuban tobacco leaf are ready to be rolled into a fine Cuban cigar, they are transferred to this ‘Stripping House’. The first fermentation occurs here.

Despalilladoras: Women who work at the Despalillo.

Escaparate: Cigars go through a rigorous process and have to be stored at a certain temperature. Usually at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius and at 65 to 70 percent humidity. This is the conditioning room where they are stored.

Escogida: Home of the second fermentation for Cuban tobacco leaves, also a place where the wrappers, fillers and binders are sorted out.

Figurado: Refers to the ‘irregular’ end of some custom and limited cigars. ‘Double Figurado’ means irregular shape on both ends.

Fortalez: Strength of power of the cigar. Usually applies to the taste.

Galera: Or ‘Galley’, refers to the place where the cigars are hand made.

Gavilla: Cuban tobacco leaves that are already graded.

Goma: The vegetable based liquid used to close the edge of the wrapper so your cigar stays intact.

Habanos: Also knowns as ‘Havanas’ represents the place in Cuba where the finest cigars in the world are made.

Habanos S.A: The only company in the world that produces real Cuban cigars. The Vancouver Cigar Company is authorized by Habanos S.A.

Habilitaciones: The ‘Cigar Box’ is an art piece in its own right, these are the decorations that go on the box.

Hecho en Cuba: It basically means ‘Made in Cuba’.

Ligador: The master of cigar rolling in a cigar factory.

Ligero: The darkest and riches flavored leaves on the top of the Cuban tobacco plant.

Maduro: Dark cigar wrapper.

Mecanizado: Means ‘machine made’.

Media Rueda: 50 cigars tied up together - also known as half wheel.

Moja: The art of ‘moistening’ tobacco leaves.

Pacas: Bales in which tobacco leaves are ‘aged’.

Parejo: Straight parallel sided cigars.

Pertilla: Head of the cigar.

Seco: Medium flavored leaf that creates the beautiful ‘Cuban Cigar’ aroma.

Tabaco: Spanish for ‘Tobacco’ and also means ‘Cigar’ in Cuban.

Tabaco Negro Cubano: The tobacco plant that was disocovered by Christopher Columbus. Also known as ‘Black Cuban Tobacco’.

Tabacuba: The corporation that manges the agriculture aspect of Cuban Cigars.

Tabla: Wooden boards on which cigars are made.

Tapado: Tobacco (Used for wrappers) grown under sheets of cloth.

Tercio: The material Bales are made from.

Tiempos: Different type of Fortalezas.

Torcedor(a): Official name for a cigar roller.

Totalmente a mano: Means ‘all by hand’. Something the Cuban cigars are known for.

Tripa: The blend of two or three type of different Cuban tobacco leaf that create the overall flavor.

Tripa Corta: When instead of the whole leaf, chopped leaves are used.

Tripa Larga: Filler made from whole Cuban tobacco leaves.

Vegas Fina de Primera: Individual and registered fields in Cuba restricted for Habanos leaves only.

Vitola: Refers to the size and shape of a cigar. In English its closest to the word ’structure’.

Volado: Light flavored leaves that help the Cuban cigar burn.

Yagua: Cuba’s national tree that is also used to make bales to age Cuban tobacco in.

Zafado: Loosening of Cuban tobacco after they are taken out of bails.

Many cigar smokers really pride themselves on their knowledge about the pastime. Many of them may be quite knowledgeable but they are still aspiring to reach the rank of cigar aficionado. In fact, this is a title which many individuals bestow upon themselves, even if they don’t necessarily deserve it. In order to officially become one, however, you need to experience a lot of different things. It is about a lot more than simply smoking a variety of different Cuban cigars. Let’s take a look at what exactly will make a person fits into this elusive mold.

One of the most important parts about becoming a cigar aficionado is the fact that you will have experience in a wide variety of different cigars. This goes far beyond simply smoking a cigar on the weekend or purchasing expensive cigars in order to enjoy them with friends. You actually have to experience the cigar and get to know them almost on a personal basis. You should easily be able to identify a different cigar, simply by the way that it feels, looks and tastes. You would be surprised with the subtle differences that can be recognized when you actually get a taste for these fine smoking delicacies.

Although smoking a variety of different Cuban cigars is a very important part in this process, it is not the only thing that should be taken into consideration. A real cigar aficionado will know exactly the right time and under what circumstances to enjoy a cigar.

Just as a wine enthusiast will know the perfect wine to go with a meal, a cigar enthusiast will also know a variety of different situations and which cigar will fit in best with those. Their taste will not only be limited to cigars, they may also enjoy a great cup of coffee or perhaps a snifter of brandy to go along with a particular brand of cigar.

If you are aspiring to be a cigar aficionado, make sure that you do not proclaim your title earlier than what it is deserved. Even though you may have smoked a lot of cigars, take the time to truly appreciate them and to recognize the subtle differences. Whenever you truly become a Cuban cigar aficionado, you will know it.

If you own a humidor, you should be aware of something called a hygrometer. Some humidors come with a built in one and if your’s doesn’t have one, it is a highly suggested piece of equipment. The purpose of a hygrometer is to measure the relative humidity in the air. Controlling the level of humidity is vital when storing your Cuban cigars in you humidor.

The recommended humidity level is at 69% to 71%. Anything in between those numbers will keep your Cuban cigars well kept and it is also a very good humidity level for aging your cigars (Cohibas or Bolivar Gold for example).

Other steps you can take if you haven’t added an hygrometer to your humidor is store it in a cool place. Make sure your humidors are always away from the sun as heat can make the tobacco expand enough to damage it permanently. Also water is not a friend of your cigars and even some minor contact can destroy them.

Another tip is keep an eye on your humidor. Weekly checks can really help your humidor running properly and will greatly assist in aging / storing of your Cuban cigars. Every once in a while, feel free to change the position of your cigars and possibly keep some space between each cigar for decent air flow.

Ofcourse a hygrometer is a highly recommended investment and until that day arrives when all humidors come with a built in hygrometer, kindly follow this advice, you won’t regret it.

If you are a real cigar aficionado, you know that protecting your stogies in a humidor is the only way to protect and age them properly. If you don’t have one, they are available in a lot of places and you can find a decent on on the internet too.

Handmade cigars (Like 97% of all Cuban cigars), although constructed with care, can’t stand the fury that nature throws at them, especially extreme temperatures whether hot or cold, or even water damage from over humidification. Any of these conditions can ruin your perfect Cuban cigars.

Humidors not only protect your Cuban cigars, but also help ‘ferment’ the Cuban tobacco within them. Aged cigars are considered more valuable and unique, similar to wine, depending on how they are aged.

Did you know the Cuban tobacco used in Limited Edition Cohiba cigars is actually aged for 2 years before being rolled? Now that is some serious art! Some Cuban cigars have sold in auction at Sotheby’s for upwards of $2000/cigar because of their rarity and aging.

If you are now convinced that you really need a humidor or a second one, let me stop you for just a few more minutes. After all, you don’t want a humidor that you don’t need. Now generally speaking, there are three species of humidors.

You have the portable humidor, the table humidor and the biggest of them all, the room humidor. The portable humidor is what I like to call ‘On the go’ humidor.These humidors are designed for the person who likes to smoke for 45 minutes maximum and than go to the next business meeting.

The unfortunate part is that you can only store about five to fifteen Cohibas at once. If you are more of a laid back person and would rather enjoy a fine Cuban cigar in the comfort of your own home, than you need to get yourself a table or desktop humidor.

Table humidors are well designed, mostly beautiful in the visuals department and you can store up to a few hundred of your favorite Cohibas or any cigars at once. You should never fill a humidor more that 75% full to allow for airflow of the humidity.

The last humidor that I would like to tell you about is the room humidor. A room humidor is exactly what it sounds like - a room that is used to ‘maintain’ cigars. You will only find these in giant or mid-sized cigar shops or in cigar aficionados homes, where they have hired a carpenter to design and build them. Cigars in these giant room sized humidors are very well maintained and because of the airflow, naturally age better than any other humidors.

Now that you know the importance of owning a humidor, if you don’t already have one you should definitely invest in one soon, before irreversibly damaging your favorite stogies. After all, ‘aged’ cigars simply taste better.

The debate has raged on for a very long time over which is the best Cuban cigar. The fact of the matter is, there are so many different and amazing Cuban cigar brands (Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas, etc) for you to choose from that it is impossible to choose just one.

It has a lot to do with your personal taste because every cigar is going to be a little bit different. Even different cigars within the same brand are going to be unique in their own way, especially a high-end cigar that is made from great tobacco and is hand rolled. If you live in an area which allows Cuban cigars, those are by far the most popular. However, a real cigar connoisseur may have another favorite or perhaps several favorites from other areas of the world.

Since it is impossible to really pin down which cigar is best, it is important for you to understand exactly what goes into a cigar and the different ways in which they are judged. People who love cigars really tend to be fanatical about the ones that they smoke. They may even have their own snipping and lighting ritual which they follow religiously every time that they light up. They would simply be out of their element if they didn’t have a high-end cigar in their hand. What is it, however, that makes a cigar great?

A cigar is basically made up of three different parts, the core, the binder and the wrapper. Each of these add something that is very unique to a cigar and unless all three are high quality, and the cigar is well constructed, you will not really be able to enjoy it to its full potential. You also have several other ways to judge which cigars you will enjoy. For example, the color varies from cigar to cigar, depending on the tobacco that is used. The size is also different, typically referred to as the vitola.

If you have been smoking cigars for any time length, you will easily recognize the difference between the various cigars. Even if you had two very nice cigars to compare, they can be as different as night and day as far as taste is concerned.

There are, of course, many other ways for you to pick a good cigar. The best thing that you can do in this regard, however, is to simply begin smoking them and to get a taste for the various brands. It will not take you long to be able to distinguish one from the other and to pick one that is your personal favorite. Start off with something mild in taste like the Fonseca and work your way up to a Partagas or Montecristo and then finally Cohiba cigars.

Smoking a Cuban cigar is an experience all to itself. Even though there are slight differences in the way (style) that everybody smokes them, there is a specific way of how to smoke a cigar that many individuals turn to. It actually has more to do with the process than with actually sitting there and enjoying the smoke. It all starts at the beginning, so let’s take it from that point.

The first part of the process is actually picking out the cigar that you are going to smoke. In some cases, a cigar is simply handed to you so you do not have much choice in the matter. If you do plan on smoking a cigar that you bought, it is important that you get a high quality smoke (Cuban cigar) so that you can enjoy it to it’s full flavor.

Of course, there are many different styles (Robusto, Maduro, Torpedo etc) of Cuban cigars that you can smoke as well as different brands (Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta etc). Regardless of which one you choose, however, make sure that it fits in with your preference.

The next step in smoking a cigar is to clip the end. I’m sure that you have seen people in the movies just stick the cigar and in their mouth and bite off a piece but there is a much more sophisticated and enjoyable way to do it. This is by inspecting the end of the cigar that needs to be clipped in order to recognize exactly where the cut should be made.

Make sure that you do not make it too deep or else you will have several different problems. Look for the cap of the cigar which is a part of the rolling leaf which is used to close the end. Do not clip this entirely off of the cigar or you will have a problem with the cigar wrapper unraveling. A cigar cutter (or punch cutter) is recommended for this process. You can even use special cigar scissors for this process.

Now comes the most important part of actually smoking a Cuban cigar, the lighting process. Many individuals have a very specific way that they will light a cigar and they may take a long time in doing so. Although you are going to have to come up with your own method, you can learn by watching other individuals go through their little lighting ritual. Typically, it involves heating up the end and then drawing through it while you light that end.

You must then do the obligatory inspection in order to make sure that it is lit evenly. Also almost all Cuban cigar boxes come with cedar (That thin strip of sheet covering your Cuban cigars actually serves a purpose).

What you can do is break off the thin cedar sheet into strips and use those to light up your cigars. Do it patiently, savoring the aromas as you draw more. If you are out of cedar sheets, use a butane lighter. All other lighters quickly interfere with the properties of a Cuban cigar and can reduce the taste immensely.

The rest of the process of how to smoke a cigar is simply sitting back and enjoying yourself. Cuban cigars are great whether they are smoked alone or in the company of close friends. It is a perfect way to enjoy an evening and to relax.

Just ask anybody who enjoys smoking Cuban cigars and they will be quick to tell you that the lighting process is one of the most enjoyable parts. In fact, many individuals that smoke Cuban cigars on a regular basis have their own particular way to light the cigar.

They seem to get a lot of enjoyment from this and it adds a lot to the overall experience. Although each individual will have to have their own method of lighting it, here is a general guide that will help you through the process in case you are new to cigar smoking.

The first part of lighting a cigar actually does not have anything to do with the fire at all. Whenever you buy a high-quality cigar, the one end has a cap on it that is made of part of the wrapper. It covers the end of the cigar that you actually put into your mouth, typically known as the head of the Cuban cigar. You need to snip this off in order to be able to pull the smoke through it.

In order to do this, you’re going to need to use a cigar snip (Cigar cutter) which can be picked up at your local cigar supplier. The most popular of these is the guillotine style which makes a very clean cut. Make sure that you cut off enough of the cap that you have about a 75% opening in the end of the cigar. If you cut too much of the cap off, you’re in danger of having the cigar unravel on you while you’re smoking it.

The next thing that you need to do is to light the Cuban cigar with the proper type of lighter. In fact, this can make a big difference on how you enjoy the entire cigar, not simply the first part of it. Never use a gas filled lighter in order to fire up a stogie, always use a butane lighter, such as a zippo. If you’re going to use a match to light a cigar, it is important that you use a wooden match.

If you do use a paper match, you may end up getting some flavor in the cigar that is unsavory. Regardless of what type of match you use, however, make sure that it burns for a second before you use it in order to get rid of all of the sulfur.

Hold the flame to the end of your Cuban cigar and slowly twist it between your fingers. This will allow the end of the leaf to begin to darken and to char a little bit. After that, put the cigar in your mouth and pull air through it while holding the flame up to the end.

This may take several drawls but eventually the end will begin to glow. Although it is not necessary, make sure that you take the cigar out of your mouth and carefully inspect the glowing end. This will make you look like you absolutely know what you are doing.

The Importance of Buying Cuban Cigars from Authorized Dealers

A recent article about the volume of counterfeit Cuban cigars (and other varieties) that are entering the USA was brought to my attention from Findlaw.com. Following is an astonishing excerpt:

“Still, what was seized late last year from several warehouses in Miami astounded both police and industry officials. There were enough counterfeit cigar bands, boxes, cellophane and other materials for between 30 and 50 million cigars - sufficient to make a significant dent in the legitimate premium market.”

This was just one organized group of cigar counterfeiters passing off fake Cuban and non-Cuban brands in the premium category. Unfortunately, it’s buyer beware when you buy Cuban cigars online from non-authorized dealers or importers. If it’s from an individual online, your chances of getting a box full of sawdust instead of those wonderful dark Cohiba’s is pretty high.

My advice is to seek out sites online that are authorized by organizations like Havana House, and verify with Havana House that the dealer is actually authorized. If you have any questions about the authenticity of Cuban cigars in Canada you can contact Havana House.

The bottom line is if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

10. It was Christopher Columbus who first discovered the famous Cohiba cigar (You know the guy who discovered America in 1492). Since he wrote practically everything down in his journal, he wrote that the land they had discovered was not India, China or Japan and in this land there was no treasure to be found.

Except for the fact that the men on the island of Colba (Or Cuba as its called today) perfumed themselves with certain ‘herbs’ and inhaled smoke from burning of Cohiba leaves. Soon it turned out that what they discovered was worth more than any treasure they ever hoped to find, and that was tobacco.

9. King Edward VII was happy as anyone could be when he succeeded his anti-smoking mother Victoria as a monarch of the British Empire. He actually greeted all the tobacco-starved courtiers of Buckingham Palace with the famous phrase “Gentleman, you may smoke!”.

8. Samuel Langhorne Clemens or better known to the world as the famous author ‘Mark Twain’, was caught saying “If cigar smoking were not permitted in heaven, he would happily go to the other place”. Mark Twain actually started smoking at the age of 8, what a legend!

7. The famous comedian W.C Fields, wholeheartedly credited his success to a daily dose of cigars and whiskey that started in his childhood.

6. Tia Carrera and Demi Moore were the first Hollywood ladies to make cigar smoking popular between the female actresses in the 1990s. The image of young hot ladies smoking cigars created the ‘Femme Fatale’ image and soon many females followed suit.

5. Bill Clinton celebrated the rescue of the American pilot who was shot down in Bosnia, by lighting up a Romeo Y Julieta despite Hilary’s no smoking rules.

4. On the 80th birthday of George Burns in 1977, Milton Berle lit his and George’s cigar. Both of these comedians started smoking cigars as kids, Milton started at the age of 12!

3. Talk about quality control, Edward the ‘Duke of Windsor’ personally inspected the Cuban factory that made his favorite cigars. Talk about passion!

2. Groucho Marx’s image was all about having a cigar in his mouth at all times. Once a woman told him that she had nine kids because she loved her husband so much, Marx being the ‘wise guy’ that he was responded “I like a cigar too but every once in a while I take it out of my mouth!”.

1. We all know that Cuban Cigars are not sold within the USA. The man responsible for the embargo was Mr. John F Kennedy. His story gets worst because right before the ban, he ordered his own press secretary Pierre Salinger to get his brand of Cuban Cigars, the ‘Upmanns’, in the thousands so he could have his very own stash in the White House. Now, I don’t think that was fair but you be the judge.