Cigar.com - Blogs

1
Comments
1348 Views

Video Review - Arturo Fuente OpusX Lost City

Video review. ...

04-26-2011, 1:56 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
614 Views

April 18th, 2011 - From Nicaragua

Video Blog. ...

04-26-2011, 1:55 PM by Alex Svenson

5
Comments
1289 Views

April 17th, 2011 - From Nicaragua

Alex and Josh travel to Nicaragua to visit Tabacalera Fernandez, Nestor Plasencia and more. Get a first person view of their experience. ...

04-19-2011, 2:59 PM by Joshua Smelko

1
Comments
1187 Views

Wine and Cigars

Wine and cigars are often closely associated. Cigar enthusiasts also fancy themselves wine lovers and often go so far as to pair the two. What specifically are the similarities between wine and cigars? Seeds and Regions: Wine is often described and...

12-23-2010, 4:36 PM by Alex Svenson

1
Comments
2349 Views

The Best Cigar I Ever Had

It is inevitable, you are out at a party or anywhere meeting new people and as soon as someone finds out you have a true ifinity for fine cigars, you are bound to get one of several standard questions: Are Cuban cigars really better? and of course my...

12-08-2010, 9:12 AM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1459 Views

A Closer Look At Robustos

Mysteries abound in the cigar industry. These mysteries include such arguments as the proper way to roll a cigar, the time period when the first tobacco leaves were discovered, how to properly ferment tobacco, and who really was the first to apply a cigar...

11-05-2010, 8:48 AM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1335 Views

Choosing The Right Butane

Butane is produced by many different manufacturers, just like cigars. There are several different brands to choose from and many of those brands use different methods for creating their butane. It does not specifically matter which brand of butane you...

10-22-2010, 11:58 AM by Alex Svenson

3
Comments
1305 Views

Visiting Graycliff

I already know I have the greatest job in the world; traveling through cigar countries and blending premium cigars while using nearly every type of long leaf tobacco imaginable. However, when I received a surprise call from Paolo Garzaroli at Graycliff...

10-15-2010, 5:13 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1447 Views

What is the difference between a cigar's aroma and its flavor?

Naturally, most assume a cigar's aroma is simply "what the smoke smells like." However this is not 100% true. A cigar's aroma not only consists of the smoke produced from the burning tobacco, but also how the cigar smells before being lit. Before you...

10-08-2010, 3:13 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
2562 Views

A Guide to Maduro Wrapper

Maduro cigars are the industry's biggest misconception. Although many individuals do not prefer a maduro as their everyday cigar, most enjoy them as an occasional change of pace. Storing away a nice supply of dark, oily maduros is a great move, as they...

09-24-2010, 9:35 AM by Alex Svenson

2
Comments
1238 Views

Tubar vs. Accordion Bunching?

Q: I've heard about tubar and accordion bunching. What exactly is the difference? A: Tubar bunching is the original style used in Cuba to roll cigars. The process involves rolling each leaf “en tubo style,” or in a tube shape similar to a straw. The...

09-17-2010, 5:28 PM by Alex Svenson

1
Comments
2210 Views

Ligero Tobacco

There is little doubt that full-bodied cigars have been the talk of the town over the past five years. Some of the highest rated and most complex blends have been those that boast a strong core of flavors. To achieve strength without sacrificing critical...

09-10-2010, 10:27 AM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1278 Views

What is the proper amount of tobacco to cut off my cigar before smoking it?

The act of enjoying a cigar is truly an art form. A tremendous amount of effort is put forth to create a cigar, from the moments the first seed is planted in fertile soil to the rolling process and then finally to the method in which each enthusiast enjoys...

09-03-2010, 4:35 PM by Alex Svenson

2
Comments
1610 Views

Pennsylvania Broadleaf

When you think about cigars and premium long filler tobacco, the United States is not necessarily the first place that comes to mind, but the U.S. has had a long romance with tobacco dating back to the New World and beyond. In fact, tobacco grown in the...

08-25-2010, 4:28 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
938 Views

A Close Look at Connecticut Shade

With today's increasing trend toward ever stronger, fuller, darker and more robust cigars, it's easy to forget about Connecticut shade wrappers. So let’s take a step back and have a closer look at these traditional premium wrappers, long-considered one...

08-20-2010, 1:42 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
876 Views

Limited Edition Cigars

There are many factors to look at when determining why a cigar is a "limited." Most manufacturers, at some point, have released a cigar as a "Limited Edition" and most likely also attached a hefty price tag to the blend. Although it may seem that using...

08-17-2010, 2:08 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1756 Views

Cameroon Wrappers

Ramón Cifuentes, Carlos Fuente Sr., and Stanford Newman were some of the most recognizable names in the cigar world during the 20th century – all of which were master blenders who believed in a specific strain of Central and West African tobacco that...

08-13-2010, 3:02 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
2595 Views

Restoring Dry Cigars?

Q: I ignored my humidor for a few months and now my stash of cigars is dry. Are they still smokeable and is there a way to restore them? A: This is a somewhat more complicated question, but the answer is yes, your cigars are still smokeable. However,...

08-11-2010, 12:18 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1278 Views

Tasting Cigars

Cigars are like any other delicacy, an indulgence for the palate. You often hear sommeliers describing a fine wine, or epicureans a plate of food. Like all luxuries, cigars embody a variety of flavors and aromas that are unlocked over the course of a...

08-06-2010, 3:25 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1636 Views

How long does it take to ferment tobacco?

Fermentation – the act of releasing ammonia from tobacco leaves using moisture and extreme temperatures. To ferment tobacco, the leaves are stacked 4 to 6 feet high in pilones (piles), moistened, and then allowed to rise in temperature. Temperature...

07-30-2010, 1:41 PM by Alex Svenson

1
Comments
1348 Views

Nicaraguan Tobacco

Q: I am really enjoying Nicaraguan cigars, but find some taste very different than others. Does Nicaraguan tobacco differ by what region it is grown in? A: Each manufacturer has their own techniques and methods for fermenting, blending and growing...

07-27-2010, 1:38 PM by Alex Svenson

1
Comments
1197 Views

Wrapper by Seed

Finding a cigar you like can be a lengthy process. Aficionados are always working to identify qualities they find appealing in their everyday cigars. Don’t feel overwhelmed, if you are still trying to make sense of cigars you may and may not like. Learning...

07-23-2010, 4:22 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1444 Views

What is the best method for removing humidity from my humidor?

A humidor is nothing more than a box created to retain humidity. Of course, some humidors are more extravagant than others, but for the most part, any box made of Spanish Cedar will retain moisture. With this in mind, there are a few easy ways to rid...

07-19-2010, 2:04 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
898 Views

The Art of Blending Revealed

While a blender will concoct his creations based on flavors stemming from certain plants grown from specified seeds in specified regions, determining the strength and intensity of the competing aromas in a complex cigar is an art in itself. A typical...

07-09-2010, 2:34 PM by Alex Svenson

0
Comments
1531 Views

Triple Cap?

Question: I was at a cigar event with a roller and heard him say he mounts the heads on his cigars, what does this mean? Answer: Mounting the head of a cigar is more commonly known as giving the cigar a "triple cap." This practice originated in Cuba...

07-07-2010, 12:52 PM by Alex Svenson

The Blog