COURSE 1
Cigar Characteristics
Length
Cigars are described by length and ring size. The length of a cigar is measured in inches. The most popular lengths are between 5 & 6 inches.
The size of a cigar, in name, is a nearly meaningless designation. The reason for this is that the size of a cigar, when determined by name such as corona or robusto, is not a universal standard. In other words, one company's corona is another company's Churchill even though they both measure the exact same length and ring gauge. Once you understand this, most of the confusion regarding cigar size disappears.
There are, however, classic measurements for cigars that most cigar makers attempt to follow. Just remember, because a cigar is 7 inches in length with a 48 ring gauge does not necessarily mean the manufacturer will designate that cigar as a Churchill. All you have to really understand is cigars are categorized by length and ring gauge, which is a fraction of an inch measured in 64ths.
Example: A cigar with a 52 ring gauge measures 52/64 of an inch in diameter. The most popular ring gauges are 42 to 50.
Body
The body of the cigar refers to the relative strength of the cigar. Cigars are generally divided into three groups:
- Mild
- Medium
- Full
The strength of many cigars sold today is judged by the country where they were manufactured. The following list shows cigar manufacturing countries and general strength of the cigars produced there:
Light Bodied (Mild):
- Jamaica
- Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rico
- United States
- Philippines
Medium Bodied:
- Mexico
- Honduras (Medium to Full)
- Nicaragua (Medium to Full)
- Brazil
Full Bodied:
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
100% Handmade Cigars
100% handmade cigars are produced without the use of any machines.
Examples: My Father, Padron, La Flor Dominicana and many others
Handmade Cigars
On handmade cigars, the wrapper is applied by hand to a bunch (combined, blended filler leaves) with a manual or motor driven machine. Often these cigars are referred to as "Machine bunched; hand made".
Example: Macanudo
Machine Made Cigars - Short Filler
These cigars are made entirely by a machine. The ingredients are all tobacco but it is short filler, or scrap filler, tobacco.
Example: Factory Throwouts
Machine Made Cigars – Short Filler, Natural Tobacco Wrapper
These cigars are made entirely by machine using short filler or scrap filler tobacco. The wrapper is natural, but the binder is created from homogenized tobacco.
Example: Garcia y Vega, Antonio y Cleopatra
Machine Made Cigars - Short Filler and Homogenized
These cigars are made entirely by machine using short filler or scrap filler tobacco, but both the wrapper and binder are created from homogenized tobacco.
Example: El Producto Cigars, White Owl Cigars, Hav-a-tampa Cigars and other small flavored cigars with plastic tips.
Homogenized Tobacco
Homogenized Tobacco is pulverized and mixed with fibers, pure cellulose, and water to create a pulp. The pulp is used to produce a uniform sheet of tobacco (like recycled paper). The sheet is then used for the high-speed production of machine made cigars.
HTL - Homogenized tobacco leaf (Tobacco paper)
COURSE 2
How Cigars Are Made
The quality and taste of a cigar is determined by the type of tobacco used and the way in which these tobaccos are blended. The best cigars are custom blended from tobaccos of different crops, strength, and flavors. Wrapper, binder, and filler all require different types of leaf. All tobacco leaves come from the same plant but are processed and cured differently depending on the intended use (for wrappers, binders, or fillers). As a general rule, cigars consist of 3 different types of tobacco leaves combined to produce a finished product.
Filler
Filler tobacco, the main body of the cigar, comes from the top and middle parts of the tobacco plant. These top leaves are strong and bold, the middle leaves are somewhat weaker.
Binder
The binder or "bunch" leaf holds the filler together. Binder is the first leaf rolled around the filler forming a "bunch" (see picture). Binder comes from the middle of the plant and once leaves are cured and aged, they are blended with other leaves from different portions of the plant.
Wrapper
The wrapper is the leaf that is exposed to our view on the surface of the cigar and protects the binder. The wrapper must be strong yet flexible. It must be silky to the touch and free of stems. The most expensive leaf of the plant, the wrapper is grown from the top of the plant because of its larger and thinner leaf qualities. Color, texture, and overall appearance are important considerations.
The Basics
Knowing the basic features or parts of a cigar will help you better understand the construction process. Note the pictures below.
The Finished Product
To produce a premium cigar, several leaves are laid out on a table, and then rolled from one end to the other to form a cylinder known as the "bunch" (the binder wrapped around the filler). The bunch is then put into a wooden mold and pressed to give the cigar its final shape. Once pressed, the bunch is removed from the mold and a wrapper is applied in a spiral fashion from one end of the cigar to the other. At the closed end, a small round piece of wrapper is formed creating the "cap" (see picture above). The "foot", or open end, of the cigar is cut and made smooth. At this point the cigar is complete.
COURSE 3
Handmade Cigars
Handmade cigars are categorized by the type of wrapper leaf used, as well as where that wrapper leaf was grown and how it was grown.
Wrappers account for roughly 60% of the flavor of the cigar. If you change the wrapper, you can change the flavor and strength considerably. You may find the same blend of tobaccos are offered with an assortment of wrapper choices, thereby changing the overall characteristics of the cigar. It is the type of wrapper leaf that identifies cigars.
The same cigar tobaccos with a Connecticut wrapper will be called a Connecticut. Change the wrapper to a Maduro leaf and it becomes a Maduro.
Connecticut Shade
Connecticut, generally believed to be the finest wrapper grown, is a mild, silky smooth, golden brown leaf used on a wide assortment of fine premium cigars. It is one of the mildest wrapper tobaccos and is used in the production of premium cigars throughout Central America and the Caribbean. This tobacco is carefully grown under a cheesecloth-like canopy in the Connecticut River Valley. The canopy filters the sunlight to produce what is considered to be the finest cigar wrapper leaf in the world. There are only 300 to 400 acres under netting in Connecticut, making this leaf rare and expensive. Because so little of this leaf is grown, many quality handmade cigars use Connecticut Shade seed grown in Ecuador and Honduras.
Natural (Also Called English Market Selection or EMS)
Natural is a golden brown leaf which is darker than a Connecticut. The strength ranges from mild to medium. It is often grown in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, or Nicaragua.
Colorado Claro
Colorado Claro: This light to medium brown, smooth and oily leaf has a fuller body and flavor than most Connecticut leaf. In Spanish, Colorado Claro means reddish and light. The strength is considered to be medium-bodied.
Colorado
Colorado is an aromatic medium brown wrapper, darker than a Claro, with a rich flavor and texture. Translated from Spanish, Colorado means red. Generally Colorado is full bodied and considered to be on the stronger side of the medium body range.
Colorado Maduro
Colorado Maduro is darker than a Colorado but not as dark as Maduro. In Spanish, Colorado Maduro means reddish brown and ripe. These wrappers are more aromatic than a Maduro. The strength of the Colorado Maduro varies from medium to full bodied. This is a somewhat generic term used to define a wide range of brownish wrappers.
Maduro
Maduro: The word Maduro is a Spanish word meaning ripe, or mature. Maduro is dark brown, nearly black with a strong aroma and full bodied flavor. Many people believe Maduros to be the strongest cigars made. Maduro is not a blend, nor is it a variety of tobacco. The characteristic color and flavor of the Maduro leaf is obtained through a lengthy and unique curing and fermentation process. This fermentation leeches the natural sugars out of the leaf creating the sweet richness for which it is known. Maduros are generally sweeter than most other cigars. Maduro leaves are grown in Connecticut, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, or Brazil.
Oscuro (Double Maduro)
Oscuro or Double Maduro is the darkest wrapper grown. It is jet black, super strong, and produced in small quantities. Super black and oily in appearance, these wrapper leaves are almost always grown in Nicaragua, Brazil, Honduras, or Connecticut. Tobacco leaves selected for the darkest wrappers are left on the tobacco plant longer, even after other leaves are harvested, to allow the plant to pump more oils into the leaves as they mature.
COURSE 4
Machine Made Cigars
As the name implies, machine-made cigars are assembled with the aid of machines. In the past, machine made cigars were looked down on. Not so anymore. Improved construction techniques and quality tobaccos have increased the popularity of machine made cigars. Since machines can roll 10 times the number of cigars in a given time frame, production costs are a fraction of those of the premium handmade cigar. Consequently, machine made cigars cost far less.
In addition to lower cost, machine made cigars offer an added bonus: they require no cutting. Machine made cigars feature a pre-cut tuck head that is ready to smoke. You simply open the end and light. A true convenience.
The filler, binder, and wrapper leaves are often the same varieties of tobacco as handmade cigars. Additionally, machine made cigars are offered in a variety of styles and sizes. It is the filler leaf of machine made cigars that primarily determines the strength and quality of a machine made cigar. The range of quality is extensive. Not all machine made cigars are of the same quality or strength. Remember that.
Long Filler
Only the highest grade machine made cigars are made using long filler tobacco. Long filler tobacco consists of entire tobacco leaves twisted or rolled together. Long filler tobacco offers a better taste and cooler smoke. These cigars are usually more expensive. Long filler tobacco produces a perfect draw.
Short Filler (Scrap Filler)
Short filler is made from the leftover trimmings or clippings of larger leaves used in the manufacture of premium cigars. The short filler is then rolled in a binder made either from natural tobacco leaf or homogenized tobacco leaf. Short filler cigars, because of their construction, often burn unevenly and sometimes require relighting. However, they are far less expensive and favored by millions of cigar smokers, especially pipe smokers.
Homogenized Tobacco Leaf (HTL)
HTL looks similar to light cardboard. HTL is created by mixing together tobacco and cellulose fiber in a liquid solution to form a sheet-like mass. This mixture is then formed, pressed, and dried into a thin uniform sheet resembling construction paper. This flexible tobacco sheet is then used in the same manner as natural tobacco leaf for the binder and wrapper of machine made cigars. HTL improves strength and uniformity.
COURSE 5
Cigar Packaging
Individual Cellophane Wrap
Many fine premium cigars are wrapped in cellophane. Cellophane protects the cigars from the damaging effects of sunlight, physical damage, and helps protect against rapid drying. Many cigar manufacturers (almost all) use tubes, cellophane, cedar wrapping, or other protective coverings to ship cigars long distances. Unlike food packaging, the cellophane wrap used on cigars is porous and allows air transfer. Cigars can still dry out even when wrapped in cellophane.
Once received by the retail store, cigars are sometimes packaged in attractive cedar boxes or often placed loose in a cigar humidor for sale by the single.
Cedar Boxes
Handmade cigars are always packaged in wooden boxes, usually made of cedar. Cedar wood absorbs moisture and will not impart undesirable flavors to the cigar. Most premium cigars are shipped in these boxes and sold in these boxes. The wood provides the protection necessary during shipping. Many stores remove cigars from their boxes and sell them as singles, which is the most popular way to purchase cigars.
Bundles
Another way to save money is to buy your cigars in bundles of 10, 20, or 25 cigars. These cigars are machine bunched and hand rolled. Bundles often represent a real value for the money-conscious smoker or for anyone who smokes a lot of cigars. They are like a factory second but the imperfections are minor if any, maybe a wrapper that is a shade lighter or darker than the standard. Bundles are shrink-wrapped in cellophane, thus the name bundle, rather than packaged in expensive cedar boxes.
Glass and Aluminum Tubes
To protect cigars from physical damage as well as drying out, many manufacturers package their cigars in glass or aluminum tubes. Once sealed, these tubes reduce drying and provide added protection. However, tubes add considerably to the production cost. Tubed cigars are usually more expensive. Many manufacturers offer their cigars with or without the tubes. You pay extra if you want tubes.
COURSE 6
Cutting The Cigar
There are three basic ways to cut cigars: straight cut, V-cut, and cigar punch. Unlike machine-made cigars that are sold with a pre-punched hole in the head, a premium cigar must be cut or punctured prior to smoking.
Straight Cut (Guillotine)
The Straight Cut, or Guillotine Cut, is the most popular. A guillotine cutter is available in a single blade or a double blade style and provides the maximum opening. This type of cut provides the most draw. You can actually feel the smoke roll across your tongue.
V-Cut (Wedge Cut, Cat's Eye Cut)
This type of cut creates a wedge or notch in the head of the cigar. For those who like to chew on the end of their cigar while smoking, this type of cut is perfect. The notch cut will not close even when moist with saliva.
Cigar Punch
Cigar punches come in a variety of styles and sizes from key chains to pocket styles, similar to a cigarette lighter, all the way to the elaborate table model. A cigar punch creates a round hole in the center of the cigar.
Where to Cut Your Cigar
Where to Cut Your Cigar
Where to Cut Your Cigar
Cigar heads come in three basic shapes: round, torpedo, and pyramid. Follow the graphic guidelines here when cutting each of these shapes. You'll notice that, in the case of a torpedo, you can't cut it behind the shoulder because the head of the cigar inclines too gradually (you'd lose too much cigar!). And, although a pyramid straightens itself out much more quickly, in this instance, you should cut it slightly before you pass the shoulder.
The Guillotine Cutter
Where to Cut Your Cigar
Where to Cut Your Cigar
The guillotine cut takes the technology responsible for separating many a French nobleman (circa 1792) from his head and applies it to your cigar. When purchasing your guillotine cutter, you can either select the cheaper one-blade guillotine or the more expensive two-blade guillotine. The two-blade is the better choice if you want a cleaner cut. The one-blade is preferred if you want to spend less money; however, you may have an inferior cut because the single blade sometimes has an annoying habit of smushing (that's the technical term) one side of your cigar head.
The V-cutter
Where to Cut Your Cigar
The Cigar Scissors
he V-cutter offers its own unique benefit. This cutter places a V-shaped notch in your cigar tip when it makes the cut. This is sometimes desirable because the V gives you more surface area without exposing your tongue to loose tobacco (which you would need to continuously spit from your mouth - not terribly suave or sexy). Increased surface area is desirable because it allows you to draw more air through the cigar. The V-cutter is generally only used for smaller-ring cigars.
The Cigar Scissors
The Cigar Scissors
The Cigar Scissors
Cigar Scissors are the third and final cutting method. "Oh, dandy," you say, "I've got a pair of those in my desk drawer!" Not so, we respond. Cigar-cutting scissors are specifically manufactured for the purpose of snipping cigars only. Forged from high-precision, surgical-quality stainless steel, they are your optimum choice for a cigar cutter. Small, pocket-sized versions are commonly available.
The Punch Cutter
The Cigar Scissors
The Punch Cutter
COURSE 7
Lighting The Cigar
Do's and Don'ts
Lighting a cigar improperly can ruin a good cigar or, at minimum, alter the flavor dramatically.
- Do not light a cigar with a match until the sulfur has completely burned off the match head.
- Do not light your cigar with a liquid fuel lighter such as a Zippo. The fuel will alter or even ruin the flavor of the tobacco.
- Do use a cedar strip or a butane lighter.
Lighting Procedure
Before lighting your cigar, the cigar must first be cut, punched, or pierced so you will be able to draw smoke through the cigar.
When lighting your cigar, do not let the flame actually touch the foot of the cigar. Instead, hold the cigar at a 45-degree angle over, but not touching, the flame. Rotate the cigar until the entire outer edge of the foot is lit. Gently blow on the foot to insure an even light. Next, place the cigar in your mouth and draw gently, continuing to rotate the cigar over the flame. In a matter of seconds the cigar will be lit. Again, blow gently on the foot to ensure an even burn.
Once the cigar is lit, DO NOT inhale. Simply draw the smoke into your mouth and enjoy the robust flavor. Never inhale cigar smoke.
Draw on the cigar about once each minute. If you draw or puff too frequently, the cigar will burn hot and bitter. Smoking too fast can also cause your cigar to burn unevenly.
Relighting
If your cigar goes out, don't worry, you can relight it. If the cigar has been out only a short while, simply blow through the cigar to clear any stale smoke that may have accumulated. To relight, follow the same procedure as though you were lighting the cigar for the first time. If the cigar has been out for more than an hour or so, you may wish to cut off the charred end before relighting. If you choose to clip off the charred end, clip off only the blackened portion. Many cigars have been ruined by cutting off too much.
Ending the Experience
Unlike cigarettes, you do not crush out the end of a cigar when you are finished smoking. Instead, simply lay it in an ashtray and let it extinguish itself.
COURSE 8
Cigar Care & Storage
The Importance of Proper Storage
Proper storage of premium handmade cigars is extremely important. Unlike machine made cigars, which undergo a more intense drying process, handmade cigars contain more moisture. Think of premium cigars as being alive. They must breathe and they require a constant temperature and humidity level to prevent them from drying out. Correct storage will ensure the cigars remain fresh and flavorful.
Premium cigars should be stored at a relative humidity of 70-75% at a constant temperature of between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. These are the ideal storage conditions for premium handmade cigars. Storing cigars properly helps prevent them from drying out or becoming overly moist.
What Happens When Cigars Dry Out
When cigars dry out, they lose their oils and become harsh and bitter tasting. Dry cigars will also unravel. A dry cigar will burn too fast and too hot. Dry cigars can be re-humidified over a period of 6 months to a year, but they will never be as good as they once were. They will never regain the full flavor and aroma.
What Happens When Cigars Get Too Wet
When cigars are stored at a humidity level well above the recommended level, the body of the cigar swells, and the wrapper stretches. Once over-humidified cigars are allowed to dry, the stretched wrapper begins to peel away. The only solution is to throw the cigar away. Additionally, an over-humidified cigar will not draw properly. The tobacco is too moist.
Mold
Mold can form in humidors that are kept above the recommended humidity level for an extended period of time. The most likely place for mold to form is on the device that produces the humidity for the box, or if standing water develops on the bottom or sides of the humidor. Over a period of time, the moldy device will alter the flavor of the cigars. If mold forms on a cigar, the cigar should be discarded. If, however, mold forms on the humidifying device, the device can be cleaned or replaced. The cigars are still good.
The Humidor
Humidors are available in many sizes, from very small desktop models with capacities of 50 cigars to much larger floor models with capacities of several thousand cigars. The purpose of the humidor is to maintain a constant pre-set humidity level.
It is important to maintain proper storage conditions for premium handmade cigars at 70-75% relative humidity at a constant temperature of between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Desktop Humidors
Desktop humidors allow you to store your cigars at home or in your office. These boxes are generally made of wood, have a Spanish cedar lining, a tight-fitting lid, and a built-in humidifier that maintains humidity at the proper level. The humidifiers are removable for maintenance and cleaning. Many people start with a small humidor and eventually upgrade to larger models as their collections grow.
COURSE 9
Cigar Tobacco Growing Areas
Tobacco is grown in many countries around the world. Understanding where different tobaccos are grown and the characteristics of each can help you appreciate the complexity of premium cigar blending.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is one of the largest producers of premium handmade cigars. Many top brands use Dominican tobacco, particularly for filler and binder. Dominican tobaccos are known for their mild to medium body and smooth, balanced flavors.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua produces some of the strongest, most flavorful tobacco in the world. Nicaraguan tobacco is often described as spicy, bold, and full-bodied. Many premium cigar manufacturers blend Nicaraguan tobacco with milder tobaccos to achieve complexity and balance.
Honduras
Honduras produces excellent tobacco and is known for both medium and full-bodied cigars. Honduran tobacco is often described as rich and earthy with a slightly sweet undertone. Many well-known brands are manufactured entirely in Honduras.
Connecticut (USA)
Connecticut is famous for its shade-grown wrapper tobacco. Connecticut Shade wrapper is one of the most sought-after and expensive wrapper leaves in the world. It imparts a mild, creamy, and slightly sweet flavor to cigars.
Ecuador
Ecuador has become a major producer of high-quality wrapper tobacco, particularly Connecticut Shade seed grown in Ecuadorian soil. Ecuadorian tobacco is prized for its smooth texture and consistent quality.
Mexico
Mexico produces wrapper tobacco known as San Andres. Mexican tobacco tends to be medium to full-bodied with earthy, slightly sweet characteristics. It is often used in Maduro wrappers.
Brazil
Brazil is known for its dark, oily Maduro wrappers. Brazilian tobacco is strong and adds a rich, sweet flavor to cigars.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica produces quality tobacco that is often used in premium cigar blends.
COURSE 10
Pipe Tobacco 101
What is Pipe Tobacco?
Pipe tobacco is tobacco processed and blended specifically for smoking in pipes. Unlike cigars, which use whole tobacco leaves, pipe tobacco is typically cut, shredded, or pressed into various forms. Pipe tobacco comes in a wide variety of blends, flavors, and cuts.
Types of Pipe Tobacco
Aromatic Tobacco
Aromatic tobacco is flavored with various additives such as vanilla, cherry, chocolate, or rum. These tobaccos smell wonderful and are extremely popular with pipe smokers who enjoy a sweeter, more fragrant smoke. Aromatics tend to be milder in strength.
Non-Aromatic (English Blends)
Non-aromatic tobacco has little to no added flavoring. These tobaccos showcase the natural flavors of the tobacco leaf itself. English blends often contain Latakia (a smoky, bold tobacco) and Oriental tobaccos. They tend to be more full-bodied and complex.
Virginia Tobacco
Virginia tobacco is sweet and mild with a natural hay-like flavor. It is one of the most common base tobaccos used in pipe blends.
Burley Tobacco
Burley tobacco is nutty and slightly cocoa-like in flavor. It is often used in aromatic blends because it absorbs flavorings well.
Latakia Tobacco
Latakia is a fire-cured tobacco with a distinctive smoky, almost leather-like flavor. It is primarily used in English-style blends.
Perique Tobacco
Perique is a strong, spicy tobacco grown in Louisiana. It is used in small amounts to add complexity and depth to blends.
Pipe Tobacco Cuts
Ribbon Cut
The most common cut. Tobacco is sliced into thin strips that are easy to pack and burn evenly.
Flake
Tobacco is pressed into cakes and then sliced into thin flakes. Flake tobacco must be rubbed out before smoking.
Plug
Tobacco is heavily pressed into dense blocks. Smokers slice off portions as needed.
Cake
Similar to plug but less dense. Often crumbled before smoking.
COURSE 11
Types of Pipes
There are three basic types of smoking pipes: corncob, briar, and meerschaum.
CORNCOB PIPES
The corncob pipe is made from a corncob and fitted with a stem. Corncob pipes are inexpensive and provide an excellent cool smoke.
BRIAR PIPES
Briar pipes are the most popular type of pipe. They are made from the root burl of the Mediterranean white heath tree. Briar is dense, heat-resistant, and naturally absorbent, making it ideal for pipe smoking. The quality and grain of the briar determine the price and quality of the pipe. The more attractive the grain, the higher the price.
Briar pipes are available in hundreds of shapes, sizes, and finishes. Pipes can be smooth or sandblasted (rusticated). Sandblasted pipes highlight the natural grain of the wood and are often less expensive than smooth-finished pipes.
MEERSCHAUM PIPES
Meerschaum is a soft white mineral found primarily in Turkey. Meerschaum pipes are carved from this mineral and are prized for their ability to smoke cool and dry. Over time, meerschaum pipes develop a rich golden-brown patina, which many smokers find attractive. Meerschaum pipes are more fragile than briar and require careful handling.
PIPE PARTS
Bowl
The bowl is the chamber where tobacco is packed and burned.
Shank
The shank is the part of the pipe that connects the bowl to the stem.
Stem (Mouthpiece)
The stem is the part you place in your mouth. It channels smoke from the bowl to your mouth.
PIPE ACCESSORIES
PIPE CLEANERS
Pipe cleaners are used to clean the stem and airway of the pipe after smoking. Regular cleaning prevents buildup and keeps the pipe smoking well.
PIPE TOOLS (3-in-1 Tool)
A pipe tool typically includes three implements:
- Tamper: Used to gently press down tobacco while smoking
- Pick: Used to loosen or aerate tobacco in the bowl
- Spoon: Used to scoop out ash and dottle (unburned tobacco)
PIPE TOBACCO STORAGE
Anything cheap and airtight. Tupperware or mason jars work great. Unlike cigars, pipe tobacco can be stored in any airtight container to maintain freshness. Mason jars and plastic containers work perfectly for long-term storage.
Pipe Breamer
Pipe Breamer
Pipe Breamer
