Cigar Lighters

One should always light a Cuban Cigar with a match so as not to spoil the aroma and delicate flavour; I always light with a match initially when possible and light with a lighter on the second and third lights.I have always been fascinated with expensive lighters ever since I saw my first classic black and gold DuPont. It was heavy and solid in the hand and looked sleek in design with that famous ping sound every time you flip the top to ignite your smoke.I own two DuPont lighters the classic black and gold and the gold featured in this post. I also have a Dunhill Cigar lighter purchased for me by my brother Dennis also featured here. I also have one of the Colibre lighters that are great for Cigar functions or for lighting your Cigar outdoors as the flame is guaranteed to light in Gail force winds every single time.Having a good quality lighter is a great talking motivator and they look very impressive.

Humidors

Cigar tobacco leaves are harvested and aged using a process that combines the use of heat with shade which reduces the sugar and water content without causing the large leaves to erode or rot. This being the stage, commonly known as curing, takes up to forty five days varying substantially and depends upon climate conditions as well as the construction of barns that are used to store the harvested tobacco. The curing process is manipulated based upon the type of tobacco, and the desired color of the leaf. The second part of the process, known as fermentation, is a slow process that allows the leaf to die slowly. The humidity or temperature is regulated ensuring that the delicate leaf continues to ferment, so as not to disintegrate and it is at this stage that the leaf acquires its aroma, flavor burning characteristics.After there has been a substantial aging period the leaves are separated into different groups that will determine quality and appearance for either filler or wrapper. During this process, the leaves are continually moistened and handled carefully to ensure that each leaf is best used according to its individual qualities. The leaves are continually baled and inspected repeatedly during this aging process. Once the leaf has matured to the manufacturer’s specifications it will be sent for cigar production.Experienced cigar rollers are able to produce literally hundreds of exquisite and almost identical cigars daily. Cigar rollers must keep the tobacco moist and especially the wrappers. The cigar rollers use special knives that are known as a chaveta speedily shaping the form of the filler and wrapper leaves to perfection. Once the cigars are rolled they are stored in wooden forms to dry in which their uncapped ends are cut to a uniform size. The cigar is now a complete product that can to the best of any one's knowledge be kept indefinitely if properly stored. Long term cigar aging requires significantly lower storage temperatures and for example forty degrees Fahrenheit is recommended for fifty year storage. The higher temperatures which are usually used in standard cigar storage will cause the deterioration of the cigar after several years that will result in total flavour lose. After buying your cigars the correct storage is essential and by keeping the cigars in a special wooden box, or humidor where the temperature and conditions can be carefully regulated for a very long time. Even if cigars become dry they can be successfully humidified as long as they have not been mishandled.Premium brands of cigars use a myriad of varieties of tobacco for either filler or wrapper. Premium cigars known as long filler cigars are of a higher quality because they use long leaves throughout the entire length of the cigar. These cigars also use a third variety of tobacco leaf known as a binder between the filler and the outer shell or wrapper; allowing the rollers the use of much more delicate and attractive leaves as a wrapper. High quality cigar makers almost always blend a variety of different tobacco. Cuban long filler cigars combine tobacco from different locations around the island to blend various flavors.

Cigar StorageHumidity in your humidor should be around 65 degrees to 75 degrees and if there is empty space in the humidor the humidity will drop.Humidor casings are typically made nowadays of a wood board and the interior is a Cedar or mahogany and is the most popular because it retains moisture helping to maintain humidity also the cedar wood box can add to the aroma of the cigarsAfter purchasing your humidor you will need to take a moist cloth and wipe down the interior to remove any dust. A small container of water is then placed inside the humidor for around twelve hours with the lid shut. If there is no or little water left inside then you will need to repeat the process for another twenty four hours. When the liquid in the container stops evaporating you can now place your cigars inside. This process keeps the wood moist which will then keep your cigars moist, also the use of distilled water is good because it is pure and lacks the minerals, bacteria and additives found in household tap water. If you are a big fan, collector and smoker of Cuban Cigars you can have a room size Humidor built to go with your fine wine cellar!

Cigar Facts

Cigar history goes back approximately two thousand years, however The origins of the the cigar itself are lost in time and Some scholars believe the word cigar is taken from the word sikar which is the Mayan word for smoking. There is a big cigar history within Central America dating back to the Mayans and Aztecs; They were known to have smoked tubes of loosely rolled tobacco leaves similar to the present day cigars.
When Columbus discovered the West Indies and other explorers whom visited the American continent numerous accounts
were written of these New World people who smoked tobacco and also used it for chew and as snuff for medicinal properties then used in their ceremonies.I remember an extremely funny record made by Bob Newhart depicting Sir Walter Raileigh upon his return from the America's explaining how you place it in your mouth and inhale the smoke. Hilarious!

Smoking came to Europe with the return of Columbus from the New World in 1492. He had been offered some dried leaves as a token of friendship and his men had witnessed how these leaves were used. Columbus himself was not particularly impressed by the custom, but soon Spanish and other European sailors fell for the habit, followed by the
conquistador's and colonists. The introduction of tobacco seeds or plants is attributed to Ramon Pane whom was Columbus priest on his second voyage. In due course the returning conquistador's introduced tobacco smoking to Spain and Portugal. The habit was considered a sign of affluence that then spread to France through the French
ambassador to Portugal Jean Nicot in 1560 whom the herb was given its botanical name Nicotiana tabacum the Latin name for tobacco.

Tobacco was introduced to England around 1565 when Hawkins returned from a voyage to America; Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to be chiefly responsible for making the
smoking habit fashionable. Sailors were really the first to be seen smoking cigars around 1557. It's always the sailors right!!

At the turn of the century smoking was becoming fashion with the upper classes although for many years the habit was still frowned upon by their womenfolk to such an extent that the men had to take themselves off to the kitchen or the stables, "So nothings changed then!" See my post on "Smoking Jackets". Although the first tobacco plantations were set up in Virginia in 1612, and Maryland in 1631, tobacco was smoked only in pipes in the American colonies. The cigar itself is thought not to have arrived until after 1762 when Israel Putnam an American general in the Revolutionary War returned from Cuba where he had been an officer in the British army. He came back to his home in Connecticut with a selection of Havana cigars and large amounts of Cuban tobacco. Not long after this cigar factories were set up in the Hartford area. Production of the leaves started in the 1820s and Connecticut tobacco today provides among the best wrapper leaves to be found outside Cuba. In the early 19th century not only were Cuban cigars being imported into the United States but domestic production was also taking off. The mid 1800's saw the cigar become well accepted and by the turn of the century cigar smoking was the most favoured of all smoking habits.

During the great depression and around the 1920's the total consumption of tobacco fell, cigar manufacturers turned to promoting smokers with their brands including beautifully designed, colored inserts in their packaging and boxes in order to attract cigar smokers a tradition that continues to this day with most manufacturers.

The 16th century saw Cuba lead the way in cigar production seeing Cuban peasants became tobacco growers and later on the cigar became the country's national symbol and the Havana cigar became recognized as the world's finest. When Fidel Castro took over the reigns leading to the subsequent United States embargo that started events that began to challenge Havana's supremacy in the world of cigars. Many Cuban cigar producers took their skills and seeds to the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Mexico and began producing high quality premium and super premium cigars for the American public. The Dominican Republic alone produces almost half of the hand made cigars sold in the Americas.I have enjoyed just about every cigar you can name and although I have enjoyed them all, You still can't
beat a pure Cuban Cigar!

Smoking Jacket

The smoking jacket was worn by smokers in an era past, however the well heeled establishment and extremely wealthy individuals among us still make use of these practical garments. Generally in years gone by discerning gentlemen after having dinner would all take their leave of the women at the end of a meal and move to a specially designed smoking room where politics and other important issues would be discussed.

The smoking jacket always appeared in the old black and white movies that made the wearers look very chic, however there was a more useful reason for donning these jackets as it kept the ash, burning embers and smoke fumes away from the wearers clothes as the top suit jacket would also be removed. Generally the cigar was the order of the day, although pipes and cigarettes were also enjoyed.

It is actually a very nice way to partake of a cigar and perhaps a tradition lost to most of us and it seems that we have come full circle with regards to smokers being segregated! There are still specialized tailors that will make you a smoking jacket to order in either silk or velvet but be prepared to wait as there is a waiting list!

For more information click here

Cuban Cigar Tradition

In the last few days I have been revisiting some of the many books that I have on the history and tradition of fine Cuban cigars in order to prepare a future post for the Panther Daily Post. However whilst net surfing today I came across this fantastic fourth generation cigar family company that had been originally started by a great grandfather from the 1900's.

The cigar family originally from Cuba ventured to Miami Florida USA like so many other Cubans during the revolution taking with them experienced cigar workers and hand cigar rollers with over twenty and thirty years knowledge gained from well known and established brand factories.

Although the company profile and history may be a sales pitch it still has many interesting comments and if you click to the company website and click on Cigar Tips you will find some extremely helpful and worthwhile hints and knowledge. Like me you will probably be interested in trying a Cuban cigar made in Miami by traditional Cubans and methods using the well established online mailing system. Also check out the traditional Cuban coffee and espresso machine!

Profile of a Cigar Lover

My biggest passion in life and truly my only vice is cigars as there is nothing like a Cuban Cigar. I have regularly attended cigar nights both for pleasure and business as this is a perfect way for me to combine the two!

You probably think that there is not much to learn from a cigar night; however the opposite is the fact because the history of cigars goes back hundreds of years and a cigar connoisseur really needs to know his product. Like all knowledge it is something of rare beauty to hear people talk about a product or subject that they are totally consumed by. Even with the knowledge you learn through the years of both smoking and indeed shopping for good cigars, as it is no simple task to acquire good quality cigars easily!

You still get great tips from the connoisseurs who will often bring famous cigars that are not available at a retail level and the story and the history attached to the cigars and indeed the cigar factories is an incredible and captivating story. I have read many books on cigars that almost always show the same and most famous brands that can be purchased in some countries but not all. However the most famous and most expensive cigars never make it to the retail tobacconists and cigar bars and many of the highest quality brands are made to order for an exclusive worldwide client list.

In recent times there have been many forgeries or copies made outside of Cuba flooding the black market in such places as America where I believe a ban still remains on Cuban cigars. The only thing that looks genuine about the forged knock off cigars is the label as often the cigars are dry with no aroma or flavour. There have been many success stories of cigars outside of Cuba where the Cuban Cigar tobacco leafs have been taken to areas with similar weather and soil however the soil and climate in Cuba is the reason that everybody still insists on having the original Cuban Cigar.