New to smoking cigars?

Don’t worry.  Even Winston Churchill had to start somewhere!

Cigar Secrets is filled with lots of information about choosing cigars, lighting  smoking them, accessories, etc.  But this page is devoted to answering the questions many ‘virgins’ ask.  A Cigar Newbie’s FAQ, if you like.  (And don’t be too hard on yourself – some of the, shall we say, more ‘experienced’ cigar smokers who are reading this site could do with a refresher in these basics too.)

So start here and keep on reading.  And why not enjoy a good smoke while you do?

What’s a ‘premium’ cigar?

Only cigars handmade by experts from a choice blend of top-quality tobaccos and aged to perfection may truly be referred to as premium.

If I can pick up a cigar at my local drugstore, why should I spend all that money at the fancy cigar stores?

I can buy a Twinkie at MY local drugstore for a lot less money than a muffin at the French bakery down the street, but do you really think the quality is the same?  Come on.  Don’t be coy.  You know better.

Pre-packaged cigars often include non-tobacco ingredients like paper, PG (Propylene Glycol) or Glycerin (to prevent drying) and even saltpeter!  Quality cigars, the ones that you’ll purchase from reliable cigar stores, contain only tobacco.  Further, better cigars are rolled with top of the line leaves and are made with leaves that run from end to end.

Is the price of a cigar indicative of its quality or its consistency?

High prices do not guarantee good cigars. It’s the smoker’s dilemma to judge their relative worth.  This is one situation where trial and error can be fun.

Is it ok to buy “machine made” cigars?

There a lot of things a machine can do, making cigars is not really one of them. An experienced roller will know when to add more or less filler to help with the perfect smoke – a machine will not. How will you know? Well, if there is a plastic tip on the end that will be one dead giveaway. Secondly, most reputable brands do not make them with machines – if you are worried, stick to the larger cigars.

What’s the story with ordering cigars by mail or off the Internet?

Mail order cigar distributors – and there are a wealth of them on the Internet – offer the advantage of a good product and great prices, usually highly discounted over what your local merchant will charge.  The downside is an occasional “quality” issue and the minimum purchase requirement – Don Diego’s Casa de Cigars wants you to spend $100 for a box, not $5 for a single.

You should also remember that your local tobacconist is a source of information and advice, as well as selling cigars and accessories.  Once you have established a relationship with your local tobacconist (and they understand your tastes) he/she can recommend new brands for you – brands that you may have easily missed in the “catalog”.

Are cigars supposed to be aged or fresh?

The word ‘fresh’ is probably not the best adjective to apply to a cigar.  Premium cigar rollers utilize tobacco that has been (hopefully) aged for several months before rolling and then the manufacturer may age them an additional year before releasing them to distribution outlets.

So any way you smoke it, your stogie is hardly ‘fresh.’  Many people still savor the flavor of pre-Castro Cubans, and we’ve even read about cigars from the 1940’s, which still taste great.  In fact, some people have such a preference for ‘vintage’ cigars that they age their stogies themselves.

Can I figure out how a cigar will taste just by knowing what country it was made in?

Cigars are a global industry and each country’s cigars have textures and flavors that reflect different rolling techniques, unique curing or aging processes, even the difference in soils from one region to another.   You could spend a lifetime getting to know the subtleties and nuances of each.

It’s likely that the first cigars you choose will be from the Caribbean.

Of course there are always exceptions but it you’re looking to start out with a mild smoke, go Jamaican.  On the other end of the scale are cigars from Nicaragua and Honduras, which are considered more full-bodied.  In between are cigars from the Dominican Republic.  And, at the top of the list – cigars from Cuba, the richest and most prized in the world.

So, are Cuban cigars the best or what?

Some people believe they are the best others feel that they are overrated. I think it is just a matter of individual taste (ie: California Cabernet vs. French Bordeaux). Cuban cigars are typically more of a full-bodied cigar (they have milder versions as well), so if that is what you like than you may enjoy them. Cuban Cigars are made exclusively of Cuban tobacco. The likelihood of coming across a fake Cuban cigar is also pretty strong (it is big business creating fakes). Keep in mind that some Cuban cigars are machine made  – if you want to avoid the chance of this, stick to the larger sizes. (Also see the Top Cuban Cigars list for more information).

How do I know if I want a “strong” cigar?

First, lets lose the term “strong”. In the industry we prefer to refer to them as “full bodied” (although occasionally even I will say something is strong). Secondly, sometimes this will be due to inefficient aging of the tobacco. If you find a cigar line that you like, you may want to slowly move up into more full bodied cigars.

The Top Ten Cuban Cigars? Well look no further, the votes are IN!

If you are lucky enough to get your hands on any of these, find a nice quiet area – or a loud one with friends – and enjoy!

1. Cohiba Esplindidos

2. Cohiba Robusto

3. Maneda De Cuba

4. H Uphmann Number 2

5. Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos

6. H Uphmann Magnum 50

7. Hoya Monterrey Epicure Especial

8. San Miguel y Ramirez

9. Trinidad Fundadoras

10. Trinidad Extra Robusto

Compare this list to 2009

Who owns the rights to Cuban names and stores?

Altadis SA purchased 50% of Habanos SA (prompted by Altadis S.A. influence). In 2001 Habanos S.A. decided to dramatically change the way they make and market cigars.  This change was carried out over a three year period.  Instead of having varying degrees of quality within each brand (handmade, hand-finished, & machine-made), Habanos S.A. decided that the major brands will only offer premium “totalmente a mano” hand-rolled cigars. This was to allow consumers to better understand just what sort of cigar they are buying.

Of the 549 vitolas that were manufactured in 1992 (the beginning of Cuba’s Special Period) only 319  were to remain in production, and only 33 brands continue to manufactured, and almost all brands saw major changes.  Within each brand, vitolas that have the same dimensions but different blends, were axed.  Only the best selling cigar of a vitola will survive.  These changes enable a greater chance of a particular vitola being in stock.  The simplification of the brand lines allows the occasional smoker to better understand the range of Habanos.

There were two other significant decisions.  Firstly the machine-bunched hand-finished method was to be eliminated, due to economic and marketing simplification reasons.  Secondly, the Belinda, Quintero, Jose L Piedra, Gispert, La Flor del Cano, Cabanas, Los Statos de Luxe, and Troya brands will only be made by the “tripa corta” or “mecanizado” methods.
Purchase of Altadis SA by British Imperial Tobacco – 2008

The effect of this purchase is unknown at this time.  To be continued!

Cuban Trinidad Grand Panetela were only available as a diplomatic gift.

Post-revolution brand Released in 1969, but only commercially available since 1997. In 1997 the Cuban Trinidad Grand Pantela was never sold again or to the general public.

In 1997 Cuban Trinidad made public a Fundadores which was similar to the Grand Corona, same lenght(7.6) but the new cigar was a 40 ring gauge and the Grand Pantela was a 38 ring gauge. Medium strength cigars using tobacco from the premium Vuelta Abajo region. There is a non-Cuban brand with the same name.  

There was also a pre-revolution cigar named La Trinidad.  

Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona a cigar before it`s time…
 
The early 1990s were wonderful years for Cuban cigars. Production was relatively small, not rushed, and the cigars coming out of Havana at that time were particularly fine smokes.

The Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona was the greatest cigar made in the world at that time. It is the only cigar to ever score a 99 rating right out of the box – “Pretty impressive” without any aging.

I still wonder to this day what was the one percent flaw that stopped it from getting a hundred?  I think the magizine was afraid to give a perfect score to a freshly rolled cigar.
  

At some point this was bound to come up. “Are Cuban cigars the best of the best?” Certainly their reputation puts them on the top of cigar connoisseurs lists – even if they are illegal in this country. You have probably heard cigars toting the phrase “Made from Cuban seed”. Although this certainly sounds attractive, at this point, most cigar tobacco has come from that origin. Cuban tobacco seeds left Cuba nearly a century ago.

A good portion of Cuban cigar’s reputation has been handed down over time. One thing is for sure; a lot of growers have improved and created great cigars in the interim. 

Are they worth it? In order to address this, let me at least bring you up to speed on a few things that make Cuban cigars unique. 

No Blender Here

As we have mentioned before, most cigars blend several different tobaccos. This is an art in itself (similar to blending grapes to create a good wine). In the hands of an artist you can end up with some incredible cigars. It can also help if some of the tobacco is, shall we say “less than perfect”. Cuban cigars, however ONLY contain Cuban tobacco – always have and probably always will. It is not to say that Cuban cigars could not benefit from “blending” with other cigars – in some cases it would certainly help them in the lean years when weather conditions work against the grower. 

Full bodied AND Smooth?

A good Cuban will accomplish something that is very difficult – a very full-bodied cigar that is still smooth. Not all cigars coming out of Cuba are full-bodied cigars. However, chances are, if you are new to the world of cigars, you may not like a Cuban.

As your cigar tastes change, envision how you may have changed your taste in wine. Most people start with a sweeter wine such as a Zinfandel or even (gulp) wine “coolers”. Then you may move into sweeter chardonnays and then dry chardonnays then something light from the red family (merlots, pinots, etc). Eventually after much “research” your taste buds may have you drinking mostly Cabernet and Bordeaux. Cigars work much in the same way. You may start out with a mild cigar and some time later work you way up to a full-bodied smoke. That may be the point that you introduce Cuban cigars.

Fun Fact: You can try Cuban cigars almost anywhere outside the US. Be sure to look for a reputable dealer, as they are lots of fakes out there. I have heard stories of people bringing them into the US by simply taking off the rings and throwing away the boxes (just no way to verify that the cigar is from Cuba). The legal route would be to talk to your local tobacconist and ask him about “Pre-Embargo” Cubans. These are cigars where the tobacco was brought into the US BEFORE the embargo (1962). This also gives you a great chance to try and aged cigar – expect to pay about $30. 

But are they worth the price? 

In the end, and I can only speak from a personal standpoint, Cuban cigars can be great (if you get a good one). However, I don’t know that they are always worth the price. You can spend anywhere from $30 – $50 for a Cuban cigar. Special occasion, yes. But if you are looking for a better use of your money, you may want to invest in 5-6 great cigars that are not from Cuba. 

Ready to try one? Too many to list here but I would go with a Trinidad Extra Robusto or a Cohiba Esplendido. Both are Flagship smokes for Cuba and seem to have the best quality of tobacco the country has to offer.