The Wonderful world of cigars

In 1492 Christopher Columbus not only discovered a New World, but also a wonderful new past-time that delights connoisseurs even to this day: cigars.

Cigars brought unprecedented popularity that spread throughout Europe and the United States, attracting kings and generals, gentlemen and ladies. In 1900, four out of five men in the U.S. were cigar smokers.

Cuba led the way in the cigar industry. Early in the 16th century, Cuban peasants became tobacco growers. Later, the cigar became the country's national symbol and the Havana cigar became recognized as the world's finest.

Today, Cuban exile cigar-makers have taken their skills and seeds to the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and are producing high-quality super-premium cigars for the American public.

Cigar smoking flourishes even to this day. Celebrities, industry leaders, politicians, as well as factory workers, law enforcement, and every-day women and men, are seen enjoying luxury cigars. The cigar is alive, well, and here to stay.

Choosing a Cigar:  The ring gauge of the cigar will give you a general indication of how full the taste is. The larger the ring size, generally, the fuller, smoother, cooler, and slower the smoke will be. Ring gauge is the standard set to measure the diameter of a cigar. 64 ring is equal to a one inch diameter.

Cutting a cigar: The cap, or the head of a handmade cigar, must be cut before lighting it. You can do this with a cigar scissor, guillotine cutter, or a punch cutter. The guillotine is recommended for the easiest, most effective cut. Make sure not to cut the entire cap off, because this could damage and unravel the wrapper.  Cut the cap in the “dome” part of the cap just before it straightens to the sides of the cigar.

Lighting a Cigar:  Hold the cigar horizontally and rotate it in the flame to evenly warm the end.  Put the cigar in your mouth, keeping it still in a horizontal position.  Hold the flame only to the tip of the cigar, and draw slowly with your mouth as you continue to rotate. This will ensure that it does not burn faster up one side than the other.

Cigars come in many shapes and sizes. Some are straight-sided cigars (parejos), while others are unusually shaped cigars (Figurados), including Pyramids and Torpedoes.
Cigar size is described in terms of diameter and length. Diameter is designated in "ring gauge" - a measurement divided into a 64th of an inch. A cigar with a ring gauge of 42, for example, has a diameter of 42 / 64ths of an inch. Length is measured in inches. One of the things you will notice is that there is little correspondence between the size of a cigar and its flavor and strength. A Romeo y Julieta Churchill tastes very different from a Montecristo Churchill. A big cigar can be mild, and a small cigar can be strong.

CHURCHILL: Large straight-sided cigars with a hefty ring gauge are generally called Churchills in honor of Sir Winston Churchill.
LONSDALE: Relatively long cigars of medium ring gauge are most often referred to as Lonsdales.  Lonsdales are often referred to by other names such as Corona Larga .
FIGURADO: All cigars which do not have parallel or straight sides are Figurados. They include Pyramids, Torpedoes, Belicosos, and Perfectos.
ROBUSTO: Short cigars that are about the same diameter as a Churchill are called Robustos. In some brands they are called Bullies or Rothchilds.

CIGAR CONSTRUCTION

Creating a premium cigar is much the same as a master wine maker blending a fine Bordeaux.  Growing tobacco requires exceptional artistry and experience. Plants are nurtured in nurseries and the seedlings are transported to fields.  During harvesting, leaves are picked beginning at the bottom. Valdo, the bottom leaf has the mildest taste. Seco, the middle leaf, has a medium flavor. Ligero, at the top, has the strongest taste.  (more sun on the leaf = stronger taste)
Curing is the next step. The chosen leaves are bundled according to size and texture and are hung to dry in curing barns for six to eight weeks.
Tobacco must ferment properly in order to smoke with good taste and aroma. Fermentation removes ammonia and other chemical components. Improperly fermented tobacco causes harshness or bitterness, and may not stay lit.
The filler, the binder, and the wrapper are the three parts that make up a cigar. In premium cigars, each has to go through meticulous preparation.
After this preparation, the master blender is now ready to create the "recipe." He pre-blends the filler, selecting a special combination of tobacco leaves. Depending on the ring gauge and type of cigar, a cigar can contain a blend of two to four different tobaccos.  Expert hands make the difference in a fine cigar. The cigar roller forms the filler into a cylindrical shape. This is rolled into a binder leaf and placed in a mold to keep its cigar shape. The roller then skillfully applies the outer wrapper tobacco leaf.
After rolling, cigars are placed in a temperature and humidity-controlled Cedar room called the "marrying room."  This gives the selected tobaccos time to meld their tastes and for the moisture to reach equilibrium.

There are four components used  by   CIGAR AFICIONADO™ for assigning a rating number to a cigar:

APPEARANCE AND CONSTRUCTION
(15 of the possible 100 points)
Visually, a premium cigar should have a smooth, flawless wrapper and be consistent in color and shape. When held, it should feel firm and slightly oily or “fuzzy.” Points are deducted if the wrapper has areas of large veins or if the cigar feels dry or firmer in some parts than others.
FLAVOR
(25 of the possible 100 points)
Although each premium cigar has a distinctive taste, all premium cigars should taste smooth and rich. If a cigar leaves a bitter or harsh taste on your lips, tongue or mouth, points are deducted.                                                                                        

CHARACTERISTICS
(25 of the possible 100 points)
A perfectly made and stored premium cigar should light and burn easily and evenly. The draw should be comfortable and the same throughout the cigar. The smoke should be cool in your mouth. Points are deducted if: the cigar burns too quickly, it burns faster on one side, you have to pull hard to get a mouthful of smoke, or if that smoke is unpleasantly hot.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
(35 of the possible 100 points)
This is the most heavily weighted category because it is the most important.  Is it memorable?  Does the cigar make you want another, or is it forgettable?