Protect your cigars from over drying or mold with Boveda 69% Relative Humidity 2-Way Humidity 60 gr Control bags. Our extra protection also covers damages during shipping.
Humidity / Damage
US$
10
Dear [Customer Name],
By placing an order, you agree to pay all customs duties, taxes, and import fees required by your local authorities. You are solely responsible for knowing and complying with your country’s import laws regarding cigars before ordering.
Cigar Country is not responsible for any delays, holds, confiscations, seizures, returns, or destruction by customs. No refunds will be issued for orders affected by unpaid charges or import restrictions.
Welcome to the fascinating world of premium cigars! While they might look simple, cigars are complex creations steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. Years of dedication, time, and care go into every single hand-rolled cigar you smoke.
If you’re new to this world, understanding the basics is key to truly appreciating the experience. This guide is your “Cigar 101,” covering everything from what a cigar is made of to how to choose and enjoy your first one.
What exactly is a premium cigar?
A premium cigar is defined as a cylindrical tube made entirely of high-quality, fermented, and aged tobacco, rolled in a tobacco leaf wrapper for smoking. Unlike cigarettes, they contain no paper, filters (usually), or chemical additives. They are crafted for savoring flavor, not for inhaling.
Unpacking the anatomy: what’s Inside a Cigar?
A cigar’s structure consists of three essential layers, each playing a crucial role in its flavor and burn:
The filler
This is the “engine” of the cigar, making up the bulk of its volume and determining its core strength and flavor. Premium cigars use long-filler leaves (whole leaves running the length of the cigar). The filler is typically a blend of 2-5 different types of tobacco leaves, often sourced from various regions or even countries. These leaves are categorized by their priming (position on the tobacco plant):
Ligero: top leaves, receiving the most sun. They are thick, oily, burn slowly, and provide strength (nicotine) and bold flavor.
Seco: middle leaves. They are thinner, burn well, and contribute aroma and milder flavor.
Volado: bottom leaves. Primarily used for their excellent combustibility, ensuring the cigar stays lit.
The art of the master blender lies in combining these different leaves in precise proportions to achieve the desired strength, flavor, and burning characteristics.
The binder
Enclosing the carefully bunched filler leaves is the binder. Its main job is structural: to hold the filler bunch tightly together, ensuring an even draw and giving the cigar its proper cylindrical shape and density. Binder leaves are chosen for their durability and elasticity, and while less visually important than the wrapper, they also contribute subtly to the overall flavor and burn.
The Wrapper: Beauty and Primary Flavor
This is the outermost, visible leaf – the expensive “tuxedo” of the cigar. The wrapper must be visually perfect: strong, elastic, silky or oily in texture, and uniform in color. It contributes significantly to the cigar’s overall flavor (estimates range from 40% to 70%) and provides much of its initial taste impression and aroma. High-quality cigars will have smooth, unblemished wrappers with nearly invisible seams.
Understanding the basics: key cigar classifications
Cigars vary greatly. Here are the main ways they are categorized:
Strength: mild, medium, or full?
This classification refers primarily to the nicotine content and the physiological effect felt by the smoker, not necessarily the intensity of the flavor. Understanding your tolerance is key to an enjoyable experience.
Mild: lower nicotine content. Ideal for beginners, morning smokes, or those sensitive to nicotine. Allows gentle flavors to shine. (Please read about our top mild cigar choices for beginners.)
Medium: Tthe most common category, offering a satisfying balance of noticeable strength and rich flavor. Appeals to the widest range of smokers.
Full (or Bold): high nicotine content. Recommended for experienced aficionados who enjoy a strong “kick.” Best enjoyed slowly, usually after a full meal, to avoid feeling lightheaded.
Size & shape (vitola): how long will Itlast & how will it taste?
Cigarscome in a vast array of shapes and sizes (called “vitolas”). This influences not only the smoking time but also how the blend’s flavors are perceived.
Common Shapes:
Figurado:iIrregularly shaped cigars requiring greater rolling skill (e.g., Torpedo/Pyramid with a pointed head, Perfecto pinched at both ends). The tapered shapes often concentrate the smoke, intensifying flavors.
Parejo: straight-sided cigars with a rounded head (e.g., Robusto, Toro, Churchill, Corona). The most common shape. The ring gauge (diameter, measured in 64ths of an inch) affects the wrapper-to-filler ratio and smoke temperature. Thicker cigars burn cooler and emphasize filler flavors.
Torpedo
Pyramid
Presidente
Perfecto
Smoking Time
Primarily determined by length and ring gauge. A thin Petit Corona (4 ½” x 42) might last 25-30 minutes, while a thick, long Double Corona (7 ½” x 50) can last 90 minutes or more. Remember, cigars are meant to be savored, not rushed. Choose a size that realistically fits the time you have available. The next step is to cut your cigar, unsure of what to do check out this guide.
The ritual: how to properly enjoy your cigar
Enjoying a premium cigar is a mindful ritual. Following these steps ensures the best experience:
Cut: Using a sharp guillotine, V-cutter, or punch, remove just enough of the cap (the closed end) to create an opening slightly smaller than the cigar’s full diameter. A clean cut prevents unraveling and ensures a smooth draw.
Light: use a butane torch lighter or long wooden matches (let the sulfur head burn off first). Gently toast the foot (the open end) from a distance, rotating the cigar until it’s evenly charred. Then, bring the flame slightly closer and take gentle puffs while rotating until the cigar is fully and evenly lit. Avoid using fluid lighters or candles, as they impart chemical tastes.
Smoke: puff gently, drawing the flavorful smoke only into your mouth (do NOT inhale into your lungs). Savor the taste for a few moments, exploring the nuances, then slowly exhale. A relaxed pace of about one puff every 30-60 seconds is ideal to keep the cigar lit without overheating it (which causes bitterness).
Ash: don’t ash constantly like a cigarette. A well-made cigar will develop a firm ash, typically an inch or more. When it looks ready to fall, gently roll the ash off into an ashtray rather than flicking or tapping.
Finish: smoke the cigar until it becomes uncomfortably hot or the flavors turn bitter, usually with about two inches remaining (the “nub”). When you’re done, simply let the cigar rest in the ashtray. It will extinguish itself gracefully.
Storing your cigars: the crucial role of humidification
Premium cigars are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb and release moisture from the air. They must be stored correctly to maintain their essential oils, flavor, and structure. The ideal environment mimics the tropical conditions where they were made: around 70% relative humidity (RH) and 70°F (21°C) temperature. This prevents them from drying out (becoming brittle and burning hot) or becoming too damp (leading to mold or a plugged draw). For any cigars you plan to keep longer than a few days, a humidor is absolutely essential. Simple solutions like Boveda packs make maintaining perfect humidity easy.
Cigar 101 Questions
Should I take the band off my cigar before smoking?
It’s best to wait until you’ve been smoking the cigar for about 10-15 minutes. The heat from the cigar will warm and loosen the natural, vegetable-based glue used on the band, allowing it to slide off easily without risking tearing the delicate wrapper leaf. Trying to remove it when the cigar is cold can sometimes cause damage
Do I need expensive accessories to start smoking cigars?
No, you don’t need to spend a fortune initially. While high-endaccessories are nice, you only need three functional basics:
Adecent cutter(even an inexpensive guillotine works well if sharp).
Basic storage (even a clean Tupperware container with a Boveda pack works perfectly for short-term storage before you invest in a humidor). Focus on buying quality cigars first, and upgrade accessories later.
How do I know if a cigar has gone bad or dried out?
Use your senses. A dried-out cigar will feel brittle and fragile to the touch, and the wrapper might crack easily. It will smoke hot and taste harsh or bitter. A cigar that has been over-humidified might feel spongy or overly soft, could develop mold (white or bluish spots – not the same as plume/bloom, which is okay), and may be difficult to keep lit or draw smoke through (“plugged”). A cigar in perfect condition should feel firm but spring back slightly when gently squeezed.
Is it okay to relight a cigar if it goes out?
Yes, absolutely. It happens to every smoker. If your cigar goes out, gently tap off the loose ash. Before relighting, some aficionados recommend gently blowing out through the cigar for a second to purge any stale smoke. Then, simply toast and relight the foot as you did initially. While a cigar generally tastes best when smoked continuously, relighting is perfectly acceptable and much better than wasting a good cigar.
Want to receive more info? Subscribe to our newsletter for special discount codes and exclusive content. Make sure to head to Cigar Country to pick your favorite cigars and more! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
(850) 655-0350
