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Correct Cigar Storage
Cutting Methods
Lighting Methods
Enjoying your Cigars
Re-lighting and "resting in
peace"
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Correct Cigar
Storage
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A
professional approach to
the care of premium
cigars is of utmost
importance. Incorrect
storage can result in
the formation of mold or
the drying out of the
cigar. A temperature of
approximately 20°
Celsius with a relative
humidity of
approximately 70%
provides the optimal
environment. Because
most enthusiasts do not
have their own cigar
cellar, an ideal
solution may be provided
by a humidor. An
integrated humidifying
system allows for a
constant, optimal level
of moisture of the air,
which provides perfect
conditions for valuable
cigars. A daily, brief
airing of the humidor is
recommended. This
insures that you will
not forget to refill the
humidification system
with neutral or
distilled water. Even
cigars which have begun
to dry out can be
appreciated after
several days in the
humidor.
Keep your cigars away
from foreign odors,
which tobacco absorbs
quickly. A window sill
or a fireplace mantle
are attractive places to
display your humidor,
however, they are not
advisable locations due
to extreme fluctuations
in temperature. Some
aficionados make a habit
of storing newly
acquired cigars together
in a humidor for a few
weeks, without their
protective wrapper or
Tubo, in order to
“marry” their flavors.
The
belief that cigars lose
their flavor and aroma
in storage over several
years is fundamentally a
false statement. In any
case, at least for the
large formats but also
applicable to the
mid-size cigar as well,
it can be that through
proper storage they will
even gain in flavor.
Whoever has seriously
occupied himself with
the subject of “cigar
aging” knows this, and
whoever has enjoyed a
Havana cigar which has
been aged for ten or
even twenty years, will
hardly find the
appropriate words to
describe the complexity
of aromas which he has
had the pleasure to
experience. It is as
with wine; a thirty year
old Bordeaux has
distinct profile and a
much greater complexity
than the same wine after
only two or five years.
At which age the
connoisseur most enjoys
a wine varies from
individual to
individual, likewise the
cigar. To quote an old
adage: de gustibus non
est disputandum (one
does not argue about
taste), especially over
cigars...
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Cutting Methods
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All
handmade cigars must be
opened at their head,
which is the closed end.
Many Cubans as well as
Spanish simply bite off
the cap. We can only try
to discourage this,
because the danger of
ripping the delicate
wrapper is too great.
Cigars must be cut; how
you accomplish this, is
your own personal
choice. The cut should
be clean and even, a
condition indispensable
for the proper draw of a
cigar. There are
numerous technical
devices available to
achieve this, from the
simple pocket guillotine
(with a single or double
blade) up to the
extravagant and quite
difficult to operate
cigar shears. Just as
suitable but less grand
is a sharp pocket knife.
All the same, whatever
you prefer – it must be
sharp in any case. Also,
the entire cap should
not be removed, because
the wrapper would be
ruined; two millimeters
are enough for a smooth
smoking experience.
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To
light a cigar is a
solemn act of great
purpose. Correctly
performed, the flame
never touches the cigar.
Wooden matches or a
butane lighter may be
used (never a gasoline
lighter, because the
fumes spoil the flavor),
and torch lighters are
very recommendable as
well. The way a cigar is
lit affects its taste
and its burn. Take your
time. Hold the cigar in
your hand at an angle of
45° over the flame.
Never hold the tip of
the cigar directly in
the flame, but rather a
slight distance above it
(this applies to
whatever method of
lighting has been
chosen). Turn the cigar
slowly until the entire
surface glows evenly.
When you see a small
cloud of smoke rise from
the end, put the cigar
to your lips and slowly
and calmly draw on it as
you turn the tip
directly over the flame.
The tip should now be in
flame. Next you must
examine whether the burn
is even, otherwise one
side of the cigar
smolders faster. As soon
as the cigar is ignited
properly, the first long
draw on “your cigar”
will reveal the most
intense taste and will
be a very satisfying
experience.
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Cigars taste best when
they are smoked slowly.
Do not draw too often or
puff, otherwise the
cigar will overheat,
producing a bitter
taste. Never inhale the
smoke. Simply retain the
smoke a precious moment
in your mouth, and then
exhale; peacefully
observe how it rises
into the air and enjoy
the moment. Appreciate
the taste, whether nutty,
spicy, woody, perhaps a
bit earthy, strong or
mild. This feeling, the
taste of a good cigar,
together with the
thoughts which
effortlessly glide by,
is impossible to put
into words – just give
it a try.
A
cigar slowly smoked in
total enjoyment offers
30, 40, 45 minutes of
pleasure, and the larger
sizes even longer. The
taste changes as the
cigar decreases in
length, with time the
smoke becomes stronger.
The time has now come to
end the pleasure of the
cigar and an experienced
cigar smoker recognizes
that the substance of
the cigar has been used
up and, satisfied, puts
it aside. Some great
Cuban Cigars:
Cohiba,
Montecristo,
Partagas,
Romeo y Julieta,
Trinidad,
Hoyo de Monterrey.
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Re-lighting
and
"resting
in
peace"
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What should
you do if
your cigar
goes out
during
smoking? No
problem!
Naturally
you don’t
want to
revive a
three day
old cigar
again, but
good taste
does not
prevent us
from
re-lighting
a cigar
which we’ve
allowed to
extinguish
through our
carelessness.
It is
important,
however, to
smooth the
end of the
cigar with
the help of
a match.
Contrary to
common
belief, the
ash of the
cigar does
not
contribute
to the
improvement
of the burn.
It is
appropriate
to remove it
by lightly
tilting the
cigar into
the ashtray,
while
slightly
turning it,
but do not
knock it
off.
A cigar does
not
completely
burn to the
end and
should
therefore
not be
pressed out.
Should
two-thirds
be reached,
the ember
will weaken
and slowly
die. Simply
place the
cigar in the
ashtray and
it will go
out on its
own. A good
cigar is
primarily
made up of
“smoke”.
After
enjoying it,
you should
promptly
remove the
remnants of
your cigar,
since these
will quickly
spread an
unpleasant
and musty
smell.
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Copyright © by DonCigarro,
CH-8702 Zollikon
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