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Cigar Size, Shape, Color, Storage, Cutting and Lighting

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Helpful Cigar Tips 

Cigar Size

Cigar sizes are presented on inches for the length followed by a
number - the ring number. This means that a cigar is ring 44, the cigar thick is
44/64 of an inch.

You can find from smaller cigars of ring 26 to the larger ones
produced today over an inch — ring 66.

Cigar Shape

Cigars can be divided on two categories: those with straight
sides - parejos - and those with irregular shapes - figurados.

Parejos are the most common cigars, those that the majority of
smokers is most familiar. In this category you can find most of Cigar Sizes
usual on the market - Coronas, Churchills, Robustos, Double Coronas,
Panatelas, Londsdales.

Figurados, the ones with irregular shapes, can be recognized
by the following types:

Pyramid have a pointed closed end and widens to an open foot.
Torpedo also with a pointed head, has a more closed foot. Perfecto has both
heads closed. Culebra has three panatelas twisted together. Diademas is a big
cigar with eight inches, with one or both heads closed like perfecto.

Cigar Color

Cigar colors are determined by the outside leaf - the wrapper
- and are generally divided on six different categories.

Maduro Dark brown, like black coffee. Traditional Havana color,
with a rich flavor, sweet taste. 

Colorado maduro Dark brown, aromatic, with a rich flavor, used
on the best Honduran cigars. 

Colorado Reddish dark brown, aromatic, used by Cameroon
wrappers on well matured cigars. 

Colorado Claro Medium Brown, used on some Dominican Republic
brands. 

Claro Pale brown, also called natural, neutral flavor, used on
Connecticut shade wrappers. 

Double claro Greenish brown , called candela and AMS -
American Market Standard, with wrappers that haven’t achieved maturity. Very
mild, bland.

Cigar Storage

To keep your cigars in perfect conditions, they must be in
very similar conditions of the semi-tropical environment, this means that you
should keep them at around 18ºC (65ºF), and with a humidity level near 70%.

Cigar storage is very important to avoid that cigars will lose
their properties, losing aroma and becoming dry.

If you are a regular smoker, a humidor will keep your cigars
in perfect conditions. Humidors are fitted with a hygrometer to control
humidity and keep your cigars under recommended humidity conditions.

Cigar Cutting

Before smoking the hand made cigars need to be cut at the
closed end.

This operation can be done with a cigar cutter guillotine or a
cigar scissor. Some use also a knife, but to achieve a good cut is very
important that the cutter chosen is sharp.

The cut must take off about two millimeters of the cap, at the
top of the curve of the cigar closed end. This way you will not damage the
wrapper.

Cigar Lighting

To light a cigar is recommended that you choose a butane
lighter or matches. There are some big and slow burning matches, but generally
cigar smokers make a small bundle of two to four matches and let the sulfur
burn. Gas lighters are not recommended because the odor that can be smelled,
or felt, on first puffs.

Some smokers start lightning the cigar at 45 degrees angle,
dancing with flame on is foot, and at he same time rotating the cigar to be
sure that will have it light all around.

You can also help this procedure by blowing through the cigar.
This will also prevents you from having a puff with lighter gases, or sulfur
from the matches.

By the other end, others prefer first to hold them
horizontally in contact with flame waiting until the end is equally burned and
then putting the cigar on the lips.

With the first puffs and rotating the cigar you will have
control of lightning and at the same time, regulate the burn to be equal on
all the foot.

To not overheat the cigar, and spoil its flavor, do not puff
it frequently. If it goes out, tap the cigar to remove the ash and relight it.
With the lighter put the wrapper similar on all is perimeter and then, light
it again like you had a new one in hand.