WHAT MAKES A QUALITY CIGAR

WHAT MAKES A QUALITY CIGAR?

Consistency & Construction

Quality aged tobacco and superior construction will create a cigar that is reliable and satisfying in its draw, burn, and taste, smoke after smoke. During the "cigar boom," small factories sprang up overnight and quickly produced cigars that flooded into retail stores. During the boom, consumers (and retailers) were faced with inconsistency in the quality and construction of cigars from these factories. The first shipments from these unknown factories produced quality cigars. Subsequent shipments were inconsistent in taste and appearance.

The boom left us with a few new factories that will join the ranks of the established factories because they decided that quality tobacco and construction were essential. Good construction is the key to a cigar that has good taste and aroma. Even if the roller uses the best tobacco in the world, unless it a cigar is well-constructed, the intrinsic qualities of the tobacco will not be enjoyed.

Construction Characteristics

• Under-filled: Not enough leaves in the filler. The cigar will draw easily but will burn hot and harsh. The many air pockets will cause it to burn fast, thus creating a hot smoke.
• Over-filled: The cigar will be a hard draw, sometimes plugged, making it impossible to draw. It will have less aroma and taste, and will definitely frustrate the person smoking the cigar.
• Good Mouth Feel: The cigar should not feel soft and mushy in your mouth. It should feel firm and resilient.
• The Ash: The ash should be white to steel gray. Taste and burn are interdependent. The ash should be able to grow to an inch long without difficulty. A firm white ash is a good indication that the cigar is well-constructed. A loose, flaky ash is a sign of poor construction. If the tobacco used is fully aged, a dark ring should form at the base of the ash.
• The Burn: If the cigar is properly lit, you should expect it to burn evenly all the way down. Cigars with uneven distribution of tobacco will burn unevenly. Do not crush the cigar out in an ashtray; let it go out on its own. A cigar should hold its fire for two or three minutes without being puffed. It should go out in about five minutes on its own.
• Aesthetics: When you roll the cigar in your fingers, it should look and feel smooth and not have bellies in it. It should not have many blemishes. Cigars should look good and feel good to the touch.
• Draw: You should not experience any difficulty drawing on the cigar, and the smoke should travel smoothly along the full length of the cigar. It should stay lit and not become plugged. If you smoke (draw or puff) the cigar too quickly, you will cause it to burn hot. If you draw too slowly, you will cause it to go out. A puff a minute, holding the smoke in your mouth, whirling it and slowly exhaling, will allow your palate to discover the full flavor of the cigar. Relish the quality. You should savor the taste of a superior cigar just as you would savor a good glass of wine.
  How far down should your smoke the cigar? Half-way to three-quarters of the way is most often the answer. If you keep the band on while you smoke, that could be your stopping point. When the cigar no longer has the taste you have been enjoying, it is probably time to stop. If you are enjoying the cigar, keep on smoking it to the very end.

Do not condemn a brand after just one cigar. You may have just hit upon one that was not up to the manufacturer's standards. The next could be the best you ever had. It is a good idea to smoke between 10 and 25 cigars of the same size, from the same manufacturer before passing judgment. It's difficult work, but somebody has to do it.