It was over ten years ago when I tried and became fascinated with wood tipped cigars, specifically the Hav-A-Tampa which are machine made cigars made in Altadis USA, by the same makers of Phillies and Backwoods. This cheaper alternative to hand rolled cigars came in different variations–original, black and gold as well as sweet and vanilla.

I would occasionally purchase all flavors, but I personally loved the black and gold and the sweet and vanilla ones. Back then they were widely distributed in the United States and were popular for their reasonable prices. Apart from the price, they had built-in wooden tips made of birchwood, made them more convenient and comfortable for non-cigar smokers. They were smooth and they tasted great too, which was a great value for the price.

Hav-A-Tampa Jewels Sweet cigars were made from a distinct blend of Honduran and Dominican imported tobacco. It was aromatic and pleasing too because of its unique design. Eventually it became the world’s most famous wood-tipped cigar outselling other brands due to its price and great quality when it comes to flavor. It was great for any occasion and it was very convenient to take whenever I would go out and have drinks with friends. These light cigars came with a binder and filler.

Unfortunately, due to new laws and the decline in economy, they had to close their factory in Settner in 2009 despite their many efforts to keep the company alive.  The said factory had operated for more than 50 years since 1902. Back then, SEITA which was the French tobacco monopoly and Tabacalera, the former Spanish Tobacoo giant formed Altadis, a multinational company which manufactured cigarettes, tobaccos and cigars. Later on it was bought by the Imperial Tobacco company in February 2008 before it closed down. Nowadays, Black and Mild Wood Tip Wine Cigars and Swisher Wood Tips are available alternatives.

Image from Cigars.com

Storing cigars properly is important because it may compromise its taste and quality. Once it is left in the open, it will dry up just like a flower. Mishandled cigars may burn unevenly or faster than usual. They can have a strong bitter taste and even broken wrappers. Molds and insects also pose a problem.

Prevent these by keeping cigars below the maximum temperature of 73F (23C) and within 68%-74% humidity. The ideal environment would be 70F (21C) and 70% humidity. Cigars that are not stored in a humidor must be kept in a sealed plastic bag with a damp towel.  They often last a week or two, depending on the weather. Do not store them in the refrigerator, because they will lose their moisture. Although in some cases, it is acceptable to freeze them to avoid insect infestations.

Preferably cigars should be placed in a humidor, a sealed container which has a humidifying device that maintains its internal humidity and temperature by controlling the amount of air that flows in. They simulate the conditions of the tropics where the tobacco was cultivated, fermented and rolled.

There are many types of humidors to choose from. It is best to invest in one with a lock or heavy lid that keeps it sealed. The size will depend on how much cigars you plan to keep and where you will place it. If you have a collection of cigars or are planning to collect then it is wise to purchase a large box. Small humidors and travel sizes are also available.

Image from Brandt Kurowski

Cigar wrappers affect their taste and overall experience. Finding the right one depends on your taste and preference. They differ in color and each give off a distinct taste ad flavor making them unique.

Here is a list of the different cigar wrappers available in the market:

Claro

This type of wrapper is grown under a net. It is harvested before it matures and it is dried quickly. The Claro produces a mild taste and is light tan in color.

Double Claro

It used to be the most popular type of wrapper. It is light green with a slightly sweet taste. Its color comes from the fact that it was dried quickly with the use of heat.

Maduro

The Maduro goes through a fermentation process, giving it a dark brown or almost black color. It has a smooth and rich taste.

Oscuro

This wrapper is very dark and almost black. The tobacco leaf used is found at the very top of the tobacco plant and it is usually the last part to be harvested. It gives the wrapper a distinct and strong taste which may seem too strong for some smokers.

Colorado

It is shade-grown and it gives a touch of spice. It is medium brown in color with a reddish hue.

Colorado Claro

This wrapper is usually grown under the sun and it has a smooth, medium taste. It is medium brown in color.

Colorado Maduro

It is considered a cross between a Colorado and a Maduro.

Image from  r_lins

Smoking cigars is not a cheap hobby. Premium hand rolled cigars cost around $2-$28 each in most chops. There are elite cigars though that cost much more than that. As we all know, the better the quality of tobacco used the more expensive it gets. Here is a list of the most expensive cigars in the world:

Padrón Serie 1926 80 Years – $30.00

This cigar was created to celebrate the 80^th birthday of the company’s founder, Jose Orlando Padron. It is the cheapest premium cigar which comes wrapped in natural wrappers or maduro. These cigars are packed in boxes of eight pieces, but they are also sold individually in many cigar shops.

Cohiba Esplendido – $34.00

This brand was founded in the mid-sixties in Havana, Cuba where it is still produced today. It comes in packs of three ($92) and boxes of twenty-five ($750).

Stradavarius – $34.70

The Stradavarius Churchill is a combination of Nicaraguan, Mexican and Dominican tobaccos rolled in Dominican habano seed wrapper leaf. It is sold in packs of ten which are placed in individual containers inside a humidor.

Louixs – $50.00

Its manufacturer claims that it is “the finest cigar money can buy”. The Goldwin Metropolitan Company manufactures it for the Beverly Hills Cigar club and it is packed individually.

Arturo Fuente Opus X BBMF – $55.00

This cigar is so hard to find that even online sellers have few five pack stocks available. It is also interesting to know that the BBMF in the name stands for Big Bad Mother… You can finish the sentence off for yourself and you will know what they are talking about once you have tried this cigar’s unique punch.

Fuente Don Arturo AnniverXario – $78.00

Created by Fuente president Carlito Fuente, this cigar was a tribute to his father in 2001, but released in 2008. It is sold in a 46 maduro chest along with 24 natural wrappers for $7,500.

Arturo Fuente Opus X “A” – $79.00

This very rare individual cigar is only available in selected shops and few online stores. It has a 43 ring gauge and 9.2 inches long.

Cohiba Behike – $470

Behike was first released in 2006. It has a 52 ring gauge and is 7.5 inches. Back then they released one hundred custom humidors which cost a total of $18,000. It is said that the blend may be re-launched as a different blend.

Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve – $750

This unique cigar blend is infused with Louis XIII Cognac. Only 100 boxes of these are produced in a year. It is 7.5 inches long with a 52 ring gauge. A box of twenty is $15,000.

Gurkha Black Dragon – $1,150

The Black Dragon is considered as the most expensive cigar. There are only “five hand carved camel bone chests” that contain 100 cigars which are 8.5 inches long and have a 52 ring gauge. One chest costs a whopping $115,000.

The Cuban products listed here are for informational purposes only. Limited edition cigars and rare items owned by collectors were not included.

Image from SteveGriff.com

Christmas is just a few days away and people are still thinking of what presents to give. People who love cigars often get different kinds as gifts, but there are other things that they would also appreciate. Paying attention to details will make choosing easier.

First things first, get to know the recipient of the gift. Find out the brand, line, blend and size of cigar that person would want most. Since cigars often come in boxes of 25, it is a good idea to divide these into five and distribute them among friends. If you are willing to give them a box, that would be awesome.

If you are not sure of what kind of cigar they like, you can get them a sampler pack that contains various cigar blends for them to choose from. Who knows, they might just find their new favorite blend in one of them. Mild to medium cigar variants are always a safe option.

Cigar accessories also make great gifts. Pick an ashtray, lighter, cigar cutter, travel tubes or cases that fits the recipient’s personality. Better yet, have them engraved with their initials. Humidors also make great presents, but they are quite costly. A nice one costs $100 or even more. New cigar smokers would appreciate a 50-count humidor while veteran cigar smokers would probably need a bigger one.

If you are not sure of what to get, gift cards or certificates from cigar shops would be fantastic. Recipients can choose their present and you are sure that they will enjoy it. It is the easiest and surefire option, but nothing beats the thought behind picking something that suits the person you are giving gifts to.

Image from  Jungle Jim’s International Market

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Photo Courtesy Of: brehantodd

Cigars are often associated with strong and rich tastes, just like coffee. There are a few though who like milder flavors, while some just want to perk up their cigar smoking experience. I have tried a couple in the past and I must say that I enjoy the sweet and lasting tastes of chocolate and cinnamon. I have heard that there are flavors like appletini, mojito, amaretto, rum, vanilla and even fruity ones such as grapes, mangoes, watermelon and many more.

Just a tip though, experts say that flavored cigars should not be stored or aged, for the reason that its flavor may be lost, which is why humidors only serve as containers so that they are preserved and protected. Like cigarettes, never place flavored cigars with regular ones as they can absorb the flavors even if they are sealed and packaged. So the best thing to do is purchase a few flavored cigars for you to try. If you fancy a flavor and buy a box, then it is time to get another humidor for it.

Making your own flavored cigars is also a no brainer. All you have to do is place unflavored cigars in an air-tight container along with the flavor you want. For example if you want to use Irish cream, simply keep the shot glass there and let the liqueur evaporate until it is gone. Do not pour the shot on the cigars.  It may take a few weeks before the flavor is absorbed, but it is worth the wait. If you roll your own, using flavored wrappers are another option for you to conveniently smoke away.

The answer, I have to say, depends on you and your personal preference PLUS the kind of cigar. So how do you know whether you should age your cigar or not?

If you are a new to the cigar smoking world, you might not have an all time favorite cigar yet. Or perhaps you do – you never know. Here is a suggestion to help you determine if you actually should age cigars. I have to warn you, though, this will take a long time.

So here is what you should do. Get your favorite cigar and set it up for aging. The best thing you can do with respect to this is to get yourself a good humidor if you don’t have one. If you can’t afford it right now, then you might want to ask a friend if you could put your cigar in his humidor. Otherwise, you can’t really age a cigar properly and if you are planning on aging cigars in the future, you really need one.

Age your cigar for 6 months to a year and at the end of that time, purchase another cigar – same brand and flavor – and then compare how they both taste. See which one you prefer and you will have your answer.

What do you do about this? Well, there is no need to suffer the smell. There are smoke eaters which can be purchased easily from your local cigar shop. These will do very well for the designated smoking room in the house. You could check out products that are sprayed onto surfaces to “eat” the smell of smoke away. However, this would only work if you spray all the surfaces that smell of smoke. If you have a large smoking area, then it might be a bit too costly.

There are also smoke eaters which function much like an exhaust fan. These are normally used in commercial areas where smoking is allowed in an enclosed place. Of course, they could be quite expensive as well.

My suggestion? Choose a smoking room that has good natural ventilation so that you can get fresh air in more easily. Clean up the room as soon as you can and make use of the cheaper “sprayable” smoke eaters.

Do you have any suggestions of your own?

For the beginning cigar smoker, it would be best to try buying one piece instead of the usual box which would not be light on the pocket of any person. Brands have their say as far as cigars are concerned, but for beginning smokers, this is not yet important.

The essence of what people get from smoke that they have in their mouth is something that no one can really explain. Most people are simply for the acknowledging their curiosity while some are in it because of the things they hear around them.