Cigar Accessories & Cigar News Cigar Store

La Flor Dominicana Ligero

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:39:00 +0000

La Flor Dominicana Ligero is considered the crown jewel of the La Flor Dominicana line. The company grows its own ligero tobacco in its own fields, which is then aged for years before rolled into a rich, full-bodied, and exceptionally flavorful blend.

To understand the significance of these cigars you have to understand what Ligero tobacco is. It is tobacco taken from the laves that grow toward the very top of each individual tobacco plant. The leaves on top get the most sunlight and nutrients, which gives the tobacco a stronger, fuller, more powerful taste.

Because of the impeccable construction and flavor of these cigars, Cigar Insider recently awarded a 91 rating to La Flor Dominicana Ligero.

The cigar itself has a firm draw that gives off a creamy smoke. You get a peppery aftertaste after each puff that is noticeable but not overpowering. There are spicy hints as well, deriving from the Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The filler is Dominican in origin, which gives the cigar an ideally balanced flavor.

The finish on the La Flor Dominicana Ligero is equally satisfying. You get a great aroma of cedar and a noticeable touch of roasted almonds. Though powerful, this cigar is never too powerful. It is smooth and very enjoyable, and gives you much to savor after a good meal.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Especiales
This cigar is very oily and has a very even burn. The draw is very rich, with the flavor being distinguished by black cherry, fruit, Cuban coffee, and cedar notes.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel
This is a wedge shaped cigar with a fine Ecuadorian wrapper and Dominican filler. It is a very strong smoke beset now for its wood and spicy flavors. Look for notes of orange as well.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero DL-452
This is a short cigar. It is very dark and oily, and hit has an uneven burn. It begins strong, and it has a flavor similar to that of roasted espresso beans. You also notice leather and earth in the finish.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro
This is a great dark and oily smoke. It is chisel-shaped and gives off a rich aroma of creamy leather and spice.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero DL-700
This is a very large cigar with a length of 6.5 inches and a ring gauge of 60. It has a great draw with coffee, nut, earth, and a hint of molasses.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Oscuro Natural Especiale
This Maduro has a toasty, buttery aroma. It is open to a range of sweet nut and cream flavors and finishes out superbly with a great combination of licorice, almonds, and sweet spice.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Gorda
This cigar has a great leather and wood flavor that is powerful and full-bodied.

La Flor Dominicana Habano

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:29:00 +0000

La Flor Dominicana Habano cigars are widely recognized as having a level of quality similar, if not equal, to many of the finer cigars manufactured in Cuba. This is evidenced by the endorsement of the Habanos Denomination of Origin Protection, which signifies a truly premium cigars by the near universal standard that the legendary Cuban has established worldwide.

It is not easy to obtain such recognition. Many people in the past have tried and tried again to reproduce the quality of Cuban cigars, but they have not been able to. It is not an easy task, because you have to duplicate as much as possible the combination of sun, temperature, humidity, and soil conditions of Cuba itself.

You also have to cultivate your tobacco using seed taken from Cuba itself, which is exactly what Litto Gomez, the originator and grower of La Flor Dominicana Habano cigars, does.

The La Flor Dominicana cigar is highly regarded for its oily, seamless wrapper that gives it a fine appearance and construction. It is a well-packed cigar with no soft spot anywhere.

The flavor of the La Flor Dominicana Habano is quite remarkable. It begins with a taste of spicy molasses that offers hints of pepper, fig, and raisins. As you move into the second third, you notice a taste of molasses, and then you detect hints of leather as well. Finally, when you get to the final third of the cigar, you find that there is a taste of coffee and caramel like sweetness.

One thing you’ll like for sure is its cedar like core. Also, the spiciness is consistent throughout, and the peppery flavor comes from red, not black pepper. In fact, no single taste dominates the Habano, so you get a good blend through and through, until you eventually reach then end where you may pick up some fruity notes as well

In terms of burn and ash, many reviewers have remarked that the La Flor Dominican Habano has the best burn of any cigar made by this Litto Gomez. You get negligible resistance. With negligible resistance throughout, you wind up with a good, strong, white ash with no flaking. It holds for inches without falling on its own.

Most reviews have stated that this is the best of all La Flor Dominicana cigars. The only complaint some have offered is limited availability. Well, people who complain about availability need to consider that valuable things tend to be rare.

They need to be honest with themselves that instant gratification seldom accompanies the quest for true value, and they should be happy when they find an online cigar store like Serious Cigars who can provide them with limited editions and rare blends for affordable prices.

La Flor Dominicana Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:06:00 +0000

La Flor Dominicana 2000 Series
This is a medium to full body cigar. It has a Nicaraguan binder and filler blended of Dominican and Brazilian tobaccos. It comes in a Cameroon wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender
This is a smooth and full smoke. It features Dominican filler and a Dominican binder enclosed in an Ecuadorian wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Cameroon Cabinet
This is a medium smooth smoke with a Cameroon wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler from the Dominican Republic.

La Flor Dominicana Carajos
This is a very full body cigar with an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper. It has a Dominican binder and Dominican filler.

La Flor Dominicana Coronado
This is a very smooth but full tasting La Flor Dominca cigar with Dominican filler and a Nicaraguan sun grown wrapper. The binder is Dominican, as well as the filler.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero
This very full body cigar is made with double ligero Dominican filler, a Dominican binder, and an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Double Press
This medium to full body smoke has a Habano wrapper. It is made with La Canela DR 2004 filler and binder.

La Flor Dominicana El Jocko
This medium body cigar is made with a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler and a Dominican binder. The wrapper is Connecticut.

La Flor Dominicana El Museo
This medium full strength cigar has Dominican filler and binder and comes enclosed in a Dominican wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press II, 12 Ct, and Cabinet
These have been called a spicy, complex, and full cigars with a very interesting composition. The filler is Sumatran, and the binder is 7 year Dominican. The cigar is made with a Nicaraguan sungrown Oscuro natural wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press II Limitada and Press III
Both are full and smooth blends that are made with Corojo filler and Sumatra binder. It also has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Habano
This is a medium strength cigar with a Habano wrapper and Dominican binder and filler.

La Flor Dominicana Ligero and Ligero Cabinet
These full body smokes are made with an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper and Dominican filler and binder.

La Flor Dominicana Limitado III and IV
These are full body smokes made with Dominican binder and filler and an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Little Cigars
This is a great cigar with a medium to full body taste. It is made with a blend of Dominican and Brazilian filler, Nicaraguan binder, and a wrapper from Cameroon.

La Flor Dominicana Mysterio
This is a very full body cigar that is rolled with Dominican filler and binder and an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Premium
This mild, smooth blend is made with Dominican filler and binder and a Connecticut shade grown wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Reserva Especial
This is a medium to full body cigar that is made with Dominican Piloto Cubano filler and a Nicaraguan binder. It is enclosed in an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Salomones
This is a medium full body cigar made with La Canela DR 2005 filler and La Canela DR 2004 binder. The wrapper is Habano.

La Flor Dominicana

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:46:00 +0000

History
La Flor Dominicana is made by the Tabacalera La Flor S.A., a company which was founded in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1996. The owner and founder of the company, Litto Gomez Gomez, has been called by Cigar Aficianado “the most innovative mind int eh cigar business.” This compliment was well earned by Litto’s ability to change misfortune into great fortune. He was once a jeweler with a store in Miami. His store was robbed at gunpoint, and he lost almost ½ a million dollars in jewels. Gomez moved to the Dominican Republic, bought a 120 acre farm, and founded Tabacalera La Flor S.A. There, he began to make cigars under the brand name Los Libertadores. Gomez says it took him about 15 to 20 years to perfect the brand and make it what it is today.

Originally, Gomez’s company grew only binder and filler. However, in 2002 a second 40 acre farm was purchased to produce Corojo and Sumatra sun shade tobacco for wrappers. The company is expected to produce 4 million cigars in the near future.

Process
Gomez insists on quality. Plants are cleaned of the suckers that grow between the leaves and the stems. This is done four times for all one million plants on the farm before they are harvested. When the plants flower, workers strip off the flowers to ensure that the leaves fully develop. Another thing that Tabacalera La Flor S.A. does is to put more space between plants in order to make sure they get more wind and sun on their leaves. This gives the leaves more muscle and a thicker leaf.

Obviously, such measures do limit production of tobacco quantity. But then again, this is about quality, not quantity. This limitation has actually become a strength for La Flor Dominicana. Other tobaccos from other regions have been combined with Gomez’s tobaccos to produce some of the most satisfying blends in the world. La Flor Dominicana cigars are also aged a great deal longer than other premium cigar brands. This brings out complex flavors in the cigars. Like many premium brands, all La Flor Dominicana cigars are hand-rolled and go through a very thorough inspection that guarantees the very best premium cigar quality.

Reputation
Because these are considered a very high quality, fine cigar, La Flor Dominicana is not a brand you find just anywhere. Gomez is selective about his retailers. The balance between availability and reputation, however, has not inflated the price. You can enjoy one of the best cigars in the world at an affordable investment. They are never as much as some of the so-called super premium brands on the market that can cost a small fortune for a single smoke.

Illusione

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:42:00 +0000

The history of this superb company is impressive, to say the least.

Illusione was founded with one thing in mind—to bring back the flavor, character, and quality of pre-Sandinista Nicaraguan tobacco. This had to be done, because the Sandinista regime had a terrible impact on the cigar industry. However, this was not irreversible. The cigar master grower Arcenio Ramos of Cuba came to Nicaragua to re-cultivate the legendary fields of the Jalapa Valley and the Esteli region. His partners in the venture, Chandito and Cuban agronomist Jacinto, form an impeccable team of cigar makers that have resurrected these previously neglected fields to their former glory.

All Illusione’s are made from first generation Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98 seed tobacco. All are wrapped in Café Colorado wrappers and triple-capped in the old Cuban style. This makes them a favorite of veteran smokers who prefer the old Cuban blends, but they are also a rising favorite of new smokers. In 2007, Illusione was rated number 7 cigar of the year in Cigar Aficionado’s top 25.

There are a number of blends to choose from.

888
This is a medium to full-bodied cigar. It tastes of spice and earth and has a long finish. It has been called necessary and sufficient. Cigar Aficionado gave this cigar a 91.

4/2 G
This is a full body cigar by Illusione with a mature character.

68
This is another full bodied cigar with an earthy taste that is somewhat peppery and sweet.

F9
This has been called a perfectly balanced smoke by many. It has a medium to full bodied strength.

88
This Illusione tastes of leather and spice. It is also rich with a flavor of Earth and is noted for its medium to full bodied strength.

2/3
This is called a social smoke. It has a mild to medium strength that is rich in character.

CG4
Also called the white horse, this Illusione has been called clean, bold, bright, and superbly complete.

MJ12
This is called the Majestic, and it has tastes of leather, cinnamon, and a long finish that make it a classic connoisseur’s cigar.

2
This Illusione has a sweet, soulful taste of earth.

1
Known also as the Dark Prince, this cigar is balanced and elegant. It has a complex, progressive strength that makes for an absolutely fine cigar.

MK
This is a classic cigar for connoisseurs. It has hints of leather, cinnamon, and a long finish. There is a sweet touch to it as well due to the high caliber of Viso used in this Illusione blend.

HL
Short for the Holy Lance, you can expect a rich floral and something of a mild exotic spicy aroma and a good, comfortable, medium finish on the palate.

Illusione Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Illusione Cigars were created with the intent to reproduce a specific taste profile from the Nicaraguan past. Prior to the Sandinista takeover of the country in 1979, Nicaragua was known for some of the very best tobacco in the world—particularly that which was grown in the Jalapa Valley and Esteli region of the country. Both of these were known to produce cigar with a bold, clean taste. Communist rule resulted in years of neglect, however, where almost all of the original glory of the region faded in both notoriety and in quality.

However, Arcenio Ramos of Cuba moved here and re-cultivated these fields with the partnership of Fernano, Chandito, and Cuban agronomist Jacinto. This amazing team has resurrected these acres back to their full productive potential.

Today, all Illusione cigars are made from first generation Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 seeds. They are wrapped with Café Colorado wrapper and renowned for their super taste and aroma of smoke. All of these premium cigars are made in small quantities to maintain strict adherence to quality control and consistency.

Illusione cigars are quickly becoming some of the most highly sought after cigars on today’s market. This is because each and every one of them is hand-made in the Raices Cubanas factory. Being triple capped in the old Cuban style, they are something of a contemporary classic, if you will. Although they are new to the market, they have already become established in the world of premium cigars. Cigar Aficionado named them the seventh best cigar of the year in 2007.

There are three lines of Illusione cigars.

The first of these is the original line. It has a dark color, and it has flavors of spice, cedar, leather, and wood. At the finish, this cigar is also sweet and nutty, which works to balance out the other, stronger flavors. This is a strong blend of all Nicaraguan tobacco (filler, binder, and wrapper) and is intended for the experienced cigar smoker with a fully developed palate for a strong, full-body smoke.

In 2009, two other lines of Illusione cigars were launched: the Epernay, and the Cruzado.

The Epernay line is available in four different sizes. These cigars are made from a blend of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos wrapped in a Café Rosado wrapper. They are complex to the taste buds, being characterized by an array of flavors that include coffee, honey, and a creamy finish.

The Illusione Cruzado also has a medium flavor. It is balanced by a Criollo wrapper enclosing a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers and a Nicaraguan binder.

While many claim that the past is forever lost, and that it is never possible to reclaim what has been lost to posterity, Illusione cigars proves this assumption wrong. When you light up an Illusione, you are enjoying the best of a past brought forward in time in a very modern and convenient moment of present time.

G.A.R. Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:01:00 +0000

Where does the unique name of G.A.R. originate?
G.A.R. cigars are named after George A. Rico. The name is something of a pun, though, because many cigar aficionados refer to any cigar as a “gar” for short.
What is the story behind G.A.R. cigars?
It is quite a remarkable story. Don Guillermo Rico is known to be a patient man. He is a third generation tobacco maker known for his attention to detail. Going all the way back to the 1920s, his family was highly respected for the dark tobacco they produced. Don Guillermo grew up rolling cigars at home. In 1995 he moved to the United States and began working as a cabinet maker making cigar boxes. When he saw the boom in the cigar market occur afterwards, he founded his own cigar company.

His 29 year old son, George A. Rico, worked with him for 9 years, and then founded his own cigar company. Don Guillermo is proud of his son, and full supportive of his new organization, G.A.R. cigars.

What is the flavor of these cigars?
G.A.R. cigars begin with hints of spice and a taste of pepper, but it is not too much. After a bit, the cigar mellows and becomes a very nice, creamy smoke. It carries with it hints of sweetness and spice throughout. As you progress along the way, you also notice a mild, tasty flavor. This is a very complex smoke whose careful blend makes for a very comfortable and enjoyable cigar.

Specifically, the smoke is creamy and earth. There is also the definitive taste of well-rounded aged oak and the noticeable taste of sweet cedar flavor. All of the flavors come alive in the last third, making the finish on a G.A.R. cigar a true cigar moment in time.

What is the Construction and Draw like?
G.A.R. cigars are very well made. You never have to retouch or relight one. Many reviewers comment that it has a near perfect burn, making the draw absolutely fantastic as you puff away. You get a nice firm ash as well, but it never holds for more than ¾ inches. Some reviewers note that it takes about an hour to smoke one of these cigars and still have as much as two inches remaining.

What is the tobacco like in these cigars?

G.A.R.
This is a medium to full-bodied cigar with a full flavor. It is carefully hand-crafted with Ecuadorian Corojo wrappers and a mix of vintage Nicaraguan long-fillers. It gives a rich smoke with distinct tastes of roasted coffee and a creamy core of tasty tobacco flavors.

G.A.R. Lux
This is a full bodied Nicaraguan and Dominican cigar. It is has the bold flavors of Nicaraguan tobacco and the full flavor of Dominican ligero. It is contained within a Cameroon binder and an oily Nicaraguan wrapper.

G.A.R. Vanguard
This is a medium to full-bodied G.A.R. cigar with a full flavored Nicaraguan Puro. It is wrapped in a beautiful vintage Nicaraguan wrapper grown in the Jalapa valley. It has a distinctively sweet, tangy flavor with dark chocolate tones.

Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:34:00 +0000

The Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic is also known as the black label. Don Garcia Pepin is a true master of cigar making. He started his career in Cuba and now operates his impeccable organization out of Miami and Nicaragua. Aficionados throughout this great big beautiful world of ours consider the black label to be very much like fine Cuban cigars.

Cigar Aficionado gave this cigar a rating of 92.

Where is the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Cigar made?
It is made in the Estelí factory in Nicaragua.

Is it expensive?
Surprisingly, it is not expensive.

What is the appearance and construction like?
The Don Pepin Garcia Cuban classic has a flawless appearance with no construction issues. It looks somewhat rustic, evoking memories of classic times. Its textured, smooth brown wrapper feels just right to the touch.

The cigar is firm to the touch, but there is just enough looseness within to give you a draw without complication or stress. You will feel no soft spots on the wrapper when you pinch it, and the few veins visible never protrude above the surface. Perhaps the best thing about the cigar in the beginning of the experience is the cap itself. It is very clean, with three sharp lines that define its triple layers. The cap is very firm too, allowing you to effortlessly slice off a wedge.

The oversized band draws immediate attention to it, increasing its attraction factor even further.

What is the aroma like?
The aroma of the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic is dry and spicy. It has a powerful finish and good balance all the way to the end.

Is this a full body cigar?
Yes. Being reminiscent of Cuban cigars, the Black Label definitely is a strong smoke for the strong smoker.

What type of flavor characterizes the Don Pepin Garcia Cigar?
More than anything else, these fine cigars draw upon the flavor of the tobacco itself. This works to compliment the entire blend. What you end up experiencing is a definitive mix of Earth tones and white pepper that cuts out the initial sweetness you taste when you first light it.

In the beginning one third, you will notice a distinct cherry core that transforms into the second third into a taste of cedar. The white pepper changes to black pepper as well, giving this cigar a good, strong finish.

What type of tobacco is used to make Don Pepin Garcia Cigars?
These cigars are made with Habano Rosado wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder.

What is the draw and burn like?
The draw is tight but not too tight. It complements the sharp burn and leaves a tight white gray ash behind it.

Don Pepin Garcia Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:11:00 +0000

Don Pepin Garcia Cigars s are renowned throughout this great big beautiful world of ours as epitomizing strength, full body, quality taste, and excellent burn.

This is because each and every Don Pepin Garcia cigar that is made in the El Rey de los Habanos factory carries with it an exclusive seal of quality. El Rey de los Habanos carefully supervises the process from start to finish, ensuring the pride and quality of the family name.

How strong are these cigars?
Don Pepin Garcia cigars are medium to full body.

What is the keynote flavor to these cigars?
They are all known for something of a trademark peppery flavor. Other flavors you find in them are coffee, mocha, wood, and spice. Some labels also have hints of caramel, espresso, cinnamon, and cream.

What are some of the more renowned and popular Don Pepin Garcia Cigar labels?

Blue Label
The Blue label is full in body and features a very unique blend and composition. You will find it to have a very enjoyable flavor with a superb aroma and fantastic burn rate. It is made with Nicaragua filler and binder and a Corojo Oscuro wrapper. Blue Label comes in a box of 25 cigars that includes 10 natural Vitolas.

Series JJ
The series JJ is a medium to full bodied cigar that has a very deep and excellent flavor characterized by a notable taste of cream. It is made with a Nicaraguan Corojo Rosado wrapper that surrounds Nicaraguan filler and binder. It comes in an attractive “Flip Top” cedar box that contains 24 cigars, 4 of which are naturals, and 3 of which are maduros.

Black Label Edition
This is the newest label of Don Pepin Garcia Cigars that was introduced to the United States in 2006. It is made in Tabacalera Cubana in Estelí, Nicaragua and comes packed in cedar cabinets of 20. It has a Habano Rosado wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder. The black label has received a rating of 90 from Cigar Aficionado.

Vegas Cubanas
This cigar has a medium strength and is known for its magnificent flavor and aroma. It is made with Cuban Seed Corojo 99 blend and has a Habano Rosado Claro wrapper. The box of 25 includes 6 Natural Vitolas.

El Rey de los Habanos
This mild cigar is made with Cuban seed that is wrapped in Corojo Rosado Claro grown in Nicaragua. 23 cigars come in a completely new Cabinet Style cedar box of 23 with 5 natural Vitolas.

Series JJ Maduro
This is a cigar that begins medium and finishes with a strong full body. It has a fine draw and a perfect burn. It is renowned for its dark Corojo Maduro wrapper and superb Nicaraguan filler.

Don Pepin Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:25:00 +0000

Don Pepin Cigars are premium hand-made cigars that are manufactured by El Rey de los Habanos, Inc.

What do connoisseurs think of Don Pepin Cigars?
Jose “Don Pepin” Garcia has been called a master cigar maker. He makes several lines of cigars under his own name, and he also makes cigars for other brands as well. People come to him from all over the industry because of his impeccable skill and personal integrity. The man, simply put, knows what he is doing when it comes to making a fine cigar.

His Blue Label cigars are made in Miami. They are hand-rolled with tobaccos grown exclusively in Nicaragua. Other lines include the Vegas Cabana, Don Pepin Black, Don Pepin JJ, and many more.

What are the flavors like in Don Pepin Cigars?
It has been said that these cigars have something of a trademark taste of pepper. Many lines are definitely spicy. You can also expect to encounter other rich and unique flavors as well. There are hints of mocha, wood, coffee, and cream in many labels you can try. Caramel, cinnamon, and espresso are also. Most lines are noted to have a peppery, spicy flavor. Some have notes of mocha, wood, and coffee.

Are these full, medium, or mild cigars?
Most are full body in constitution.

What are some newer lines of Don Pepin cigars?
There are too many to enumerate in detail in a single blog. Some of the more acclaimed lines include the following:

DPG Series JJ’s
This is a Belicoso cigar known for its medium to full body strength. It has a Nicaraguan Criollo binder and a Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo filler.

My Father by Don Pepin Garcia
This blend came about as a joint effort between Don Pepin and his son Jaime Garcia. It is made in the Habanos factory in Little Havana in Miami. Only 50,000 of these cigars are made per year.

Don Pepin Black Cigars
This has been called the most affordable and the newest of Don Pepin cigars. It is made in Estelí, Nicaragua, and it comes packed in cedar cabinets of 20. Each cigar is made with Nicaraguan filler and Habano Rosado, with the band being black.

Don Pepin Blue Cigars
Blue label cigars are made with Corojo and Criollo long filler and a dark Corojo wrapper. This results in a full body smoke that is hearty and satisfying. You can savor the rich taste of coffee, spice, and earthy flavors as you enjoy it to the last puff.

Davidoff Humidor

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:42:00 +0000

What are cigar humidors?
Cigar humidors are containers that are used to store cigars. Most are made out of Spanish cedar. This provides an ideal environment for cigar storage.

What does a cigar humidor look like?
It looks like a simple wooden box. However, it does so much more than simply store cigars. Its most important function is to maintain humidity and temperature levels. This keeps cigars fresh and preserves their flavor. Devices called humidifiers are installed inside humidors to keep the humidity at desired levels.

Why are humidors needed?
Without humidification, cigars become dry and lose their flavor. They will also burn and ash too quickly. That is why it is so important to spend the money on the type of quality you find in a Davidoff Humidor. The serious smoker takes pride in taking care of cigars, and in the investment made in the fine, exclusive, hand-craftsmanship for which the Davidoff workshop in Switzerland is renowned.

Here, exotic hardwoods are used to manufacture some of the world’s finest humidors.

What do I need to know about buying a humidor?
Whenever you purchase a humidor, you have to make certain that it is going to prolong the life of your cigars. Some places offer plastic humidors as a discount. These are all well and good as a temporary storage measure, but they are not good to use on a long-term basis. A quality box, such as a Davidoff humidor, is going to have several distinguishing characteristics to guarantee freshness in your most premium cigars.

• Constructed from wood
• Lined with Spanish cedar
• Preferably hand crafted for a better, tighter seal
• Inside of box has a raised lip around the inside
• Should be capable of storing at least 25 to 30 cigars

What are some other features that a Davidoff humidor can have?
Additional features could include locks that prevent people in your home or office from dipping into your cigar stash. Some humidors also have handles. Handles make a humidor easier to carry, and they add an elegant touch to the woodwork. Shelves and dividers can also be added that will let you organize your cigars by brand and line.

What types of humidors do you make?
There are small, medium, large, and travel-size Davidoff humidors. They are built to last a lifetime.

The large humidors are exclusively hand-made in a famous workshop in Switzerland. They are crafted from exotic hardwoods and then polished in natural wood veneers. They also are fashioned with locks, handles, and trays.

Why are Davidoff humidors better than most?
Their combination of superior craftsmanship and reliable technical function makes them the best investment for the serious cigar aficionado. Their classic design styles often qualify them as family heirlooms. They are covered in the finest European leather and lined on the outside with brass fittings.

Their humidification systems are self-regulating and give your cigars the very best relative humidity necessary to preserve flavor and aroma.

Davidoff Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Davidoff cigars epitomized luxury-quality cigars, being called by some the elite of the elite. Made in the Dominican Republic, these favorites of cigar aficionados are known to be some of the smoothest and most consistent smokes in the industry. While this is the cigar of the connoisseur, no doubt, it also enjoys the unique position as being a cigar that any smoker of any level of experience can appreciate.

Part of this is due to the unique cultivation, blending, and aging process used to make the tobacco. The other source of this wide range of popularity is the many different lines that Davidoff produces. Offering a full range of flavors and strength, these lines represent everything from creamy and smooth to spicy and strong.

What strength are they?
There are full strength, medium, and mild Davidoff cigars, as follows:

• Grand Cru-full body
• Millennium-full and mature, favored by Dominican lovers
• Classic Series-mild
• Thousand Series-mild
• Mini Cigarillos-mild
• Exquisito Cigarillo-mild

What is the draw like?
Deliberate and careful construction makes for a perfect draw. Davidoff is known to set the standard for a well-made cigar that makes for a comfortable and easy smoke. The burn is consistent, and evident of superb quality.

What type of flavor do they have?
You get complex, subtle flavor and rich aroma from Davidoff cigars. The people who blend these cigars go through extensive training to ensure that it gets done right. Years of experience on top of the training make for a rich aroma on top of the flavor. Reviews have described the tobacco as somewhat woody and sweet.

What type of filler do they have?
Davidoff cigars are made with tobaccos grown in the richest soils of select fields in the Dominican Republic. Several different varieties are used to produce the creamy filler that goes into these cigars.

Davidoff cigars are handmade in the Dominican Republic with a variety of mild and creamy Dominican filler tobaccos. Leaves are carefully selected on the basis of their aroma and put through a four year aging process to produce the consistently smooth taste that Davidoff is known for.

What kind of wrapper do they have?
Davidoff cigars are enclosed in Connecticut-shade wrappers.

Are Davidoff cigars considered premium in quality?
All Davidoff cigars maintain well defined standards of quality and excellence. They are handmade according to a 500 year old cigar-making tradition in the Dominican Republic.

All Davidoff cigars are handmade in the Dominican Republic, where for over five centuries this art has been passed on from generation to generation.

Like all Davidoff cigars, the Short Perfecto is rolled by hand from fully matured tobaccos grown in the Dominican Republic. For the Short Perfecto, a new blend of tobaccos has been created for the Short Perfecto format. These tobaccos are stored for up to four years before processing.

Camacho Corojo Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:07:00 +0000

Is the Camacho Corojo a premium cigar?
Yes. It is handmade in Honduras, and known for its authentic genetics, taste, quality, raw material, tradition, and superb blend.

Are these strong cigars?
Oh yes. They are, in fact, some of the strongest in the world. This is because they are made with a rich blend of tobaccos grown in Honduras from rare seed that was smuggled out of Cuba after the embargo.

This makes the Camacho Corojo a one-two punch of assertive, robust taste, and depth.

What is the draw like?
In spite of the fact that the Camacho Corojo is jam packed with tobacco, you still get an easy and consistent draw.

What type of flavor do they have?
The flavor is rich, distinctive, spicy and simplemente superb. It is the result of the vintage tobaccos that are grown in perfect soil and climate conditions that are comparable to those of Cuba’s renowned Vuelta Abajo Region. This creates a smooth, legendary, and outstanding taste.

Aficionados have described the flavor of Camacho Corojo cigars as being that of nuts and leather in the very beginning. Toward the midpoint, many notice a change toward that of espresso and peppery spice. Others describe the flavor of Camacho Corojo cigars as Havana-like in flavor.

People attribute this unique blend of earth and coffee to the Cuban origin of the seed tobacco, and the rich Cuban heritage from which this blend has sprung.

This is a flavor that endures the test of time. It starts strong and ends strong, ending well as it does so, and maintaining its title among new smokers and veteran aficionados alike that this is one of the strongest smokes every produce in this big beautiful world of ours.

What type of tobaccos are the fillers and wrappers made from?
The wrapper, binder, and filler are all Honduran Corojo. They are grown in the Jamastran valley. The wrapper is made from a stunning dark, oily wrapper that is authentic Corojo. The tobacco leaf is aged for two years, and the cigars are rolled by hand.

The wrapper is firm, dark, and oily. The slow fermentation that has gone into making it contributes much of its acclaimed flavor. However, there is another ingredient at work here. The 100 percent authentic Cuban-seed tobacco contributes a rich toastiness that is both uncommon and sophisticated.

How highly are they rated?
Camacho Corojo cigars have been called the best non-Cuban Habanos you can find. The Corojo also received a rating of 93 from Cigar Aficionado. This is also the perfect cigar for the smoker who remembers the pre-embargo days when you could smoke a real Cuban without politics and contraband getting in the way of Universal High Life.

Camacho Havana Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:16:00 +0000

What is the strength of these cigars?
Camacho Havana Cigars are Medium to Full Body in Strength. It is a more powerful blend that is meant for the experienced smoker more than the beginner. It has been said that this is the closest thing to a Cuban you can get without smoking a Cuban itself—or paying Cuban prices.

What is the draw like on these cigars?
The draw is easy at first. It gives you some resistance, but only a little. The intention is to give you a good mouthful of thin white smoke so you can immediately plunge into the experience of the flavor. Toward the last one-third of the cigar, you will notice more resistance to the draw, which keeps the palate moist all the way till the end of the smoke.

What is the flavor like?
It has a very complex flavor. The taste is very spicy and strong like old Havana blends. There are hints of cedar and oak, and there is a noticeable taste of honey.

Is the Camacho Havana a premium cigar?
Yes. This is one of the most popular brands in the cigar world. These cigars are hand rolled and are constantly in high demand.

Are there different blends of Camacho Havanas?
Yes. There are five blends in total, as follows:

Churchill
This is an oily, cuadradro box-pressed cigar distinguished by a medium body and lots of thick smoke.

Figurado
Look for notes of leather, steel, and chocolate in this rich, thick, chewy blend.

Gigante
This is yet another rich, strong, spicy-tasting blend with a peppery finish.

Monarca
Look for a leathery flavor than turns to chocolate toward the one-third mark. At the final third, you notice a distinguishable taste of pepper..

Toro
This has been described as a rich, creamy, and flavorful smoke.

How highly are they rated?
Let’s just say just about as highly as any cigar could be rated. Not too long ago, there was a blind taste test between Comacho Havanas and three Cuban blends. The Camacho’s won 11 times based on their power, body, and flavor. Aficionados agree that much of this success is attributable to Corojo filler and binder and the unique new Camacho Havana.

What type of filler and wrapper are they made with?
Each cigar is handmade with carefully-aged, 100% Honduran-grown, Cuban-seed Corojo fillers surrounded by Jamastran Havana Criollo wrappers.

How much does the Camacho Havana Cost?
The great thing about these cigars is their price. As a Honduran cigar with near-Cuban quality, it sells for less than half the price of many of the very best Honduran equivalents.

Camacho Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:23:00 +0000

How highly are Camacho cigars rated?
They are considered the very best Habano cigars found anywhere in the world, with the exception of Cuba. The tobaccos used to make these cigars come from seeds taken from Cuba to Honduras. Here, they have since become a mainstay in the world of cigar smoking.

Who makes Camacho cigars?
They are made by Camacho Cigars®, a company owned since 2008 by the Oettinger Davidoff Group. Camacho grows its own tobacco, manufacture the cigars themselves, and handle their own distribution.

How highly is this rated?
Camacho cigars are rated exceptionally high among cigar aficionados. They are considered to be among the world’s most premium cigars.

Where is the tobacco grown?
The tobacco is grown in the Jamastran Valley, located in Honduras. Cigars are made completely from Maduro filler and wrapper.

What is Maduro tobacco, exactly?
In Spanish, Maduro means “ripe.” In the cigar world, it refers to a tobacco leaf that is medium or dark brown. Several different methods are used to create this dark color. Some are fermented, while others are simply left on the plant for a longer period of time before being picked.

In the case of Camacho cigars, the leaves are fermented for a lengthy period of time that draws all of the sugars out of the plant.

Is this a mild, medium, or full-bodied strength?
The best way to describe it is a medium strength bordering on full. The degree of fullness depends on the degree of Maduro in the tobacco.

How many different lines does Camacho offer?
There are premium blends and ultra premium blends. Serious Cigars is proud to carry both as follows:

Camacho Triple Maduro
This is the world’s only 100 percent Maduro cigar. It has a full-bodied strength that derives from all Maduro, Honduran wrapper, binder, and filler.

10th Anniversary
This is a box-pressed, anniversary cigar. It has an all Corojo wrapper, binder, and filler with a medium to full body strength.

Diploma
This is a full body cigar that is also made Corojo wrapper, binder, and filler.

Liberty 2007 and 2009 Series
These cigars have been called Camacho’s tribute to America. The 2007 a Barber Pole wrapper and a Honduran binder and filler. It is described as a medium to full body strength.

The 2009 has a Habano wrapper, a Honduran binder and filler, and a full body strength.

Select
This Camacho cigar has been described as having the best Cameroon wrapper ever. It has Honduran filler, a Honduran binder, and a medium to full body strength.

Corojo
This is the world’s only authentic Corojo cigar. It is made using Corojo binder and filler, along with a Corojo wrapper, to produce full body strength.

Coyolar
The Robb Report called this blend the Best of the Best in 2006. It is an all-Coyolar cigar with full body strength.

Camacho Havana
This Camacho cigar has a Habana Criollo wrapper surrounding an authentic Corojo binder and filler. It has a medium to full body strength.

Camacho SLR and SLR Maduro
These cigars are made with Corojo filler, Honduran binder, and Habano/Broadleaf Maduro. Expect a good, full body strength from these cigars.

Camacho Connecticut
This is a mild to medium, well balanced smoke for the luxury minded. It has a blend of Dominican and Honduran filler and a Honduran Binder. It also has a Connecticut (Ecuador) wrapper to contribute to its exceptional flavor and strength.

Ashton Cigar Sampler

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:23:00 +0000

Ashton Cigar Sampler- Pack of 10
Heritage Puro Sol
This is one of the most popular blends in our Ashton cigar sampler pack of 10. It was introduced to the market in 2003 and became instantly popular. This was because it was the first Ashton blend to use an African Cameroon sun-grown wrapper around 100 percent Dominican filler. This is a medium-bodied cigar that discriminating smokers simply love.

Belicoso
This very hard to come by cigar is included in our Ashton cigar sampler. It is blended by Carlos Fuentes himself using very small-batch Dominican long filler that has been aged up to 5 years. The wrapper comes from and exclusive, very private estate in Ecuador.

Corona Gorda
This is reputed to be one of the best in the Ashton sampler pack, and indeed the world, in terms of both size and shape. The draw is excellent. The full-bodied smoke has a leathery flavor touched by sweetness, cedar wood, and a hint of chocolate.

Ashton Classic Magnum
The Magnum is a Mild to medium bodied cigar.

Ashton Classic 8-9-8
The 8-9-8 is renowned for its Dominican tobacco that takes 3 to 4 years to age. It is characterized by medium body and hints of peppery spice. The draw is just right for any smoker, anytime, anyplace.
The Aged Maduro The Aged Maduro has a full, sweet, and complex strength that comes from a Connecticut wrapper and Dominican filler.Virgin Sun Grown: Robusto
This is a VSG addition to the Ashton cigar sampler with a Dominican sun grown wrapper. It is a straight cigar (in terms of shape) and has a nice full bodied strength to it.

Virgin Sun Grown: Sorcerer
This is a full bodied, straight cigar in a full-bodied Dominican Republic wrapper.

Cabinet: #8
This is a medium, rich cigar with a Connecticut wrapper and Dominican filler and binder. It has a very nice and complex taste. It has been called the “White Burgundy” of the cigar world because of its special aging process in French Oak Barrels.

Pyramid This is medium body strength with a Colorado wrapper. It is pyramid in shape, hence its name.

Ashton Sample Pack of 5

Sorcerer
This is a double corona size cigar has mocha hints mixed with vanilla. It also has some deep roasted notes to its taste. The flavors are consistent throughout, and it has a nice construction.

Torpedo
This torpedo-shaped cigar in our VSG Ashton cigar sampler measures 6 1/2 inches in 55 ring guage. It has exceptionally high ratings.

Corona Gorda
This is a special size of the Heritage Puro Sol. It is said to be a very well-made cigar. It has an even burn and a good flavor to its smoke. It starts out mild and evolves toward a medium strength. It is 100 percent sun grown.

Robusto
This is a great smoke for a new smoker because it has a mild strength with toasty notes and it is not so big in size.

Our VSG Ashton cigar sampler also includes Belicoso No. 1 so you can have that rare cigar anytime you like.

Ashton VSG

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:37:00 +0000

How highly is the Ashton VSG ranked by aficionados?
Since its emergence on the scene, Cigar aficionados the world over have consistently rated the Ashton VSG as one of the very best non-Cuban cigars, anywhere. The VSG is highly touted for its deep and rich color which derives from its sun-grown tobacco.

What are the basic facts about Ashton VSG cigars?
It has a powerful, rich, and complex flavor that comes from an Ecuadorian wrapper surrounding Dominican binder and filler.

Is this a premium cigar?
Most would either describe it as a fine or very good cigar. Some people instantly take to it as their all-time, new-found favorite.

Is this a mild, medium, or full-bodied smoke?
It is a full-bodied smoke that is generally appreciated more by veteran smokers who want a complex blend of flavors and aromas. It is definitely a more powerful smoke for those who appreciate the virtues of strength, although it also has a creamy flavor that many also notice and absolutely adore.

What specifics can you tell us about the flavor?
Many have described this as an elegant cigar with an intoxicating flavor. In the beginning, just after lighting it, you will notice floral notes and flavors that remind you of plum.

There is a distinctive taste of natural tobacco. There are also hints of spice, clove, and cinnamon. Towards the middle an Ashton VSG, it is less dry; with some saying there is a leathery component that adds sense and sensibility to the smoke. Some also report a cedar sweetness that begins to form on the taste buds. This continues all through the duration of the third stretch of the smoke, with a note of raw peanuts being added along the way.

What accounts for the uniqueness in flavor?
The Ecuadorian wrapper has a great deal to do with it. It is grown by the Oliva family in Ecuador exclusively for the Fuente Family. The leaf comes from the matures and higher primings that are sunlight filtered through this part of the world’s cloud covering. This unique wrapper has made the Ashton VSG the most in demand cigar on the market today.

What is the burn on this cigar?
The Ashton VSG is respected for its slow, even burn. It leaves a medium gray ash, which often lasts through the midpoint before it falls. This is due thanks to an even and firm construction.

What is the size and appearance of the Ashton VSG?
It has a distinctively square shape that it has become known form, with a dark and oily wrapper to give it extra flavor and aroma. There are also round cigars you can buy if you prefer. The most common size is the 55 ring-size Torpedo. Ashton also makes this blend in ring sizes of 44, 46, and 52.

Ashton Maduro

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:59:00 +0000

What are the basic facts about Ashton Maduro cigars?
They have a full, sweet taste and complex aroma. They are made with fine Dominican filler, a Dominican binder, and a Connecticut shade-grown wrapper.

Because the Connecticut broad-leaf tobacco that is used to make the wrapper is available in only limited quantities, the Ashton Maduro is an extremely rare form of cigar.

You describe the flavor as full. Does that mean it is strong?
No. Fullness here refers to complexity, not harshness. Cigar reviews of the past have noted that the Ashton Maduro is a remarkable example of how fullness is different from strength. Fullness is about the pleasure derived from tasting and smelling the cigar. Strength, on the other hand, refers to the power of the cigar’s nicotine content. One of the things that makes this such a truly fine cigar is you don’t get that punch to adrenalin that could ruin a relaxing moment. Instead, you get something that goes down smooth like a neat scotch—or even better, with one—and can be equally appreciated by cigar veterans and neophytes alike.

What specifics can you tell us about the flavor?
When you first light up an Ashton Maduro, the first taste of it is very sweet. As you progress, the flavor transforms into a very rich and nutty flavor. There are also subtle hints of apple, and a finish that many cigar experts have referred to as creamy in cigar guides and reviews.

This shifting of flavors is as smooth as the draw of the smoke, and is never a shock to your palette. It is there thanks to the fermentation and aging of the Connecticut-shade wrapper in Sherry finished, French oak barrels.

Why are the wrappers fermented with such painstaking care?
There is a good reason for this. The aging process used here makes the wrapper exceptionally oily. If you are new to the world of cigars, please understand the importance of this. An oily wrapper, contrary to what you may assume in comparison to other oily things in the world, is a PREMIUM WRAPPER. Dry wrappers do not burn as evenly, nor do they taste as good.

Is the filler in an Ashton Maduro equally premium in quality?
Yes. Not only is it an exceptional quality of tobacco in and of itself, but it is carefully rolled by hand by only the most experienced torcedores at the Fuente factory.

You mentioned the easy draw of the Ashton Maduro. What does this mean?
When the filler is evenly distributed and properly contained within the binder and the wrapper, it is smooth and firm within your grip. It will be tight enough to not fall apart on you, but not so tight that you cannot easily draw smoke from the end. Easy draw, then, more than anything else, comes from impeccable construction

Is this a cigar you should smoke everyday?
If you choose to invest in a premium cigars for daily use, why not? However, most smokers consider the Ashton Maduro to be a cigar for special occasions due to their premium quality and justifiably higher price.

Either way, this blend is well worth the money you spend on quality regardless of the quantity you buy.

Ashton Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:54:00 +0000

Who makes them?
Ashton Cigars was founded by Robert Levin in partnership with the Fuente family. They are known to be the best cigar manufacturers in the world. Their brands are the most highly ranked, and often very hard to find. Levin’s business sense and Fuentes’s expertise in cigar-making create an award making synergy that has made cigar history.

Are they mild, medium or full bodied?
Ashton cigars are known for their mild to medium taste. Many people like them as after dinner smokes. Of the six different lines, a few are robust, but none are ever harsh.

Are they considered premium cigars?
Yes.

Where are they made?
Ashton cigars are made in the famous Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic.

Where is the filler grown?
Almost all of the filler used in Ashton Cigars is grown in the Dominican Republic.

Where is the wrapper grown?
Ashton Cigars are wrapped in Connecticut shade-grown wrappers. There have been past limited releases using Connecticut Broadleaf, Ecuadorian cloud leaf, and Cameroon leaf wrapper.

What flavors do they come in?
Ashton cigars come in six distinct blends, each of which offers something unique and distinguished.

VSG
VSG stands for Virgin Sun Grown. It was released in 1999 and has been the most popular blend to date. It has a full-bodied flavor and a deep, smooth draw. It is the personal creation of Carlos Fuente, Jr. himself. He took two years working with Ashton to perfect this fine blend. The Dominican filler and Ecuadorian wrapper create a full-bodied taste with a deep, smooth draw.

ESG
ESG stands for Estate Sun Grown and uses a Dominican wrapper grown on the Chateau de la Fuente itself. It has never been used on any other cigar. The ESG is meant for very special occasions and is one of the rarer and highly sought after cigars in the world.

Ashton Heritage
The Ashton Heritage Puro Sol has a smooth, calm draw resulting from a Dominican filler and binder surrounded by a Cameroon wrapper. All tobaccos are 100% sun-grown. This is a mellow and medium-bodied smoke with notes of wood and graham cracker.

Ashton Aged Maduro Cigars
This is a rare blend because it uses extremely limited Connecticut broad-leaf wrapper. The filler and binder are grown in the Dominican Republic. It has a taste that is sweet in the beginning that turns rich and nutty as you continue smoking.

Ashton Cabinet Series Cigars
This cigar is known for its even draw, smooth and creamy flavor, and rich aroma. It shows subtle hints of oak and earth. The Dominican filler is aged four to five years, and the Connecticut shade-grown wrapper is aged for an extra year.

Ashton Classic Cigars
This cigar is made with Dominican filler and a Connecticut shade-grown wrapper. It has a mild to medium body with a touch of peppery spice.

Cigar Humidifiers

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:51:00 +0000

The cigar humidifier is the most important part of your cigar storage system. The maintenance of proper humidity is the most important element to maintaining your cigar quality, taste, and aroma.

How many types of cigar humidifiers are there?
There are active and passive humidifiers.

Active cigar humidifiers are powered by electricity and normally use a built in sensor to determine if they should humidify the air. Most are made for larger cabinet humidors, but there are some on the market for smaller humidors. The good thing about active humidifiers is that most can be set to a low level of relative humidity if necessary.

Passive humidifiers do not use electricity. They feature a very simple design and use vapor conduction to regulate humidity. This means they put moisture into the air when the relative humidity falls below a certain percentage, and they take water out of the air when it rises above this percentage. They are much less expensive than their active equivalents. They can be used in both desktop cigar humidors and in cabinet humidors.

Do all cigar humidors come with a built -in humidifier?
No. You need to check the specifications on the humidor you buy to see how it is constructed. That’s why you also need to know the basics of humidifiers in case you need to buy one. You can better select a model that is most suited to your humidor.

What are they made of?
Cigar humidifiers are made of green foam that is encased in plastic. This foam is very much like that which you find at the bottom of flowers you buy in an arrangement. It has an excellent ability to retain moisture.

Can I use regular water in my humidifier?
No. You should never use regular water because there are too many minerals in it that will clog it up and render it ineffective. You need to use a 50/50 solution of PG and distilled water and the chemical propylene glycol (PG).

How often should I apply this solution?
You need to apply it once every three to six months. The rule of thumb here is to apply new solution every time there is a major seasonal change. This varies in different parts of the world, so check with your cigar retailer about how often to change the solution in your area, and go with their recommendation.

When applying the solution itself, let it thoroughly absorb first. Then, turn it over and very gently shake out all of the excess. Wipe the sides dry, place it in its tube container, and attach it to the humidor

How do I attach my cigar humidifier?
You attach the device to the inside of the lid. You can also attach it to the side in some humidors. There should be either Velcro or a magnetic strip and metal strip that you can use to attach the two. These attachment tools come with the device.

Cigar Prices Vary Greatly

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:04:00 +0000

Why are cigar prices so different?
The way the cigar is made is the first reason that prices are so different. The least expensive kinds that you find at corner stores and drugstores are machine-rolled with short filler. Short filler does not run the entire length of the cigar, and may even be shredded. The wrappers on these cheap cigars are also of a lower grade quality. They lack the fine aging and curing methods of the more premium brands.

Fine cigars and premium cigars are an entirely different matter. These are made with whole length tobacco. Both the filler and the wrapper run the entire length of the cigar. Both are carefully cultivated, and the wrapper is painstakingly cured and treated to imbue it with a number of special scents and tastes.

Torcedores, or cigar rollers, hand-roll premium cigars, and they work especially hard to make certain that each and every cigar in the box looks and feels identical to its counterparts.

This is why premium cigar prices are so high—not only does it take longer to make the tobacco, but it takes longer for the most experienced employees in the factory to do their jobs rolling it.

What is the number one determining factor in cigar price?
The makeup of the tobacco is the number one determinant in price. Tobacco for filler, binder, and wrapper are all grown in specific countries and often specific regions of a country. Fine tobacco must be aged a certain way, and every manufacturer has its secret recipes for making the most world renowned brands.

Cigar prices can also be affected by fancy packaging. If you buy cedar or mahogany boxes, then expect to pay more.

What is the general range of cigar prices in a typical cigar store?
You can expect to pay as little as $1 a piece to over $20 a piece on finer brands. To get the best cigar prices, you really need to get a full box of cigars. If you are new to cigar smoking, try experimenting with the different types, prices, and brands to get a feel for what is offered before you buy anything in a large quantity or at an exorbitant price.

Is high cost a guarantee of premium quality?
No. High cigar prices are not always an indication of premium cigar quality. There are always retailers, both online and in brick and mortar establishments, that will charge more than is fair for certain products. Also, sometimes retailers have the very best of intentions, but they have no way of verifying their sources.

That’s why it’s always best to do business with an entity like www.seriouscigars.com that is BBB certified and that knows both its sources and the level of quality of each and every cigar in its inventory.

What are the highest cigar prices?
The most famous and well-loved cigars appreciated the world over can possibly cost hundreds of dollars. This depends on their origin, what type of tobacco was used, what was done to it, and how long it was aged.

Buy Cigars Online

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:58:00 +0000

What do I need to be mindful of when I buy cigars online?
Before you buy a box or sampler pack of cigars online, you should have an idea of what type of cigar you want. Think about things such as flavor (mild, medium, strong), country of origin, and general price. If you are experimenting with new choices, the best way to do this is to purchase sampler packs. Cigar sampler packs contain a blend of mild, medium, and full-bodied flavors. They also feature smaller quantities than cigar boxes, so their prices are lower.

Why would I want to buy cigars online?
If you want to look over a large inventory at your leisure and read up on different manufacturers, brands, labels, and sampler packs, the most convenient way to do this is to buy cigars online. Online descriptions of products may be anything from a short paragraph to a full article or blog about a particular type of cigar you are considering. Sometimes reading this material lets you make a better decision than you would if you were having to look through a walk-in humidor and try to get information on each box you saw.
Staff members are always willing to help you with answers to questions, but they have a limited amount of time per customer, and if things are crowded, may not be able to answer many of your questions at all.

Online cigar stores also sometimes post online reviews about the flavor, draw, construction, and value of many different types of premium cigars. These reviews give you a quick and easy reference on what has recently been recommended by cigar aficionados all over the world.

What makes Serious Cigars such a good retailer to buy cigars online from?
Live Inventory and community-oriented customer make us unique. Our inventory is very extensive, and ranges from the most famous of brands to inexpensive brands and new brands just emerging on the market. That’s not all. Our inventory features live automatic updating. This means that with every purchase from our stock, our web software automatically changes cigar quantities to reflect current availability. Whatever you see in stock, we truly have in stock. There are no surprises or disappointments with our cigar store.

How can a smoker on a budget buy cigars online and truly save money?
First, look carefully at the home page and any highlighted ads that indicate specials or deals on shipping. Free shipping is one of the best deals you can get whenever you buy cigars online. Many retailers offer it as part of a promotion for a specific brand or label.
Work with a reputable online cigar store that offers you many choices, not just a few. The more the selection, the more likely that some of the brands in inventory are going to be on sale.

Are there other things I can purchase from online cigar stores?
Yes. There are many cigar accessories online that may also be discounted in either price or shipping. There are deals on cigar humidors, cigar cutters, cigar ashtrays, and even cigar novelties. Don’t forget as well the virtues of cigar sampler packs, which make for ideal gift ideas the whole year round.

Cigar Storage

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:38:00 +0000

What is the best method for cigar storage?
A cigar humidor is by far the best form of cigar storage. A humidor is a climate-controlled box with a cedar-lined interior. It maintains optimal temperature and humidity levels that prevent cigars from drying out. This is important, because a dry cigar will burn very quickly and taste bitter. A cigar that is too moist, on the other hand, will not stay lit.

Cigar taste itself in part depends on the cedar wood inside the humidor. The cedar contributes aroma and flavor uniquely its own.

Is a humidor the only way to store cigars?
No. A cigar humidor is the best method for storing cigars, but it is not the only method. You can use other inexpensive methods for again and maintaining them. Three of the most common are "Tupperdors", "Igloodors", and "Fridgadors."

We do not recommend storing premium and expensive fine cigars in anything other than a fine quality humidor. However, these alternative cigar storage options are good for cigar sampler packs and cheaper cigars that you want to store temporarily.

What are Tupperdors?
A tupperdor is a plastic, resealable food container that you use for cigar storage. Any Tupperware™ brand name or similar product will do. You can even go to the dollar store and buy some of these plastic storage containers and save a bundle on costs. All you need then is a humidifier. You can also take the cigar separator sheets that come in cigar boxes and use them to add a cedar smell to your tupperdor.

If you do not have a humidifier and only need to store your cigars for a short period of time, a damp cloth or sponge will work, provided you do not allow it to actually touch the cigars. Store the container in a cool, dry place.

What is a Coolerdor?
It is a large ice cooler like those you see workers carry to the jobsite. They range in size from 48 qt. to 128 qt. They are not recommended for individual cigar storage, but they are ideal for storing entire boxes of cigars. Like Tupperdors, they can be lined with Spanish cedar or Spanish Cedar dividers can be added. You also need a humidifier.

What is a Fridgador?
A Fridgadors is the best choice for alternative cigar storage. Simply use an unplugged refrigerator or freezer to store large quantities of cigars. It is best to use the stand up kind with shelves that you can stack boxes of cigars on. You will need a humidifier for this setup as well.

Are there drawbacks to using this type of cigar storage?
They are more likely to become overly humidified because the plastic walls of these containers do not buffer relative humidity. Make sure if you are using alternative storage that you do not overcharge your humidifier. Make sure you lookout for mold as well which forms easily in higher moisture levels.

The second drawback is that they trap gases within them because they cannot breathe like Spanish cedar humidors. The worst gas they trap is ammonia. Open them at least once a month to let this escape and get an exchange of fresh air.

Tips on Storing Cigars

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:03:00 +0000

How do I store my cigars?
Storing your cigars should be done in a humidor. A humidor is a box lined with cedar. The cedar helps age and flavor cigars and keeps them moist at an optimal level of humidity.

Ideally, cigars need to be at 70 percent RH and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to give you the best smoking experience. At this temperature and relative humidity, the tobacco will burn and taste the best. If your cigar is drier than that, it will burn too fast and taste harsh. If your cigar is too moist, it will be hard to keep lit, and it will mold during storage.

Keep your humidor closed at all times, sealed tightly against the outside atmosphere. This will keep the interior at the optimal levels of humidity and temperature. You will also need a humidifier, which actually puts the moisture content into the air inside the humidor.

What are the ideal conditions for storing cigars?
Cigars are affected by light, humidity, temperature, and friction. They should never be exposed to ultraviolet light, so keep them out of direct sunlight. Light will also bleach the cigar wrappers and destroy its elasticity. UV light even changes the molecular composition of the wrapper.

Direct sunlight will probably raise the temperature inside your humidor too. This is something you need to pay attention to. Temperature has a direct impact on humidity. It can also make tobacco beetles more active. Anything above 75 degrees is bad for your humidor.

Why is warm air inside the cigar humidor so essential to storing cigars?
It has a higher moisture capacity than cold air.

Is there anything else that can happen while storing cigars that might damage them?
Friction can do a lot more damage to cigars than you might think. Just consider how some of the loose cigars look when you enter a walk-in humidor. Many of them have been handled and handled again, and almost all of them have also been moved around. When this happens, they get scuffed up, and the wrapper often tears. A tear is hard to stop. There are adhesives that you can buy to repair this, but why would you want to when you can buy a fine cigar in good condition?

Should I mix different brands and levels of flavor when storing cigars?
It is not a good idea, at least not with loose cigars. Cigars impart flavor to each other by touching because much of the flavor is in the wrapper. Therefore, separate loose cigars in your humidor if they are not covered with plastic wrap.

If I have not bought a humidor yet, what do you recommend for storing cigars?
You really need to get a humidor. In the meantime, store your cigars in a Ziploc bag. When it starts to get dry, add a few drops of water to a small piece of paper towel to get the humidity back. If you are storing a box of cigars, use Tupperware.

How to Select a Premium Handmade Cigar

noreply@blogger.com (Serious Cigars) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:20:00 +0000

What is a handmade cigar?
It is a cigar that is bunched, rolled and trimmed by a skilled individual worker. This worker can either be one person who works alone on a single cigar, or the labor can be divided between a buncher and a roller who works on the same cigar. The point is that the entire cigar is completely made by hand from start to finish.

How do I find a handmade cigar that is just right for me?
Consider your own personal preferences for taste, first. There are mild cigars, medium cigars, and full-bodied cigars. You can usually tell the difference by the color of the wrapper. Normally, the darker the wrapper, the more full-bodied the cigar’s flavor will be.

A handmade cigar should have a mild sheen to its appearance. There should be no veins in it. There are, of course, different colors of wrappers. There are candela, which is greenish in color, natural, which is light brown in color, Colorado and Rosado, which is red in color, and Habano, Maduro, and Oscuro, which are all dark brown.

What causes wrappers to have different colors?
The way tobacco is grown changes the color of its leaves. The more direct sunlight the plants receive, the darker they are.

How should a fine handmade cigar feel when I hold it?
A fine cigar should also feel smooth when you hold it, and it should be firm with no soft spots. Soft spots are bad because they make cigars burn unevenly. The cigar should not be too tight, either. If it is, the draw will be very difficult.

How is a cigar handmade?
There are three parts to a handmade cigar—the filler, the binder, and the wrapper. Every one of these parts has a specific purpose.

The most distinguishing characteristic of truly good cigars is that they all have long filler. This means that the tobacco leaf inside the binder spans the entire length of the cigar. Every one of these leaves is one half of an entire tobacco leaf. The vein that runs down the middle of the leaf is taken out, and both halves are then used to make cigars.

The binder is used to contain the filler. It is pliable and silky, and actually rougher than the wrapper. It has no flavor, but it is very important because it helps give the cigar its shape and firmness by containing the filler at just the right density.

The wrapper on a handmade cigar is made from very high quality tobacco. It has a smooth texture and is slightly oily to the touch. It is made to burn steady and contribute to flavor.

Are handmade cigars more expensive?
Yes. They are usually priced higher and are often classified as premium or super premium cigars.

Can I be guaranteed I am getting a premium cigar?
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Purchasing a handmade cigar will not guarantee a premium cigar. Although premium cigars are all handmade, there are always individual cigars that are flawed, and there are cheap imitations everywhere. Inspect what you buy and ask questions before you spend your money on something that is less than the best.