2 Cigars A Month: A Cigar Review Blog: March 2008

Cigar Terminology

Composition: A cigar has three parts: filler, binder and wrapper. The filler is the inner part made of tobacco leaves that are folded accordion-style by the rollers or torcedores. The binder is what keeps (or binds) the filler leaves together. Finally, the wrapper is a beautiful and delicate tobacco leaf that is wrapped around the binder. The wrapper gives the cigar its good looks. On our website, you will find a description for each cigar of the origin of the different tobaccos that make up the filler, binder and wrapper.

Origin: This refers to the country where the cigar is manufactured. Most cigar producing countries use different tobaccos from all over the world in their blends or as binders or wrappers. A “puro” refers to a cigar that has only tobaccos from one country.

Color: Frequently cigars are classified by the color of their wrapper. Each wrapper color is obtained from different leaves and curing methods so it is safe to say that different wrappers will give a cigar different tastes and characteristics. The different colors are:
Double Claro: Light green wrapper also called American Market Selection or Candela, very mild flavor. Never tried this one...But I heard that I am not missing much.
Claro: Light tan wrapper, usually shade-grown wrappers like Connecticut Shade, mild and smooth flavor.
Natural: Light brown to brown, also called English Market Selection, often sun-grown wrappers, fuller bodied flavor than the Claro.
Colorado: Reddish dark brown, robust and rich flavor.
Colorado Maduro: Dark brown, aromatic and rich medium flavor.
Maduro: Very dark brown, usually sweet and strong flavor. The darkest maduro wrapper, called Oscuro, is almost black and stronger than the lighter maduro wrappers, usually from Nicaragua, Mexico, Brazil or Connecticut Broadleaf.

Size: The size of a cigar is measured in inches (length) and ring gauge (diameter=ring gauge/64th inch). Large ring gauge cigars contain more tobacco and possibly a larger combination of different types of leaves than small ring gauge cigars, so they will have a more complex flavor and produce more smoke in comparison. The most popular sizes are: Panatela, Corona, Lonsdale, Robusto, Churchill and Double Corona. The exact sizes will vary from brand to brand. I will add a section about sizes below.

Shape: Cigars can be classified in two basic categories: Parejos, cigars with straight sides, rounded heads and open foots; and Figurados, cigars with irregular sides or cigars that are very difficult to make. Some of the most popular Figurado shapes are: Belicoso, Pyramids, Torpedo, Perfecto, and Diademas. I will add pictures below to exemplify these.

Flavor and strength: This is very subjective. The flavor is what smokers perceive as the taste of a particular cigar. It often depends on various factors: How old is the cigar? Is it too dry, too humid or just right? What did you eat before? What are you drinking during? It gets very complicated. Some of the adjectives used to describe a cigar’s flavor are: leathery, peppery, woody, earthy, nutty, creamy, spicy, etc. Cigars can also be described as full (strong), medium or mild (delicate) bodied. Body refers to the strength or intensity of the smoke. It is a matter of personal preference but veteran smokers tend to prefer full bodied or full flavored smokes. These are what I like. Likewise, new cigar smokers will prefer a cigar with a gentler flavor.

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Monday, March 10, 2008

Ring Gauge

0 comments Posted by Eyeluv Seagars at 12:06 AM

Cigars come in many different shapes and sizes. The diameter of a cigar is measured in increments of 64ths on an inch which is termed its "ring gauge." Therefore a 44 gauge Corona is 44/64th inches in diameter. The change in your pocket (assuming you are in the United States) can be used as quick and dirty ring gauges.

44 Ring Gauge
Commonly used in:
Lonsdale
Long Corona
Corona
Petit Corona

46 Ring Gauge
Commonly used in:
Corona Extra
Grand Corona

48 Ring Gauge
Commonly used in:
Robusto
Toro
Churchill
Corona Extra

54 Ring Gauge
Commonly used in:
Robusto
Rochschild
Toro
Churchill
Double Corona
Giante

There are others. I have a couple 58-60 ringers in my humidor, but the above is just to get you up to speed with most of the more popular sizes.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Cigar Review February: Gran Habano 3 Siglos and Don Juan Urquijo

1 comments Posted by Eyeluv Seagars at 10:46 PM

Against better judgement I tried a new cigar that I had a funny feeling about. I am not usually right, but I like not to waste my rations. Gran Habano 3 Siglos is one of those cigar makers that tauts an expensive cigar in the hopes that one would be foolish enough to equate cost with quality. I was said fool this month. Visiting Sacramento for a conference, I stopped by a local cigar shop. You know, pay those ridiculous prices so that I could help out a local cigar retailer. Well the cigar turned out to be as much of a disappointment as the owner!!! This Honduran disaster was terrible from the first inch, to the last. (Actually, I did make the first inch the last. This is "loop hole" to the 2 a month edict.) The draw was tight, not due to it being moist, but because of poor construction. The ash was very dark almost as if the cigar was not aged well. Once again proving that price IS NOT AN INDICATOR FOR QUALITY. Lesson learned...again.

However, I did have a pleasant suprise as a fellow cigar brother came back from the mother land (Philippines) and got me a national delight. Don Juan Urquijo is a cigar that is totally made in the PI from PI leaves. My friend told me to be honest so I will not pull any punches. (I would apologise in advance but what do you expect from a Spurs fan...) Seriously, although the cigar was harsh from beginning to end, it did shock me that there was no accompanying after taste. The morning after was proof positive of the excellent balance of strength and smoothness. It was no Montecristo, or La Flor, but it is definately worth trying again. The draw was easy indicating that the construction was not bad at all. Ash was very dark, perhaps a bit on the wet side. But I could not really draw a taste from it. It was not earthy, or spicy at all. Definately no sweetness. It just seemed to lack flavor. If it would have been wrapped with a maduro leaf (meaning getting the leaf at a more of a "ripe" stage, this process matures all of the natural oils and sugars from the leaf), perhaps that sweetness would have made a nice balance to the strength of the cigar. Hopefully someone like Don Pepin, expert blender from Cuba, can explore possibilities there in the islands and take PI cigars to another level. Overall, I will give my people props for delivering.
So there it is. We close February and welcome March. (See bro, that review wasn't too bad huh?) Shortly after writing this I read a review that not only confirmed my experience but made me think if these cigars were babies? If you ever get a fresh cigar, fight all urges to smoke them right away. Cigars need to age to get all of the residual moisture out of the stems and veins and then undergo that fermentation process. This coupled with using Spanish Cedar will give the cigars that oaky, cedar smell and taste. So if my generous friend is out there, let these babies age for 4-5 months. And if I didn't burn any bridges, I hope to burn another cigar with you.