Also in this issue:

• Miscellaneous
  Editor's Note: Bad Science, Bad Laws
• Profiles
  New World Man
• Cigar Stars
  An Interview with Stanford Newman
• Celebrities
  On a High Note
• Golf
  A Major Love Affair
• More from this Issue

The Cigar Adviser

Published in: July 1, 1997

Published July/August 1997

Q: I have only recently started to frequent retal tobacco outlets to shop for premium hand-rolled cigars. If the cigars are loose in the box, I like to handle them to check that the wrapper is free from defects as well to make sure that they are not dry (which I do by giving them a gentle squeeze). I am just wondering if there is any sort of cigar shopping etiquette regarding the selection of a cigar?

Philip M. Berberian
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

A: You're right to want to inspect the cigar. But you must be very careful and very respectful of the next customer. You don't need to squeeze a cigar very hard to break the wrapper. A fairly quick visual inspection of the wrapper, even if it's in cellophane, will give you a pretty good idea of its condition. If it is in cellophane, you can be assured today that the cigar will be relatively moist, because most retail shops are turning over their cigar inventory so quickly that it doesn't get the chance to dry out. Some people also think it's OK to take a deep whiff of the open end of a cigar to check for odors; leave that to the experts. Unless you are extremely well-schooled in the intricacies of cigar tobacco, the average consumer isn't going to determine anything significant from that sniff. And, it can be very annoying if you're standing behind the guy doing the sniffing, and you're waiting to get a cigar out of the same box. Some cigar retailers are trying to discourage customers from touching cigars on the shelves; that may be too restrictive. But retailers have been complaining more about customers damaging cigars. "Be careful" is the best rule.

Q: On occasion I will pierce the head of my cigar and discover that there is a problem with the draw or, on rarer occasions, I will utterly mar the smoking end. When this happens I will often reverse the cigar, placing the foot end into my mouth, and then ignite the problematic tip. To me it tastes the same. From the technical standpoint, however, is there anything wrong with smoking one's cigar "backwards"?

Thomas Piwowarski
Cordova, Arkansas

A: Technically, no. However, the problem could be with your piercer. That leaves a much smaller hole for the smoke to travel down the length of the cigar. If you turn the cigar around, and it smokes fine, it means the cigar is not plugged. Therefore, the problem was with your initial cut of the cigar. Use a single- or double-blade cutter to snip off the complete head of the cigar, and you won't have to turn your cigar around. By the way, if the cigar is plugged, it won't matter which end you smoke.

Q: I have been smoking a variety of fairly high-priced cigars and occasionally notice a swelling or bulge develop part of the way down the cigar. As I continue to smoke it, this bulge causes the cigar to burn erratically and make smoking difficult. Can you tell me what causes it and how to either eliminate it or avoid cigars that have it?

Edmund J. Matan
Bayonne, New Jersey

A: In a hand-rolled product, it's almost impossible to totally eliminate the bulges that you describe that may cause the cigar to "run," or burn unevenly down one side. There could be a number of explanations for the defect. It could be a particularly large vein in a leaf that was used in the filler, or even the binder. It could be a lump of leaves that got inadvertently rolled into the filler. It could simply be a flaw in the binder or the filler leaf that wasn't apparent to the roller. If it truly destroys your smoking pleasure, put it out and try another one.

Q: I've heard that a cigar's wrapper is responsible for 50 percent or more of the cigar's flavor. How can one leaf bully a half-inch diameter's worth of packed, blended tobacco?

Todd Baker
Los Angeles, California

A: You've hit on one of the biggest "controversies" in the cigar industry. Some experts say the wrapper leaf is responsible for less than 10 percent of the flavor, which is a close approximation of the proportion the wrapper represents. Another faction insists the wrapper accounts for between 60 to 70 percent of a cigar's flavor. They argue that wrapper leaves are treated in such a way, and come from a higher level on the plant, that it simply contains more flavor and often more nicotine, which can contribute to the taste of a cigar. It's a good healthy debate, for which there may not be a right answer.

Q: I recently received a box of Arturo Fuente's Double Chateau Fuente, which has a thin layer of cedar wrapped around each cigar. Should I place them in my humidor with the cedar on them? My humidor is lined with Spanish cedar and I am uncertain whether to leave it on or remove it.

David Saldutti
Carmel, Indiana

A: No harm done if you leave the cedar wrapping on or off. If you prefer a strong cedar tone in your cigar flavors, then I'd definitely leave the wrapping on. If you're planning on keeping those cigars for 10 years in a cedar-lined humidor, you might want to remove the wrapper, because the cedar taste might get too strong. But that's a personal decision.

Q: My friends and I are finalizing plans for construction of our new homes. We all wish to have dens in which to enjoy our cigar collections, but can find nothing that helps us with venting problems.

Michael W. Back
Crown Point, Indiana

A: I'd check with your local air conditioning contractor. They often have up-to-date information on ventilation for larger buildings, and that's what you really want. If you truly want to have an odor-free addition to your house, then you should investigate the commerical alternatives first, which, if they work for offices and restaurants, they'll work for the home.