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The Cigar Adviser
Published in: March 1, 1997
Published March/April 1997
The Cigar AdviserQ: I've been smoking cigars for about three years and have not had the chance to enjoy a Cuban cigar. What will be the market for Cuban cigars when the embargo is lifted, and will Americans automatically switch to the supposedly stronger Cuban cigar, or will they stick with a more traditional milder cigar?
Scott S. Hart
New Orleans, Louisiana
A: Cigar manufacturers are asking the same questions, which, of course, won't be answered until the trade embargo against Cuba is lifted. The one certainty is that the arrival of Cuban cigars, or cigars made with Cuban tobacco, will increase Americans' interest in cigars. While it is likely that many U.S. cigar lovers, who are accustomed to a milder smoke, won't take to more full-bodied Cuban cigars, they almost certainly will try them. We should also remember that not all Cuban brands are full-bodied, and some of the milder Cuban cigars could become top sellers in the States.
Q: What purpose does the cap on the end of a cigar serve? Why don't both ends of a cigar have caps?
James A. Fauci
Endwell, New York
A: The cap's function is quite specific. It fastens down the outer wrapper leaf and prevents the cigar from unraveling. In a properly made cigar, there's no need for both ends to have caps, because at the foot, or the end of the cigar you light, the point of the wrapper is tucked underneath the leaf.
Q: The difference in quality, construction and taste between a $1.50 cigar and a $6 cigar is readily apparent. But the difference between a $6 cigar and one going for $24 still eludes me. Beyond the band and boxing, what really distinguishes an ultra-premium cigar from its more moderately priced cousins?
Charles R. Pikcunas
Kalamazoo, Michigan
A: While there are cases where the ultra-premium cigar is little more than a marketing ploy, many of these higher priced cigars result from a more rigorous selection of higher grade tobaccos and a longer aging time, both of which justify a higher retail price. Some of the most sought-after cigars on the market also are made in extremely limited quantities; the market is setting the price because people are willing to pay whatever price to obtain the cigar.
Q: Do you know of any air filtration units that are truly effective at removing cigar smoke from the air? I'm looking for something that will keep a good-sized room smoke-free, even when competing with one or more cigar smokers.
Thomas J. Heal
Phoenix, Arizona
A: There are a variety of units on the market today. Many still rely on an ionizer, which can leave a slightly metallic odor in the air; but the units can be effective in removing smoke particles from the air. Norelco recently introduced a carbon filter air cleaner. At the lowest setting, it maintains a clean air environment for a single smoker. On its top "Turbo" setting, the fan can be noisy, but it will clear the air in a few minutes.
Q: Two years ago, my lovely wife gave me a humidor as a Christmas gift. The humidor uses a Credo humidifier, which I've watered monthly. My cigars are wonderful. They are soft to the touch and are not plagued with any critters. The humidor has performed flawlessly in all respects, save one. Recently, I've been missing that wonderful cedar rush when I opened the humidor. Does this mean that I need to sand down the cedar on the inside of the box? I've heard that people sand down cedar closets and such, and am wondering if a humidor requires the same periodic maintenance.
C. Wesley Walton
San Francisco, California
A: Yes, you can sand the cedar to bring back the aroma. If you do, use a very fine grain paper, and be sure to wipe down the sides with a damp cloth after you've finished. However, we would question whether you need to do that. There's probably more cedar aroma in the box than you realize, and cigars kept over a long period will probably absorb sufficient aromas to give that aged smell and taste.
Q: How do you restore life to cigars that have dried out? I remember reading in an early issue of Cigar Aficionado about putting them in a Tupperware container with a moisture source, but you've recently written that the only proper method is to rotate the cigars from the driest part of a humidor closer to the humidification device. Which way works?
Edward Brookshire
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
A: You've probably confused our advice about how you can temporarily store cigars that are in good condition. For that situation, a Tupperware container with a moisture source will work fine for a few weeks, if you remember to open the container every day or so. For dried-out cigars, you must use a great deal more caution. If you "shock" the dry cigars by putting them into a fully humidified container, they may burst. You must allow them to absorb moisture slowly. By first placing them at the farthest point from the regulator, they will take on moisture slowly and consistently. After a week or two, move the cigars a little closer and then a few weeks later, move them next to the regulator. It may take up to six weeks to accomplish your goal of completely revived cigars.
Q: I have two questions about the proper way to store cigars in a humidor: Should they be kept in their wrapper or unwrapped? Should they be kept inside the box with the top open or closed?
Eugene J. Natoli
Morris Township,
New Jersey
A: In general, if you have a humidor that is working well, you want to remove the cigars from the cellophane. The cellophane is put on by the manufacturers to protect the cigars during shipping and to keep them relatively stable on retail shelves, which may not always be at an optimum humidity level. Although you can leave the cellophane on without damaging the cigar, it will retard the aging process.
If you have a humidor that is big enough, such as a walk-in or a big cabinet humidor, leave the cigars in their boxes with the top cracked just a little. Again, the same rule applies about the cellophane. Some boxes are made from cedar, and over a long period the cigars might absorb too much cedary taste. If you like that flavor, leave them in the boxes; otherwise, take the cigars out.
Q: One of the most disappointing experiences I've had with cigar smoking is the "plugged" cigar. Nothing is worse than looking forward to enjoying a fine cigar and lighting up one of my expensive smokes only to discover the draw is too tight. Are there any home remedies you could suggest to correct the draw, or, are there any special tools available?
Robert Alu
Hamilton Square, New Jersey
A: Often, the only home remedy is the ashtray. It is very difficult to unplug a cigar. If the draw is tight, you can try to loosen it by gently squeezing the cigar from tip to tip looking for the hard spot--there will be one. When you find it, work that area a little harder, and if you're lucky enough not to break the cigar open, you might work out the plug. If the pressure doesn't work, throw the cigar away and light up another one. It's one of the risks of enjoying a handmade product. By the way, any tool you might use, such as something to pierce the cigar, would cause too much damage to the filler bunch, and dramatically alter the smoking performance of the cigar.
Q: Even my good cigars will sometimes burn unevenly. Is there any way to correct the bad burn, such as moistening the area that's burning too fast?
Tim Martin
Tampa, Florida
A: An uneven burn will usually straighten out on a good cigar without any assistance. Just show a little patience. You can try moistening the area around the uneven burn in hopes of getting the cigar back on track. If it works, all the better. In truth, if a cigar is burning unevenly and it doesn't quickly revert to an even burn, it often means that it was improperly constructed and will continue to burn that way its entire length.
Q: I know distilled water should be used in my humidor. Is water from a household filtration system an adequate substitute?
Sam Perlman
Chicago, Illinois
A: No. The residual aromas of any public water system are too strong for a humidor. And, it is likely your home filter won't remove enough of the minerals from the water to prevent damage to the humidification material used in many humidors. To be safe, stick with the distilled water.
Q: I had an argument with a friend. We saw in a store a box of Cuban Partagas in which each cigar was individually wrapped in cellophane. I have never before seen real Havana Partagas wrapped in cellophane. Please help us settle the argument--are there real Havana Partagas, in the regular 25-cigar wooden box, that are individually wrapped in cellophane?
Jacob Shaqed
Tel Aviv, Israel
A: As a rule, only machine-made cigars from Cuba are wrapped in cellophane. But since you didn't specify the size of the cigar, we can't be sure.
Q: I sometimes get cigars with dark green spots on them, or smaller pinhead tan spots. Does this mean the cigar is spoiled?
Chris Triantos
Toronto, Ontario
A: Absolutely not. The stains can sometimes be from water spots that occurred while the plant was near maturity. But some strains of tobacco also naturally produce those spots. If a spot is bluish, or looks damp, then it's possible that it was caused by mold. But that means you've been improperly storing your cigars.
Q: How do you score and rate cigars in Cigar Aficionado?
Steven R. Bonin
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A: There are four senior editors of Cigar Aficionado who taste and rate the cigars; the final score is an average of the four tasters. We use four basic criteria to judge the cigars: appearance and construction, smoking performance, flavor, and an overall impression. The cigars are purchased at retail whenever possible, and they are kept in properly humidified conditions before the test begins. Then, each taster has a humidor on his desk where the cigars are kept; we try to give a minimum of eight weeks for the tasters to complete the tasting.
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