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The Cigar Adviser
Published in: September 1, 1994
Published Autumn 1994
The Cigar Adviser
Q: It has happened again! Despite paying careful attention to the cutting and lighting of my cigar, it burned unevenly during the smoke. What can I do to prevent this?
Graham Thompson
Honolulu, Hawaii
A: There are two questions to ask: Is your cigar properly humidified? Do you normally smoke outdoors or in a drafty location? If your cigar is in good condition and you have an appropriate place to smoke, then you have been unfortunate enough to receive a cigar with a construction flaw. If this happens consistently with the same brand of cigars, you may want to consider switching.
Q: Regarding your query into Castro's supposedly private label Trinidad from Cohiba: Have we been misinformed regarding this production or does Castro feel that he is keeping this secret from the rest of the world?
Scott L. Blumenthal, M.D.
Dallas, Texas
A: Please read our story on the Havana factories that make cigars for export, "The Rolling Rooms." There is a related story that explains any confusion thatmight exist over the Trinidad.
Q: Some time ago I purchased a Davidoff humidor at considerable expense and have since used it to store my collection of Cohibas and Davidoffs.
I have followed the instructions for the humidor to the letter. However, I have noticed that every 10 days or so, a thin, white, moldlike substance appears over the entire surface of the cigars. I brush this layer off with a soft brush.
What causes this? Will it damage the cigars? What should I do?
Sam Barnett
Portland, Maine
A: Plume, or bloom, (both terms are correct) is a common occurrence in premium, hand-rolled cigars. It means the cigar has exuded oils and small particles have attached to the oils. It does not damage the cigars. Your technique of using a small brush is appropriate; some people use sponges. However, be aware that cigars can also get mold. The mold usually has a bluish tint, unlike the white appearance of plume, and will stain your wrappers, which plume won't do. Mold is the direct result of a combination of high temperature (above 72 degrees) and excessive humidity. If you find mold on your cigars, check your humidor immediately.
Q: Did I miss it or did you ever run an article on desktop humidors? If I were to build one from scratch, what materials should be used (i.e., wood, hinges, gaskets, temperature and hygrometer set)?
George Roberts
Jupiter, Florida
A: Check out two issues of Cigar Aficionado: Vol. 1, No. 2, Winter 1992/93, page 102, and Summer 1993, Vol 1, No. 4, page 132, for stories on desktop and travel humidors.
Your question about the design and hardware for humidors is frequently asked. But manufacturers of high-quality humidors consider that information to be proprietary and refuse to divulge it.
Q: At what age do you think a young man should be able to start smoking cigars?
A: First of all, it is illegal in most states to sell tobacco products to minors. But other than that restriction, a person should start smoking cigars when he feels comfortable doing it. If you are under 21, parental advice and permission is recommended.
Q: For several years I have been an on-and-off smoker of House of Windsor Palmas that are produced in Yoe, Pennsylvania and I'd like to know if these cigars have been rated as well. If so, could you please tell me the results?
Joseph La Torre
Colorado Springs, Colorado
A: No, we have not rated House of Windsor Palmas. It is a fine, machine-made cigar, but Cigar Aficionado does not usually taste-test machine-made cigars. To date, we have not reviewed the Palma-sized cigars.
Q: I have noticed on occasion when I am smoking a cigar that I can actually hear the cigar burning. As I take a puff, I sometimes see what appear to be tiny sparks coming from the just-burned portion of the wrapper. Is this a sign of something--possibly the cigar being too dry?
Geoffrey Dean
Valencia, California
A: If you can hear your cigar burning, the tobacco is definitely too dry. It may also mean that the filler tobacco was too dry when it was rolled. Unfortunately, no amount of time in your humidor will restore the oils that were lost during improper aging.
Sparks are a different matter. Are you sure it wasn't a joke cigar or a prop for a Groucho Marx movie? (Just kidding.) Dryness is one explanation; if it causes the wrapper to flake, small pieces could ignite and seemingly "spark." Another possible explanation, especially if it is a short-filler cigar, is that small pieces of tobacco are catching fire.
Q: Recently, a friend of mine discovered two Havana Upmanns tucked away in his dresser drawer--remnants of his visit to England a year ago. He asked me if I would revive them in my humidor, and I heartily accepted the request. When I got home, I discovered faint, green blotches along both of the cigars' wrappers. What could be the cause of this unsightly condition? Does this condition decrease the quality of the smoke?
D. A. Nevez
Chicago, Illinois
A: Green blotches are a genetic characteristic of Cuban-grown wrappers. That in no way implies an inferior wrapper. However, the cigars, which have been improperly stored, may be beyond salvation. When cigars totally dry out, they often lose essential oils that can never be restored.
Q: I still have trouble detecting some of the subtle nuances noted by your tasters. While I realize that much of this will come with experience and that tasting is a subjective art, I think it would nonetheless be helpful if your tasters would select a basic benchmark collection of cigars that are representative of certain distinctive aromas or tastes. For example, one may recommend a Romeo y Julieta Churchill for its dominating coffee and chocolate flavors or a Fonseca 10-10 for its creamy nuttiness. By recommending cigars that possess an easily discernible taste or overwhelming trait, your readers could proceed to higher levels of cigar-tasting consciousness.
Kevin S. Blanton
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
A: While your suggestion has some merit, it is in reality impossible to accomplish with any degree of consistency. Cigars are blends of different vintages and they do change. Moreover, it is equally impossible to dictate the parameters of taste. Our only intent is to provide guidance.
Q: I am a student at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the grandson of Eduardo Leon Jimenes, founder of La Aurora in the Dominican Republic. I was very pleased and excited after reading the rankings on the Lonsdales blind tasting. However, I was somewhat disappointed because the judges did not explicitly consider other factors that are just as important for cigar tasting. Besides taste, I suggest you consider two additional elements for tasting: uniformity of ash and wrapper appearance.
Carlos Leon
Chicago, Illinois
A: In fact, we do consider the elements that you mention. Our scores are based on a cumulative evaulation of four different categories: appearance and construction, smoking characteristics including draw, evenness of burn and ash, flavor and an overall impression of the cigar.
Q: It appears that cigars from countries other than the Caribbean or Central America are not part of the family of fine cigars. You never mention any (except for a few tobaccos as minor ingredients in the blend of wrappers of Caribbean cigars). Are you aware of any, say, from Brazil, the Philippines or Indonesia that can compete in taste?
Peter Kotzian
Kaarst, Germany
A: Yes, we are aware of several, Brazil produces a small quantity of handmade cigars made with Mata Fina tobacco from the Bahia region in the northeast. But Brazil primarily exports tobacco or machine-made cigars. The Philippines produce some hand-wrapped cigars that have been sporadically exported to the United States. Their popularity has waned. Indonesia is a source for tobacco in some Caribbean brands, primarily machine-made.
Q: Why don't short-filler cigars measure up to the standards set for long-filler cigars?
Jim Boone
Halifax, Nova Scotia
A: Short-filler cigars burn faster and therefore slightly hotter than long-filler cigars. This affects flavor. But these cigars represent a majority of cigars sold worldwide. They are popular for their price and the fact that they can be smoked in a short period of time.
Q: What is the connection between cigar quality and cigar price? Does a $6 cigar have six times' the value of a similarly sized $1 cigar?
Malcolm Fordham
Winter Park, Florida
A: Of course not. Price can be an indication of many things unrelated to overall quality. However, more expensive cigars may contain tobaccos that have been aged longer, the selection of wrapper may be more rigorous and the finished product is frequently aged significantly longer. In addition, packaging materials can add to the final price: metal and glass tubes and elaborate cedar boxes cost money.
Q: My wife enjoys cigar smoke as much as I do. However, I don't think she should have to endure the breath of "1,000 coyotes." Can you recommend any possible solutions?
Frank Pomodoro
Peabody, Massachusetts
A: Traditionally the Cubans have recommended following a fine cigar with tea or brandy to cleanse the mouth. Mouthwash is effective, too.
Q: Can you recommend any product or measures that can be employed to eliminate cigar smoke and smell?
Steven P. Cook
Wilmington, Delaware
A: Ozium is a trademarked brand of aerosol spray that is remarkably effective in eliminating the residual odors in smoking rooms. Hardware stores often carry this product.
Q: Is it OK for me to clip my cigars as soon as I buy them and then store them in my humidor or should I clip them only right before I plan to smoke them? Also, I am planning to "serve" cigars at a party. How should I do this? Do I leave my humidor out all night and let people know that they are welcome to enjoy them or do I present the humidor to my guests individually? If I want to serve cigars after dinner, how do I announce that at the appropriate time? Should I clip my guests' cigars beforehand or should I allow each guest to clip his or her own?
Lee Tannenbaum
Belair, Maryland
A: It is not a good idea to clip a cigar before you are ready to smoke it. By opening the head of the cigar, you allow airflow through the filler tobacco, which may dry it out more rapidly or overhumidify it.
As for rules of cigar service, the humidor is your best tool for controlling when people light up. Present it to them when you are ready for the smoking to begin. Never clip your guests' cigars. There are individual preferences as to how a cigar should be clipped. A cutter should be supplied at the same time as the cigar.
Q: From where do you get the prices listed in your tasting articles?
Brandon Allen
Pierre, South Dakota
A: The prices are supplied to us by the distributors and/or manufacturers of the cigars. They are generally suggested retail prices, before state or local taxes (which vary a great deal) have been applied. That often accounts for significant differences in prices listed in the magazine and the prices you may find in a store.
Q: I transport cigars in the pressurized cabins of commercial airliners. Despite all precautions, the wrappers of many of my cigars often develop cracks during or shortly after the flight. How can I stop this from happening?
James Barton
Detroit, Michigan
A: The cracks are occurring because of rapid changes in cabin humidity and perhaps even temperature. The only solution is to keep your cigars in a travel humidor.
Q: I live in the Seattle area, which is like one gigantic humidor. The cigar shops here sell most cigars in cellophane and tell people to leave them wrapped due to the climate. I like my cigars matured so I have been unwrapping them and placing them in my humidor. Is this the best course of action?
Gregg Margarite
Port Townsend, Washington
A: If you like mature, well-aged cigars, you are right to remove the cellophane. That assumes you have a high-quality humidor to keep them in. The best way to store cigars in a rainy place is in their box in a humidity-and-temperature-controlled environment.
Q: I notice that when I puff heavier it keeps the cigar burning well. If it goes out, does that mean that I am not puffing hard enough? Should the cigar burn evenly no matter how strong the draw?
Robert Funk
Downey, California
A: A well-made cigar should remain lit regardless of the force of your draw. Puffing too hard or too often, can overheat a cigar, making it taste hot. If there are long intervals between puffs, such as when you're talking on the telephone, it's not unreasonable for a cigar to go out. Relighting it more than a couple of times may also affect the taste of the cigar. A puff a minute is considered a good rule of thumb for proper smoking performance.
Q: Last summer I took a couple of good cigars into the mountains on vacation. My goal was to combine the pleasures of a fine smoke with the pleasures of trout fishing in the great outdoors. However, it proved difficult to keep my cigar lit. Was this due to the effects of altitude or was some other factor at work? In general, what are the effects of increasing altitude on burning tobacco?
Rick Brenneman
Tualatin, Oregon
A: Fire needs oxygen. The thinner the air, the more difficult it will be to smoke.
Q: I would like to know if there are any cigar shops at Heathrow airport. Is it possible to make a purchase of Cuban cigars? Would you recommend taking the box back to the United States in luggage that will be placed in the cargo compartment or to mail the box back to the United States in some manner?
Marianne D. Ades
San Francisco, California
A: Yes, cigars are sold in most duty-free shops in many airports worldwide. In countries where Cuban-cigar sales are legal, you may find them in stock. However, be aware that any Cuban cigars purchased anywhere in the world may be subject to confiscation by the U.S. government. (See "Trading With the Enemy" in this issue.)
Q: I've come across some cigars that seem to draw with great difficulty. Is it common to come across a bad cigar? Can it possibly be improper humidification?
Neil Fox
Tulsa, Oklahoma
A: Premium, hand-rolled cigars are products subject to construction flaws. Most cigar companies, have strict quality-control processes that seek to limit the number of plugged cigars. If a cigar doesn't draw well, it is unlikely that it has to do with humidification, which may affect how it burns, but not how it draws.
In the last issue of Cigar Aficionado, the Adviser responded to a question that asked whether Havana Slim cigars were made from 100 percent, vintage 1959 Cuban tobacco. Bill Finck, vice president of Finck Cigar Company in San Antonio sent us a reply:
Dear Mr. Shanken:
I would like to respond to a question sent in by Harry McNeer of Tecumseh, Michigan, questioning an ad from a cigar catalog for "Havana Slim" cigars.
The Havana Slims are indeed made from 100 percent, true Havana filler from the Cuban crop of 1959. This tobacco was imported into the United States before the embargo and has been kept in a tobacco-storage warehouse since. We keep an inventory of this tobacco in its original cases from Cuba in our factory at all times.
There is nothing deceptive about the ad, and these cigars are in no way a "hoax" as McNeer suggested.
Bill Finck
Vice President, Finck Cigar Company
San Antonio, Texas
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