cigar tips and tricks
Cigar 101: Vertical Brand Tastings, Explained
At Cigar Aficionado, we often reference “vertical brand tastings.” The following is a primer on the process and why it matters when evaluating cigar lines.
The ABCs of Cigars
From amatista to zafadores, we define 26 cigar-industry terms every aficionado needs to know.
Why is There a Stem in My Cigar?
While veins may not be pretty to look at, they can be full of flavor. The stems, too. At the center of each tobacco leaf is a thick, linear structure known as a midrib, i.e. a …
10 Things To Know About Fuente Fuente OpusX
The mystique behind Fuente Fuente OpusX has endured for 25 years since its birth in 1995. We compiled a list of 10 facts that will shed some light on the cigar brand that became a …
How Cigar Aficionado Tastes Cigars
Every cigar that appears in the tasting section of Cigar Aficionado or Cigar Insider is rated blind, removing any prejudice or brand familiarity a taster might have.
A Curious Collection of Cult Cigars
Some of the industry’s offbeat cigars have gained a serious cult following over the years in much the same way cult movies attract a small, yet passionate fan base.
Cuban Sandwich
A handmade cigar made with a mixture of long-filler and short-filler tobacco. These cigars are sometimes referred to as mixed-fill cigars.
counterfeit cigars
8 Things To Know About Counterfeit Cuban Cigars
Save your money (and your palates) by following these eight key tips to avoid getting burned by a fake Cuban cigar.
How To Spot A Fake Hoyo De Monterrey
Learn how to tell whether the Hoyo De Monterrey you're smoking is authentic or fake.
How To Spot A Fake Partagás
Learn how to tell whether the Partagás you're smoking is authentic or fake.
How To Spot A Fake Cohiba Behike BHK
Find out if your Cuban Cohiba Behike BHK is real or fake.
How To Spot A Fake Romeo y Julieta
Find out if your Cuban Romeo y Julieta is real or fake.
Cigar 101 Videos
Cigar 101: Cigar Lighters & How to Light a Cigar
Senior editor Andrew Nagy shows how to operate the most common types of lighters used to light a cigar.
Cigar 101: Cigar Cutters & How to Cut a Cigar
Senior editor Andrew Nagy demonstrates how to operate the most common kinds of cutters used to clip cigars.
Cigar 101: Snakes In The Humidor
Cigar Aficionado's resident snake experts, David Savona and Gregory Mottola, talk and smoke culebras, the twisted, serpentine cigars that come in threes.
From the Farm: Nick Melillo On Connecticut Broadleaf
Nick Melillo, the creator of Foundation Cigar Co., and senior editor Andrew Nagy discuss the highly sought Connecticut broadleaf from the tobacco barn on Nick's farm in Connecticut.
Rocky's New Crop
Rocky Patel talks about his newest tobacco crop growing in Estelí, Nicaragua.
Ecuador's Cuban-Seed Wrapper
Ecuador Habano-seed wrapper is one of the most popular wrappers on the market.
Cigar Brands
La Aurora
Crafted in the Dominican Republic, La Aurora is the island's oldest cigar brand. The first La Auroras were perfectos, and the shapely smokes are still made today for its Preferido…
Hoyo de Monterrey
Cuba’s José Gener registered the Hoyo de Monterrey brand in 1865 and the cigar has long been a major name in Cuban cigars. The brand is named after the Basin of Monterrey, which …
Montecristo (Non-Cuban)
The brands in the non-Cuban Montercristo portfolio run the gamut from mild to full body, and include such popular lines as Montecristo White, Montecristo Classic, and Montecristo …
Herrera Esteli
In 2011, Drew Estate hired Willy Herrera, the former cigar blender from Miami's miniscule but standout El Titan de Bronze factory. According to the company, the blend for Herrera …
CAO
CAO was originally launched in 1993 by Cano Ozgener, who was the founder of CAO International Inc., a company that up until that point was known for its tobacco pipes. The General …
Partagás
Don Jaime Partagás created the Partagás brand in Cuba in 1845, and he constructed the majestic Partagás cigar factory as a proud symbol of his brand, which later was run by Ramón …
tobacco
Hail Destroys Acres Of Fuente Fuente OpusX Wrapper Leaf
An intense and long-lived hailstorm destroyed several acres of cigar tobacco at Chateau de la Fuente in El Caribe, Dominican Republic on May 6.
The Mystique of Medio Tempo
The newest buzzword in the cigar-blending world is medio tiempo: a high-primed leaf that packs a big punch. Despite being a darling to some makers, its enigmatic qualities (even …
Tobacco Seeds Discovered Among Stone Age Ruins
The use of tobacco by humans goes back much farther in history than previously thought.
Crop Report: Nicaragua’s Tobacco Season Extends into June
The season is extending an extra month, to mid-June.
Black Gold
The San Andrés Valley on Mexico’s Gulf Coast produces some of the most sought-after tobaccos in the world.
Shade in the Dusk
The once-dominant wrapper leaf grown under cloth in the Connecticut River Valley now needs protection from encroaching development.