cigar tips and tricks
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.
What's a Cuban Cigar Factory Name?
Cuban cigars vitolas are referenced in two terms, the factory name and also the market name.
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
Quesada
The Quesada family has rolled cigars in the Dominican Republic since 1974, but it wasn't until 2009 that they released a cigar brand that beared their name. The limited-edition …
Liga Privada
In 2007, Drew Estate released its first batch of Liga Privada ("private blend" in Spanish) cigars. While many companies were touting puros at that time, Liga was a four-country …
E.P. Carrillo
E.P. Carrillo is the signature brand of EPC Cigar Co., the Dominican cigar company owned and operated by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Known as the “Godfather of Boutique Cigars,” …
Nat Sherman
The history of Nat Sherman cigars goes all the way back to 1930, when founder Nat Sherman acquired a clear Havana cigar brand called Epoca. For many years, Nat Sherman's cigar …
El Güegüense (The Wise Man)
El Güegüense, pronounced "El-Wah-Wen-Say," was released in 2015 as the debut brand of Nick Melillo's Foundation Cigar Co. The name is based on one of Nicaragua's most culturally …
Villiger La Flor de Ynclan
Villiger first launched this old vintage Cuban brand as a Dominican cigar in 2007. Dissatisfied with the results, the company discontinued the brand and it was nowhere to be seen …
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.