Cigars have long been associated with the rich and powerful, with relaxation and rich flavor.  Cigar aficionados have created a culture around the art of smoking, assembling various theories and accessories to debate and facilitate smoking.  Much like wine tasting, cigar smoking has been seen as a diversion of the upper echelons of society.

It is believed that cigars were probably first produced in Spain, and then quickly caught on in other European countries.  Although many different countries manufacture cigars, Cuban cigars have long been highly regarded as one of the most flavorful and rich of all cigars.  This is due to regional microclimates that are said to produce the highest quality tobacco, as well as the skill of the country’s cigar makers.  Other countries that produce significant amounts of tobacco and cigars include Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and the United States. Why have cigars long caught the attention of so many?  Many speculate that the cigar’s main attraction is in the way it is manufactured.  High quality cigars are always wrapped by hand.  Unlike cigarettes, cigars undergo a lengthy process of fermentation and aging (much like wine), resulting in subtle flavors and textures.  They are highly individual and the best cigars will provide no smoky aftertaste at all.

The taste of cigars is much more complex than cigarettes.  The majority of all cigars are created by wrapping three different layers of tobacco leaves together.  High quality cigars usually contain long leaves of nicotine as the filler, although they may also contain a combination of scraps.  This results in subtle variations, different textures, and complex flavors. Cigarettes, on the other hand, are mass-produced and generally only contain one type of tobacco.  Cigars also come in an incredible variety of flavors. The dedicated cigar aficionado can find chocolate, vanilla, apple, and even coffee-flavored cigars!

Although cigars have long been lauded for their smooth and complex flavors, they can also pose a great health risk. All tobacco contains nicotine.  We’ve all heard about the negative health risks of nicotine, but what does it do exactly?  Nicotine is a stimulant that produces a sense of euphoria. Even the casual smoker cannot escape the fact that nicotine is highly addictive and contains various toxins, carcinogens, and irritants.  Although most connoisseurs of cigars will avoid inhaling the smoke, they are still at risk of developing various types of oral and larynx cancers.

The sheer diversity of cigars can be confusing for new smokers.  Many new smokers want to know:  is it OK to buy cigars from their local drugstore or chain store?  What is the quality of these cigars?  Can you expect to get good flavor from these cigars?

While of course, it’s perfectly OK to purchase these cigars, be aware that these packaged cigars are usually of poorer quality.  Most ‘drugstore’ cigars contain preservative or other non-tobacco ingredients.  Common ingredients found in packaged cigars may include paper, Glycerin, and saltpeter.  High quality cigars will contain only tobacco.  Packaged drugstore cigars will generally contain these extra ingredients designed to keep them stored on the shelves for extended periods of time.

In order to get the best quality cigars, you will have to visit your local tobacconist.  While many mail order businesses do carry good quality cigars, be aware that they usually will not sell singles, thus you will have to purchase whole boxes.  Visiting your local tobacconist allows you to test different brands before settling on a box.

For the new smoker, the different styles and sizes of cigars can seem mind-boggling.  It helps to know that all cigars can be divided into two broad categories:  parejos and figurados.

Parejos refers to cigars that are basically straight.  They are subdivided into three categories:  coronas, panatelas, and lonsdales.  Coronas come in a variety of styles and famous brands.  They are known as cigars with an ‘open foot’ (or tip) and a rounded head.  Panatelas are generally longer than coronas, are thinner.  Lonsdales are also longer than coronas, but are thinner than panatelas.

The second basic category consists of the figurados.  Figurados refers to cigars with that are irregular or somehow hand-shaped so that they are not strictly straight.  The smallest type of figurados is the belicoso cigars, which are known for a larger foot and a smaller, rounded head. Another basic figurado cigar is the pyramid, which have pointed heads that taper to a large foot.  The perfecto is a figurado cigar that is tapered on both the head and foot, with a thinner middle.  The largest figurado is the diademas, known as the ‘giant’ of cigars because it is always eight inches or longer.

For new smokers, lighting a cigar can seem as daunting as learning to choose a good single.  Here are four tips to guide you in lighting a cigar for the first time.

1.  Use cedar matches, if possible.  If you prefer to use a lighter, make sure it’s butane lighter to avoid strong odors.

2.  Warm the open end of the cigar (aka ‘the foot’ of the cigar) slowly over the flame, without touching it to the fire.  Let a black ring form around the end.

3.  Place the cigar in your mouth and draw in slowly.  Hold the cigar over the flame, about half an inch above it, again without touching.  Continue to draw in until the cigar draws the flame.   Turn the cigar slowly, spinning it to establish an even burn.

4.  Once your cigar is lit, take it out of your mouth and observe the burn you have established.  If the burn appears to be uneven, simply blow on the unlit sections to draw the burn, and then take one or two draws from the cigar to reestablish an even burn.