How to Choose a Cigar? – A Cigar Connoisseur’s Handbook!

For cigar lovers looking to get their hands on the best cigars out there in the market and those planning to gift cigars to their loved ones, this edifying manual is just the forte you require.

Consider reading this article and understanding the incremental facets of a cigar while also exploring with us the best cigar for yourself and others.

Cigar consists of fine-quality tobacco that is grown in various countries across the globe, and discovering the type of tobacco used in the cigar you choose is as crucial as knowing about the other elements, such as taste, size, or cost. 

1. What are Some Things to Keep in Mind while Choosing a Cigar?

Being a leaf-lover allows you to have a variety of different cigars. Some for one rationale or another, some for particular ones, some for specific occurrences, and some for celebratory events. 

The solitary purpose of your cigar assemblage is to mirror who you are and your tastes and preferences. The potency of the cigar determines the flavor and tobacco that give the feeling of eternity.

Cigars come in a number of sizes and shapes, and the size of a cigar will tell you how long it will endure while smoking. 

This article will discuss the four major factors that will guide you in choosing the best cigars available in the market.

1. Contents of the cigar.
2. Taste of the cigar.
3. Contour and dimension of a cigar.
4. Price of the cigar.

We will try our best to answer these questions that arise in most of you, so read further for a detailed description.

2. How do you Choose a Cigar Based on its Contents?

Every cigar that is produced has a unique combination of tobacco at three different levels. 

The first one is the wrapper. The wrapper is made up of two types of leaves; lighter ones give out lighter smoke, while the ones on the darker side will produce a heavier kind of smoke.

There are seven shades of wrappers available. Let us look at the shades and understand their functions from the darkest to the palest. 

2.1. Oscuro

The oscuro wrap is the darkest of all. It is completely black, and the color is attained by fermenting the leaves from the top. It gives a rich and strong flavor. 

2.2. Maduro

The Maduro wrap is almost blackish brown with hints of a combination of sugary, coffee, and mild flavors. 

2.3. Colorado Maduro

The Colorado Maduro is one shade lighter than Maduro. It gets the color from the fermenting done at higher temperatures. As for the taste, it gives an average, rich flavor. 

2.4. Colorado

The Colorado is a lighter brown and more on the brownish-red side shade. It gives off a subtle and soft scent with a complete flavor. 

2.5. Colorado Claro

The Colorado Claro is a lighter hue of reddish brown descent, and the color is obtained by growing it directly under sunlight, which gives a leathery touch to the cigar’s overall flavor. 

2.6. Claro

Claro leaves have a light tan tint. It gets the color when grown in the shade. It has a creamy, buttery, and slightly spicy tinge to it. 

2.7. Candela

Candela is paler green in color, which is due to the drying procedures carried on it. It has a leafy and woody redolence with a sweeter and grassy taste. 

The second level, towards the insides of a cigar, is the binder. The binder clasps and keeps the filling in place. The binder forms the bulky shape of the cigar. 

The last one is the filler. The filler or filling inside the binder is a cluster of tobacco leaves. This contributes to most of the flavor elicited by the cigar.

The filler is the most essential because the denser the filling is, the more flavor and smoke it develops. 

3. How do you Choose a Cigar Based on Taste and Scent?

While you are out there choosing your cigar as a newbie to the world of tobacco,  you might be awestruck at the variety of delicious fancies it provides.

A cigar would taste leathery, thick, spicy, syrupy, silky, or even light or mellow.

As difficult as it may sound, finding the right flavor you like won’t be that hard. If you are truly new to cigars, you might want to start by reading the description provided with the product.

If you start with combinations of distinct tastes, you may accidentally stumble upon the best flavors of all time.

However, along with the taste, the smell is also significant. No matter how great the taste is,  you would not want a cigar that is not aromatic. To get comfortable with smoking, you may want to know the cigar’s aroma and taste. 

Some of the people who begin to smoke would like to try additional flavors and not just the traditional ones.

They can try filling their cigars with herbs, including spices like cinnamon, clove, and pepper, adding to their spicier expectations. While some herbs may also include essential oils. 

They can also get fruit extract fillings. All kinds of cherries,  berries,  peaches, and even coffee extracts are miraculous. 

4. What is the Ideal Contour and Dimensions of a Cigar?

Along with the other basic aspects of a cigar, it is also crucial to have true knowledge of the different shapes and sizes that cigars come in. We have discussed the different shapes and sizes below, so continue reading to know everything in detail. 

The size of the cigar depends on the fundamental elements of the being gauge, also known as the diameter and the length of the cigar. The naming system of cigar sizes is in the Spanish language. Let us see the different dimensions of cigars. 

We have jotted down the different kinds of sizes available for cigars, ranked from longest to shortest based on the length. 

4.1. Presidente

Presidente cigars are long and slender. It is large and has a closed end. 

4.2. Parejo

Parejo cigars are the most commonly found cigars worldwide. It has a straight body with a round appearance and is shorter than the Presidente cigars. 

4.3. Pyramid

Pyramid cigars have a linear appearance but a cone-like layout at the top with an open narrowing.  

4.4. Torpedo

Torpedo cigars appear like actual torpedoes; they have a foot that is closed and a top that tapers and narrows at a point. 

4.5. Chisel

As the name suggests, the figure of this cigar is made in a way that resembles the carpenter’s timberwork tool, a chisel. The end of the chisel cigar tapers so that it flattens at the end. 

4.6. Culebra

Three strands of distinct Parejo cigars are taken and braided so that you can take one out at a time and smoke it individually. It is tied with a string to bind it in place. 

4.7. Salomon

The Salomon cigar is structured so that it tapers on both ends. However, the major difference between the two ends is that one has a bulging and round tip, and the other has a nipple-like appearance. 

4.8. Perfecto

Perfecto cigars are similar to Salomon cigars. It has a head that is shaped like a cone but bulges in the center.  And the foot has a nipple-like formation.

These are the right different sizes and shapes of cigars that all cigar collectors and accumulators should comprehend. 

5. How do you Choose a Cigar Based on its Price?

You might have thought at some point that cigars are meant for the rich; they are costly and extravagant. But it is not what you think, as the real deal is much more affordable.

As a rookie, if you are looking for cigars with a great flavor but do place a dent in your pocket, you can try out some brands like the CAO Gold Vintage, Vegas Gold, or the Rocky Patel Edge Connecticut. All these are cigars that provide you satisfaction as well as are pocket friendly.  

If you are still confused about choosing a cigar that is just perfect for all occasions, you can always look up reviews online. Many people post and speak about their experiences as experts or fledglings.

There is no harm in going to one of the cigar stores near you and actually striking up a conversation with the dealer. They might have some information as a connoisseur in this domain.

 This is all a raw idea about how to choose a cigar. We hope this alleviated some glow on your queries and was beneficial for you!