How to Select the Best Single Cigar

Wondering how to Select the best single cigar?  If you’re a newcomer to the world of cigar smoking, here are a few tips to choosing the best cigar.

First, note the texture of the cigar. Squeeze it gently. Is very soft, or rigid?  Ideally, the cigar should give slightly, but not too much.  Very gently, squeeze the length of the cigar to check for lumps.  A good cigar will have a consistent texture.

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The Parts of a Cigar

What are the different parts of a cigar?  Many long-time smokers enjoy their stogies without learning the basic parts of their cigar.  While it’s true that you can enjoy a cigar without knowing how it was put together, learning the basic parts of a cigar can be instrumental in helping you choose the best quality cigars.

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How to Clip Cigar Properly

How to clip a cigar properly?  Although every cigar aficionado has their own proven method, here are some basic guidelines to get you started.

First, examine the head, or closed end, of the cigar.  This is the part of the cigar that will need to be clipped.  Determine where the ‘cap’ is.  The cap refers to the part of the cigar where the tobacco leaf was used to close the cigar.  Once you’ve found the cap, determine its length.  As a general rule, you should not cut any further than the end of the cap.  If you cut further than the cap, there’s a good chance your cigar will unravel!
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How to Properly Age a Cigar

Experienced cigar enthusiasts know well the pleasures of a well-aged cigar.  The subtle flavors and complex constitution of a well-aged cigar is indescribably and unforgettable.

Like wine, many cigar aficionados swear by the process of aging.  A great cigar, the argument goes, is an aged one.  How can you attain a well-aged cigar that provides the mellow, complex flavors you crave?  You can always fork over a good deal of your money and purchase a box of expensive vintage cigars.

If you would rather save the money and experiment with aging on your own, here are a few tips to help you get started.

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How to Pair Cigars and Alcohol

cigar-and-alcoholThe cigar has long been viewed as a luxury of the rich and powerful.  Images of well-to-do men puffing on a stogie and swirling a glass of good brandy have been well documented and memorialized in films and TV.  If you are just becoming interested in cigars and would like to relax with a stogie and drink after a long day’s work, here are a few tips to get you started.

Traditionally, the cigar has been paired with a strong drink.  Popular spirits include rum, brandy, or whiskey.  Some argue that a good cigar should always be paired with a strong drink that has a hint of sweetness.  Indeed, cigar smokers have long enjoyed these popular pairings.  For years, the idea of pairing cigars with beer has gone overlooked.  But why overlook good old beer?  Recently, the trend has been to pair cigars with various varieties of beer.  It seems that as cigars have entered the mainstream, it has been democratized and popularized.  What better way to enjoy a puff of this newly popularized treat than to pair it with beer?

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