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What is a cigar

By common text book definition: A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco which is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth.

However, a cigar has also been referred to as: 'Being in the presence of eternity. The tobacco reminds us of the earth, from which it and we came. As with ourselves, the life of some cigars are short, while others last a while longer, but in the end all are consumed. But the smoke, ah, the smoke! The smoke drifts gently heavenward on its quest to combine with the great eternal oneness.' -Maharg

Or...'The most satisfying after dinner activity that doesn't involve two human beings.' -Brad Shaw

The purpose of this section is to explain the process from seed-to-smoke, which will cover the four elements responsible for the characteristics and physical makeup of a premium cigar. This section is broken up into 4 parts: Tobacco, Blend, Vitola and Name. An understanding of these four elements will help explain the intricacies and variations that make premium cigars such a spectrum of delicacy. After developing an understanding of the time and details involved in creating a cigar, hopefully you will be encourage to explore the subtle and extreme variations that make the search for the perfect cigar so rewarding.

(Click here to learn how is a cigar different from a cigarette.)

1- the Tobacco

The tobacco is the most important element of the cigar. The production of a quality tobacco leaf has evolved over centuries. Many modern farms continue age old farming traditions while others continue to push and explore the boundaries of the process today. There are many factors and skill that go into framing and producing quality tobacco.

  • Seed
  • Country/Region
  • Farm
  • Method/Environment
  • Priming
  • Curing/Fermentation
  • Sorting

By changing any one of these variables a farmer will produce distinctly different flavor in the tobacco leaf.  This is the level where the experienced tobacionist will lay the ground work for a premium cigar. Depending on the tobacco leaf produced and how it's unique characteristics will be used in the cigar blend will contribute greatly to finished cigar's overall flavor and quality.

2- the Blend

The blend of the cigar is where the tobacco leaf and a vision come together. The cigar maker will have a flavor in his mind and find the tobacco to create this flavor. The skill and tradtion of cigar maker will do good things. The selection of the tobacco leaf and intended flavor makes the blend a truly creative process. The cigar itself consists of 3 main parts:

cigar blend: wrapper, binder, filler
  • Filler
  • Binder
  • Wrapper

Sometimes a cigar maker will select all three parts of the blend from the same farm, region or country this is called a 'Puro' cigar. Other cigars may use multiple tobaccos grown around the world in the blend. The intended flavor will determine the blend, if the goal is a super premium cigar the maker will select the finest aged tobacco leaf from select regions.

3- the Vitola

A cigar's shape, ring guage and length can effect the presentation and experience of the cigar. However, after the blend is determined the flavor will not change much from one Vitola to the next of the same blend. The variety the Vitola's have more to do amount of flavor, the draw and the desired time to experience the cigar. Combined together these three elements are called the cigar 'Vitola'.

  • Shape
  • Ring Guage
  • Length

There is not a standard or uniform method for naming Vitolas, however there are traditional cuban names assigned to Vitolas that are commonly used throughout the cigar industry. 

3- the Name

When is a Churchill and Churchill? The answer to this question depends on the cigar brand (or sometimes, who you ask). The Name or Frontmark associated with a cigar's vitola can be very confusing subject. So if you are new to cigars, just accept now that there is no consistent rhyme, or reason to naming cigar vitolas. 

  • Frontmark
  • Traditional Name

There are traditionally accepted cuban names associated with most vitolas, for example a robusto or toro, but there are cases when two cigars can share name: robusto, but the cigar vitolas may vary. Or two cigars may have the exact same vitola, but two entirely different frontmarks.