I Smoke Cigars

The complexity of a cigar is in the enjoyment it provides. From its flavors to its size, there are many factors that determine how we experience the pleasure offerings from across brands and countries around the world today! Whether you’re an experienced cigar smoker or a newbie to the humidor, Smokers Choice is dedicated to providing you with the right information about quality products. Stop into one of our locations and experience our giant humidors with hundreds of selections of cigars!

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Storage

Cigars are delicate creatures, their wrappers can dry out and crack making for an unpleasant smoke. If you’re going to smoke cigars, you’ll need to know how to store and care for them properly.

Store between 70°F and 73-74% humidity.
It’s recommended that you buy and keep your cigars in a humidor, especially if you are going to be saving and collecting different types.

If you don’t have a humidor, or just want to preserve a cigar in a pinch:

Dampen, NOT saturate, a paper towel with water. Place the paper towel with the cigar in a plastic bag and put it in the crisper of your fridge (where the veggies go). You can also store it in a cool and dark place, such as your closet. This can preserve cigars for a small amount of time.

Note: This technique works with cigars that are still in the cellophane. Without the plastic covering your cigar, the paper towel will ruin the tobacco wrapper.

Buying a humidor

Always buy the best kind of humidor you can afford. Cheap models don’t regulate your humidity and temperature well, decreasing the longevity of your cigars. It’s also always better to buy one bigger than you need so that you don’t run out of room too quickly. When purchasing a humidor, make sure the lid closes securely and no air can escape. A humidor with a hygrometer is best because it can measure the amount of moisture that’s contained.

After you purchase your humidor, many manufacturers make the recommendation of lightly applying propylene glycol to the walls of your humidor to help stabilize the humidity. This isn’t required, however, it can help prevent the formation of mold and bacteria.

Investing in humidors may seem costly and a lot of work, but at the end of the day it’s worth it. There is nothing like taking out a fresh cigar from your humidor and enjoying it with a beer or spirit!

CIGAR GUIDE

Cigars come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. The tobacco used in the cigar will determine the strength and flavor while the different sizes and shapes will determine how long the cigar will last. Different brands will offer different sizes and shapes of their cigars. Cigar lengths are measured in inches but the diameter is measured in 64ths of an inch. So, a Toro, 6x50 would be 6 inches long with a diameter of 50/64ths. Cigars also come in a variety of colors or shades that will also influence flavor and strength. Scroll through the images below for a detailed description of each of the varieties.

Colorado

Medium brown to brownish red with a full flavor. These leaves are usually grown in the shade.

Colorado Claro

A medium-brown to red shaded wrapper grown in direct sunlight for extended periods of time (also known as natural).

Colorado Maduro

Darker than a Colorado but lighter than a Maduro.

Maduro

A dark-brown color, sometimes appearing black. Leaves are toasted at high temperatures, giving a robust but sweet flavor.

Oscuro

A very brown dark-colored wrapper with strong flavor. Also known as “Maduro Maduro” or “Double Maduro.”

Corona

A classic mid-sized cigar; 5.5 - 6 inches with a 42-44 ring gauge.

Petit Corona

A smaller version of the corona, measures about 4.5 inches with a ing gauge of 40-42.

Corona Gorda

Also called a Toro, this cigar is ~6 inches with a 46-50 inch ring gauge.

Double Corona

This cigar is 7.5 - 8.5 inches in length with a 49-52 inch ring gauge.

Churchill

One of the classic cigar sizes; 7 inches with a 47 ring size, named after Winston Churchill.

Robusto

The most popular size in America; a short, stocky cigar usually 4.75 - 5.5 inches with a 48-52 ring gauge.

Panatela

A classic shaped cigar, long and thing. 5 to 7.5 inches with a 34-38 ring gauge.

Lonsdale

A classic cigar size; usually 6.25 - 6.5 inches with a ring gauge of 42-44.

Pyramid

A cigar that goes from a narrow ring size at the head and gradually flares out to a large foot (not to be confused with a torpedo).

Belicoso

A thick shaped cigar with a ring gauge of 50 or more.

Torpedo

A cigar whose body flares and then narrows near the foot.

Perfecto

An all-time classic; a straight cigar with a tapered end.

Culebra

The most exotic shaped cigar; three smaller cigars braided together to create one. The “snake” in Spanish.

Diamedmas

A large shaped cigar, or torpedo shape. Atleast 8 inches long with a ring gauge of 40 near the head, with 52-54 tapering at the end.

Claro

A light tan color. These tobacco leaves are grown in shade under cheesecloth tents and picked early to air-dry.

Double Claro

A pale green to light tan color, this hue is created by a quick-drying process using heat to lock in the chlorophyll in the tobacco leaf.

Key terms for beginners

Band

A small signature label that is wrapped around the head (also known as the ring).

Barrel

Another word for the body of a cigar (also known as the cannon).

Binder

The leaf that is rolled around the tobacco to hold it together.

Blending

The “recipe” (blend of tobacco) that gives the cigar it’s characteristic flavor.

Foot

The end of the cigar you light.

Flat Head

A cigar style in which the head is flat. This is customary in premium Cuban cigars.

Figurados

Any shaped cigar that is not the standard cylinder shape with parallel sides and a rounded head.

Head

The end of the cigar that is clipped.

Humidor

A humidity-controlled box or room that is used for storing cigars.

Puro

A cigar whose filler, binder, and wrapper are made from tobacco grown in the same country.

Premium Cigar

A handmade cigar with 100% high-grade tobacco and long filler.

Private Label Cigar

A cigar that is only made for one company and sold exclusively by them.

Ring

The unit of measurement used to calibrate the diameter of a cigar. Each measurement is divided into 1/64th of an inch, so for example, a cigar with a 32 ring is 32/64ths of an inch, or ½ inch.

Ring Gauge

A handheld device with a premeasured hole to determine if a cigar has been rolled to the accurate diameter.

Stogie

A generic term to describe any cigar.