Terminology

Aroma: This is the smell of a cigar after it's lit, which emanates from the smoke itself.

Cutter: A tool used to cut off the tobacco cap from the head of a cigar before lighting. Biting off the end of a cigar is not recommended as it can lead to stray tobacco leaves in the mouth. The Les Fines Flames is a sturdy and practical double guillotine Japanese Samurai steel cutter.

Aficionado: A cigar smoker often characterized by a deep appreciation and knowledge of cigars.

Amarillo: A yellow wrapper leaf grown under shade.

American Market Selection (AMS): A term used to designate claro-colored wrappers.

Amatista: A glass jar containing 50 cigars sealed for freshness.

Band: A ring of paper wrapped around the closed head of most cigars, often printed with the brand name and other details. Cigar bands are sometimes removed before smoking.

Barrel: The main body or shank of a cigar.

Blend: The mixture of different types of tobacco in a cigar, including filler leaves, binder leaves, and outer wrappers.

Bloom (Plume): A naturally occurring phenomenon in aging cigars caused by oils exuded from the tobacco. It appears as a fine white powder and can be brushed off.

Blue Mold: A fast-moving fungus that can ruin tobacco leaves.

Boite Nature: A cedar box used to store cigars.

Book Style (Booking): A rolling method where filler leaves are laid atop one another and rolled up like a scroll.

Bouquet: The smell of a fine cigar.

Box: The container used to package cigars, available in various traditional styles.

Box-pressed: Cigars packed tightly in a box, resulting in a slightly squarish appearance.

Bullet Cutter: A cigar punch used to open a cigar.

Bull's-Eye Piercer: A device for opening the closed head of a cigar.

Bulk: A large pile of tobacco leaves where fermentation occurs.

Bunch: Up to four different types of filler tobacco blended to create the body of the cigar, held together by the binder.

Bundle: A packaging method using cellophane overwrap, often containing cigars without bands.

Burros: Piles of fermented cigar tobacco.

Cabinet Selection: Cigars packed in wooden boxes suitable for aging.

Candela: A bright green shade of wrapper achieved by heat-curing.

Cap: A circular piece of wrapper leaf placed at the head of the cigar.

Capa: The cigar's wrapper.

Carotene: A compound found in aged cigars.

Case: Moistening aged tobacco to make it easier to roll.

Cedar: Wood used for cigar boxes and humidors.

Chaveta: A knife used in cigar factories for cutting wrapper leaves.

Cigarillos: Thin, machine-made cigars.

Clear Havana: A cigar made in the U.S. with Cuban tobacco before the embargo.

Corojos: Tobacco plants grown for wrapper leaves.

Credo: A humidification device for humidors.

Cuban Seed: Tobacco grown in non-Cuban countries with Cuban seeds.

Cubatabaco: Formerly the worldwide distribution company for Cuban cigars.

Draw: The amount of air pulled through a lit cigar.

English Market Selection (EMS): A term used to designate a natural color wrapper.

Entubar: A rolling method originating in Cuba.

Escaparates: Cooling cabinets for cigars at factories.

Fermentation: Process of moistening tobacco leaves to ferment them.

Figurado: Cigars with various creative shapes.

Filler Leaves: Tobacco leaves are used in the body of the cigar.

Finish: The taste that lingers on the palate after smoking a puff.

Flag Leaves: An extension of the wrapper leaf to finish the head of a cigar.

Foot: The end of the cigar that's lit.

Gorda: Spanish for "fat," used to describe cigars.

Gran Corona: A very big cigar.

Gum: Vegetable adhesive used to secure wrapper leaf.

Habano: A designation for Cuban cigars.

Habanos S.A.: The worldwide distribution company for Cuban cigars.

Hand: Individual tobacco leaves hung together after harvest.

Handmade: Cigars are made entirely by hand with high-quality wrappers and long filler.

Havana: Capital of Cuba and center of cigar production.

Head: The closed end of the cigar.

Holder: An accessory for holding a cigar while smoking.

Homogenized Binder: Binder made of chopped tobacco leaves and cellulose.

Hot: Describes a cigar with a quick, loose draw and harsh flavors.

Humidor: A container for storing and aging cigars at the proper humidity and temperature.

Hygrometer: A device for measuring humidity.

Inhale: Not recommended when smoking cigars.

Igloodor: Insulated storage container for cigars.

Lance: A cutter for piercing the closed end of a cigar.

Lector: The person who reads to cigar rollers.

Ligero: A type of filler tobacco lending body to a blend.

Long Filler: Filler tobacco running the length of the cigar body.

Machine-made: Cigars made entirely by machine.

Media Ruedas: Bundles of 50 cigars tied together with a ribbon.

Mini Cigarillo: Thin, small cigars.

Mold: Wooden form used in cigar making or a potentially damaging fungus.

Oil: A mark of a well-humidified cigar.

Olor: A Dominican cigar tobacco known for big leaves.

Parejos: Straight-sided cigars.

Partido: Prime tobacco growing area in Cuba.

Piercer: A cutter for piercing the closed end of a cigar.

Planchas: Boards used for drying tobacco leaves.

Plugin: A blockage in tobacco that can affect draw.

Pre-Castro Cigar: A Cuban cigar made before Fidel Castro's rise to power.

Pre-embargo Cigar: Cuban cigar made before President Kennedy enacted the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba in 1962.

Primings: Rows of leaves on a tobacco plant. The number varies, with six being the average. The higher the priming, the stronger the tobacco.

Propylene Glycol (PG): A hydroscopic, viscous liquid used in humidification and various products.

Puro: A cigar blended with tobacco from a single country, often synonymous with Cuban cigars.

Relative Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air compared to complete saturation at a given temperature.

Ring Gauge: A measurement for the diameter of a cigar, based on 64ths of an inch.

Rosado: A term describing the reddish tint of some Cuban-seed wrapper.

S.A.: "Sociedad Anonyma," the Spanish-language equivalent of "Inc."

Seco: A type of filler tobacco known for its medium-bodied characteristics.

Shade-grown: Wrapper leaves cultivated under a cheesecloth tent, resulting in thinner, more elastic leaves.

Smoking Time: The duration a cigar provides smoking pleasure based on its size.

Shoulder: The area of a cigar where the cap meets the body.

Short Filler: Chopped scraps of leaf used mainly in machine-made cigars.

Special Solution: A solution of water and propylene glycol used in humidification to maintain proper humidity levels.

Spill: A strip of cedar used to light a cigar, avoiding alteration of taste from other lighters.

Sugar: Naturally occurring in tobacco, more abundant in darker wrappers, contributing to sweetness.

Sun-grown: Tobacco grown in direct sunlight, resulting in thicker leaves.

Tapado: A cheesecloth tent used in cultivating shade-grown wrapper leaf.

Tercios: Large bales in which fermented tobacco is shipped to cigar factories.

Tooth: Grain pattern on wrapper leaf, characteristic of less smooth leaves.

Torcedores: Cigar rollers.

Totalamente a Mano: A description indicating cigars made entirely by hand.

Tubos: Cigars packed in individual tubes for freshness.

Tunneling: Uneven burning of a cigar, prevented by rotating the cigar.

Tupperdor: An airtight plastic container used for storing cigars.

Value Hunter: Someone seeking value in cigars.

Vega: A tobacco plantation.

Vein: Structural part of a leaf, which can be a defect in wrappers.

Vintage: Refers to the year the tobacco was harvested.

Viso: Glossy wrapper leaf grown under cover.

Vitola: Factory term for a cigar shape.

Vuelta Abajo: Valley in Cuba renowned for producing high-quality cigar tobacco.

Volado: Filler tobacco chosen for its burning qualities.

Wrapper: High-quality tobacco leaf wrapped around the finished bunch and binder.

Wedge Cut: A V-shaped cut made in the closed end of a cigar.

Common Questions

For many, cigars represent more than just smoke; they embody tradition, luxury, and relaxation. Yet, for those new to the world of cigars, navigating the nuances can be overwhelming. 

From the art of preparation to the debate over hand-rolled versus machine-rolled, here's a guide to some common questions surrounding cigars.

How should I cut a cigar?

The first step in cigar preparation is crucial - cutting the cap with a proper cigar cutter. Using a knife or your teeth is discouraged as it can damage the wrapper. Instead, opt for a guillotine, cigar punch, double-blade cutter, or V-cutter. A clean, precise cut ensures an optimal draw and prevents the wrapper from unraveling. 

For beginners, a double-bladed guillotine cutter is recommended, removing only 2-3mm of the cap with a swift motion.

Hand-rolled vs. Machine-rolled Cigars.

Hand-rolled cigars are often associated with complexity and character, crafted by skilled artisans. They tend to be pricier but offer a unique smoking experience. In contrast, machine-rolled cigars offer consistency and affordability, making them a popular choice for casual smokers. While both have their merits, the decision ultimately boils down to personal preference and occasion.

How should I store and select cigars?

Proper storage is essential to preserving the flavor and quality of cigars. A humidor maintains the ideal humidity level, preventing cigars from drying out. When selecting a cigar, look for a slightly spongy texture, indicating freshness. Avoid dry or flaky cigars, as they may compromise your smoking experience. Remember, a well-stored mid-range cigar often surpasses a poorly-handled premium cigar.

What is a humidor and why is it important?

A humidor is a specialized box designed to regulate the humidity levels of cigars, ensuring they remain fresh and flavorful. By maintaining the optimal environment, a humidor prolongs the lifespan of cigars and enhances their smoking quality.

Should I remove the band before smoking a cigar?

The debate over band removal is a contentious one among cigar enthusiasts. Some argue for its removal to prevent the band from burning and impacting the flavor. Conversely, others caution against it, as removing the band may damage the wrapper. 

Ultimately, it's a matter of personal preference. Starting to smoke and allowing the heat to soften the adhesive before removing the band is a common approach.

How should I cut my cigar?

When cutting your cigar, precision is key. While various methods exist, the punch method is often favored for its simplicity and preservation of structural integrity. It involves making a small piercing directly into the center of the cap. 

Alternatively, using a cutter requires caution to avoid ruining the cigar or leaving tobacco flakes. Regardless of the method chosen, care and attention are paramount to a satisfying smoking experience.