Strong demand brought on by the “lockdown effect”, combined with a slowdown of production in Cuba and logistic problems caused by Covid-19 mean that tobacconists’ shelves are looking bare. Habanos S.A. calls for patience. The first to sound the alarm was 5th Avenue Trading, the exclusive importer of Cuban cigars for Germany, Austria, and Poland….
Stains on cigar wrappers: Green, yellow, black and white spots explained.
Over the years, I have put together an entire collection of cigars with wrappers of various discolouration. I’m not talking about cigar bloom, an effect that can be removed from the wrapper. Discolouration of the wrapper cannot be removed since it is usually a pigment fault in the leaf. Green or greyish green stains, yellow…
The Magic Behind Maduro Cigars
Cigars come in many colours. From green to midnight black, cigar colour is the result of fermentation or so we are led to believe. In order to fully understand how a maduro wrapper is made, we have to look into the dark side of cigar making. Although it is generally true that fermentation determines tobacco…
Ashes to Ashes
At first sight merely the waste after enjoyment, ash performs an important function and reveals a lot about the cigar. The most important function of ash is its influence on the burn temperature. The longer the ash, the less oxygen reaches the burning end of the cigar, which in turn reduces the burning temperature and…
Cohiba—15 Fascinating Facts About Cuba’s Most Famous Cigar Brand
In a few decades Cohiba went from a private-label brand for Fidel Castro to becoming the most recognizable, sought-after cigar in the world. Up there with Dom Pérignon vintage Champagne, Rolls Royces and Patek Philippe watches, the Cohiba name is now synonymous with luxury goods, and for the most part, they live up to the…
Why choose cigars for a Christmas gift?
Why choose cigars for a Christmas gift? No, this is not a trick question! If you know someone who loves the occasional or frequent cigar, you just can’t go wrong with cigars as a Christmas gift. Any cigar lover will tell you there is no such thing as too many cigars; provided they have somewhere…
WHO ARE THE BUYERS OF HIGH-PRICED VINTAGE CIGARS?
As we’ve discovered, the world of vintage cigars is poorly defined, and even less understood. With some information from a few specialists, I found out that vintage buyers can be divided into two distinct groups. Dr. Maximilian Herzog, owner of three cigar specialist stores in Berlin, is regarded as a shrewd broker on the vintage…
Pipe Smoking for Beginners: How to Pack, Light, and Enjoy a Tobacco Pipe
For many societies throughout history, pipe smoking was (and is) a sacred ritual. Men would light their tobacco for various ceremonies including weddings, funerals, and the signing of treaties (hence the term “peace pipe”). It was an important part of their traditions and cultural heritage. In more modern times, gentlemen would smoke a pipe as…
The new vogue for cigar smoking cuts across boundaries of class, nationality, political affiliation and gender.
Despite the draconian smoking bans which have come in across Europe over the last decade or so, cigar smoking is in rude health. In London, many cigar terraces have been introduced since the 2007 ban prohibited smoking in enclosed public spaces. There are now no shortage of places where you can light up a Hoyo…
Cigarillos: Short and Small
In Europe, the Cigarillos, or Short, Dry-Cured Cigar, Sells. In America, it Has Never Caught On. The meal is over. The plates that once held veal marsala and other Italian delights have been cleared, and small cups of dark, froth-topped espresso are being wheeled to the table. The perfect time for a cigar, decides Max…