Before lighting the cigar
Storage conditions
First and foremost, the enthusiast has to take out a cigar either from his personal stock or from a specialised retail shop. The aficionado then opts for his favourite format among his most appreciated brands.
In order to satisfy the exigencies of the cigar enthusiast, the cigar will have to meet the conditions required for preservation. Cigars must be stored at specific temperature and humidity conditions. These factors, very crucial for an adequate conservation, must be maintained at optimum levels between temperature ranges of 15 and 25°C, and between 60 and 70% ambient humidity.
The optimum humidity (%) constitutive for smoking is from 12 to 14%. This value can be attained after a period of acclimation in the humidor. In the humidor, both temperature and humidity can be controlled according to the tastes of the smoker and the peculiarities of his cigar.
The
humidifying cellar, the storage place for cigars, is variable in size:
from a small cellar that holds just a few cigars for personal use, to
a larger space that can hold some tens of boxes for commercial purposes,
the content of which is often between 50 and 70 cigars.
But be careful! The fineness of the cigar's aroma is highly sensitive to odours and other external contaminants. The aromatic richness of the wrapper might be tempered with or even lost totally if the storage condition is inadequate. Consequently, in addition to storing cigars under the right temperature and humidity, they should also be kept under neutral conditions so as to conserve the fragrance of their aroma.
The scent of the cedar wood develops an interesting synergy with the tobacco bouquet. The cedar wood is mostly used in storage places where the cigars make physical contacts with the storage facility. The cedar wood is commonly in use in the cigar business: in the construction of the storage shelves, or escaparates of factories, private and commercial humidors, as well as the finest holding boxes. The cedar, like many other species of wood, is also advantageous in having a porosity that permits the capture of a certain amount of ambient humidity. Thus, even if the wood is out of the humid atmosphere, it still has the power of humidification. In effect, water that is stored in the pores of the wood is slowly liberated with time and, by so doing, helps to maintain favourable conditions for the conservation of cigars.
The choice of a module
The smoker should always choose a cigar that meets his tastes of the moment. He must obey his feelings about a cigar and, thus, must choose a cigar that appeals to him most. His choice should not be influenced simply by societal drives.
He should smoke a cigar that really catches his fancy.
Besides the differences in size, diameter and form, smoking also brings out certain differences between a large format and a small format.
As opposed to large cigars, cigars with a small diameter are characterised
by an early arrival of smoke in the mouth of the smoker. This could have
a relatively harsh effect on the palate; as the smoke will still be very
warm since the foyer of combustion is highly activated. Cigars with small
diameters present the smoker with an inferior aroma. Two reasons account
for this: i) the very high combustion temperature destroys certain aroma,
and ii) they contain less constitutive leaves. In contrast to a long cigar,
a short cigar would have a very easy draught because the smoke is filtered
over a relatively short distance, and that is why the temperature of its
smoke is higher.
Visual analysis
As a smoker approaches a cigar, his first reaction to it is permitted by his eyes.
Visual
analysis
is, in fact, the starting point
in the evaluation of the quality of a cigar.
It permits the identification of the brand, and the verification of its
authenticity based on the band that is close to the head of the cigar.
It also permits the appreciation of the rolling technique and the estimation
of the principal physical qualities of the wrapper.
The capa must have a uniform brilliant colour, and without tears, holes or stains. The venation must be as far as possible less prominent.
A visual estimation of the porosity of the filler, at the foot of the cigar, allows the smoker to verify its compactness. This parameter can also be evaluated by a tactile analysis of the torcido, but it will be finally and definitively confirmed by the quality of the draught when the cigar is lit.
A careful visual examination of the cigar will also permit the smoker to detect damages caused by the insect Lasioderma sericorne. The larvae of this beetle attack tobacco leaves as well as cigars and can provoke a number of perforations.
The major problems that can be detected as one visually examines a cigar may include lack of brilliance, presence of prominent venation, veins of alambrillo (in coils), stains, (green, white, or black), a bandera wrapper (draped) and tears.
Analysis by touch
Following an attentive examination of cigars, the aficionado generally
moves unto the touch phase of analysis in order to further appreciate
his cigar.
The enthusiast carefully moves his fingers around the cigar to appreciate the physical appearance of the wrapper, as well as its degree of humidity. A silky contact between the skin and the wrapper guarantees an interesting aromatic diversity. Most importantly, the touch analysis permits the verification of the compactness of the cigar and the appreciation of the homogeneity of its density. A cigar with a homogeneous density, that is neither too loose, nor too compact, forecasts a quality draught.
By the touch analysis, it is possible to detect a dry wrapper, a too compact or too loose cigar, an irregularly rolled cigar, as well as a hard cigar.
Auditory analysis
In addition to touch, an evaluation of the degree of humidity of a cigar
can also be made through the sense of hearing. By bringing the cigar close
to the ear while turning and gently squeezing it between the thumb and
the index finger, one can perceive a slight cracking sound. This indicates
that the wrapper is adequately humid.
Nevertheless, it must be noted that if the humidification of the cigar was very rapid, the wrapper will be very humid while the filler could still be very dry. We must, therefore, allow the cigar enough time to get entirely humidify in an adequate conservation facility.
The major defects of a cigar that are detectable through an auditory analysis include a very high or a very low cracking sound.
Olfactory analysis
While holding a cigar, the smoker can start to flatter his sense of smell by passing the cigar under his nostrils, while turning the cigar between his fingers. This enables him to appreciate the aroma of the torcido in its entirety. This appreciation, nevertheless, has some limits because the wrapper represents a maximum of only 5% of the cigar's volume. It is, thus, clear that the essential gustatory qualities will be determined by the filler. The wrapper mostly supplies the aroma which, before and during combustion, is sensed by the nose. The smoker can finally and precisely discern the gustatory quality of the cigar once it is lit.
The major defects that one can detect when a cigar is analysed by the sense of smell include lack of aroma, a dusty smell, or a strong ammoniac smell.