From the grains to the leaves and until the cigar is rolled, a number of impressive operations are adhered to in the production of a cigar. Throughout the whole process, incessant efforts are geared at all levels of operations towards the production of a good quality cigar. An exceptionally good quality tobacco leaf will certainly loose its quality if it is not handled properly during the drying and fermentation phases. A poor storage facility in a retail shop or in the private home of the cigar enthusiast can alter a torcido cigar that was perfect at the time of production.
Certain indispensable conditions must be adhered-to in order for a cigar
to fulfil its mission of satisfying the desiderata of both experts and
the amateur. The smoker must feel the extraordinary complexity of the
product that he holds between his fingers, concretised by an assemblage
of leaves that are reducible to ashes and to smoke.
In
what manner is the quality of a cigar judged?
Cigars are said to be excellent if the wrapper is without any fault and if it has a beautiful shape. Their combustion must be perfect. The complexity and sweetness of the aroma flatter the refined nose. The diversity of their savour woos the mouth's taste buds. These cigars are always charming in view of their astonishing shape. The sensations procured by the aficionado tend to transport his spirit into a world of pleasure and meditation.
There are also cigars that, at a first glance, appear very modest but which, to the surprise of the curious individual, prove very interesting and even surprising at the moment of combustion. Unfortunately, however, the opposite can also happen. A cigar with a perfect outward appearance, an appearance that gives it all sense of grandeur and nobleness, may well turn out to be of low quality when it is tasted. It can highly frustrating if a smoker decides to throw away a lighted cigar because he cannot have a good draught of it. The frustration attained is highest if the cigar is composed of good tobacco.
How then can one, unequivocally, predict the quality of a cigar? How well can one choose a cigar? How can one tell if a cigar was well preserved? How do you prepare a cigar before smoking it? How do you value a cigar when it is being smoked? Finally, in what manner should a smoker do away with the lit cigar at the end of smoking?
All cigar
enthusiasts regularly pose these questions. For this reason, it is worth
discussing them here. The five senses of the smoker will contribute a
lot. The sense of sight, touch, smell, hearing and of taste will permit
the appreciation of a good cigar. In addition to this sensory evaluation,
we shall also let the smoker know how to analyse the pattern of combustion
of cigars. In
an innovative way, we propose here an original method of evaluation that
permits the aficionado, … and the aficionada, to have an integral
perception of his/her cigar. This method can be divided into 4 main phases:
before the lighting of the cigar,
lighting the cigar, tasting
the cigar and the cigar's death.
Although, if it is considered in its entirety, long and difficult at the beginning, the exercise becomes natural and reflexive afterwards. The moment that one sets aside to smoke a cigar will then be an exquisite moment, of an intimate and intense pleasure.