Cigar.LifeTips.com
Category: Answer User Questions Subcategory: Answer User Questions Tip: Cut Cigar And Humidors? You can store a cut cigar in a humidor. The humidor will actually provide a safer environment for the cigar. Category: Cigar Accessories Subcategory: Cigar Accessories Tip: Cigar Holders and accessories Other fine cigar accessories are items to carry the cigars. Cigar holders ensure that your cigars safely get where they are going. Theses cigar accessories allow you to travel with some of your inventory. The holders provide protection from damage. There nothing more discouraging than a damaged cigar. Tip: Jack of all Cutting Trades Deciding on a cigar cutter is really a matter of personal preference. While it seems like most of the cigar smoking world uses guillotine cutters, other types of cigar cutters include scissor cutters and cigar knives. The cigar knife is probably the most versatile. Many contain a cigar punch, a standard blade and a mini-pair of scissors. This way, it can meet the cutting needs of any smoker, no matter their preference. Tip: Light a Candle Other cigar accessories that can benefit both the cigar smoker and those who live and work with him are cigar candles. Light up a candle next to the smoker and the smell of tobacco -- foul to some and beautiful to others -- will be replaced by the smell of vanilla or cinnamon. Choose your masking odor carefully. Cigar smoking is an inherently masculine endeavor and no cigar smoker is going to like lush or fruity smells. But a subtler spice scent usually works for everyone. Tip: Off With Its Head (or Tip) When it comes to useful cigar accessories, you can't ever go wrong with a classic guillotine cigar cutter. The guillotine works like its French namesake, with blades that neatly lop off the end of the cigar. A single-bladed cutter comes from one direction, while a double-bladed cutter comes from both sides simultaneously. These cigar cutters
are relatively inexpensive -- under $40 -- and available online or at just about any tobacco or smoke shop that sells premium cigars. Tip: Travel in Style If you've invested a lot in premium cigars and you want to take them with you traveling, you need to invest in a good leather cigar case. Even better, try to find one that doubles as a humidor, with Spanish cedar interior and humidification. Be prepared to pay big money -- some of the less expensive ones still demand around $300. But if you want to transport your premium cigars in premium style, this is the cigar accessory for you. Tip: Waterproof Cigar Cases Some folks want to be able to light up a cigar wherever they are -- celebrating scaling a mountain, a hole in one or the end of a long day of hiking or backpacking. But in order to enjoy their cigars at the exact right time, the cigars need to be transported in something that keeps them fresh and waterproof, no matter where their adventuring owner takes them. Whether you're boating, climbing, flying or driving, invest in a waterproof cigar case that will keep your cigars moist, without drowning them in harsh weather conditions. Subcategory: Cigar Cases Tip: The uses of a cigar box Cigar boxes can have many uses. Not only are these cigar cases used for cigars, a cigar box is also used to store everything from change to photos once their initial use is complete. Some even use them as a clothing accessory. Some people attach straps to the boxes and create cigar box purses. Cigar purses are an excellent example of the art people create with cigar boxes. Tip: Tubos Tubos are single cigar cases or tubes in which cigars sometimes come packed. The tubes help keep the cigars properly moisturized. These are great for one-time moves. There are some nice silver or wooden tubos available for repeated use. These elegant tubes can keep a cigar properly humidified for up to three days. Category: Cigar Gifts Subcategory: Cigar Gift Tips
Tip: Humidors as gifts Humidors are exceptional cigar gifts. Providing an initial or new cigar humidor can give the cigar lover the opportunity to take his or her collection to the next lever. Travel humidors are great so that individuals can take their cigars when they are on the move. A cigar gift box that includes a humidor and an assortment of cigars would make anyone's day. Subcategory: Cigar Gifts Tip: Classic Cigar Gift: a Cutter A classic cigar gift for the smoker in your life is a cigar cutter. Cigar cutters are used to cut the tips off cigars just before smoking. There are all kinds of cutters available, but if you want your gift to be appreciated over time, go for a classic: a double-bladed guillotine cutter. Expect to pay about $40 for a good one. You can find them at most tobacco shops or online. Tip: Looking for a Cool Cigar Gift? One of the coolest cigar gifts around, both in terms of usefulness and looks, is the Mollino Portable Ashtray by OneOff. It's a ultra-thin, foldable metal sheet with an attached cigar holder. it even comes in its own pocket-size leather case. Imagine being able to whip out your own ashtray anywhere you smoke your favorite cigars, and have a conversation piece besides. It retails for about $100 and is available online. Tip: Tips on Buying Humidors as Gifts Humidors are expensive, which is one reason why they can make great cigar gifts for smokers who've spent all their money on premium cigars and have nothing left to pay for storage. Expect to pay at least $150 for a humidor gift and a lot more for very large or fancy models. Make sure your humidor choice is airtight, has a Spanish cedar interior and offers a solid humidification device with a working hygrometer. Choose the right model and your cigar smoker will be really happy with his gift. Category: Cigar Humidors Subcategory: Cigar Humidor Tips Tip: Build a humidor If you are a carpenter, or someone ambitious looking for a terrific project, you can always build your own cigar humidor. The proper materials are necessary - including top quality cedar or wood to ensure the proper care of your cigar. You must also be careful
about the dimensions since your humidor needs to be air tight. Think of how proud you would be placing a collection of premium cigars in a humidor built by your own hands. Tip: Cigar Humidity Cigars are handmade with natural leaves and to preserve and age the tobacco, humidors need to be properly maintained. The ideal humidity in a cigar humidor is 65 to 75 percent. The internal temperature should be maintained precisely between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't keep the humidors in these ranges, you are just preparing a coffin for your cigars. Only use distilled water in the humidification devices. Choose a location outside of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Neither is good for the humidors or the care of the cigars. Tip: Finding Heirloom Humidors For a really unique and beautiful piece, you can also look for heirloom or antique humidors. There are some of particular beauty and just because it is older, does not mean it won't be airtight or properly store your cigars. Many are in beautiful wooden boxes, so well made that they work better than some humidors that are made today. You can find antique cigar humidors that hold hundreds of cigars and that look beautiful in your home as well. Just make sure the seal is tight. Tip: Humidors as accessories Humidors are important cigar accessories. Keeping you cigars at the proper humidity and temperature is critical. A digital hygrometer is an item that is very helpful in maintaining the proper levels in your humidor. These hygrometers give accurate digital readings about your humidor humidity. This allows you to stay on top of your reading and keep you cigars in perfect condition. Subcategory: Cigar Humidors Tip: Active or Passive Humidification? If you're investing a few hundred dollars in a real cigar humidor, one decision you're going to want to make is whether you want active or passive humidification. Active humidifers are electronic humidifiers that set and keep an exact level of humidity inside your humidor. These are typically used in large cigar humidors, but can be found in smaller models. Be prepared to pay big for a humidor with active humidification. More common are cigar humidors with passive humidification. These use simple vapor conduction principles to keep the humidity inside your humidor stable and your premium cigar brands nice and moist.
Tip: Don't Skimp on a Humidor If you're ready to invest in a cigar humidor, you've probably already invested enough in premium cigars and now need a place to store and age them. Here's a word of advice about humidors -- don't skimp. Pay for one with Spanish cedar insides and a working humidity gauge, called a hygrometer. You should be prepared to pay at least $150 for your humidor, more if you want a big one or one that fits the decor of your smoking room. Tip: Don't Store Cigars in the Refrigerator It used to be sound advice to tell a cigar smoker to store premium cigars in the refrigerator in lieu of a real cigar humidor. This is no longer true. Most of today's refrigerators have active dehumidifaction systems built-in. This is the opposite of what you want. If you leave your premium cigar brands in the refrigerator as a humidor substitute, they will dry out and be ruined relatively quickly. Tip: What to Look for in a Humidor When shopping for a cigar humidor, there are a few basics to keep in mind no matter how much you're planning to spend: * Many experts claim that your humidor needs a Spanish Cedar interior and that any wooden interior needs to be unfinished. There is a big difference between American and Spanish cedar. * You need to be able to keep a constant level of humidity in the humidor with as little work as possible on your part. Some have expensive reservoir systems, others simply use a wet sponge inside the humidor. * Make sure your humidor has a good-quality hygrometer, which is a device used to measure humidity. When it comes to buying nice humidors to store your premium cigar brands, your only limit is going to be your pocketbook. Category: Cigar Lighters Subcategory: Cigar Lighter Tips Tip: Cigar Lighters Cigars are very different than cigarettes. They are made with moist tobacco rather than dry tobacco. Properly lighting a cigar with a cigarette lighter is filled with risk. From outright damage to uneven burn is possible. You need a lighter designed for the job. Cigar lighters designed for cigars tend to have a broader flame. They use clean burning butane (preferably triple or more filtered). Butane, unlike lighter fluid, does not affect the taste of the cigar. The best lighters for cigars are double or triple flame butane flint lighters, as well as torch lighters. Torch lighters use butane that produces an intense blue or green flame that looks like it could weld steel. The flame will properly light your cigar evenly but be careful not to char the cigar, as it could affect the taste.
Tip: Colibri Colibri is one of the most well-known cigar lighter manufacturers. Colibri Cigar lighters come in many styles. All are well-crafted. If you are serious about you cigar smoking, you want to be serious about you gear. A Colibri will show that you are a true cigar aficionado. Tip: How to enjoy a lit cigar Learn to appreciate your cigar after igniting it with your cigar lighter. Enjoyment is what you are striving for. There is no rush to the finish line. You must smoke in slow regular puffs. This allows you to control the burn and get the most out of you cigar. Subcategory: Cigar Lighters Tip: Carry a Torch Cigarette lighters are designed to produce a small flame for a few seconds. To light a cigar, you need a lighter that produces a big flame that lasts long enough to successfully toast and light even the most moist premium cigar. You need a cigar lighter with a torch flame. Torch lighters produce serious flames that can last long enough to light even the most moist cigars. You can find them online or in most cigar shops. Just remember to be careful with the flames. Tip: Double the Flame, Double the Heat Some cigar lighters come with either a double or a triple flame. These lighters are built exactly like they sound: with two or three flames instead of one. The idea here is that multiple flames better toast the cigar before lighting because they cover more area. Good idea or marketing gimmick? Depends on your point of view, but many serious cigar smokers swear by them. Tip: Invest in a Decent Lighter Unless you enjoy exercises in frustration, don't try to light your premium cigar with matches, especially book matches. Lighting a premium cigar takes time, energy and a good lighter. You've likely already invested in premium cigars, a good cutter, perhaps even a humidor. Go ahead and splurge on a decent cigar lighter, even a torch lighter if you can, to make your cigar experience everything you want it to be. Tip: Just Say No to Disposables It's tempting to think that a cheap disposable butane lighter could work as a cigar lighter
and save money to be spent on more premium cigars. But any regular cigar smoker will tell you they just don't work. You need to hold the flame on for 5-10 seconds to properly toast and light a decent cigar. Hold the flame that long on a disposable and you'll toast your fingers, too. And don't try to light it in the wind, either. You're actually better trying to light your cigar with wooden kitchen matches than a typical cheap disposable. Tip: What to Pay for a Decent Cigar Lighter Plan on paying at least $50 for a good cigar lighter, with refillable butane and a wind-resistant flame. You can get solid torch lighters for between $50 and $100. If you want a designer lighter that looks great and impresses your cigar-smoking friends, be prepared to pay well over $100 and up $200 for collectable lighters. Category: Cigar Rating Subcategory: Cigar Rating Tips Tip: Elements of a good cigar The making of a good cigar rests on two elements. One is the quality of the tobacco. The other is the quality of the construction of the cigars. The consistency of both must be taken into account for cigar ratings. Anyone can make a good cigarif they take these two elements into consideration and execute appropriately. Also consider the ring guage of a cigar when choosing your brand. The girth of a cigar is customarily expressed in terms of its ring guage in 1/64ths of an inch. Thus, if a cigar has a ring quage of 49, it is 49/64th of an inch thick. Category: Cigar Stores & Clubs Subcategory: Cigar Club Tips Tip: Cigar clubs Cigar clubs are a good way to sample and get to know about new and different cigar products. Almost every mail order and online cigar store has a cigar of the month promotion. These are excellent ways of subscribing to the service to receive different cigars each month. This is also a unique gift for those cigar lovers that you know. Each month you receive a selection of cigars and information. Subcategory: Cigar Stores & Clubs
Tip: Online Cigar Shops Offer Cost-Effective Alternative Online cigar stores offer a cost-effective alternative to purchasing cigars at the local cigar shop, especially if you purchase by the box. But you need to know what you're looking for at any online cigar catalog. Also, make sure the store is reputable and ships its cigars quickly and in proper containers. Ask around among your cigar-smoking friends as to what online stores are the best, or try one of the major cigar magazine web sites. Category: Cuban Cigars Subcategory: Cuban Cigars Tip: Are Cuban Cigars Worth all the Trouble? Are Cuban cigars worth all the trouble? Depends on who you ask, but more and more experts are saying "no." This is because other Cigar-making countries, especially the Dominican Republic, are making very high-quality cigars. Because the Dominican and Nicaraguan cigars are legal to import to the US, they are much less expensive and don't come with the potential legal issues of real Cuban cigars. Tip: Compare Cubans Online If you're planning to invest a lot of money on Cuban cigars, you're going to want to make sure you're getting the best deal on your Cohibas and Montecristos. Check online comparison sites that list different brands and prices of Cuban cigars on side-by-side charts. Tip: How to Spot a Counterfeit Cuban Cigar Unless you're actally buying your Cuban cigars in Cuba, it's tough to know if the Cuban cigars you are being sold are actually from Cuba. So how do you know if you've received real Cuban cigars and not counterfeits? Here are a couple of expert tips to use in your cigar purchase: * On the box: Look for a seal from the Cuban government and a "Habanos" sticker on the cover with the black silhouette of a tobacco leaf. * Inside the box: Look for a parchment paper with the Habanos notation in brown and an introduction in four languages * The cigars: Uniform color and placement, exact confirmation to the size ordered. Tip: Miami, Maybe? Where can you get the Best Cuban cigars? According to many experts, Miami's Little Havana is the place for great Cuban cigars. These are cigars made using traditional Cuban techniques by Cuban immigrants. Some cigar afficianados will argue that it's the
Cuban-grown tobacco that makes the unique taste and smell of Cuban cigars. But others say that the Miami cigar-makers have captured the essence of Cuba in their American-made, hand-rolled cigars. Category: Discount Cigars Subcategory: Discount Cigars Tip: Buy Direct from US Boutique Manufacturers One way to get quality discount cigars is to buy direct from the manufacturer. The easiest way to do this in the US is to buy -- in person, by catalog or online -- from US cigar makers. You won't get big brand names like Cohiba or Montecristo. But do some shopping and you can find boutique cigar makers, including Cuban immigrants in Miami, who make hand-rolled cigars equal in quality to the best brand-name cigars. But since you're not paying for the brand name, or the shipping and middleman costs, you'll be getting a deal. Tip: Buy in Bulk The easiest way to get quality cigars for a less-expensive, per-cigar cost is to buy in bulk from a wholesale cigar dealer. You can buy a box of 25 cigars online for about $300 on sale, which brings the price down to $12 per cigar. You can problably save even more if you buy a number of boxes at a cigar sale and negotiate a bulk price with the wholesale cigar dealer. Tip: Buy Single Cigars Locally, and Boxes Online Good cigars are expensive and really up to the personal taste of the smoker. So you want to make sure you try out plenty of cigars before you make a commitment to buying online from a wholesale cigar dealer or discount cigar dealer. The idea is to make sure you find the cigars you like by trying them out at your local discount cigar store. Then, once you make your choices, seek out the best deal for that exact brand and model online. There are much better deals online, especially if you want to commit to buying a box. But you don't want to pay hundreds of dollars online unless you're sure it's for cigars you really like. Tip: Too Good to be True is Probably Not So Good Remember, the idea is to buy good cigars cheap, not cheap cigars. So beware of discount cigar deals that seem too good to be true, especially when buying online, from a catalog, or anywhere you can't see and touch the cigars before purchasing. A deal on wholesale cigars that seems great isn't so good if the cigars turn out to be counterfeit,
which is an especially prevalent problem when buying Cuban cigars. Even if they aren't counterfeit, some dealers sell older, low-quality or segundo (second) cigars as first-quality cigars. So search for good deals on discount cigars, but be very wary of super deals unless you know the dealer or the dealer has been recommended to you by someone you trust. Category: General Cigar Information Subcategory: Cigar Tips Tip: Are Cigars Dangerous? According to the American Cancer Society, cigars can be dangerous to your health. Cigar smokers have up to 10 times the rate of oral cancers as those who do not smoke cigars. The ACS also says that smoking less than three cigars a day brings the risk way down and that those who smoke more than three cigars a day are at much greater risk for developing cancer. Like any tobacco products, cigars are for adults who can make adult choices about health risks. Tip: Buying Cigars Online The best way to buy cigars is to first try out different cigars and decide the ones you like best. You can buy single cigars at local cigar shops. It is hard to find internet merchants that sell one cigar at a time. They normally sell them by the box. This is probably due to the shipping costs. One alternative is to buy cigar sampler packs online. The samplers are usually at special low prices as online cigar stores know that most smokers prefer to try out different cigars before settling on buying a box. Once you have determined the cigar that is right for you, it's time to buy them by the box. Buying cigars by the box is substantially cheaper than buying single cigars. Buying them cheap requires some research and usually online stores offer the best prices. There are hundreds of websites that offer cigars. Many have outstanding prices and hard to find cigars. If you are going to order online I suggest that you buy from merchants that are ethical and offer money-back guarantees. This ensures that their merchandise is up to standards and that you will receive exactly what you ordered. Also visit cigar related chat rooms and online communities to see if you can get feedback from individuals who may have used those merchants in the past. Before ordering online, check the store's shipping and return policy. Make sure that if you are not satisfied you have recourse. Since cigars are a moist tobacco product, they tend to dry out during shipping. You can rehabilitate them simply by putting them in your humidor for a few days after receiving them. If that does not work, most established merchants will exchange your cigars if they arrive damaged. If you are thinking of buying cuban cigars online keep in mind that U.S. Law prohibits the sale or import of Cuban made products. There are some stores that will ship authentic Cuban Cigars to the states and guarantee shipment, but you are buying them
with the risk of know that you are violating U.S. law and are subject to severe criminal penalties. If you live in a high tobacco tax state, buying online will save you money and is usually the best option for cigar smokers. Tip: Cigar Clipping 101 Cigar clipping is as personal as the brand of cigars you choose. Some like to cut the top off the cigar, others simply punch a hole in the tip and start smoking. To start, you'll probably use a knife or guillotine cutter, but try to cut evenly and don't take off too much. After getting used to smoking premium cigars, you might want to try a cigar punch instead, which takes off less of the cigar. Tip: Cigar History When the New World was discovered by Columbus, so was tobacco. It was called Cohiba by the natives in Cuba. Premium Cigars and cigar smoking evolved quickly. The popularity of tobacco and cigar smoking soon raced through America and Europe. As early as the 16th century, Cuban cigars became leaders in the world of the cigar when peasants began growing the crop. The popularity of the cigar has spread over the centuries, and in the early 1900's nearly 80% of all men smoked cigars in the United States. Tip: Curing Tobacco Leaves The careful process of harvesting tobacco leaves is done with a combination of heat and shade that reduces the sugar and water level content in the leaves, without causing the large leaves to rot. This first part of the harvesting process is called curing and takes between 25 and 45 days. Curing varies dramatically depending on the various climates where tobacco leaves are grown. Some manufacturers can manipulate the curing process depending on the type of tobacco used, and the desired color of the leaf. Tip: Getting familiar with a cigar It is difficult to become familiar with the particulars of a certain type of cigar. You must smoke a box to truly get a feel for a brand. Tastes vary. Food, environment, occasion, wine, and liquor all vary the experience. Not only do the external factors play a role, so does your mood. Tip: Tell Good from Bad Cigars A good cigar has been kept in a humidor at about 70 degrees fahrenheit and 70 percent humidity. It should be somewhat moist and pliable: squeeze it gently to see if it has any flexibility. Look for uniform color and no odd discolorations or cracks. The wrapper should be tight and not frayed. The best single cigars often come from boxes that have
been open and left in the humidor for a few weeks, where they can properly age. If the cigar doesn't look or smell fresh, don't buy it. Tip: Wrap It Up One of the major factors in the taste of cigars is the wrapper. There are six different types of cigar wrappers, from light to dark: * Claro -- Tan * Colorado Claro -- Light brown * Colorado -- Red-brown * Colorado Maduro -- Medium Brown * Maduro -- Dark Brown * Obscuro -- Black Category: Premium Cigars Subcategory: Premium Cigar Tips Tip: A quality routine Premium cigars have been around for centuries. Quality cigars have been enjoyed by men and women at all levels from heads of state to entertainers to the average worker. Smoking laws have made the enjoyment a challenge at times, but the true connoisseur will find a way to smoke their tobacco treat. One of the most gratifying aspects of cigar enjoyment is the opportunity to experiment with different tobacco blends, papers and manufacturers until you find your favorite. Tip: Saving a Dried-Out Cigar If you haven't properly stored your premium cigars, they will lose their moistness and dry out. It will make them easier to light and smoke, but they will lose most of their flavor and body. You can restore moistness to a dried-out cigar by putting it in a humidor or other humid, airtight container. It won't be as good as it was, but you can get much of the flavor and smokability to return.