Ignite: A Cigar Kevin Hoyt [email_address]

Kevin Hoyt

[email_address]

Ignite: A Cigar Kevin Hoyt [email_address] http://blog.kevinhoyt.org Twitter: parkerkrhoyt Brightkite: khoyt AIM, YIM: parkerkrhoyt Platform Evangelist, Adobe Systems, Inc. Flash, Flex, Ajax, Adobe AIR ColdFusion, LiveCycle, BlazeDS

Kevin Hoyt

[email_address]

http://blog.kevinhoyt.org

Twitter: parkerkrhoyt

Brightkite: khoyt

AIM, YIM: parkerkrhoyt

Platform Evangelist, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Flash, Flex, Ajax, Adobe AIR

ColdFusion, LiveCycle, BlazeDS

Introduction to Cigars A woman is only a woman, but a cigar is a smoke. - Rudyard Kipling Very much like computer software Complex Intimidating Low tolerance in today’s political climate Cigars as an item of luxury and distinction

A woman is only a woman, but a cigar is a smoke. - Rudyard Kipling

Very much like computer software

Complex

Intimidating

Low tolerance in today’s political climate

Cigars as an item of luxury and distinction

What You’ll Need Handmade cigar ($3 to $15) Wooden matches or butane lighter ($1) Guillotine clipper ($2) Ashtray About 20 to 45 minutes

Handmade cigar ($3 to $15)

Wooden matches or butane lighter ($1)

Guillotine clipper ($2)

Ashtray

About 20 to 45 minutes

Anatomy of a Cigar Filler: Where the flavor comes from Binder: Holds it together Wrapper: Gives the look and feel Cap: The part you put in your mouth Foot: The part you light

Filler: Where the flavor comes from

Binder: Holds it together

Wrapper: Gives the look and feel

Cap: The part you put in your mouth

Foot: The part you light

Lighting a Cigar Toasting, lighting the outer layers Hold a heat source at the foot and rotate the cigar Wrapper and binder will have a white ashen appearance At a 45 degree angle in your mouth, draw in the flame and air A flame should appear when you release the draw indicating a lit cigar

Toasting, lighting the outer layers

Hold a heat source at the foot and rotate the cigar

Wrapper and binder will have a white ashen appearance

At a 45 degree angle in your mouth, draw in the flame and air

A flame should appear when you release the draw indicating a lit cigar

Smoking a Cigar Let cigar rest after lighting A cigar is not a cigarette Do not inhale the smoke into your lungs Needs your draw to keep it lit Once or twice a minute will do it Too often will result in bitter taste Let ash fall off naturally Not necessary to smoke to the nub

Let cigar rest after lighting

A cigar is not a cigarette

Do not inhale the smoke into your lungs

Needs your draw to keep it lit

Once or twice a minute will do it

Too often will result in bitter taste

Let ash fall off naturally

Not necessary to smoke to the nub

Wrapper Leaves Candela: Fluke cured, green hue, bland Claro: Shade grown, tan, oily sheen, silky Colorado Claro: Reddish hue, flavorful Colorado: More red, very shiny, attractive Maduro: Dark brown, sweet, intense flavor Double Maduro: Rich, pronounced spice

Candela: Fluke cured, green hue, bland

Claro: Shade grown, tan, oily sheen, silky

Colorado Claro: Reddish hue, flavorful

Colorado: More red, very shiny, attractive

Maduro: Dark brown, sweet, intense flavor

Double Maduro: Rich, pronounced spice

Size Does Matter Ring gauge: 1/64th of an inch 64 ring = 1 inch in diameter 32 ring = 1/2 inch in diameter Most cigars fall in between 38 and 50 ring Ring gauge, not length, impacts taste A larger ring will produce cooler smoke Any length cigar can be left to cool (rest) More to do with feel and preference Tony Soprano? Hannibal (A-Team)?

Ring gauge: 1/64th of an inch

64 ring = 1 inch in diameter

32 ring = 1/2 inch in diameter

Most cigars fall in between 38 and 50 ring

Ring gauge, not length, impacts taste

A larger ring will produce cooler smoke

Any length cigar can be left to cool (rest)

More to do with feel and preference

Tony Soprano? Hannibal (A-Team)?

Popular Lengths Corona: 5 1/2”, 42 ring, 45 minutes Lonsdale: 6”, 43 ring, 50 minutes Robusto: 5”, 50 ring, 40 minutes Panatela: 7”, 40 ring, 45 minutes Double Corona: 8”, 50 ring, 60 minutes Churchill: 7”, 49 ring, 60 minutes Presidente: 8 1/2”, 52 ring, 90 minutes

Corona: 5 1/2”, 42 ring, 45 minutes

Lonsdale: 6”, 43 ring, 50 minutes

Robusto: 5”, 50 ring, 40 minutes

Panatela: 7”, 40 ring, 45 minutes

Double Corona: 8”, 50 ring, 60 minutes

Churchill: 7”, 49 ring, 60 minutes

Presidente: 8 1/2”, 52 ring, 90 minutes

Is This a Strong Cigar? Very mild to mild (Macanudo) Mild to medium mild (Romeo y Julieta) Medium to medium full (H. Upmann) Full bodied (Butera, Punch) Very full bodied (JR Ultimate) Full bodied, heavy, but never “strong” Strong indicates harsh and undesirable Improper curing can nauseate anybody

Very mild to mild (Macanudo)

Mild to medium mild (Romeo y Julieta)

Medium to medium full (H. Upmann)

Full bodied (Butera, Punch)

Very full bodied (JR Ultimate)

Full bodied, heavy, but never “strong”

Strong indicates harsh and undesirable

Improper curing can nauseate anybody

Construction Delivered and aged in large, square bales Awakened with 95 percent humidity sauna bath for up to 24 hours Sorting, grading and color classification Filler bunching in accordion fashion or concentric circles Bonding with a thick, tough binder leaf Pressed into form, wrapped and capped

Delivered and aged in large, square bales

Awakened with 95 percent humidity sauna bath for up to 24 hours

Sorting, grading and color classification

Filler bunching in accordion fashion or concentric circles

Bonding with a thick, tough binder leaf

Pressed into form, wrapped and capped

A Short History of Cigars American natives from the Incans to Inuits used tobacco in a harsh form The origins of the word “tobacco” are unknown, though probably Spanish from “tobago” or “pipe” “Cigar” likely coined circa 1492 when Europeans landed on Hispanola from Spanish “cigarrel” meaning “orchard” Circa 1500, Spaniards apply their wine fermenting skills to tobacco

American natives from the Incans to Inuits used tobacco in a harsh form

The origins of the word “tobacco” are unknown, though probably Spanish from “tobago” or “pipe”

“Cigar” likely coined circa 1492 when Europeans landed on Hispanola from Spanish “cigarrel” meaning “orchard”

Circa 1500, Spaniards apply their wine fermenting skills to tobacco

Caring for Your Cigars Humidor: A self-contained tropical environment for cigars Humidor products range from travel, to tabletop, to vaults to walk-in closets Zip-lock bags, or sealable plastic containers will do with care Humidification elements are generally floral foam incased plastic/metal housing The golden rule: 70 degrees & 70 percent humidity

Humidor: A self-contained tropical environment for cigars

Humidor products range from travel, to tabletop, to vaults to walk-in closets

Zip-lock bags, or sealable plastic containers will do with care

Humidification elements are generally floral foam incased plastic/metal housing

The golden rule: 70 degrees & 70 percent humidity

Enhancing Your Enjoyment Mild cigars in the morning, medium in the afternoon, full bodied in the evening A variety of beverages go well with cigars A red wine (especially from Spain) Generally an ale goes better with a cigar than a lager Fortified wine such as sherry or port Brandy, cognac, scotch, bourbon Respect the non-smokers around you

Mild cigars in the morning, medium in the afternoon, full bodied in the evening

A variety of beverages go well with cigars

A red wine (especially from Spain)

Generally an ale goes better with a cigar than a lager

Fortified wine such as sherry or port

Brandy, cognac, scotch, bourbon

Respect the non-smokers around you

Ignite: A Cigar Kevin Hoyt [email_address]

Kevin Hoyt

[email_address]