When we think about cigarettes being smoked, we usually get the image of rugged cowboys and masculine men.

1. Relish Your Cigar
When we think about cigarettes being smoked, we usually get the image of rugged
cowboys and masculine men. However, such image cannot be associated with this
modern age of cigar connoisseurs.
The earliest cigars were probably those rolled by native Cubans. Later on cigars were
associated with aristocracy. Cigars were and by the end of the nineteenth century, they
had become a mark of luxury. Smoking cigars was for men only and special smoking
clubs called divans sprang up where men could enjoy their habit. In the twentieth
century, cigars were associated with notable public figures…ranging from presidents to
gangsters to entertainers.
In today’s day and age, it is not rare to witness women smoking cigars or going to cigar
shops. In spite of this, it is a given fact that cigar shops will always be frequented by
men. These men are from every aspect of life, from any age bracket or belonging to any
financial bracket. Therefore no cigar smoker is alike. Nor are all cigars alike. The notion
and generalization that non cigar smokers may have that all cigar smokers and cigars
are alike would offend and outrage the affluent and wealthy cigar smokers belonging to
an affluent circle.
Cigars, being handmade or machine made or hand rolled can be found in classic cigar
shops or even convenience stores (for machine made cigars). Cigar connoisseurs do not
typically smoke mass produced cigars that are made by machines, but opt for premium
handmade cigars that are made by professional cigar rollers in countries such as the
Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Most cigars are named and classified
according to their size, shape and colour. Since cigars range from a variety of different
sizes, shapes and colors, it is often difficult for a novice cigar smoker to understand the
cigar jargon used by cigar aficionados. Cigars may be Pantelas, Coronas, Lonsdales,
Robustos, Churchills or Figurados and the flavour of these cigars may range from ‘mild’
to ‘full-bodied’.
The brands of cigars that cigar aficionados and connoisseurs sought after are those that
have a unique and delightful taste, bouquet and aroma. Some aficionados have
described the production of cigars to be analogous to wine production.
A cigar requires three kinds of tobacco leaf as its primary raw material. Small or broken
tobacco leaves are used for the filler. Whole leaves are used for an inside wrapper
called the binder. The binder leaf can be of second quality or imperfect and its
appearance is not important. A large finely textured leaf of uniform appearance is used
for the outside wrapper. Secondary raw materials include a tasteless gum to stick the

2. end of the wrapper together, flavoring agents that are sometimes sprayed on the filler
leaves and paper used for the band placed around each cigar.
The manufacturing process of cigars includes the cultivation of tobacco, the curing
wherein the tobacco leaves must be cured in order to develop their characteristic
aroma. This must be done in the right temperature and sometimes such temperate is
monitored. The next step is fermentation of the leaves so that they change colour and
the aroma and taste of the leaves develop. And the last step is stripping of the leaves
before they are rolled.
The level of humidity in which cigars are kept greatly varies their taste and aftertaste.
An ideal rate of humidity allows an even burning of the cigar whereas dry cigars become
fragile and burn faster, while damp cigars burn unevenly and take on a heavy acidic
flavor. Therefore, every cigar connoisseur needs a humidor to properly store, protect
and age cigars.
Cigar smoking, like wine, is a please that improves with age. Therefore, it is for you to
decided whether you want to develop your own individual taste and move from being a
cigar smoking novice to a cigar aficionado. As being a cigar aficionado goes beyond the
cigar itself. It is an entire lifestyle!
Andrew Wright
Chief Marketing Officer
AJ’S CIGAR
(www.ajscigar.com)
1-866-244-2792