Top 25 Cigars. Top Cigar Brand Review

Top 25 Cigars. Top Cigar Brand Review

25. Grass Medium
Yeah this cigar is from Lars Tetens, sure it is a bit expensive, and I know it is infused with things I cannot even pronounce. Still, if you ever want to try a good and funky flavored cigar, this is the best of the bunch. One of the early creations in the “infused” cigar craze, this is just straight forward funky…and I think that is good…isn’t it?

24. Maria Guerrero Toro
An often overlooked Altadis brand, Mario Guerrero is a solid medium bodied Cameroon wrapped cigar. This Toro releases clouds of smoke, and proves to be darn well constructed. You can get them at a decent price most everywhere.

23. Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Ebano
This is a full bodied Hoyo with a nice dark Ecuadorian grown Sumatra seed wrapper. The Ebano is the smallest ring gauge in the family, and seems to get the most out of the wrapper.

22. Trilogy Corojo Churchill
Introduced in 2002 by Alec Bradley, the triangular shaped Trilogy was written of as a shape gimmick early on. The Corojo Churchill is a good cigar, and the triangular shape went round in 2005. Even thought the shaped changed, the cigar didn't, and it's still good. I have to admit though, a triangular shaped cigar was pretty cool.

21. Reo Torpedo
Costa Rican wrapped and made perfectly like just about anything from United Tobacco, The Reo Torpedo flies under the radar better than most. Full bodied, and a great example of Costa Rican wrapped cigars.

20. Sancti Spiritus Robusto
One of the earlier cigars from Jose “Pepin” Garcia, and made for the retailer Cigar King. This Nicaraguan puro gives the smoker a medium bodied example of Pepin’s work. I wish there was a petite corona in this line. BTW...anything from Pepin comes close to violating the "hype" requirement above...but it is so dang good.

19. Sabor Cubano Great Pyramid

A stronger line from Luis Sanchez at La Tradicion, these may be the best Mexican wrapped cigars ever. You can pick any from the line to enjoy, but if you’re a real man you’ll at least give the 8 ½ x 52 Great Pyramid a few rounds of battle. You have to wonder what Luis was thinking when he created a cigar that practically needs a bale of tobacco to create. Long live the "Mad Scientist".

18. Butera Royal Vintage Dorado 652
Okay, you do need to find them first. I don't see these around much, but if you find them, you'll enjoy one of the creamiest mild cigars around. The Dorado 652 is a nice thick Toro that will provide loads of smoke and a nice relaxing flavor.

17. Oliva Serie "O" Torpedo
Originally called the Oliva "O" Classic until it was renamed in 2006, you also might remember the nice red fabric bands and impeccable box. Inside all that dressing was a great Nicaraguan Puro. That same cigar exists today, although in much more non-descript packaging. Oliva does almost everything right in the cigar business, and this is no exception.

16. Havana Sunrise Havanas
Introduced in 2004, and for all I know gone in 2007. The Havana Sunrise Havanas is a 7 x 48 Ecuadorian grown Connecticut shade wrapped Churchill. Likely the definition of "flying under the radar", this cigar produced consistent good construction and great flavor for an extremely value priced cigar.

15. Gran Habano Corojo Blend Robusto
This is an amazingly constructed cigar. Created from Nicaraguan and Costa Rican tobacco, the spiciness of this cigar is something to behold. Gran Habano makes many good smokes, I think this is the cream of their crop.

14. Illusione 88
This all Nicaraguan robusto was made with the goal of recreating Nicaraguan cigar flavor profiles from years past. I can't say if they have accomplished that, but they have made a darn good cigar.

13. Cuesta Rey Centro Fino Sungrown Robusto No. 7
In theory a heavier bodied cigar, I have never found it that way. I have though found it to be quite enjoyable. Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper and Dominican filler and binder combine to provide a consistent medium bodied spicy cigar. Also a candidate for worlds longest cigar name.

12. Nicarao Series 2006 Piramide
I had the chance to meet Didier Houvenagel of Nicarao at the 2007 RTDA. Didier was sharing the Nicarao story from the Rocky Patel booth, so he's hanging in in good company. His cigars seem to be as well. A very creamy all Nicaraguan smoke, the Nicarao Piramide is as good as Didier's enthusiasm for his product...and that's saying a lot.

11. H. Upmann Signature Magnum 50 Maduro
Virtually unknown and lost among the myriad of H. Upmann brands, the signature series is the blending creation of Michael Argenti. The maduros have a Mexican wrap, and are stronger than the milder Nicaraguan wrapped natural line. Both are good, and virtually unheard of. The H. Upmann Signature line is an example of how important skilled blending is.

10. Don Lino Africa Duma
A full bodied smoke that uses aged tobacco. You could have picked any of this line for inclusion in our list. The Duma is a Robusto sized cigar. As a side note, the artwork on the boxes of the Don Lino Africa line is amazing.

9. Montecristo Petit Edmundo
When the Montecristo Petit Edmundo first came out it was slightly overshadowed by the less than spectacular results from the introduction of its big brother the Edmundo. It’s nice to see the Edmundo has improved, while the Petit Edmundo never needed to. Spectacular in its flavor profile for such a short cigar, this is the personification of a quick enjoyable smoking experience. Hard to call a Cuban overlooked, but you really should not miss this cigar.

8. Leon Jimenes 2001 No. 300 Robusto
The first Leon Jimenes to use a Cameroon wrapper in a decade. Maybe it's the extra 300 days of ageing that the cigar derives it's name from, or perhaps the extra attention of a commemorative cigar, either way, this is the best Leon Jimenes smoke out there. A toasty, balanced smoke that will deliver an abundance of flavor without being obnoxious.

7. Punch Rare Corojo Pita
This little box pressed cigar packs a wallop. Wrapped in a spicy Ecuadorian tobacco blanket, this is a cigar you can taste. A secret smoke even those Cuban cigar advocates sneak from time to time.

6. Excalibur by Hoyo de Monterrey No. 1 Maduro
I questioned putting this in here, as it's still fairly popular. I still can’t help but think underrated when I see this cigar. The Excalibur is not nearly as popular as it used to be, primarily due to the publics shift to stronger flavor profile cigars. Wrapped in traditional Connecticut Shade, these guys should be staples in many humidors.

5. Punch Gran Puro Sierra
This all Honduran puro is a great example of a stunning medium bodied cigar. Some may claim it is on the stronger side of medium, but I think it is lighter, either way you’ll enjoy it. Fantastic construction with a perfect white/grey ash makes this beautiful to smoke as well.

4. Juan Lopez Selection No. 2
This grassy Cuban never gets the adulation reserved for the “big time” Cuban robustos. Often overlooked, the reasonably priced Selection No. 2 contains a rich collection of tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. Quiet and unassuming in its bandless state, the Juan Lopez Selection No. 2 is not to be overlooked.

3. El Rey Del Mundo Robusto Larga
You could almost put this whole series in here, but there is something special about the larger ring gauge smokes in the line. Ecuadorian wrapped with Honduran filler and binder, these spicy devils give you a sense of how cigars tasted long ago.

2. Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real No. 2
Throw out every other Romeo y Julieta line from Altadis as far as I am concerned. This is the cream of the RyJ crop. With a flawless Ecuadorian wrapper, this light colored cigar delivers an abundance of medium bodied flavor with near perfect burn and construction. From a mass production standpoint, this cigar continues to amaze me with it's consistency.

1. La Tradicion Cubana Churchill
From the hands of the “The Mad Scientist” at La Tradicion, Luis Sanchez, comes our #1 underrated cigar. This cigar may fly under the radar due to its relatively small production, but wow what a solid smoke. Time after time this cigar is lauded by the smoker. If you glance at the public’s rankings in the Review Database at Top25Cigar, you’ll see the respect this cigar garners.
So there you have it. Best case scenario you find a couple new cigars to try out of the above list. Worst case, well, there really isn't a worse case scenario when it comes to cigars is there.

Source: http://www.top25cigar.com/

Cigar Humidor Info. How To Use A Cigar Humidor

Cigar Humidor Info. How To Use A Cigar Humidor

When choosing a cigar humidor, make sure to buy one that's somewhat larger than what you expect to need, or you'll run out of space quick when cigar fever hits or that special box goes on sale unexpectedly. The typical humidor will hold around 100 loose cigars and will generally cost somewhere between $50-$100, depending on the manufacturer and materials used. Humidors that store thousands of cigars are readily available, but don't forget your visa card, they are very expensive, usually in the $1,500-$3,000 range.

Once you determine the capacity of the humidor you'll need, you can then begin to choose a model that appeals to you. From experience, most people know what they want in a humidor, be it glass top, dome, a table design, or a plain old milano, when it comes to the outward appearance the sky is the limit. The humidors appearance should match and add to the decor of the room it will reside in, but also match the person that it belongs to.

Setting up a humidor isn't as simple as filling the humidifier with water and tossing in your cigars. You'll need a solution of Propylene Glycol and distilled water, mixed at a ratio of 50%/50%. The prop-glycol solution is readily available at most cigar shops. Apply this solution to the element of your new humidor just once to start, all subsequent recharges should be pure distilled water only. You should re-up the prop-glycol/distilled water solution once every couple of years. Never use tap water. The minerals will clog your element and render the device useless. If the humidor is constructed of solid spanish cedar you can use a damp cloth to lightly moisten the inside surfaces, giving you a substantial head start in preparing the box for cigar occupants which are anxious to get in and relax. If your box is lined, I don't suggest this method, it could cause damage to the wood if it is thin. Watch the humidity inside the humidor. If it refuses to rise, place a small saucer of distilled water in the bottom of the box and close the lid. Leave this in until the humidity builds and reaches 70% or greater. Remove the saucer and watch the hygrometer.

Once it pegs 70% and sustains this reading for 2 days you can slowly begin to add your cigars keeping a close eye on the humidity. If you suspect a faulty hygrometer test it. Place the hygrometer in a zip lock type bag large enough to accommodate the gauge and a small container of salt and water, heavy on the salt. Heavy so much that it makes a sort of paste. Close the bag and leave it for 6 hours. The humidity reading should be a perfect 75%. If it isn't then throw the culprit hygrometer into the floor and smash it with your boot, or take it outside and blow it to smitharines with a gun, or melt it in a blast furnace. The most annoying thing on this earth is a faulty gauge. Do the right thing and make sure no one else could ever wind up with this demonic barometer. A trip to the vise, perhaps. The best hygrometers are digital models, because they are always accurate, never needing calibration. A wise $20 investment in the future comfort of your prized puros.

Once your new humidor is fully loaded with cigars you will need to keep a close eye on your perfectly calibrated hygrometer. The first weeks and even months of the new humidors life can be a thirsty time. The inner surfaces are all absorbing moisture and it takes from the element, which means it will need to be refilled more frequently in it's infancy, less as it matures and begins to soak in the sweet smell of it's guests.

About the Author - Ed Brown owns and operates Tarheel Cigars Discount Cigar Shop located at tarheelcigars.com

Cigar Humidor Info. How To Use A Cigar Humidor

When choosing a humidor, make sure to buy one that's somewhat larger than what you expect to need, or you'll run out of space quick when cigar fever hits or that special box goes on sale unexpectedly. The typical humidor will hold around 100 loose cigars and will generally cost somewhere between $50-$100, depending on the manufacturer and materials used. Humidors that store thousands of cigars are readily available, but don't forget your visa card, they are very expensive, usually in the $1,500-$3,000 range.

Once you determine the capacity of the humidor you'll need, you can then begin to choose a model that appeals to you. From experience, most people know what they want in a humidor, be it glass top, dome, a table design, or a plain old milano, when it comes to the outward appearance the sky is the limit. The humidors appearance should match and add to the decor of the room it will reside in, but also match the person that it belongs to.

Setting up a humidor isn't as simple as filling the humidifier with water and tossing in your cigars. You'll need a solution of Propylene Glycol and distilled water, mixed at a ratio of 50%/50%. The prop-glycol solution is readily available at most cigar shops. Apply this solution to the element of your new humidor just once to start, all subsequent recharges should be pure distilled water only. You should re-up the prop-glycol/distilled water solution once every couple of years. Never use tap water. The minerals will clog your element and render the device useless. If the humidor is constructed of solid spanish cedar you can use a damp cloth to lightly moisten the inside surfaces, giving you a substantial head start in preparing the box for cigar occupants which are anxious to get in and relax. If your box is lined, I don't suggest this method, it could cause damage to the wood if it is thin. Watch the humidity inside the humidor. If it refuses to rise, place a small saucer of distilled water in the bottom of the box and close the lid. Leave this in until the humidity builds and reaches 70% or greater. Remove the saucer and watch the hygrometer.

Once it pegs 70% and sustains this reading for 2 days you can slowly begin to add your cigars keeping a close eye on the humidity. If you suspect a faulty hygrometer test it. Place the hygrometer in a zip lock type bag large enough to accommodate the gauge and a small container of salt and water, heavy on the salt. Heavy so much that it makes a sort of paste. Close the bag and leave it for 6 hours. The humidity reading should be a perfect 75%. If it isn't then throw the culprit hygrometer into the floor and smash it with your boot, or take it outside and blow it to smitharines with a gun, or melt it in a blast furnace. The most annoying thing on this earth is a faulty gauge. Do the right thing and make sure no one else could ever wind up with this demonic barometer. A trip to the vise, perhaps. The best hygrometers are digital models, because they are always accurate, never needing calibration. A wise $20 investment in the future comfort of your prized puros.

Once your new humidor is fully loaded with cigars you will need to keep a close eye on your perfectly calibrated hygrometer. The first weeks and even months of the new humidors life can be a thirsty time. The inner surfaces are all absorbing moisture and it takes from the element, which means it will need to be refilled more frequently in it's infancy, less as it matures and begins to soak in the sweet smell of it's guests.

About the Author - Ed Brown owns and operates Tarheel Cigars Discount Cigar Shop located at tarheelcigars.com

Best Cigars In The World. Famous Cigar Brands

The Best Cigars In The World

Like a fine glass of wine, a cigar also tastes fine. Cigars are subject to taste as is wine. Cigars have companies that try to copy them just like cigars. When you find something that meets your taste, you will wan to continue to have that taste. That does not mean you cannot taste others, but some connoisseurs are stuck famous cigars that they will only smoke.

Some of the famous cigars that top the list when people are asked about what cigar they prefer are by far disturbing to some:

Trinidad
Romeo Y Julieta
Bolivar
Cohiba
H. Upman
Montecristo
Ramon Allones

Cuban cigars are famous cigars and still make their way into the country, but they are contraband. The only reason they are famous is because of the controversy. Because it was banned, everyone labels them as famous cigars and ignore the rest. Because of the embargo against the Habanas, the United States have made the cigar more popular than before. Most new smokers do not have the opportunity to smoke famous cigars like the Cuban cigar, but that does not detour them from coming connoisseurs of cigars.

Cuban cigars many feel need to be enjoyed and have a slow burn to last for the full advantage of tasting the cigar. The older cigar smokers realize that two things make cigars truly famous cigars, the quality of the filler and the brand name. Because Cuba has the reputation of excellence in cigars because of the training that goes into producing these cigars, the reputation surpasses them. Cuban cigars are also made by hand as some other famous cigars are made by machine.

Many people display these famous cigars as a way of showing what kind of taste they have in excellence. It is not uncommon for top executives to hand these out after a finalized business deal or at an after dinner party. Although when asked the first thing that people say when asked what famous cigars do you know, they repeat the same thing every time. The Cuban Cigars are the famous cigars.

Now that you do not have a Cuban cigar, try these famous cigars listed here and you will have just as much taste and flavor needed without the uppity Cuban cigars. Some believe smoking famous cigars bring prestige; they need to smoke famous cigars for taste not prestige, even at men’s clubs, you find other cigars than the Cuban Habanas.

About the Author - You can also find more info on Online Cigars and Buying Cigars Online. Onlinecigarsource.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about Cigars.

Selecting The Best Premium Cigar. How To Select A Cigar

Selecting The Best Premium Cigar

Got a cigar-smoking father or husband? Stuck for a gift for a xigar smoker Relax, we can tell you everything you need to know to select the perfect “super-premium” gift for any hard-to-shop-for dad.

Choosing a cigar may seem like an overwhelming task but read this short article and you will become a quasi-expert on cigars with respectable bragging rights AND, you’ll be able to tell him exactly why you thought he’d like the Dominican-grown Robusto with a Maduro wrapper.

Type of Cigar Based on Size

There are several ways of categorizing cigars: size, shape, strength, their country of origin, and the way they are made (hand-rolled vs. machine). The most common way to categorize a cigar is by size, which is the cigar’s length in inches and ring size (cigar diameter) measured in 64ths of an inch. There is actually a name associated with each length and ring size and these are the cigar names that you may be familiar with. Corona, Panatela, Torpedo, Toro, Churchill, Perfecto, Cigarillo, Lonsdale, Robusto, and the largest of them all, Giant. The Giant style of cigar is 9 inches in length with a ring size of 52!

Colors, Shapes, and Hand-Rolled

After choosing a cigar based on size, you can start to whittle down your choices by choosing the color of the exterior wrapper color (there are more than 100 different wrapper shades!) and the shape of the cigar. Flared, tapered, pyramid are the basic shapes. And don’t buy the cheapest cigar -- hand-rolled cigars should be your only choice. No one can ever appreciate the true joy of cigar smoking with a machine-made cigar. Don’t even spend the money.

Start with Mild-Flavored Cigars

If your gift is for an aspiring cigar connoisseur, start by buying one of several different sizes/styles of cigars at your local tobacconist. Choose mild cigars at first and work your way up to stronger flavors. Here are the benefits of starting with mild cigars: they generally cost less than stronger cigars and you won’t lose as much money as your beloved learns how to cut the ends appropriately, learns the best way to light them, and learns the best way to store them at home. You will be surprised at how quickly they dry out if not properly contained. It’s a learned art!

Get the Most Out of Your Cigars

Here is what long-time cigar enthusiasts recommend about smoking and enjoying cigars. This is also useful stuff to relate to the profoundly happy recipient of your gift:

• There are many types of cigars. Experiment with new sizes and flavors.

• Don't inhale cigar smoke when puffing and keep the smoke in your mouth for the shortest length of time.

• Unless you buy your cigars in single sticks that were stored in a humidor, age your cigars by stripping off all packaging and placing them in a humidor for a few months before smoking. Do not store your cigars in the refrigerator because it will dry them out.

• Throw away partially smoked cigars—do not put a stinky used cigar in your humidor!

• To really enjoy your cigar smoking experience, choose the right drink to go with your carefully chosen indulgence. Try some strong-flavored drinks to enhance the flavor of your cigar, such as scotch, port wine, and Kahlua drinks.

• Biting the tip off a premium cigar should only be done by gangsters in movies. Don’t do it. Use a sharp cigar cutter.

• Do not use paper matches to light your cigar. Use a butane lighter for best results. Wooden matches are OK but make sure you let the sulfur burn off first.

• When you are finished with your cigar, let it burn itself out in the ashtray. Snuffing your cigar out leaves an unpleasant smell.

Get That Man a Cigar for Father’s Day!

If the thought of choosing a cigar for a Father’s Day gift is overwhelming, never fear. Cigar accessories, such as cutters, humidors, lighters, cigar cases, and ashtrays, will also make a cigar smoker happy. You need not travel to your local tobacconist to find the best Father’s Day gift.

About the Author - Jayne Miller is a freelance writer and marketing consultant from Austin, Texas. She has been associated with Heroes and Legacies for several years. Visit their website at heroesandlegacies.com/index.shtml.

How Hand Rolled Cigars Are Made

Hand-rolled cigars are pure tobacco and the choice of cigar lovers around the world. When you hand roll your own, you control every detail, from the strength of the filler to the flavor of the wrapper leaf. With a little bit of practice, you'll be able to fill your humidor with your own creations. Below is a video of Cuban cigas being rolled

Cigars and Scotch. Matching Cigars To Whiskey

Like two peas in a pod of the luxury world, cigars and whiskey can often be found together. Both known as two of the finer things in life, when used jointly, they work to enhance the drinking and smoking experience. This is particularly true when the drink being consumed is single malt scotch. Known as the Cuban cigar of the whiskey world, single malt scotch is the perfect drink to take out for a smoke.

What is Single Malt Scotch?

While many people know what single malt scotch entails, some people may not be completely clear. But, in actuality, the concept of single malt scotch is singularly simple: single malt scotch is essentially barely-malt whiskey made in Scotland that comes from only one distillery, allowing it to carry distinct aromas and flavors. In terms of whiskeys, single malt scotch is the most laudable: the Scottish have the title of world’s greatest whiskey in the bag…pipe.

Why are Cigars a Good Fit with Single Malt Scotch?

Cigars and single malt scotch have similar mantras: they both invoke specifics of the land and the maker; tobacco plants and barley both aim to remember their roots. To demonstrate this, cigars from different regions have different flavors: a Dominican Republic cigar will taste different than a cigar from Honduras. This is because each cigar aims to capture the distinct taste of the land and of the tobacco manufacturer, leaving no two cigar brands alike. Single Malt Scotch is the only type of whiskey that possesses this same ability; giving drinkers a cup of originality.

Some whiskeys journey through so many distilleries that they - like a whiskey that has drank too much of itself - forget who they are. This results in a whiskey with flavors that are vague, with little semblance to the roots of their homeland. Single Malt Scotch, however, stands out because it is processed through a single distillery. In addition, while other whiskeys can contain mixtures of corn, wheat, and unmalted barley, single malt scotch uses malted barely as the sole grain ingredient. This, ultimately, succeeds in instilling single malt scotch with the true taste of Scotland.

What Kinds of Cigars Compliment Single Malt Scotch?

There are a variety of cigars that compliment certain whiskeys, as if telling them that they have nice ryes. With single malt scotch, however, there are certain cigars for which this feat is tailor made; there are certain cigars that go better with single malt scotch than with nearly anything else.

There are two main routes to take when complimenting single malt scotch. The first route couples a mild cigar with a mild single malt scotch while the other route couples a strong cigar with a strong single malt scotch.

Mild Cigar and Mild Single Malt

When pairing a mild cigar with a mild single malt, the outcome isn’t just a bunch of mildness: the mild cigar and mild single malt won’t cause an urge to meditate among those who consume them. Instead, the mildness of each works together to enhance each other, resulting in a very unique experience.



A Highland Park single malt scotch and a La Flor Dominicana are examples of two things that go well together, tag teaming each other to create a truly luxurious experience. Highland Park scotches are known for being smooth, balanced, and filled with overtones of honey. A La Flor Dominicana is a mild cigar with anything but mild flavor, filled with the tastes of the Dominican Republic. When consumed together, a Highland Park and a La Flor Dominicana work together to enhance the experience, drawing out the best attributes of the tobacco and the whiskey.

Strong Cigar and Strong Single Malt

Pairing together a strong cigar with a strong single malt may seem like asking for trouble, as if each item will try to be stronger than the other, ultimately arm wrestling to see who has to pay the bar tab. However strong each item is, when paired together, they actually work with each other, complimenting each other’s strengths and erasing weaknesses.

A nice strong scotch is the Lagavulin Single Malt. Characterized by peatiness and iodine overtones, the Lagavulin couples well with the Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970, a very full bodied, robust cigar. When this scotch and this cigar are consumed together, the result is a very flavorful, potent, and, above all, smoky experience. For this reason, if this experience could talk, it would sound like Beau Arthur.

What Kind of Cigars Contrast with Single Malt Scotch?

On the other end of the spectrum, there are a variety of cigars that contrast with single malt scotch, hitting heads to offset each other. Because these cigars and whiskeys have different attributes - putting the weak with the strong and vice versa - it may seem like these pairings will result in some sort of rivalry: the cigars and the scotch brawl, the fight ensuing until the cigars are crushed and the scotch tipped over. But, in actuality, the contrast works rather well.

There are two main routes to take when contrasting with single malt scotch. The first route couples a strong cigar with a mild single malt scotch while the other route couples a mild cigar with a strong single malt scotch.

Strong Cigar and Mild Single Malt

Pairing together a strong cigar with a mild single malt has the ability to take away from the pungency of the cigar, arming the single malt with a little more gusto. This results not in the cigar losing its flavor, but in the scotch becoming enhanced. As both a full body and mild body meet in the middle, the result is sure to please about anybody, whether they themselves are full or mild..

A very mild single malt scotch is a Dalwhinnie. Known for being slightly peaty and very aromatic, the Dalwhinnie is about as smooth as they come. It’s full of sweet flavor and tastes a bit like it’s coated in honey. A Dalwhinnie goes perfectly with a La Aurora 100 Anos. Made from very rare Corjo tobacco, these cigars are full of flavor and body. When taken together, the Dalwhinnie and La Aurora work to provide an experience that is strong and mild in all the right places.

Mild Cigar and Strong Single Malt

A mild cigar can use a good strong single malt, a strong drink that can provide enhancement, smoothness, and open the humidor when the lid’s on too tight. Like pairing a strong cigar with a mild single malt, the attributes of both enhance each other, like opposites that attract, pulling the best characteristics out.

The Laphroaig single malt scotch is among the strongest flavored scotches around. While these are typically aged for ten years, some rare ones are as old as 40. While some people have found that the peaty aroma of the whiskey is enhanced by adding a bit of water, others find that it is enhanced by smoking a Macanudo. Macanudo cigars may as well be synonymous with the word “mellow” as they fill the smoker with a sense of smoothing calm. When consumed together, the Laphroaig and the Macanudo work together to supply the consumer with a mellow peatiness.

Overall, these two things go together as well as any dynamic duo: Laurel and Hardy, Laverne and Shirley, Cigar and Single Malt. While some cigars complement single malt scotch, others contrast with it. But, both equations equal satisfaction. Allowing the true flavors of each other’s lands, cigars and scotch single malt work to bring together the best of all cultures involved, leaving the world a little smaller, and a little more luxurious.

Famous Female Cigar Smokers

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s a man’s world.” While this may be true for some areas - professional football, construction sites, Y chromosomes - it’s certainly not true for everything; sometimes you have to look a little close to discover the girl inside the hobby.

Cigars, for instance, may seem like a male past time. This is particularly true when it comes to Hollywood. From Groucho Marx to the Rat Pack, from Milton Berle to George Burns, many famous cigar smokers are men. But, adorning the wrappers with lipstick residue, not all famous cigar smokers are male. Lighting up in a celebration of all things made of sugar and spice and everything nice, more and more Hollywood women are securing roles as cigar loving dames.

Linda Evangelista: A Canadian Supermodel, Evangelista is known as one of the pioneers of the 1980’s and 1990’s fashion industry. Part of a group known as “The Trinity” - along with Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell - Evangelista is credited as being one of the sparks that ignited the world’s obsession with modeling. She is well known both for her cigar smoking and her dramatic hairstyles. In 1995, she became the first women to be featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado.

Demi Moore: Originally known for her roles in teen-targeted movies, Moore has become one of the leading actresses in Hollywood. From movies such as Ghost and G.I. Jane, she has made a name for herself onscreen. Off screen, she has been the source of controversy on more the one occasion. Whether it is for posing nude during her pregnancy or for her marriage to a much younger man, Moore has found herself the target of the tabloids. But, she has muddled through with grace and perseverance, refusing to apologize for her choices. An avid cigar smoker for years, she was featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 1996.

Sharon Stone: Lauded and ridiculed for performances, Stone has received everything from a Golden Globe to a Razzie. A former fashion model turned Star Search winner turned actress and producer, she has been in the spotlight for decades. She turned heads when she modeled nude for Playboy in 1990 and turned heads again when she (nearly modeling nude) shot an infamous scene from the film Basic Instinct in 1992. Though there is some media speculation that she is no longer a smoker, Stone was featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 2004.

Susan Lucci: Originally known for her role on All My Children, Lucci eventually became infamous for being a lady who could not catch a Daytime Emmy break. Between 1978 and 1998, she was nominated for 18 awards, but failed to win any. This made her the butt of the joke among some members of the media. Finally, in 1999, the joke ended when she won a long awaited Day Time Emmy. She has also appeared in a variety of primetime TV shows and made-for-television movies. She made an appearance on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 1999.

Gina Gershon: Appearing in a slug of television shows, including Ellen, Just Shoot Me, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Ugly Betty, Gershon has done a bit of everything. She has appeared on movies as well as Broadway productions. She attended Beverly Hills High School with Lenny Kravitz, and has been linked to John Cusack and Owen Wilson. Gerson had bit parts in many notable 1980’s films as well as larger parts in some cult classics. She was featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 1998.

These are certainly not the only women in Hollywood who know how to treat themselves to a stick of luxury. The movie and television industry, like life itself, is full of females discovering a past time that was once synonymous with being male. As more and more women, throwing down their inferior cigarettes in a fit of rage, turn to stogies, the male stigmatism the cigar industry once harbored will begin to fade away... like a puff of smoke.

Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.whatsknottolove.com. At home in a design firm in Denver, Colorado, she writes articles specific to the finer things in life.

Famous Male Cigar Smokers

We all have it in our minds: the image of an avid cigar smoker. The image my brain generates is of someone looking relaxed, content in his refinement as the cigar dangles from his mouth like the lollypop of a happy child.

Perhaps the image in your mind equates cigars with yourself, or perhaps you equate them with a family member – a rich uncle puffing in between hardy laughs, a jolly aunt whose cigar covers up portions of unwanted facial hair. Whomever you equate with cigars, chances are you also equate them with someone famous.

Prominent Puffers and What They Had to Say about Them

Groucho Marx: Known for physical comedy and not owning eyebrow tweezers, Groucho Marx is thought to be one of the greatest comedians in history. Perhaps even more famous than his comedy was his affinity for cigars. For him, they appeared to be almost a permanent body part, like an extra limb.

He was once quoted as saying, “Given the choice between a woman and a cigar, I will always choose the cigar.” This could perhaps be one reason why all three of his marriages ended in divorce.

Winston Churchill: A British Statesmen and eventual Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was known as one of the truest and best orators ever to have spoken. From this famous mouth of his, a cigar was almost always found.

He was once quoted as saying, “I must point out that my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." Seeing how he smoked between 8 and 10 cigars a day, he seemed to apply this sacred rite quite frequently.

George Burns: A comedian who gained fame in his early years for being so damn funny and in his later years for being so damn old, George Burns was rarely photographed without a cigar. He took cigars with him on stage and chose what brand to smoke based on how long each brand would stay lit.

He was once quoted as saying, “Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.”

Sigmund Freud: The man behind the psychoanalysis curtain, Freud began smoking at the age of 24 and averaged 20 cigars a day. A lifetime smoker, he often believed he was not able to work without smoking a cigar.

Though he often saw phallic symbols in everything, he was once quoted as saying, “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” Yes, and sometimes a mother is just a mother instead of a love interest.

Mark Twain: The man who wrote tales of young boys learning about life on journeys down the great Misssissipp’ was an avid cigar smoker. Whether smoking as Mark Twain, or smoking as Samuel Clemens, he smoked somewhere between 22 and 40 cigars a day.

He was rumored to have once said, “If smoking is not allowed in Heaven, I shall not go.”

Franz Liszt: A Hungarian composer and pianist, Franz Liszt was a forefather of romantic music. Known as the greatest pianist of his time, he was attuned to great cigars.

He was once quoted as saying, “A good Cuban cigar closes the doors to the vulgarities of the world.”

King Edward VII: The eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, King Edward VII was born in 1841. A man of voracious appetite, he often ate five meals (each consisting of ten courses or more) and smoked 12 large cigars and 20 cigarettes per day.

With the words, “Gentleman, you may smoke,” after his coronation in 1901, he ended the intolerance for tobacco that was a cornerstone to his mother’s reign.

Whether your image of the “cigar smoker” is someone famous, the product of the famous merged together (perhaps a Sigmund Freud and Grouch Marx love child), or someone completely unknown, avid cigar smokers have two things in common: they enjoy what they’re smoking and (as attested in the above quotes) they certainly can’t complain.

Source: Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.whatsknottolove.com. At home in a design firm in Denver, Colorado, she writes articles specific to the finer things in life.

Cigar Aficionado. Cigar Popularity Makes A Comeback

Cigar Sensibilities

Little did Mark Twain realize when he coined the phrase, "If I cannot smoke in heaven, then I shall not go," that it would become the battle hymn of this decade’s most vogue fashion statement—cigar smoking. It’s been hard to ignore the phenomenon. A dormant industry up until a few years ago, cigars have made an incredible comeback. Manufacturers are reporting record sales and can’t keep up with the orders. Investors have been snatching up public offerings from cigar companies. A humidor previously owned by John F. Kennedy fetched a whopping half million dollars at an auction last year.

Why the sudden resurgence in popularity? Most industry experts attribute the growth to a number of factors. Certainly, the 1992 debut of Cigar Aficionado, an upscale magazine produced by Wine Spectator publisher Marvin Shanken, played a large part in elevating the awareness and status of cigar smoking. It introduced a new generation of consumers to cigar events, cigar clubs, and terms like "cigar-friendly establishment." No longer looked upon as a symbol of vulgarity or pomposity, the cigar’s association with the entertainment industry has helped propel it to downright respectability. Hollywood stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson, among others, have adorned the cover of leading magazines, brandishing their favorite "stogie." George Hamilton successfully launched a line of cigars under the H. Upmann label, and recently opened a cigar bar in the New York, New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas bearing his name. Even women, who in the past were derided for the practice, have developed a passion for cigars and are consuming them in record numbers.

Statistics aside, what is it about cigars that makes them so darned appealing? Quite frankly, they taste good. Like a fine wine, the flavor characteristics vary from cigar to cigar, and even within a particular brand. Cigars can range from smooth and creamy in flavor, all the way up to spicy and peppery, as with Cuban cigars. And quite frankly, there is simply no better way to finish a meal than by enjoying a fine cigar with a glass of cognac or port.

The aura, the ritual of cigar smoking has created a whole new setting for social interaction. It is quite common today for strangers to begin a conversation by sharing thoughts about the brand of cigars they’re enjoying. It is not surprising, therefore, that cigar bars have been opening up across the country in astonishing numbers. In years past, one would simply purchase a cigar for home consumption. Nowadays, cigar lounges with names like Club Macanudo, The Cuba Club, and The Grand Havana Room are catering to young professionals who can enjoy the comforts in a living room-type setting, but with cocktail service, big screen television, and even the rental of private humidor lockers. Chiropractor and entrepreneur Dr. Craig Berko has even developed a successful nationwide networking event called, aptly, "The Cigar Schmooze."

A PRIMER TO CIGAR SMOKING

Cigars are currently manufactured in several countries, including Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Brazil, and the Philippines. Cuban cigars, illegal in the United States, are considered to be the world’s finest. However, the quality from other countries has improved dramatically in recent years and, in many cases, rival their Cuban counterparts.

When selecting a cigar, there are certain pre-smoking characteristics one should look for, such as construction and aroma. A well-constructed cigar will be smoothly rolled, but should not be too tight. Don’t be afraid to ask your tobacconist for assistance or advice. A full-flavored cigar should be consumed with a big meal, not on an empty stomach. A beginner might wish to start off with a mild cigar, such as a Macanudo, before progressing to more complex flavors. Whatever you do, just remember one thing: do not inhale. Simply take a puff, letting the flavor circulate within your mouth, and then blow out the smoke.

Once you’ve made your cigar selection, it is important that they remain properly humidified. A cigar that has been allowed to dry will burn unevenly and too fast; a cigar that is over-humidified will be tough to draw from. A humidor (a humidified storage receptacle) will maintain your cigars for months, and sometimes even years, to come. Humidors vary in size and price, and are an excellent investment for anyone who truly enjoys the pleasure, and not the fad, of cigar smoking.

Exactly how long the current craze will last is anyone’s guess, but most industry experts agree that there are at least another three or four years before popular interest wanes. Expect prices to increase as more-and-more consumers jump on the cigar bandwagon. Nevertheless, it’s well worth taking advantage of the increased popularity, both in terms of the numerous, new smoking venues and the vast array of cigars available to the general public. Keep an open mind to new and different brands. You just might find a brand that stays with you a lifetime.

If you have any cigar-related questions, feel free to contact Roy at roy@cigarfriendly.