Choosing A Cigar To Smoke

The first step to smoking a cigar is choosing a cigar to smoke. There are very different kinds of cigars and sizes that can be quite confusing to the amateur cigar smoker. Cigars comes in different colors, shapes and sizes. Often new smokers are intimidated by the variety of cigars that they encounter a tobacco shop or online when buying cigars. You should take a moment to appreciate each brand and kind of cigar that you encounter to further help your decision.

Cigar Colors
When people are referring to cigar colors they are talking about the color of the wrapper, the leaves that come from the widest part of the plant, and it is the very first thing you see when you look at a cigar. The cigar wrapper also helps signify the desired flavor of the cigar, and are usually described by the country of origin or color of the cigar. There are six colors of cigar wrappers, while a light cigar wrapper typically has a mild taste, and the dark wrappers are full-bodied flavors and sweeter.

Claro (Light Tan) - Often has a neutral flavor
Claro Claro (Greenish) - Typically a mild and bland wrapper that is greenish in color, usually known as double claro, candela, or jade, and it is mildly sweet. Usually picked before leaves reach maturity and dry it quickly. Grown in Connecticut.

Colorado (Reddish Brown) - Also called Rosado or Corojo. Usually has a rich flavor with a subtle aroma.
Maduro (Dark Brown) - A strong flavor with a mild aroma and the wrapper is silky and oily.
Oscuro (Black) - Also known as Double Maduro. Usually black with an oily appearance and are mainly grown in Cuba, Nicarague, Brazil, Mexico, and Connecticut in the USA. They are the darkest of colors because they are left on the tobacco plant longer and has longer maturing period.

Cigar Sizes
Cigars come in all different kinds of sizes and lengths and each size and length determines the quality of the smoke and the taste. Cigar sizes are measured by length and the ring gauge (cigar diameter). A ring is equivalent to 1/64th of an inch.

Typical Cigar Sizes:
Churchill (7 x 48)
Corona (5 x 42)
Double Corona (6 x 48)
Lonsdale (6 x 42)
Panatela (6 x 35)
Robusto (4 x 50)

Larger ring gauges usually have a fuller and more complex flavor while producing more smoke. The larger ring gauge allows cigar makers to blend and combine different types of leaves to produce a variety of different smoking experiences. Typically smaller ring gauge cigars consist of a harsher smoke.

Length of cigars do matter while the longer ones tend to be rolled poorly and can also contribute to a harsher smoke.

Freshness Of The Cigar
After picking a cigar depending upon what you like or dislike (remember different people enjoy different things so the harsh cigar that your father liked may not be appropriate for your appreciation of a smooth smoke) you need to make the cigar is fresh. Most cigar shops will keep them in a humidor which keeps the humidity at 70% perfect for cigars, though others will not, so make sure you check them for freshness. Gently feel the cigar in your hand and see if it is feels soft or hard. A soft cigar is what we're looking for, hard cigars are dry and will often be brittle, while a softer cigar is a less harsher smoke.