When you pick out a cigar, make sure to learn the proper cutting and lighting techniques. But, as with any new experience, you may make some mistakes at first. Minimize your losses by starting with some milder cigars – they tend to be less expensive.
When you move up to the stellar coronas and more robust robustos, buy two and put one away for a few months. That will help you compare the effects of aging against a brand new cigar. Of course, if you buy your cigars at a first-rate tobacconist – as you should – they may well be already aged.
Most store their product in quality humidor-like displays with good temperature and humidity control. Often, they will buy a large stock from a distributor and, as a result, the ones near the bottom of the box may have been ‘on the shelf’ for months. In this case, though, being on the shelf can actually be an advantage unlike food or beer that can go bad within a year or less.
Also, there are merchants who will stock cigars that have been aged for several years. These specialty items make for a fine smoke.
Check the cigar for hard spots that may indicate the presence of what is called a ‘plug’. That is a small, dense volume of tobacco that can reduce the draw – the free flow of air – through the cigar as it’s smoked. Some can be worked out by rolling the cigar between the thumb and forefinger. But, in general, it’s best to avoid purchasing potentially troubled cigars in the first place.
Look for a quality brand and try to find a tobacconist who is helpful and patient. Price is not the foremost criteria when shopping for a fine cigar. Just as you would with a fine wine, you’re looking for the best quality you can afford. Once the price drops below a certain point, you can be almost guaranteed of getting a poor smoke. Though there are some notable exceptions.
Inspect the wrapper for dryness and cracking. Improperly stored cigars will dry out within a few days, causing small cracks in the wrapper. That leads to a bad draw, poor flavor and misspent money.
Also look for any discoloration. An even shade of color along the length of the wrapper is best. A blue tinge may indicate the presence of blue mold. In the rare cases you find it, you have found a cigar you do NOT want to smoke.
If there is a small bit of what looks like white dust, on the other hand, you probably have nothing to worry about. That’s a substance that results from the aging process and it can be brushed off without any ill-effect on the taste or quality.
If you don’t have a humidor yet, store any cigars in glass tubes until you smoke them. If they came with cellophane wrapper, they probably aren’t the highest quality, but you should nonetheless leave them wrapped until you’re ready to smoke them. In a pinch, you can use a small, plastic container but never put them in the refrigerator.
Don’t be afraid of looking foolish at the tobacconist. Ask lots of questions. They’re typically happy to answer them, since they know a satisfied and knowledgeable customer will return time and time again. Plus, most of them are cigar aficionados themselves and happy to share their experience with enthusiastic newcomers.
Embark on a new adventure!
