How to Find Good Cigars
Of course, the first question that arises is: What is a good cigar and how do you recognize it? The subjective impression of a good cigar is naturally left to each aficionado or aficionada, as taste is famously something one can't argue about. However, there are also objective characteristics that help identify a good cigar. We would like to explain these characteristics to you in more detail below.
General
Essentially, good tobacco is the foundation of a good cigar. In addition to good tobacco and the tobacco blend, the country of origin and the cigar format play a decisive role in the flavor of the cigar. Generally, it is said that hand-rolled cigars made from long leaves (i.e., long fillers) are of higher quality than machine-made cigars (which are usually short fillers), assuming no mistakes were made during the entire production process.
As with all products, the price is not a measure of quality. Even affordable cigars can be of good, if not excellent, quality. The choice of a cigar also depends on whether the smoker is a beginner or an advanced, experienced aficionado.
Also read: What beginners should consider when choosing a cigar.
Country of Origin
The country of origin of the cigar is the first criterion when choosing a cigar. The flavor profiles can be narrowed down somewhat by country. The mildest cigars generally come from the Dominican Republic and are well-suited for beginners. They often have a sweet flavor and a slightly nutty aroma. Cigars from Honduras, on the other hand, are a bit spicier. Nicaraguan cigars range from mild to strong in flavor and are also a good alternative to the queen of cigars—the Cuban cigar. Cuban cigars stand out with an earthy-spicy flavor and are generally classified as strong or full-bodied.
Choosing a Format
As a general rule, thick cigars usually have a fuller aroma, burn more evenly and slowly than thinner cigars, and don’t heat up as quickly. Moreover, at least in Cuba, the larger brands and formats are produced by experienced rollers (torcedores). The smaller formats are more often made by apprentices or less experienced rollers.
Smaller formats include the Petit Corona and small Panetela. The Corona, Corona Gorda, Panetela, and Robusto are considered medium, regularly shaped formats. The Gran Corona and Double Corona represent the larger formats. A cigar with a varying thickness along its body is called a Figurado, or sometimes a Torpedo or Piramide. The Salomones and Diadema also belong to this category of cigars.
See also the article: Cigar formats – What formats exist and how they differ.
Additionally, the time of day usually influences the choice of a cigar. Most aficionados will opt for small and mild cigars in the morning. Experienced smokers may choose a Robusto during the day, which offers a lot of flavor in a manageable timeframe. After dinner, larger cigars with more body and a longer smoking time are preferred, as thin cigars don’t burn for long and may be too mild.
Also read: How the cigar format influences the flavor of a cigar.
Wrapper Colors
The color of the wrapper can give some indication of the likely flavor of the cigar. The darker the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor. This is because darker leaves, due to greater sun exposure, have a higher oil and sugar content. You can read more about the influence of the wrapper on flavor here.
In general, there are seven basic wrapper colors. Of course, there are many shades besides these basic colors with rather obscure names, but they have not gained widespread acceptance.
Double Claro or Claro Claro
The color is a greenish-brown. The flavor is very mild and light, with hardly any oil content. This is because the leaves are picked early.
Claro
Colorado Claro
Colorado
Colorado Maduro
Maduro
Oscuro
If you plan to purchase a whole box of a particular cigar, you can also judge the quality by the color consistency within the box. Traditionally, in Cuban cigar boxes, the darkest cigar is always placed on the left, and from left to right, the cigars get progressively lighter.
Wrapper Quality
A crucial criterion for a good cigar is the quality of the wrapper. It should, of course, be undamaged, with no cracks or holes. Additionally, you should check that the wrapper has few and very fine veins. Thick veins contain no aroma and only deliver nicotine.
If the cigar shows the aforementioned flaws, it may burn irregularly, offer less flavor, and have a higher draw resistance.
Sensory Perception in Choosing a Cigar
After examining the cigar, particularly the wrapper, you should also feel the cigar between your fingers.
This is where the sensory perception of the aficionado comes into play. Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb and lightly press along the cigar from the foot to the head. The cigar should be evenly rolled at all points—perhaps with a slight exception at the head—and feel firm but not hard. After pressing, it should return to its original shape and feel elastic.
The scent of a cigar is best experienced at the foot. Many people smell along the wrapper, but this is not very informative, as you’ll only detect the aroma of the wrapper itself.
It’s worth noting that you should avoid testing this at the retailer’s, as most will understandably not appreciate it.
In the end, the aficionado's current mood and the time available for enjoyment will determine the choice of what will hopefully be a good cigar!
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