Cigar bars and lounges are establishments that provide cigars. They may also provide other tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and coffee. They usually allow patrons to smoke cigars indoors in a comfortable setting or patio. Typically 88% of cigar smokers choose to smoke at home while only 12% like to smoke at restaurants or bars. A cigar bar has two main requirements: 1) it must comply with state smoking regulations (no indoor smoking is allowed in public places except for cigar bars), 2) the establishment must be primarily dedicated to the sale of premium handmade cigars, pipes, pipe toba ..read more

Fishermen and cigar aficionados have one thing in common: Both enjoy relaxing with friends after a full day of work. But when those fishing buddies are willing to sacrifice some prime time after they come home to toss back a few with you, the only thing left is to choose the best cigar for the occasion. Choose The Right Cigar for Fishing The first criterion is length. Short cigars require a quick ‘light and puff’ to get the flavors going, while if you’re planning on smoking a longer cigar it’s best to set aside time for an extended – yet less frequently interrupted – session of relaxation. You ..read more

Cigar seconds are also known as Cigar 2xs, Cigars 2nds, Factory Seconds, Second Cut, Seconds, Fumas, Rough Cut, or Surplus Cigars. These are cigars that failed the quality control test at the cigar factory. The cigars may have failed because of cosmetic imperfections, improper wrapper rolling, or excess inventory. The result is a cheaper cigar. You can buy these cigars at a discounted price. You may also get access to limited edition brands that are not available in regular cigar shops. Some smokers like the unique flavors of seconds while others would rather do without. Cosmetic Blemishes The ..read more

Wood Tip Cigars are a type of cigar where the leaf is braided with wood planks to hold it together.  Wooden “Tips” are at each end of the cigar, one being called the foot or fire-end, and the other being called the head or mouth-end. To create Wood Tip Cigars, leaves are tied around small pieces of wood, which are then wrapped in larger pieces of wood for stability. The entire process takes about six weeks to finish. This type of cigar was invented by George A. Rico in 1996 after he visited an old Cuban factory that used wooden slats to tie together groups of cigars. He decided to recreat ..read more

Some cigar smokers dig their cigar in whiskey before smoking it. Should you try it? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about getting your cigar wet. Why Do Some Cigar Smokers Dip Cigars in Whiskey? There are several reasons why some cigar smokers choose to dunk their cigars in whiskey. For example, many enjoy the flavor and find it enhances the richness of the cigar’s taste. Of course, this is a matter of personal choice and may not be for everyone. Others claim that by dipping their cigars in whiskey they cleanse them of any unpleasant tastes or aromas before smoking. Ma ..read more

The tobacco in a cigar significantly changes the taste. It is not just a filler for the cigar. This tobacco, known as Medio Tiempo or half time in English, can be extremely rare and expensive to obtain. Medio Tiempo is considered the third priming of Habano seed grown on Cuban farms. What Does Medio Tiempo Mean? Medio Tiempo means “half time” in English, and is called this because it requires more labor to grow than other types of tobacco. This type of tobacco plant has to be shaded for part of its growing process while the other half is out in the sun. Where Is Medio Tiempo Tobacco Grown? Med ..read more

As a cigar aficionado, I have had the opportunity to try cigars from all over the world. And while there are many great cigars out there, I have to say that one of my favorite cigars comes wrapped in Ecuador Connecticut wrappers. However, I recently had the chance to try a cigar that was wrapped in Connecticut Shade, and I have to say that I was impressed. Connecticut Wrapper Taste Connecticut wrappers are known for their mild taste. They often have a very light and delicate flavor making them great cigars to enjoy during the day or when you want something that won’t be overly complex. When it ..read more

Swisher Sweets are the best machine-made cigar. You can find them in some cigar shops, convenience stores, and gas stations. Swishers have tobacco inside that is chopped up by a machine. Machine-made cigars are different from handmade cigars because they have short fillers inside of them instead of long-fillers. Short filler is chopped up tobacco and shortleaf. Swisher Sweets cigars come in many different sizes and flavors (including apple, grape, peach, chocolate, ice blast). You can buy Swishers with the king-size or 100’s size filter. You can also buy them with a flat tip or a round tip. Th ..read more

Some cigars create a lot of smoke, some don’t. What causes this difference? Smoke creation is a combination of the following: Tobacco blend composition, nicotine content, smoking too fast, ashing prematurely, rolling issues, cigar cut, and the burn. The tobacco blend composition, including how absorbent or resistant to humidity it is. If the cigar is very dry and contains Nicaraguan Ligero filler, for example, that can be one cause of a stogie exuding more smoke than its milder Dominican counterpart. Nicotine content in the cigar’s filler leaves. In general, stronger cigars (i.e., those with h ..read more

I will admit that I use to not be a fan of giving my cigars the old Sniff Test. While most true cigar aficionados swear by it, I always felt that there was something more important to be done with my mouth. Why waste all that flavor on my nose when it has so many other uses? However, after being taught by one of Miami’s finest Master Blenders, it’s time to reconsider the Sniffing Strategy. With so many reasons why you should take a few seconds out of your day to give your cigar a quick huff and puff, who can possibly resist? Here is just a shortlist of some valid reasons why you should adopt t ..read more