Cigar Craft

Cigar Travel Cases

It is said that smoking pleasure comes with a fine cigar, freshly kept and protected its original charm. That’s what cigar travel cases are for when you are on a trip and enjoy your favorite cigar. Cigar travel cases keep your cigars from getting crushed by clumsy bag handlers. They maintain the perfect smoking condition for your cigars. That’s why; they have become most used cases while you are on a traveling.

Cigar Travel Cases
Coming in almost all size, cigar travel cases are a comfortable travel kit that stores your cigars protecting them from getting crushed. In fact, Portable cigar cases keep your smokes fresh and moist for months. But, before you carry your cigars with you, make sure your cigars are legal. Store them in a small, airtight, crushproof cigar travel cases protect your smokes.

Online Cigar Travel Cases
If you want to buy a quality cigar travel case, check the different varieties online. Online cigar stores provide some good cigar travel cases in very affordable range. You can also get discounted travel cases on recommended sites as they generally have lower overheads. So, just click the mouse and choose your cigar travel case that truly explains your needs and style and secure the safety of your classic cigars. No doubt, your smoking pleasures will be on heights.

About the Author: Rachana Agarwal is a famous Cigar Industry Expert.

Different types of Cigars

The Origin

Cigars have generated much interest and passion, not only in their countries of origin but even more so in Europe and the United States. However, available historical references indicate that inhabitants of Europe were pretty much unaware of tobacco until after Columbus's epic voyage of 1492.

Cigars, as we know them today, were first made in Spain in the early 18th century, using Cuban tobacco. By 1790, cigar manufacture had spread substantially and small factories were being set up in France and Germany. However, cigar smoking became a recognized, widespread custom in France and Britain only after the Peninsular War that ended in 1814, when returning British and French veterans made cigar smoking, a habit they had acquired while serving in Spain, something of a fashion statement.

The cigar arrived in North America a little earlier than Europe, around 1762, when Israel Putnam, later a general in the American War of Independence, returned from Cuba, where he had served in the British army. He came back to his home in Connecticut with a selection of Havana cigars and large amounts of Cuban tobacco seed. Cigar factories were later set up in the area, processing the tobacco grown from the Cuban seed.

A Closer Look at the Cigar and its Different Types

Just like wine, there is much curiosity about cigars even amongst those who don't smoke. An important lifestyle product, the cigar has grown from being merely a smoking option to a true statement of style.

This article talks about all you need to know about the different types of cigars and the components that make a cigar and decide its quality.

The Structure of the Cigar
A Cigar has its three different parts that make it up: Filler, Binder and Wrapper.

The Filler: It is the filler that provides a cigar its essential flavor. There are three different types of leaves that are popularly used as fillers for cigars. These are Ligero, Seco and Volado.

The Binder: The binder is what encloses the filler and gives the cigar its proper shape and size. The bottom part of the plant where the leaves are thicker and have more strength is used as a binder for cigars.

The Wrapper: As the name suggests, the wrapper is the outermost covering of a cigar. Because its appearance is especially important, the quality of the wrapper is considered crucial and generally, can account for up to 70 percent of the value of the tobacco. It is said that a good wrapper should have the requisite flavor and steady-burning qualities essential for a truly great cigar smoking experience. Smokers examine a cigar for appealing appearance, texture and aroma, and this is where a good, painstakingly grown wrapper justifies the high cost of the cigar.

Different Types of Cigars

From a few local brands to tens of premium brands, cigars today, offer a number of options to choose from. Have a look at some of the best known cigar brands:

Cuban Cigars: Cuban cigars, considered to be one of the best cigars in the world, are also the most popular. It is said that their production is rarely ever able to match up to their demand! Also called Habanos, Cuban cigars are controlled by a government corporation, and demand much attention to detail from the cigar maker. Habanos need to be handled very carefully and call for a high level of monitoring for quality.

Macanudo Cigars: Macanudo was introduced in 1971 by the General Cigar Company and quickly became a leading premium cigar. Every Macanudo cigar is made with the finest Connecticut Shade wrapper, a flavorful blend of Dominican tobaccos and a select binder grown in the rich St. Andres Tuxtla Valley of Mexico. Each Macanudo can be relied on for consistency in smoothness and the same superior smooth taste and quality of experience.

Cohiba Cigars: The Cohiba came into into existence in 1966, but it was only in 1969 that it became famous. The tobacco used for manufacturing Cohiba Cigars is grown at full length in certain selected plantations in the province of Penar del Rio, and is considered quite special.

Padron Cigars: The manufacturing of Padron Cigars started in 1964 in Florida, the man behind the brand being Jose O. Padron. Padron Cigars use only sun-grown habano aged for a minimum of two and half years, and are available in natural and maduro wrappers. One of the finest cigars, Padrons are known as full-bodied and well-aged cigars.

Partagas Cigars: Though Don Jaime Partagas is the founder of Partagas cigars, it is the efforts of sons Ramon Cifuentes and Jaime Partagas Jr. that made Partagas cigars the leading Cuban Cigar. Partagas Cigars, known for their rich flavor, use high quality wrappers from Cameroon, known for its perfectly suitable climate for growing superb wrapper leaves.

Ashton Cigars: Ashton Cigars are produced using 3 to 4 year old Dominician tobacco, and get their rich taste from the golden Connecticut shade wrapper.

Acid Cigars: Made in Nicargua in Drew Estate by Jonathan Drew, Acid Cigars have a completely natural composition. They are prepared using the finest tobaccos and over 140 botanicals, herbs and essential oils. Acid Cigars are known to be the leader in the herbal and Botanical Aromatic Cigar Market.

Montecristo Cigars: Montecristo cigars, the famous Havana brands started becoming popular around the late 1930's. Popularized also by the Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo, the cigar is a medium to full bodied one with a sweet aroma and impeccable construction.

Arturo Fuente Cigars: Arturo Fuente learned the art of making premium, handmade cigars in Cuba at the end of the 19th century, and started producing his own line in 1912. The highest quality vintage tobacco is used for Arturo Fuente Cigars. The leaves are carefully selected from a private reserve and set aside for making these cigars. These are also known as one of the famous aromatic cigars.

About the Author - The author, A. "Mac" Levitt, is a well- known cigar enthusiast, distributor, and wholesaler who has been lending his expertise and experience to the Internet cigar industry since 1998. Having studied the scope and potential of secure online cigar shopping, Mac has been instrumental in providing advice and supplies to a number of secure online cigar shops like cigars-now.com

Cigar Cutters

Cigarette smokers usually puff away during breaks at work, drives to the grocery store, or yard work at home. Whereas cigarette smoking is typically a pastime, cigar smoking is a culture. People usually smoke cigars during special occasions, whether it is to celebrate a first child, seal a business deal, or enjoy a night of poker with one's buddies. Further proof of how firmly entrenched cigar smoking is in the American culture is the fact that Red Auerbach lighted a ceremonial cigar after his Boston Celtics won yet another basketball championship. Then, there's the wide circulation of cigar magazines like "Cigar Aficionado" in newsstands. These periodicals include features such as cigar ratings, international tobacconists, and cigar-friendly restaurants. Considering how popular cigar smoking is, it is, thus, only fitting to pay homage to cigar cutters in much the same way tobacco aficionados pay their respects to the almighty Cuban. After all, cigar smoking begins with a cigar cutter's snip of the tobacco product.

Cigar Hall of Fame

One reason cigar smoking has become more popular than ever could be the possibility that compared to cigarette smoking, cigar smoking is less dangerous to one's health. The reason is that when one smokes cigar, one does not inhale its smoke. Perhaps this explains how comedian George Burns, a lifetime cigar smoker, reached the ripe old age of 100 years! Other famous personalities who have become icons due in part to their cigar smoking include:

* Larger-than-life British leader Winston Churchill, after whom a cigar size was named.
* Austrian Psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, who often smoked during sessions with his patients.
* American author Mark Twain, who claimed that he smoked whenever he was awake.
* Comedy actor Groucho Marx, who often smoked a short, thick cigar.

Cigars Have a Past (And a Future)

Comedian George Burns, who used cigars to time his routine, served as the unofficial face of cigar smokers. While that face has become much more diverse in recent times, the essence of cigar smoking has remained unchanged. Cigars are often linked to celebrations of good luck and little triumphs. While they have historically been considered as a rich person's pastime, cigars have increasingly become more common in modern culture. Also, you have probably heard of the phrase, "close, but no cigar." Do you know where this expression comes from? The origin of the saying is the practice of saving a cigar as a good luck charm, in hopes of winning a bet made.

Cigar Characters

Other cigar legends involve people rather than activities. For example, English King Edward VII loved smoking cigars despite opposition from his mother. One story reveals that after his mother passed away, King Edward regally announced to his male guests, "Gentleman, you may smoke." It should be noted that they probably used knives rather than cigar cutters. In King Edward's honor, an American brand of cigars was named after him.

Another cigar legend is shown in the American sitcom show "Seinfeld." A character, Kramer, is frequently shown smoking a cigar. In the 1992 movie "Scent of a Woman," Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade orders his assistant to purchase a particular brand of cigars, which he knows will be hard as nails to find.

Making the Cut

The variety of cigar cutters available creates a legend of its own. Cigar cutters vary in size and color, ranging from portable to desktop, and from red to blue. Other cutters have multiple functions, and are paired with other tools such as key rings, portable knife sets, or money clips. When choosing cigar cutters, it is wise to first consider your needs.

In many respects, cigars have become as common in modern culture as the Internet and reality TV. Choosing the right cigar cutters further adds to the style and experience of cigar smoking.

Finding The Right Cigar

You've decided that you want to try smoking a cigar. You're intrigued by them, and by the people that smoke them. To some, cigars are a status symbol, a symbol of wealth and class. People describe them like they would a fine wine. A cigar can have full to medium body or a smooth and creamy medium bodied taste or they talk about the exceptional construction and cool smoke. What does all this mean and how do you go about choosing a cigar?

Before we go any further, know the health risks. Cigars are bad for you. They contain nicotine which we know is addictive, which is bad for you. People can get cancer from smoking cigars. According to the National Institutes of Health "people smoking as few as one to two cigars per day have much higher risk of oral, lung, and esophageal cancer, and cancer of the larynx, as compared to non-smokers." But, you're an adult and you've made your decision. Also here we'll mention that cigar smoke is much heavier and smellier than cigarette smoke, which some find offensive.

So, back to choosing. There are man-made cigars and machine made cigars. Needless to say, most things hand made are superior to machine made, and that goes for cigars. A handmade cigar is made from leaves picked, sorted and bundled by an individual cigar maker. A premium hand rolled cigar will have leaves of the same length carefully rolled. It's the skill of the hand roller that insures a smooth and even burn.

Machine made cigars often use ends and smaller pieces of tobacco leaves, called short filler. Cigar aficionados say that this short filler draws and burns inferiorly. A well made cigar should have a full and smooth draw.

A cigar is rated on it's length and ring gauge. The length of cigars runs between 4 inches to 8 inches, with the most common cigar length being 5 to 6 inches. The ring gauge refers to the diameter of the cigar. This ring gauge is measured in 64th of an inch. The largest ring gauge of a cigar is 52, therefore it would be 52/64ths of an inch in diameter. Generally the larger the ring gauge the more fuller flavored the cigar will be.

Cigar colors are referred to as claro and oscuro. Claro being light brown and oscuro being almost black. The darker the cigar the more full bodied and sweeter it will be. The darker the tobacco the more mature it is. Some tobacco is aged up to three years before it is rolled. A lighter colored cigar will be lighter in flavor.

Is is suggested that for a beginning cigar smoker that they choose a smaller and milder gauge cigar, such as a petit corona or panatela, then move up to a bigger size, and more robust flavor as they are comfortable.

Don't be afraid to try different brands. You'll notice your tastes will mature and change. The final choice of the right cigar depends on your own taste preference.

About the Author - Article courtesy of cigars-shopper.com

A Look At Cigar Humidors

Cigar humidors are storage units designed to hold, preserve and display a collection of cigars. They come in varying shapes and sizes, and can typically be custom made to suit the tastes of the owner. Cigar humidors are an essential appliance for any serious cigar aficionado, and can be priced anywhere from $50 for a simple wood box made to hold a few cigars, up into the thousands for an elegant, handcrafted display case providing maximum preservation and elegance.

The most important aspect of a cigar humidor is its climate control system. This is what keeps the product fresh, preserving both the look and the taste of the cigars over long periods of time. Humidity and temperature are carefully controlled and monitored in the most advanced systems. For example, in the Climatech model by Vigilant, a maker of custom humidors and cabinets, the system automatically heats, cool, humidifies or dehumidifies the unit in response to outside conditions. It features digital controls and can operate maintenance-free for up to 90 days, holding up to 2600 cigars in the largest model.

In addition to the ready-made humidors available, a person can also turn almost any chest or cabinet into a climate controlled space for storing cigars with the purchase of a separate humidification system. These devices are designed to automatically monitor and control the climate of any room, thus keeping the conditions at an optimal level for the preservation of cigars.

Cigar shops and stores typically have a system called a walk-in humidor. These are full-sized rooms where inventory is stored and can be displayed for customers. The entire area is under the same kind of climate control system used for the smaller containers or display cases, optimizing the humidity and temperature to keep cigars looking, smelling and tasting as fresh as the day they were produced.

For both the casual cigar smoker and the serious aficionado, a cigar humidor is the key to longer lasting, better cigars, as well as an aesthetically pleasing way to show off a collection.

About the Author- Cigars provides comprehensive information on cigar smoking, Cuban cigars, discount cigars, humidors, lighters, boxes, and more. For more information go to cigars-web.com