CigarFox

How to Smoke Cigars

Far be it for us to instruct anyone how to smoke their cigars, but here goes anyway:

Four out of five of your senses have an important role to play in assessing the cigar. Sight, touch, smell and taste. Rolling a cigar next to your ear does not achieve anything useful – you can leave your ears at home.

There are two elements to the process of smoking your cigar. The first is the physical practicality of cutting, lighting and smoking. The second is the effect a cigar has on your senses while you carry out these various functions.

The Physical Practicalities:

Cutting
Once you have selected your cigar (see below – ‘Cigar Sensations’), you will need to cut the closed end. All handmade cigars have a cap (Havanas have a double cap) over the head end – this end goes in your mouth. If you attempt to smoke a cigar the other way around, you will find that half way through it will unravel and take on the appearance of an exploded stick. There are a number of ways of cutting the cap, ranging from the use of a thumb-nail, to portable guillotine cutters (both single and double bladed – see ‘Accessories’ on navigation bar), from cheap to expensive, to the more exotic cigar scissors and table-top cutters.

The cut should be clean and level, or there will be difficulties with the draw and a risk of damaging the wrapper. Cut the cigar so that an eighth of an inch of the cap is left around the cigar wrapper. It is not recommended that you pierce the cap with a pin, as this will interfere with the passage of smoke, make the cigar overheat and lead to unpleasant flavours from residues condensing at the point the cap was pierced. Cap hole-punching devices do work well as long as the diameter of the punch is at least a quarter of an inch. Wedge-shaped cutters are also not recommended, as these have a tendency to cut through all of the band on either side and the cigar wrapper can then unravel.

Whatever you use, make sure it is sharp, and that you expose enough of the filler leaves under the cap to allow the smoke uninterrupted passage.

Lighting Up
When you light a cigar, use either a butane lighter (not one filled with gasoline) or a match. Anything else, such as using a candle, will tend to taint the flavour of the cigar, and will ultimately impede the passage of smoke through the cigar with particles from the flame. Avoid matches with high sulphur or wax contact (don’t use paper matches). Take time and care to light the cigar.

First, hold the cigar horizontally in direct contact with the flame, and slowly revolve it until the end is charred evenly over its entire surface.

Put the cigar between your lips, hold the flame about half an inch away from the end, and draw slowly while rotating the cigar. Its end should now ignite. Ensure an even burn has taken hold.

Gently blow on the burning end to make sure the cigar is fully lit.

Smoking
After five minutes the cigar will have warned up and you will have reached cruising altitude.

Unlike cigarettes, cigars will naturally go out if left unattended. If your cigar goes out, don’t worry. Remove any ash clinging to the previously lit end by tapping the cigar. Blow through the cigar to clear away stale smoke. Re-light as previously described above. As long as the cigar has not been out for too long, the flavour will not be unduly affected. Continuous re-lighting of cigars will affect the flavour, and if a cigar is allowed to cool, then on re-lighting the tastes can become tainted and unpleasant (due to condensation of the smoke in the remaining part of the cigar).

Havanas are made from long filler tobacco leaves (another difference to cigarettes and machine made cigars). This means that the ash on the cigar, if it is a good one, should not fall off the moment it appears. There is no particular merit in keeping a long ash on a cigar, but neither is there any need to continually tap it to remove any excess ash. In assessing the quality of construction of your cigar, a long solid cylinder of ash is a good sign.

There is no need to warm the length of the cigar before smoking it. This was done in the nineteenth century to burn off the rather unpleasant gum used on some cigars made in Seville. Today’s handmade Cuban cigars use a small drop of flavourless, odorless vegetable gum at the cap end of the wrapper leaf.

The “End”
The final third of your cigar will be when the smoke is at its strongest. This is the time to part company before flavours become bitter and the effect of the cigar on your well-being may become detrimental. There is absolutely no need to stub or grind a cigar out to extinguish it. Left in the ashtray it will go out by itself: if you stub it out, it will release foul odours into the room. Once the cigar has self-extinguished remove any butts and ash from the room before they start to give out unpleasant smells (i.e. before going to bed!).

About the Author:

Mike Keesling is a freelance seo consultant and cigar afficiando. His favorite cigar shop in Los Angeles is the Ceniza Lounge in Pasadena.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How to Smoke a Cigar

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In the past fifteen years, the premium-cigar industry found itself in rebound. After decades of competition from cigarettes, the aging of its customer base, and overall consumer trends indicating a decline in smoking in general (we’ll return to this in a moment), many observers figured cigars were done for. Then came 1992. The fourth quarter of that year showed some of the first industry growth in years, and this trend metastasized in coming years. By 1996, the industry was seeing 36 percent first-quarter growth.

But cigars returned at an ironic time. High-profile class-action suits, controversy over Joe Camel, and decreasing general consumer interest in smoking, among other things, led to an increase in smoking bans in public buildings, offices, and, eventually, whole cities. Airports helped lead the trend; among the major travel hubs where you’re no longer welcome to light up are Los Angeles’ LAX and Dallas-Fort Worth.

All of which raises a question – if you’re a smoker going on vacation, what are your options?

Thankfully, the web site SmokingSection has, aggregating information sent in by smoking readers, listed and ranked over fifty major airports by their friendliness to smokers. Their rankings, like those of your high-school English teacher, run from A to E: A for airports where you can smoke by the waiting gate; E for airports where you not only can’t smoke indoors, but the nearest smoker-friendly outside areas require a small trip in themselves (and may be unacceptably far from takeoff gates).

So where should you travel if you want to smoke, not only when you reach your destination but on the way there? Well, the answer seems to be: Texas. The Lone Star State offers the only A-ranked airport out of the dozens surveyed. That’s Dallas Love Field, a smallish airport that receives only flights from major area transport provider Southwest Airlines. Frequently-flying cigar smokers who live in that wildcatter’s capital should feel lucky.

Texas offers us a B airport as well – these are the places where you can’t smoke near the gates, but that do offer smoker-friendly bars, restaurants, and/or lounges nearby. That would be at Lubbock – the same city from which Buddy Holly hailed. (But don’t take that as a bad omen.) Other southern and southwestern states are well-represented among the B airports, which makes sense, given the close links between many of these states and the history of the tobacco industry. Restaurants at New Mexico’s Albuquerque Airport, as well as at airports in Charlotte, North Carolina; Charleston, West Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; Tucson, Arizona; Norfolk, Virginia; and – appropriately enough – Richmond, Virginia, that famous tobacco town. (Where would American smoking be without Virginia?)

Orange County, California, offers an airport named for John Wayne, and appropriately the tobacco-loving Duke’s namesake airport also offers B-class accommodations. So do the major regional airports in Tampa, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, and New York City (both JFK and LaGuardia), in several large cities in Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton), in Fairbanks, Alaska; Moline, Illinois; and Ontario, Canada. Visitors to our nation’s capitol can also light up at a few of Washington, DC’s airport bars, though these are apparently hard to find.

It’s a good thing that the weather in Texas and California is generally fairly clement, because some major airports in both of these states ban all indoor smoking – but outdoor smoking areas are available at a conveniently close distance. The aforementioned Dallas-Fort Worth and LAX both disallow indoor smoking, which accounts for their C rating, but they do invite smoking customers to step outside. The Worcester, Massachusetts airport has a similar arrangement. (Enjoy that brisk Massachusetts air.) These are the C-class airports.

After that it gets dicier. Quite a few major American airports seem to fall into the D or E classes, with smoking accommodations within the airport that require a bit of a hike, or (in the case of the E-class airports) nothing at all but outside areas located far from gates. Many D airports offer those ubiquitous glass lounges where smokers are invited to light up and take a load off; these include Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Las Vegas (McCarran), and Atlanta (Hartfield). Happy hunting!

About the Author:

CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How To Smoke On The Road: Finding A Smoker-Friendly Airport

Roger Waters – Have a Cigar (Phoenix 10/03/06)

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Is there such a thing as a perfect cigar? This is a question that’s been debated for hundreds of years, but even now, well into the twenty-first century, there’s no definitive answer. Or rather, there are hundreds of “definitive” answers, because virtually every cigar smoker has his or her own idea of what constitutes perfection. Discussions along these lines tend to include prolific use of phrases like “patiently hand made,” “peak of flavor,” “intoxicating aroma,” “deftly hand rolled” and “creamy smoke.” Very descriptive, but how on Earth does one quantify these words and come out with a definition of “perfect?”

All arguments aside, it is possible to at least spike out some of the key variables that most aficionados would agree contribute toward distinguishing a mediocre cigar from an excellent one. With these basics to fall back on, someone new to the world of cigars might not be able to settle the age-old argument of perfection, but at least they would stand a decent chance of buying a good cigar instead of wasting their money.

Construction:
There’s an art to rolling a cigar properly and not everyone knows it. A cigar that’s been overfilled is difficult to smoke, and easily goes out.  If it’s under filled, the cigar burns too quickly and produces hot, harsh smoke. The perfectly rolled cigar burns evenly all the way down and is neither too hard nor too spongy to the feel. The wrapper should be blemish free and above all, it should not be dry or showing signs of unraveling.  In addition, a sloppy appearing cigar is a good indicator of poor craftsmanship.

Consistency:
This is a frequently overlooked factor, but really it is quite important. If a cigar producer cannot achieve consistency in their product, the consumer is left wondering from year to year whether the box they buy will be a good batch, or one of those unfortunate “off” batches. A good producer sources their tobacco from the same quality suppliers every year and keeps a stockpile to cover any poor crops, so there is little variation in the raw material; workers are well-trained and kept on as craftsmen. As a result, a cigar produced by this company is almost always good.

Tobacco:
It should go without saying that a good cigar requires good tobacco. Besides being of high quality, the tobacco needs to be aged properly or the end result will be a fast burning cigar that produces a harsh smoke. Like the question of the perfect cigar, there’s endless argument about what region or country produces the best tobacco. Historically, Cuba is the country most frequently considered to be tops in terms of premium tobacco production.

About the Author:

Lawrence Olsen is a cigar enthusiast, with a memorabilia collection that includes dutch masters boxes dating to the company’s first run in 1911. When it comes to smoking a cigar versus collecting, Lawrence prefers the hint of cocoa bean and coffee found in padron cigars.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Are Dutch Masters The Perfect Cigars?

Cigar Masters tastes CUBAO

This year, more than 30,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer. Five years from now, less than 60 percent of those diagnosed will still be alive. While these figures seem alarming, it is important to realize that when oral cancer is discovered early, treatment is 90 percent successful.

About Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can develop in any part of the mouth or oropharynx (back of your throat). A majority of oral cancers originate in the tongue and floor of the mouth. Nearly all cancers begin in the flat cells (called squamous cells) that cover the surface of the tongue, mouth and lips.

The most common sites for this cancer, called “Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)” are on the:

• Lateral border of the tongue and/or lip
• Floor of the mouth
• Soft palate (including the tonsillar pillars)
• Retromolar trigone (small area behind the wisdom teeth)

Importance of Early Detection

Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it is detected early. The problem with oral cancer is that around 70 percent of the time it is not visually noticeable until it has reached an advanced stage. That is why the Vizilite exam was developed.

How Vizilite Works

Vizilite technology helps a dentist to recognize abnormal tissue in the mouth, before it is visible to the naked eye. This simple device scans your oral tissue after it has been treated with a special rinse. Normal, healthy tissue will absorb the light and appear dark. A “Visilite lesion” will appear distinctly white. The Vizilite exam is best performed in low light conditions. Once the Vizilite is activated, the exam is completed in 10 minutes.

The purpose of using Vizilite is to identify tissue changes at their earliest stage. If abnormal tissue has been identified, it is up to your dental professional to decide what the next step is.

Risk factors

Scientists and medical professionals cannot always determine why one person develops oral cancer and another does not. Researchers do know that the disease is not contagious, so you can not “catch” oral cancer from someone else.

Certain lifestyle habits create a higher risk for oral cancer than others:

• Tobacco Use: Tobacco use accounts for a majority of oral cancers. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, chewing tobacco and dipping snuff are all related to oral cancer. Heavy smokers who use tobacco for a long period of time are at the greatest risk. Tobacco users who drink heavily are at an even higher risk.
• Alcohol Use: Individuals who drink alcohol are more likely to develop oral cancer than people who refrain from drinking. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol you consume, and is even higher if you drink and use tobacco together.
• Sun Exposure: Lip cancer can be caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. By wearing a brimmed hat and using a lotion or lip balm with sunscreen, you can reduce this risk.
• Family history of head and neck cancer: If head and neck cancer runs in your family, you are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer, a type of head and neck cancer.

The primary reason for the consistently high death rate of oral cancer is that it tends to be discovered in late-stage development. By having routine dental exams followed by a Vizilite exam, you can reduce your risk for this potentially deadly cancer.

If you would like to learn more about Vizilite screenings and you live in the Denver, Colorado area, please visit cosmetic dentist Dr. Greenhalgh’s website today.

About the Author:

You could even schedule your initial appointment today.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Oral Cancer and Vizilite

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The blend in the center of the cigar is truly the fingerprint of most brands. The right combination of seco, ligero and claro leaves makes the characteristic of the cigar fall anywhere between mild to full-bodied. Incorporating leaves from other regions is another common characteristic of a premium tobacco blend. Nicaraguan tobacco which is known sometimes as being harsh, can be used in a premium cigar filler of what would be considered a medium bodied cigar. This occurs when the master blender in the factory chooses the right combination of leaves to form the desired taste, much like a bartender mixes drinks. A typical Long Island iced tea consists of five liquors, sometimes a bartender will make one liquor the dominant in the drink and so to the cigar roller.

The wrapper leaves interestingly are imported from the United States as Connecticut shade is the premier wrapper leaf and most requested by the premium factories. The gold color and smooth texture all combined with a very even burn makes Connecticut shade broad leaf the premium wrapper leaf and best suited to be covering only premium long filler. These leaves are carefully folded and not pressed together which is another art form not easily learned. The leaves must be placed on top of each other so that the air passes through properly leading to an easy draw for the smoker (No one does it better than cigar rollers from cfdomicana.You can find them here http://www.cigarrollers.net) , Although the leaves are put in a mold and pressed for an average of two hours, the art of the folding remains intact. The folding, depressing and the shape of the cigar are all called construction. The construction of premium high-end cigars is visually evident as they are smooth uniform and require very little effort if any to draw the flavor from the burning tobacco. Poor construction leads to an uneven burn and is often found in the discarded cigars also called seconds.

The Cuban cigars are known for their perfect constructions, However the Cuban cigars have always had the mystique due to the fact that they have been illegal in United States for many years. With Castro in power Kennedy made certain that no trade between the United States and the communist country would exist. The embargo has essentially put Cuba in a time capsule with the only evidence of US products found our relics from the 50s like the Chevrolet Bel Air which is common in the streets of Cuba. Castro also did not do much justice to the tobacco fields and us the product has suffered. Driven mostly by the mystique, most novices will seek out Cuban cigars with very little reason as to why. Pre-embargo Cubans as a result are considered precious as they are the true Cuban cigars that most are really seeking. The full-bodied flavor of the Cuban cigar is what makes it so attractive to cigar purists. The flavor is so full-bodied in fact, that Cuban cigars are not recommended for someone just testing the waters. Finding such a pronounced flavor is what is become almost a mission for some however, looking only to Dominican tobacco perhaps wrapped with Maduro leaf will give a comparable if not exceed the cigar aficionado’s expectations.

About the Author:

Harry Swift is one of the best
Cigar Rollers
,He occasionally writes about cigars & related smokes.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Blends of Different Size Cigars

Tobacco World Serie 601 Connecticut Cigar Review

Where can I buy the new Djarum clove cigars in Connecticut?

Any chains of gas stations or stores that sell them or will sell them soon?
Yes, I am aware that clove cigarettes are banned in the states now, but not the cigars, which are Djarum’s way around the ban. I just heard the announcement that they will be sold in the states and was wondering where I could get them.

Generally cigar stores will have novelty smokes like Cloves. If all else fails though go to General Cigar or the Altidus web site. They can usually tell you were to find products.

Oliva Connecticut Reserve Cigar Review

How old do you have to be to buy cigars in NJ?

How old?
And what are some good, delicious, cheap cigars you can buy in a local gas station in NJ?

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Maria Mancini Cigar Tasting

UFO 1986 PHOENIX ARIZONA !! CIGAR SHAPE