CIGARS 101.BONUS: Etiquette, Myths & More...

CIGAR SHOP ETIQUETTE
Retail tobacconist stores must be rigorously maintained.  Walk-in humidors must have their temperature, humidity, air quality, and sanitary standards perfectly maintained to preserve the cigars and protect the customers that smoke them.  People walking in and out of retail walk-in humidors bring germs, dirt, and debris into the environment, so many steps must be followed to protect the cigars.  While tobacconists are responsible for maintaining their shops, customers must also act responsibly and do their part.  Below are some important rules to follow.

No Smoke In Humidor
The natural aromas of a walk-in humidor are subtle and delightful: the commingling of spanish cedar and tobacco aromas from around the world is a special treat.  Part of the reason tobacconists make their walk-ins accessible to customers is so that they can enjoy the smell of unlit, aging tobaccos.  So, do your part and refrain from smoking in the walk-in.   

Be Careful Touching & Smelling
As we learned in a previous lesson, care must be taken when touching and smelling cigars: avoid touching he head and do not let it touch your nose.  Always treat cigars you do not own with the highest sanitary standards.  

Handle With Care
Be careful when pulling cigars out of a box as the head, foot or wrappers can easily be damaged.  You might be surprised at how many cigars are ruined by careless handling; it is a significant expense to retailers.  Also, remember that tobacconists spend a lot of time organizing, straightening out and facing (making sure the bands face forward) cigars.  If you pull a cigar out of the box, make sure you return it to its proper position.  

Damaged Cigars
Cigars can be damaged during shipping or by careless customers and/or tobacconists.  Many of these are discarded or repaired and sold at a discount.  Most of the damage that occurs is purely aesthetic and will not significantly effect the smoking qualities of a cigar.  If you see a damaged cigar in the humidor, feel free to make an offer - a 25 percent discount might be a win-win for both you and the retailer.

Returning Cigars
Most retail tobacconists will not allow returns on cigars that have been taken out of the shop for a period of time.  This is because cigars are sanitary products that must be kept at proper temperature and humidity: it would be irresponsible to accept returns.  But, if you purchased several of the same cigar and found one or more to be plugged (tight or no draw), you should let the retailer know: a good retailer will do what is necessary to make it right.  However, if you want to return cigars simply because they did not suit your taste preferences, that is just part of the cost of educating your palate: don't expect retailers to accept returns just because you didn't like the cigars.   

Theft Is Real
People shoplift from cigar stores everyday!  Even a small retail tobacconist shop can lose thousands of dollars a year from shoplifting.  It is one of the most difficult challenges faced by retail tobacconists and nearly impossible to stop without creating uncomfortable customer experiences.  Do your part by not acting suspicious, not touching cigars unnecessarily and not putting your hands in and out of your pockets too much.  The snapshot below shows an elderly couple stealing over seven hundred dollars worth of cigars in less that two minutes!   

Public Cigar Cutter Rules
Cigar cutters touch the head of the cigar that will eventually touch your mouth, so they must be kept clean.  Retail tobacconists have cutters on hand for customers to use when they buy cigars, but they must also have procedures in place to keep those cutters clean.  If you are going to use a shop cutter, keep the cigar out of your mouth until you have cut the cigar.  And remember that you are well within your rights to ask your tobacconist about the sanitary procedures they use to keep their cutters clean.

CIGAR MYTHS
There is enough magic and wonder in the world of cigar making to make lies, myths and marketing exaggerations totally unnecessary.  Yet there are innumerable untruths and half-truths in the marketplace, and many of them have been propagated for decades by successful individuals and companies.  As an educated consumer we encourage you to be skeptical and continue to educate yourself from credible sources.  Below is a list of some of the most popular cigar myths you will come across. 

Virgin Thighs

Myth: In Cuba, cigars are rolled on the thighs of virgins.
Truth: This is an absurd concept that sounds interesting and amusing to some, but it is not grounded in reality. 

Cuban Seed

Myth: Cuban see equals quality.
Truth: Cuban seeds, grown inside or outside Cuba, can produce both good and bad cigars.  There are far too many variables impacting the quality of tobacco and cigars (ie. soil, climate, rain, fermentation, blending, rolling, etc...).  This myth gained traction after the American embargo on Cuba when cigar makers wanted to enhance the perceived value of their own brands by saying that Cuban seeds were being used.  To this day, many uninformed consumers visit retail tobacconists and ask for "Cuban seed" cigars, thinking that they are better.  Actually, most premium cigar seed varietals originate from Cuban seeds but have been developed and grown outside of Cuba for decades.  Ultimately, when you see "Cuban Seed" written on a box, it is probably a sign that the cigar maker has nothing better or more original to say about the product; and they are marketing to uneducated consumers.

Maduros Are Stronger

Myth: Maduro wrappers/cigars are stronger
Truth: While maduro wrappers may undergo a longer and more rigorous fermentation, they do not increase in strength or spice.  Rather, they become richer in body and a little sweeter as the sugars develop in the leaf.

Perfect Consistency

Myth: Perfect consistency exists.
Truth: It is impossible to create a perfectly consistent cigar and blend from one batch to another, much less from one crop/year to another.  In addition, it is impossible to construct every cigar perfectly.  The nature of handmade cigars requires some deviation and inconsistency.  It is perfectly acceptable for handmade cigars to be a little inconsistent.  It is also okay for a cigar to burn a little crooked and require a touch-up and it is okay for cigars to taste a little different from one batch to another.  In fact, the human senses cannot taste or smell perfectly, so we wouldn't recognize perfect consistency if it were possible.

Lost & Found Tobaccos

Myth: The classic marketing story about a long lost batch of perfectly conditioned tobacco being discovered and used to create a "once in a lifetime" cigar.
Truth:  The "truth" is hard to find in this case.  Discovering the how, what, when, and where of a "re-discovered" tobacco is difficult if not impossible to prove.  And even if this very special, rare, expensive "tobacco" is used in a cigar, it could be an insignificant amount: just another marketing ploy - buyer beware!

Cuban Cigars Are "The Best"

Myth: This is the mother of all cigar myths, probably because it was true half a century ago and can occasionally seem true today.  Cuba is the birthplace of great dark air-cured tobacco seeds and cigars, but time has moved us forward.  Great tobacconists and consumers everywhere know that our current 'golden age of cigars' exists mostly because of the efforts and products created by those outside of Cuba.
Truth: Today, claiming that "I only smoke Cubans" or "Cuban cigars are the best" is merely a personal preference as opposed to objective fact.  Aficionados, connoisseurs and tobacconists know that taste is subjective. 

Spanish Cedar Is Necessary

Myth: Humidors and cigar boxes need to be lined with Spanish Cedar.  
Truth: Spanish Cedar is not necessary.  It was historically and geographically convenient and practical for cigar box and humidor construction.  While it may be a valid taste and aroma preference, it is not required.  

Cigar Licking

Myth: A cigar should be thoroughly licked/wet-down before being smoked.
Truth: This practice was common a century ago when humidification was not as accurate and consistent as it is today.  Wetting a dry cigar/wrapper would help keep the cigar from unraveling, but it is not necessary when smoking a well-conditioned cigar. 

 Angled Cut

Myth: Cutting the cap/head of a cigar on an angle helps aim the smoke directly to the palate and enhances the taste.
Truth: In contrast to the perfect cut, an angled cut jeopardizes the integrity of the cigar head and may lead to it unraveling.  In addition, a mouth filled with smoke will taste the smoke, whether it is aimed at the tongue or not.  

Self-Sharpening Cutter

Myth: Some double guillotine cigar cutters are said to sharpen themselves.
Truth: This is false.  The physics of metal sharpening have nothing in common with the way double guillotines function.

Packaging Equals Quality

Myth: It is natural to equate beauty with quality.
Truth: Many cigars with simple packaging are extraordinary, and many cigars have extraordinary packing that is not commensurate with the product.  The cigar industry pioneered artistic, intricate, and luxurious packaging concepts, in part, because the products look like commodities without distinguished packaging and branding.  But, extraordinary packaging says nothing about the actual quality of a product.

Strength Equals Body

Myth: Full-bodied cigars are strong.  Strong cigars are full-bodied.
Truth: A cigar can have a full body, characterized by depth and breadth of flavor (i.e. richness, earthiness), and not be strong.  Strength relates to nicotine intensity and can refer to spice levels (i.e. strong spice), but not necessarily profound, rich, or full flavors.  

Flavored Cigars Are Made To Attract Children

Myth: If you believe the FDA, flavored and infused cigars are made to attract underage smokers.
Truth: Nothing could be further from the truth.  While the FDA claims that flavored and infused cigars are an attempt to lure underage smokers, the cigar industry has no such interest.  If this were true then daiquiris, margaritas, and any sweet or fruit flavored liquors and alcoholic beverages could be accused of the same despicable goal.  The truth is that adults enjoy a wide range of flavor profiles, including chocolate, vanilla, mint, herbal, etc...

Absolutes Exist

Myth: Absolute statements like, "this is the best cigar," "this brand must age ___ months/years," "Dominican tobacco is always mild," etc...
Truth: Everything in the world of luxury tobacco depends on one or many variables.  Every batch, type, and crop of tobacco leaf is different.  There are not absolute time periods for growing, fermentation, or aging.  There are not absolute ways to quantify or qualify taste.  There are no absolutes in luxury tobacco- everything depends.


Finally, you have finished a well rounded educational journey.  Remember that romanticism plays a big part in the world of luxury tobacco, but real romance and pleasure needs no embellishment.  The actual magic and wonder of luxury tobacco is enough without the myths, hyperbole and lies.  Ultimately, enhanced appreciation requires enlightenment, which requires truth... thus, the importance of education.

Click below if you would like to continue learning...

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Certified Cigar Reviews

Top 10 Dumbest of 2014

That's correct, you read it right; here is the top 10 list of the dumbest things said in the premium tobacco industry in 2014.  The issues, comments, and ideas listed here were found on social media, youtube, and throughout the internet.  We are not linking to the stupid comments or directly pointing fingers because we don't want to hurt someone's business or propagate more negativity.  But, these idiotic comments need to be isolated and destroyed before they infect more consumers and retail tobacconists.  The purpose of this list is to emphasize accuracy, acknowledge opinion vs. fact, and keep people "honest".  There are so many pontificators, loud mouths, and strongly opinionated people who are wrong, yet the internet gives them a platform to spew their nonsense.  We are here to dispel the rumors, lies and myths!  If you want a top 10 cigar list, go elsewhere... we believe taste is subjective, and apparently stupidity is an epidemic...


10.  Ashtrays Must Be Brass
Huh? What?  A recent facebook post recently emphasized how "all" ashtrays in the 1950s were made of brass and that was obviously the only material an ashtray should be made of.  Firstly, ashtrays were made from innumerable materials even as far back as the 1950s and there is no scientific or aesthetic reason for ashtrays being exclusively made of brass... just some knuckleheads pretending that their opinions are facts. 

9.  Swisher Will Destroy Drew Estate
That's unlikely, given that the people at Swisher are obviously very smart and they are buying a company for their inventory, organization, and product portfolio.  So many naysayers and fan-boys are up in arms because a big company bought another big company, but this does not predict the end times... relax people... only time will tell... But I bet the resources at Swisher will help Drew Estate continue to do what it does even better than they did it before.

8.  Must Use Matches or Cedar Spills
'Only use butane lighters when its windy, anything else would be uncivilized!'  Use whatever you want, except the liquid fuel lighters... and make sure you let the chemicals burn off the match when you light it.  Anybody saying Matches and Spills are necessary is a pompous dilettante.

7.  The Era of the $500 Cigar Has Arrived
Let's not get crazy people... Davidoff introduced a $500 cigar and they have the marketing clout to move it ( I guess), but this is not a trend... more of a marketing/public relations tactic... after all, we are talking about it. 

6.  Smoking a Cigarette in a Smokey Cigar Lounge Will Ruin Cigar Smell
The physics of this just don't add up... this nonsense was in an article about how to annoy people in a cigar shop.  Clearly the author was a cigar snob, cigarette hating, pontificator...  By the time a few cigars are lit up in a retail tobacconist, it is impossible to discern between them, much less the tiny bit of smoke emitted by a cigarette.

5.  Saturate Your Humidor With Water To Season It
This is an old but perpetual piece of bad advice.  Saturating the humidor puts it at risk to damage the joints!!! Don't do it.  Take your time with a humidifier, refill the humidifier every few days, and be patient... everything should be fine in a week or so: you shouldn't rush the process.

4.  And the #1 Cigar Is...
More marketing hype... taste is subjective... but advertising sales are quantifiable...  At least there are people and organizations in the marketplace acknowledging that their top 10/25 lists are subjective... kudos for being honest.

3.  Don't Hold Your Cigar Like A Cigarette
Holding a cigar between your forefinger and middle finger is wrong: at least that's what a blogger article stated.  Well, that's just plain stupid and I don't know a cigar maker who would agree.  Feel free to hold your cigars however you want... do what is comfortable and makes you happy!

2.  Mold vs. Plume
This year we saw a video with thousands of views on youtube with two morons staring at moldy cigars and salivating over the "Plume".  If you want good advice and education, don't get it from a couple of guys in a video who live in their grandmothers basement and claim to be experts.  Full Disclosure: we did try to find the video to link to it here because it was clearly a health hazard, but it has been removed... thankfully!

1.  Cuban Cigars Are Coming To The U.S. Soon
Hold your horses amigo... the Cuban embargo has been in place over 50 years... Don't expect "change" to come that quick.  Even if imports from Cuba were allowed immediately, they couldn't keep up with demand and the quality would become worse than it is!  


And the moral of the story is, don't be an idiot and believe everything you read on the internet...  If you want good information and education, make sure you are getting it from a credible source and don't be afraid to ask questions!   If you are looking for a qualified, substantive, and certified tobacconist, look no further than here.  And here is a list of other Cigar Myths...

Jorge L. Armenteros, CMT
President & Founder
Tobacconist University

Cigar Myths

 

 

There is enough magic and wonder in the world of cigar making and luxury tobacco, that lies, myth, and marketing exaggerations are totally unnecessary. But that would not seem the case since there are innumerable untruths in the marketplace and many of them have been propagated for decades by successful individuals and companies. Perhaps this is the case because marketers have determined what information consumers receive. Or because there has never been a credible institution dedicated to teaching, learning, and researching the impressive truths of our industry; but the days of biased romanticism and exaggeration should be coming to a close. Tobacconist University is committed to teaching the truth about our industry, not duping customers into brand loyalty and ignorant misconceptions.

 

  

Great cigars and luxury tobaccos are practically miracles in their own right. Our products take more collective skills and longer to create than great works of art, architecture, and furniture, yet their destiny is to be combusted and return to dust. Our products need no exaggeration to be fully appreciated; only to be honestly represented. The following is a list of cigar/tobacco myths which retail Tobacconists hear every day. In our efforts to enhance consumer appreciation, we must help enlighten our customers, not B.S. them.

 

     

Virgin Thighs

  

Myth: In Cuba, cigars are rolled on the thighs of virgins.

  

Truth: This is an absurd concept which sounds interesting and amusing to some, but is not grounded in reality.

  

Cuban Seed  

Myth: Cuban Seed = Quality

  

Truth: Cuban Seeds, grown inside or outside of Cuba, can produce both good and bad cigars. There is no direct correlation between product quality and Cuban Seeds. There are far too many variables impacting the quality of tobacco and cigars, like soil, climate, rain, fermentation, blending, rolling, etc… This myth was started after the American embargo on Cuba when cigar makers wanted to enhance the perceived value and quality of their own brands.

 

      
Body = Strength
  
Myth: The body and strength of a cigar are the same and/or related.
  
Truth: Body, in terms of flavor (taste+aroma) profile, does not necessarily correlate with the Strength of a cigar.  Strength refers to nicotine potency or the intensity of spice – two separate factors.  Body is a flavor descriptor which can refer to the depth, breadth, and richness of a tobacco (flavor).   So, a strong cigar can be medium bodied, while a full-bodied cigar can be mild or medium strength.  As an example, imagine that chicken has a mild body, while beef has a richer body, yet both can be spicy/strong, depending on how they are seasoned.

Refrigerate Cigars
  
Myth: Keeping cigars in your household refrigerator will keep them “fresh” (or optimally conditioned).
  
Truth: Refrigerators are far too dry to keep cigars optimally conditioned and the more humid “crisper” drawer is also inadequate.

Spanish Cedar Necessary

  

Myth: Humidors and Cigar boxes need to be lined with Spanish Cedar.

  
Truth: Spanish Cedar is not necessary. It was historically and geographically convenient and practical. While it may be a valid taste+aroma preference, it is not required.
 
Cigar Licking

  

Myth: An entire cigar should be thoroughly licked/wet-down before being smoked.

  
Truth: This practice was common a century ago when humidification was not as accurate and consistent as it is today. Wetting the wrapper would help keep the cigar from unravelling, but it is not necessary when smoking a well conditioned cigar.
 
Angled Cut

  

Myth: Some people claim that cutting the cap/head of a cigar on an angle helps aim the smoke directly to the palate and enhances taste.

  

Truth: In contrast to a Perfect Cut, an angled cut jeopardizes the integrity of the cigar head and may lead to it unravelling. In addition, a mouth filled with smoke will taste the smoke, whether it is aimed at the tongue or not. The other down side of an angled cut is that the heat of the combusted cigar will be aimed directly at the tongue.

  

Self Sharpening Cutter

  

Myth: Some Double Guillotines are believed to sharpen themselves.

   

Truth: This is untrue; the physics of metal sharpening have nothing in common with the way Double Guillotines function.

 

Packaging = Quality

  

Myth: It is natural to perceive and equate beauty with quality; this is a natural human trait.

  

Truth: Many cigars with the simple packaging are extraordinary and many cigars have extraordinary packaging which is not commensurate with the product.

 

Strength = Body

  

Myth: Full-Bodied cigars are Strong. And Strong cigars must be Full-Bodied.

  

Truth: A cigar can have a Full-Body and not be Strong. Strength relates to Nicotine intensity and Spice, but not necessarily profound flavor.

 

Cigars Attract Hot Women

  

Myth: While sexuality is used by many companies to lure customers to their products, this usually has nothing to do with the actual product. There are many companies that advertise and promote their cigars with attractive and/or scantily clad women – the implication being that ‘these cigars attract women like this’.

  

Truth: Using sex and sexuality to sell cigars may get attention or momentarily make the product seem to taste better (see Emotional Taste Perception), but the effect is short lived.

 

    

Absolutes Depend
   

Myth: “This is the Best Cigar”, “This brand must age _____ months/years” and any other Absolute Statements are typically wrong in the world of luxury tobacco.

 

Truth: Everything in the world of luxury tobacco DEPENDS on one variable or another. Every batch, type, and crop of tobacco leaf is different. There are no Absolute time periods for growing, fermentation, or aging. There are no Absolute ways to quantify or qualify taste. There are absolutely no Absolutes in luxury tobacco: Everything Depends…

 

Maduros Are Stronger
  

Myth: Dark Maduro wrappers give consumers the impression that Maduro cigars are stronger.

  

Truth: While Maduros undergo a longer Fermentation, they do not increase in strength, rather they become richer and a little sweeter, as the sugars develop.

 

Perfect Consistency
  
Myth: Perfect Consistency Exists.
  
Truth: It is impossible to create a perfectly consistent cigar and blend from one batch to another, much less from one crop/year to another. In addition, it is impossible to construct every cigar perfectly. The nature of handmade cigars requires some deviation. It is OK for a cigar to burn a little crooked and for cigars to taste a little different from batch to batch. In fact, the human senses cannot taste or smell perfectly, so we would not even recognize Perfect Consistency if it were possible.

Perfect Consistency is more likely to be found in the wine and/or spirits industry where the final product is a liquid. Liquids are much easier to measure, rate, and blend, so the final product is more likely to be consistent.

Lost & Found [Cuban] Tobaccos
  

Myth: The classic marketing story about a long lost batch of perfectly conditioned tobacco being discovered and used to create a ‘once in a lifetime’ cigar.

  

Truth: The ‘Truth’ is hard to find in this case. Discovering the how, what, when, and where of a ‘re-discovered’ tobacco is difficult, if not impossible to prove.

 

Cuban Cigars Are “The Best”

  

This is the mother of all cigar myths, probably because it was true decades ago and can occasionally seem true today. Cuba is the birthplace of great tobaccos, seeds, and cigars, but time has moved us forward. Great Tobacconists and Consumers everywhere know that our ‘Cigar Renaissance’ exists mostly because of the efforts and products created by those outside of Cuba. Today, claiming that ‘I only smoke Cubans’ or ‘Cuban cigars are the best’ is the last bastion of ignorance, uneducated pompousness, or extreme prejudice; and of course, taste is subjective.

 

 

 

Romanticism plays a big part in the world of luxury tobacco. It is a romantic process to smoke a great cigar; sitting back watching the smoke, smelling the aromas, tasting the notes of flavor, and savoring your time. Luxury tobacco is inherently sensual and romantic. But real romance and pleasure need no embellishment. And the actual magic and wonder of luxury tobacco is enough, without the myths and lies. Enhanced appreciation requires Enlightenment, and that requires The Truth.