Bourbon & Broadleaf: 3 Simple Things to Look For In A Cigar

Oct. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- “Just Because a Cigar Has A Nice Artwork On The Label, Doesn’t Mean it is a Winner” - Me, Just Now, Circa 2013

This may be a very simple concept, but you would be surprised how many people choose a cigar because they like the ‘cool logo’ or graphic design on the label.  Now I will be honest, I use to be like that and still am attracted to the artwork every so often.  That being said, I now know what to look for when I am deciding on the perfect smoke for the occasion now.  Try to push that notion aside and find a good smoke but using these three rules below.
Next time you are in a smoke shop be sure to look for the these three things:

Touch

A good cigar should have give.  You should be able to press down on it and it should give a little.  It should not be too firm or too soft.  Find that middle ground.  The one that has a little of both has been kept at 70/70 , and that is your cigar.

Quick Tip: Roll the cigar slowly in the palm of your hand. It should have a solid feel and give just a little.

Look

A good cigar should not be unraveling or falling a part.  All of the leafs should be attached together in close proximity.  Also, there should not be any and I mean ANY spots or blemishes on the cigar what-so-ever.  These spots can be bacteria or mold festering on the leaf due to the cigar not being maintained well.  If you see one cigar like that in a box don’t choose any. All of those cigars are now infected and will cause sickness.

Quick Tip: You want a cigar to have a greasy, solid, smooth look.  That is how you know it will be worth your wild.

Taste

Perhaps the most important part of all three, the taste.  If the cigar tastes like nothing but heat and your lips are burning throw it out.  This cigar has been constructed too loose.  If the cigar is not allowing the fire to reach the tobacco when you are lighting it, this means it has been rolled way too tight. You can find this out by ‘punching’ or cutting a hole at the proper end of the cigar and breathing through it before you light it. This will let you know how the ‘draw’ or the amount of smoke you breath out will be. If you can taste the all of the notes in the smoke when you ‘pull’ or breathe that is how you know you have a fine cigar.

Other things to keep in mind:
If the cigar keeps going out or canoeing (when the cigar burns too much to one side) this means the cigar was not rolled well.  These cigar can still be salvaged and enjoyed, this is just something else to think about.

Remember, this has nothing to do with any of the three but it is important to know that price does not matter!  I have had $6 cigars that run circles around $25 cigars.  Find the one that reaches out to you.