Now I love pairing cigars with port, scotch, aged rum, and some beer styles – but I rarely have paired them with bourbon.  No reason in particular, I just haven’t.  Well I tried this tonight with a Davidoff Colorado Claro and woo! what a pair!  The woodiness of both the cigar and bourbon paired perfectly.  Also towards the end of the cigar, the cocoa and anise flavors were really intensified by the bourbon.

Here’s the tasting info provided with my sample:

Four Roses Single Barrel (100 proof)

A premium Single Barrel Bourbon with a taste that begs to be savored again and again. Its taste is complex, full bodied and surprisingly smooth with a delicate long finish that is unbelievably mellow. Contains hints of ripe plum and cherry tastes with fruity, spicy aromas including maple syrup and cocoa. Drink straight up or on the rocks.

Nose: Fruity, spicy, floral, cocoa, maple syrup, moderately woody. Palate: Hints of ripe plum & cherries, robust, full body, mellow. Finish: Smooth & delicately long. Size: 750ml

SRP: $35.99- $39.99

Thanks again for the sample, guys!

Original

70's Style!

Oooooo…!

PS – yes, that’s a pre-release of the new LGC Artesanos de Tabaqueros.  It has a split wrapper – Connecticut Shade for the first third (foot end) and an Ecuadorian Sumatra for the last 2/3rds.  It was surprisingly good!

A: Grow it in Ecuador!

OK, call it in – it’s over.  I can guarantee one of the hottest cigars of the year will feature a Ecuadorian wrapper.  Why?  Because it seems that EVERY new cigar has a Ecuadorian wrapper on it!

So what’s so magical about this little country and it’s wrapper leaf?

Map of Ecuador (Source Worldtravels.com)

Well, geographically, it’s the only wrapper growing country in South America (can’t count Brazil, yet).  The DR, Honduras and Nicaragua are all very close together and around 15 degrees north of the Equator.  While Ecuador, is well, right on the Equator.  You may ask about Cameroon and Indonesia, and both are close to or on the Equator, the climate is much different.  Ecuador is very temperate (more than you think) and almost always covered in light cloud.  So a lot of the wrapper leaf that needs to be shade grown in other regions can thrive without a cloth cover in Ecuador.  This causes the leaf to pick up extra sun, and provide a richer and more flavorful leaf.  It also has 32 active volcanoes in its borders, and ash makes GREAT fertilizer.  Here’s a great old article from CA about Ecuador.

Ecuador IS evolution.  From the Galapagos islands (where Charles Darwin was first inspired about the the Theory of Evolution) to the volcanic hillsides, there really is something special about this country.  Much like the iguanas, penguins and turtles of the Galapagos Islands evolved to their habitat, maybe wrapper leaf has evolved in the soil  Ecuador.

The Galapagos

Top Wrapper Leaves of Ecuador

1.  Habano – La Flor Salomones and Air Bender

2.  Connecticut (recently dethroned) – anything Davidoff or Avo

3.  Sun Grown (really just cloud grown) – Sun Grown really isn’t a varietal and can be from a variety, but it is a designation indicating a more intense flavor.  Try Ashton VSG and AVO Companero.

4.  Sumatra/Sumatra Oscuro – try LFD Double Ligero and EP Carillo

Frank Llaneza and the Oliva Tobacco family really got Ecuadorian leaf on the map.  Ernesto Perez-Carillo, of La Gloria Dominicana fame, used it to help entrench himself as one of the master blenders of our time.  The Fuentes have used Ecuadorian leaf in their Sun Grown and in the Newman’s Diamond Crown Maximus lines – and you can’t forget the Ashton VSG.  The Davidoff group uses it in just about every cigar they make!

Tobacco fields in Ecuador

For me my love affair with Ecuador began with Oettinger Davidoff.  In the early 2000′s, they stopped buying Connecticut wrapper from the Connecticut Valley and started procuring it from Ecuador.  It had a little deeper color and just a bit more flavor and pizazz.  For a while Ecuador was known as the best place for Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf.  Then came others.

Litto Gomez of La For Dominicana began to buy Sumatran leaf from Ecuador and used it in his Ligero and Double Ligero lines.  The Sumatran leaf had a taste very unique for this varietal, it was richer, sweeter and spicier with a beautiful oily sheen.

I asked Litto Gomez what made wrapper leaf so exceptional when it’s grown in Ecuador.  He said,

I started to use Ecuadorian wrappers nine years ago on our Ligero line. The reason is that I was impressed with the sweetness and texture of it.

I know that the weather is just perfect to grow wrappers [in Ecuador] because is very mild and cloudy and the temperature is also mild and that is why these wrappers have such a beautiful texture and colour.  The soil [also] seems to have the right content because of how sweet Ecuadorian wrappers are.

I can tell you that any wrapper grown any where in the world,will taste sweeter and look better when is grown in Ecuador.

But for me, the coup de grace was with the Habano wrapper.  The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is most likely a hybrid of the ill-fated Habano 2000 varietal and has received a 2nd life growing in this little country.  With the success of the Salamones, Litto began to put the Habano leaf in more and more of his lines.  The new Habano Perfecto and Double Press cigars as well as the great new Air Bender line.  In fact, in light of the quality issues with Connecticut Broadleaf, Litto will be incorporating Habano Maduro wrappers in to all of his Maduro wrapped lines this year.

But that’s just the beginning!

Cloudy Ecuador

Last year began the trend; from La Flor,to Pepin Garcia (Tabacos Baez), to CAO (Gold Vintage and La Traviata), to Padilla (Cazadores) and to Tatuaje (Ambus Mundos and Boris LE).  This year already has a bunch of new releases featuring a wrapper from Ecuador.

Here’s the list as of February of this year:

El Triunfador

LFD Air Bender

Quesada Tributo

…and  that’s just the beginning!

So is wrapper from Ecuador really better than other wrapper leaf?  Yes and no.  More importantly it’s “hot”.  Just as Nicaraguan wrapper was all the rage for most of the last decade, this is just the new direction the market is going in.  And if someone makes a great cigar, everyone will try to follow suit.

So you just wait!  This year, and maybe even this decade, will be all about Ecuador!

Viva Ecuador!

“Do you see how this land is?  It’s just very good land.” – John Oliva, Jr. [Cigar Aficionado March/April 2000]

San Rafael Falls, Ecuador

Filed under: Cigar Musings Tagged: Arturo Fuente, Ashton, AVO, Davidoff, Ecuador, Ecuadorian Connecticut, Ecuadorian Habano, Ecuadorian Sumatra, Ecuadorian Sun Grown, La Flor Dominicana, La Gloria Cubana, Litto Gomez ]]> http://zencigar.com/2010/02/22/2010-the-year-of-the-ecuadorian-wrapper/feed/ 7 sprenj01 ecuador_map2 islas-galapagos [Source: flordegonzalez.com] scenic-view-of-volcanoes-and-green-fields-on-the-way-to-otavalo-north-of-quito-ecu126 san-rafael-falls-quijos-river-amazon-ecuador http://zencigar.com/2009/10/12/i-want-this/ http://zencigar.com/2009/10/12/i-want-this/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:13:05 +0000 sprenj01 http://zencigar.com/?p=1902 ]]> It’s only $47,000.

S. T. Dupont Vandom Pink Gold Lighter

And if you were wondering, yes those are diamonds, 192 of them.  Learn more.

Below is an excerpt from an article on the two from Cigar Aficionado:

La Flor Dominicana burst on the scene in the middle of the 1990s cigar boom. Known first as Los Libertadores, the brand was met with the same skepticism that most of the other new brands encountered, both in the marketplace and among industry old-timers. But something changed very quickly.

The attitudes of the owners, the husband-and-wife team of Litto Gomez and Ines Lorenzo-Gomez, were clear from the start: they wanted to learn about the business and about cigars. Instead of copying the behavior of some of the newcomers, which might charitably be called arrogant, Gomez and Lorenzo-Gomez buckled down, spending time with some of the wisest people in the cigar business. They moved carefully, growing slowly and methodically as they acquired more expertise, better tobacco inventories and, finally, their own factory.

Senor Litto Gomez

Recently the brand has undergone a face lift.  The name on the bands has been shortened to LFD with a darker red background.  Below is a list of the regular lines, special sizes and limited editions from Litto and Ines.

La Flor Dominicana Premium Line – This is the flagship of the LFD brand, appearing in 1994.  The Premium Line added the tag “Premium Line” a few years back.  Prior to that it was just the regular line.

• LFD Premium Line – available in 5 sizes with a Connecticut Shade wrapper.  This is the mildest in the in the brand.

LFD Premium Line

• LFD Premium Line Gran Maduro – available in 3 sizes with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.  Don’t let this cigar fool you, it’s got some punch!

LFD Premium Line Gran Maduro

• LFD Premium Line Gran Maduro Cabinet – unbanded in 3 sizes with a first priming Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.

LFD Gran Maduro Cabinet

La Flor Dominicana Reserva Especial – this is probably my favorite line in the brand, it’s perfect for every occasion and the El Jocko’s are amazing.

• LFD Reserva Especial – available in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

LFD Reserva Especial

• LFD Reserva Especial Culebra – all three cigars feature a Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper.
• LFD Reserva Especial Culebra Maduro – one natural and 2 maduro wrapped cigars.
• LFD Reserva Espeicial Culebra Gordo – all three cigars in this larger culebra have a Cameroon wrapper.
• LFD Reserva Especial Culebra Lanceros - super hard to find, this features a weave of a Natural, Oscuro and Cameroon lancero!
• LFD Reserva Especial El Jocko – available  in either Ecuadorian Connecticut or Connecticut Broadleaf.  One of my favorite smokes.  These always deliver!

LFD El Jocko

• LFD Reserva Especial Billy Club – an exclusive cigar for Jack Schwartz Importers this is the big brother to the El Jocko available in a Broadleaf wrapper.

LFD Reserva Especial Billy Club

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender – a salute to kung fu movies, Litto’s latest creation is strong, balanced and air-bendy!

• LFD Air Bender – available in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Cameroon Cabinet – Debuted in 2007.  Another one of my faves.  If you love Cameroons, you have to try this cigar!

• LFD Cameroon Cabinet – available in 4 sizes with a Cameroon Ligero wrapper.  The spiciest Cammie on the market.

LFD Cameroon Cabinet

La Flor Dominicana Habano – a weird line in different sizes featuring Litto’s new obsession – the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

• LFD Double Press – a heavily box-pressed cigar with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

• LFD Perfecto Habano – once the mystery cigar in the Perfecto sampler, you can now buy this any ole time with a, you guessed it, Habano wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Ligero – debuting in 2001, this line really began the swing for stronger LFD cigars.

• LFD Ligero – available in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.

LFD Ligero

• LFD Ligero Cabinet Oscuro – debuting in 2007, these strong cigars are available in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper.

LFD Ligero Cabinet

• LFD Ligero Mysterio – these amazing cigars appeared in 2006 and have Oscuro tips surrounding an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper.

Mysterio

• LFD Ligero Mysterio Oscuro – this variant of the Mysterio has Ecuadorian Sumatran tips surrounding an Oscuro wrapper in 2007.

Mysterio Oscuro

• LFD Liger0 Carajos – these tiny firecrackers appeared in 2008 and are available in a neat box of six with an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper.

LFD Ligero Carajos

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero – in 2003, these powerhouses changed the what it meant to call a cigar “strong”.  Smoke these on a full stomach!

• LFD Double Ligero – these very very full bodied cigars are available in 7 sizes with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.

LFD Double Ligero

• LFD  Double Ligero Maduro - available in 3 sizes with a darker Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper.
• LFD Double Ligero Oscuro – available in two sizes (the A and the Especiales) with an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper.
• LFD Double Ligero Lancero – these super hard to find cigars are available in either a Ecuadorian Sumatran or Ecuadorian Sumatran Oscuro wrapper.  There is also a rarer Cameroon wrapped Lancero, and it is fantastic!

LFD Double Ligero Lancero

• LFD Double Ligero The Hammer – this special box=pressed toro is only available at Holt’s with an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Little Cigars – little cigars when you have little time!

• LFD Daiquiri - these little cigars are available in either a Ecuadorian or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
• LFD Mojitos - these little cigars are available in a Cameroon wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana 2000 Series – this line featured a spicy Cameroon wrapper.  It has been discontinued.

• LFD 2000 Series – this discontinued line was available in 10 sizes with a Cameroon wrapper.

La Flor Dominicana Tubos - introduced in 2001, this used to be a separate line but is now part of the Reserva Especial line.

• LFD Tubos – available in two sizes with an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper.

LFD Tubos

Coronado by La Flor – a whole new line for the Gomez’.  This received a new branding due to it’s Nicaraguan wrapper, which is picked from the top most leaf of the plant.

• Coronado by La Flor – available in 5 big sizes with a Nicaraguan wrapper.

Coronado by La Flor

• Coronado by La Flor Lancero – this limited edition size is only available at a few stores.
• Coronado by La Flor The Hammer – this box-pressed beauty is a Holt’s exclusive.

LG Diez – just when you thought Litto couldn’t make a stronger cigar, in 2004 out came the LG Diez celebrating 10 years of cigars.

• LG Diez – the classic Diez line, available in 5 sizes, including the chisel, a Dominican puro with a super rich Dominican wrapper.

LG Diez

• LG Diez Vintage 2008 – Litto has changed things up a bit.  the Diez will now be introduced in Vintage lines.  The 2008 blend is  much smoother than the old Diez.

LG Diez Vintage 2008

• LG Diez Vintage 2009 – Even smoother than the ’08s.  Try the Americano.
• LG Diez Maduro – super limited version with a Dominican Maduro wrapper.  Only available in the Americano size.
• LG Diez Oscuro – a limited release with a Dominican Oscuro wrapper.
• LG Diez Galego – a limited edition size (6″x60) made exclusively for the Davidoff, NY stores.

“]

[Source: michaelherklots.blogspot.com

• LG Diez Small Batch No. 1 – woof!  This super-strong cigar featured all 2002 crop tobacco.

LG Diez Small Batch No. 1

• LG Diez Small Batch No. 2 – The wrapper is Sumatra Seed grown in the Dominican Republic. Litto personally goes over the selection process and picks only the best-of-the-best tobaccos for his Small Batch cigars. The new version’s production is at 30,000 cigars coming in cabinets of 105. That means about 285 boxes available world wide. This might be one of the most stomach-turning cigars I have ever smoked!

La Flor Dominicana Limited Editions – plenty of cool LEs from Litto!

• Face-Off - one of my all time favorite concept cigars.  This was a little bet between Litto and Christian Eiroa of Camacho cigars to see if the other could make a better cigars from his competitors tobacco.  Each man was sent the other enough tobacco to make 50,000 cigars. Each mixed in a bit of his own leaf to make a new version of the others brand, resulting in a Camacho by Litto Gomez and a La Flor Dominicana by Eiroa. There will be one size, 5 3/4 inches long by 50 ring gauge.  These cigars were awesome and got even better with age.  The Camacho by Litto was way better than Christian’s La Flor.  Good luck finding one.

• LFD El Museo – a special LE charity cigar w/ an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.  A wonderful, if not pricy cigar.

• LFD Factory Press I – these huge box-pressed cigars featured a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
• LFD Factory Press II – this big boy featured a natural Nicaraguan Oscuro wrapper.

LFD FP II

• LFD Factory Press III – the most recent FP featured a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.

LFD FP III

• LFD Limitado I - not sure this even existed, I cannot find reference to it anywhere.
• LFD Limitado II – available in three sizes with an Ecuadorian Sumatran Oscuro wrapper.

Limitado II

• LFD Limitado III – this cigar was available in 2008 with a Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.

Limitado III

• LFD Limitado IV – for 2009 this will feature a Nicaraguan wrapper.
• LFD Salamone - this cigar has so much potential it’s crazy.  Not very cheap but features an aged Habano-seed wrapper.

LFD Salamone

• LFD Los Perfectos Sampler – in 2008, the special release sampler hit stores and featured a special shaped perfect in the Ligero, Double Ligero and Coronado lines.  It also included 2 prototype cigars, the details of the blend are top secret.  I have smoked the prototype and its one of Litto’s best blends ever!

Los Perfectos Sampler

• OVTC 35th Anniversary Toro - made exclusively for the Old Virginia Tobacco Company’s 35th Anniversary party.
• The Cheroot – a special release, once available only from Litto himself, you can now find these at Empire Cigars in Raleigh, NC.  This tiny rustic cigar is ALL ligero.  From Litto’s farm.  Buckle up, Buttercup.

THE Cheroot

Feel free to add you thoughts and comments in the comment section!

I have separated the vitolas into two sections, parejos and figurados (shaped cigars).  Habanos had all of the sizes arranged by ring gauge, but I am rearranging them by length.

I am also including only length in inches and ring gauge.  I live in the US, so the metric measurements don’t do anything for me (although I know some of you die-hard Habanophiles will disagree).  I did have to include them when sizes differed by a few millimeters.  Oddly the Marevas and Petit Coronas are identical evenly in Metric.  I can only speculate that the two are included separately because the size is called different names in different factories.

Old Upmann Factory

The Domestic Cigar size chart is located here.

This was last updated as of January 2009.

Cuban Size Chart

Parejos – standard cigar shape, includes box-pressed and pigtails

Vitolas                            Length (in)  Ring Gauge

Figurados – shaped cigars

Vitolas                          Length (in)    Ring Gauge        Type

Ring Gauge Chart

Domestically the number of shapes and sizes is a lot simpler compared with the complex Cuban Size Chart.  There are fewer shapes because there generally is an accepted range for each size.  Manufacturers don’t always hold true to the sizes and shapes when they name their cigars.  Often times a size called a Toro by the manufacturer may actually be a Grand Corona.

Various Cigar Shapes

The table below is neat and simple.  There are 21 shapes (vitolas) listed and unlike the Cuban Shape List, it includes a range of length and ring gauge for each size.  I have seen some cigars fall outside of the ranges below, but this is a great generalized list.  Source: Perleman’s CigarCyclopedia

Shape                                  Length     Ring Gauge       Length Range       Ring Range

At first I thought this would be an easy enough task.  Just list the range in cigar shapes and sizes.  But the more I thought of this, the more work it became.  But that’s okay.  I want to bring you the reader (all three of you) a comprehensive list of shapes and sizes from both the Domestic and International markets.

I’ll start with general shapes and sizes.  I will also discuss more of the unique shapes and sizes available.  I also at the bottom of the page have linked size charts I created for both the Domestic and International markets.  The sources I used for these charts were Perleman’s CigarCyclopedia and Habanos, SA.

Shapes

Parejo – a cigar with a cylindrical body and straight sides, basically a “normal” looking cigar.

Parejo

Parejos can also have a pigtail cap.  There are often found on lanceros for some reason.  The Cuban Trinidad line has all sizes finished with a pigtail cap.

Pigtail Cap

Also, parejos may be box-pressed, to even such extremes as wafer thin, and even may be triangle-pressed.

Box-Pressed

Figurado – a cigar with a non-standard shape.  There are several basic styles to figurados.  They will be listed below.  The sky is the limit on figurados, a lot of manufactureres like to tap into their rollers creativity in creating a myriad of shapes from pipe-shaped cigars to baseball bat and chili pepper shaped cigars.  (Check out vitolas.net for an array of funky shapes and sizes)

• Torpedo (Belicoso) – The most popular of shaped cigars, the torpedo is simply a parejo with a pointed head.  A torpedo may also be box-pressed.

Torpedo

• Pyramid – The most misnamed of all the shapes.  A pyramid is tapered from head to foot.  Many manufacturers and smokers falsely name torpedoes as pyramids.

Pyramid

• Perfecto – A perfecto is narrow at the head and foot (usually to a point at both ends) and bulbous in the middle.  Odd variations of the perfecto look like a snake has swallowed a mouse.

Perfecto

Egg-shaped perfecto

• Diadema/Salamone (Presidente) – basically a parejo or a perfecto with a closed foot.  Domestically diademas and salamones are most bulbous closest to the foot just prior to the closed tip of the foot.

Diadema

• Culebra – three intertwined cigars tied together at both ends by twine or string.  Culebras have an interesting back story as they are growing in popularity and currently are used in higher end cigars but were initially used to ensure that rollers, who were allotted three cigars a day to take home, were not taking any extra with them.  The cigars were rolled together so that they would be recognizable outside of the factory.  Any rollers smoking a parejo would then be guilty of theft.

Culebra

• Chisel – I’ve added this size in honor of Litto Gomez who is a true innovator in the industry.  The chisel has a head like a torpedo but is pressed in a way that resembles… a chisel.

Chisel

The links below will direct you to the Domestic and Cuban Size Charts for Parejos and Figurados.

Non-Cuban (Domestic) Size chart

Cuban (International) Size Chart

Cigar Cutters – unless you are smoking Phillies Blunts, you need to cut your cigar.

• Teeth – just because you have them, does not mean you should use them for biting off the tip of a cigar. Please, we’re civilized here.

• Single Blade Guillotine – a single blade like the one used on Marie Antoinette, but smaller. The sharper the better, I prefer the Paul Garmirian guillotine myself (although I am limited to cutting on 48 ring gauge cigars or smaller). You can find these in hand or tabletop versions.

• Double Blade Guillotine – Two blades are better than one? Not always. If you buy a cheapo, you’ll get a couple of months out of it at best, and then you’ll be chewing on tobacco from the butchered end of your cigar. I am a big fan of the Palio cutter. Its two blades are on a slide, so that they don’t deflect when they hit the cigar so that you get a nice straight cut.

• Scissors – Special scissors with shaped blades to fit the head of a cigar. Scissors take skill to use and are not for the beginner. I’ve never been able to use these well. Hal Rubin at Empire Cigars is a big fan of them. His scissors are from Xikar.

• Punches - A punch cut cores out a hole in the cap without damaging the cap. This is my preferred method. The only drawback is that you increase the likelihood of tar build-up in a wetter cigar and sometimes you will not be able to use it with a cigar that draws tight. If I get build-up, I just cut it with a guillotine cutter. I use a punch cutter from Xikar, it screws out an in and so it clears the cylinder of tobacco for you; it is also supposedly self-sharpening.

• Wedge or “V” Cutters – A cross between a cut and a punch. Instead of cutting off the whole cap, you cut out a wedge in the middle. This would be the best of both worlds, but I have never found a wedge cutter sharp enough so that it doesn’t mangle the cap. You can find these in hand or tabletop versions.

Cigar Lighters – unless you have super powers, you’ll need a flame.

• Matches – the cheapest and simplest. There are special cigar matches that are thicker and longer.
• Candles – Candles can light a cigar, but never should as the chemicals and junk in the wick will ruin the taste of your cigar.
• Propane Lighters – DO NOT USE THESE FOR CIGARS! If you have your favorite Zippo case, they now make a conversion kit to make it a butane torch.
• Flame Lighter – This is not a cheap Bic (wrong type of fuel, remember). I prefer the flame lighter to a torch if I am inside as the flame is colder and gentler on the leaf. My favorite is the IM Corona, it has two flames that “wrap” around the cigar.
• Torch – The only way to light a cigar outside. I’ve seen models that use up to three flames. I have ones from Xikar and Blue Rhino that I like. Stay away from Colibri. Alec Bradley also sells and awesome tabletop torch that looks like a Bunsen burner from school.
• Coil - Similar to a stove or space heater although there is some gas that comes up from the coil. These work well in place of torches and are a little safer.
• Lighter Fuel – if you want your lighter to last, use at least triple refined butane fuel. My favorite is Vector brand. It is quintuple refined.

Ashtrays – that ash doesn’t go on the floor. No ashtray really works better than any other, just find one (or three) that you like.

• Crystal – these are generally the most traditional and most expensive.

• Porcelain/Ceramic – Most trays I’ve seen recently are made of either porcelain or ceramic. They are cheaper than crystal but a lot more fragile.

• Pewter/Metal – Another low cost option.

• Travel Ashtrays – These are great when you are on long trips in your car and don’t want to make a big mess.

Humidors – Your options are only limited by how much you want to spend. My one piece of advice when purchasing a humidor – buy one bigger than you think you will need. Also, humidors work best when full. You can find ok inexpensive humidors, but they must have a good seal (use the Dollar bill test!) and preferably be made from Spanish cedar (non-aromatic).

• Desktop Humidors – anywhere from 20 to 200 count usually.

• Trunk Humidors – Now we are talking! Usually from 200-500 count. The one pictured below is a bit small but you get the idea.

• Cabinet Humidors – For the serious collector, usually from 500 – 3000 count or more.
• Walk-in Humidors - the sky is the limit folks! Every cigar aficionado’s dream!
• “Tupperdors” – the poor man’s alternative. You can use a big Tupperware container, drill a small hole or two in the lid and you are good to go.

Humidification - since we don’t live on the equator (most of us), we need something to give us a similar humidity. A humidification element is necessary in every humidor and traveling case where a cigar is going to be stored longer than a day. I prefer my humidor at ~65%. If you run close to 70%, you run the risk of entering the mold zone if you have a spike. Plus I think cigars smoke better at 65%.

• Wet napkin/sock – Yes, I actually know people that have used these before. Unless you want your cigars to taste like moldy feet, please use another method.
• Pouches – These are good for shipping or short term use. Many manufacturers are including pouches in their cigar boxes.

• Cards - Similar to pouches, good for short term use.
• Tubes – Ideal for long term storage. They are shaped like a cigar so they fit perfectly with all of your other cigars and take up a small footprint in your humidor.

• Jars – Ideal for long term storage. These are preferable for bigger humidors but do take up a little more space.

• Oasis Pads – Many humidors come with their own humidification element which is basically a plastic box with slits housing an oasis pad (green sponge) similar to what florists use. These are ok, but require a lot more maintenance and can be breeding grounds for mold.

• Electronic - the priciest alternative but will control your humidity for you to the exact degree.

• Humidifiers - do not use these ever! A lot of cigar stores use them and subsequently have ever cigar covered with mold. Yes, these add water vapor to the air but do not regulate the percent humidity.

Humidification fluids – what should I use?

• Tap water – Not recommended, most think tap water contains too many impurities that can foul up your humidification element.
• Distilled water – I just use my Brita to fill up my Humitubes, it seems to work fine.
• Propylene glycol – an anti-mold chemical. Be careful how much you use this as too much can actually remove moisture from the surrounding air and dry up your cigars. One used, you do not need to keep adding glycol to your humidification element.

Hygrometers - you need to know what humidity your humidor is at. Use the salt test to calibrate it.

• Spring – these are basically worthless as they constantly need calibration and recalibration. Invest in an electronic hygrometer.

• Electronic - the only choice in my book. You can get inexpensive ones that work great at places like Radio Shack.

Travel Cigar Cases – for the jet-setting cigar smoker. You can find travel cases for one cigar all the way to 50!

• Leather Cases – For the more distinguished usually in one, two and three finger sizes. Also available in tubes like the one pictured below.

• Plastic Cases – My preferred method as I am very accident prone. These are also more waterproof than the other alternatives. Cheaper too. They usually start from five cigars up to 25 cigar sizes.

• Metal Tubes – For the gentleman on the go, very nice if you are going to the Country Club for a gin and tonic. Careful though, these don’t hold their humidity well. Usually in one or two finger sizes.
• Plastic Tubes – Like the metal tubes but cheaper.

Cigar Holders

• Hands – you already have them and they are free.
• Clips – When you need to stick your cigar to something. The Cigar Minder works pretty good for that.

Cigar Repair Kits – nothing in life is every perfect, especially cigars.

• Cigar Glue – this stuff is pretty handy when you drop or mangle a cigar accidentally. Made of pectin, the same stuff they use at the cigar factories.
• Draw Poker – I’ve never used one of these. My theory is that if you do need to use a cigar poker to get a draw from a cigar, it’s not a cigar that should be smoked period.

Cigar Breath Savers – nothing really gets the taste out of your mouth in time for a smooch from the wife, so you might as well save your money on these.

• Mints – I guess these are stronger than Altoids?
• Sprays – As soon as you swallow, the minty freshness is replaced by cigar.