VBC Cigar’s Guide on How to Pick a Quality Cigar

Are you looking for advice on how to identify a quality cigar? Here are tips on what to look for when buying a cigar:

• First, find a shape that you like and will feel comfortable smoking.
• Then, quite simply, judge a book by its cover –in this case, the wrapper.
• The outermost leaf (the wrapper) must be applied flawlessly, without gaps, or tears.
• Look for uniform color. You don’t want a cigar that is mottled or spotted.
• Avoid cigars that feel dry, or that flake or crumble when touched. This means they have not been kept in proper humidity.
• However, if you do have a cigar that has dried out, there may be a way to save it. If the wrapper hasn’t cracked and the oils haven’t evaporated, there is a way to rehydrate a cigar.
• Look for cigars with a luster or sheen which indicates that they have been well cared-for.
• Make sure the cigar is well filled with tobacco. It should feel consistently firm, without any weak spots or divots.
• Flavor is also very important. Remove the cigar from its outer wrapping (if in a cigar shop, ask for permission first!), put the cigar up to your nose and take a nice deep inhale. If the smell of the cigar is appealing to you, chances are the taste will be, too.