We won’t deny that, sometimes, smoking cigars is not the cheapest of habits or hobbies. That being said, for the quality of a good cigar and the amount of skilled work that goes into making each stick, there are some good deals out there that are worth every penny.
However, there are also a number of cigars that are likely to break the bank; we take a look at some of the most expensive cigars in the world!
Measuring in at a hefty 5 ¾” length and a 55-ring gauge, this limited edition Montecristo delivers huge volumes of sweet flavours from start to finish. Medium strength, well balanced and with a very cool draw, this cigar is dressed in the most beautiful vein-free, smooth Maduro wrapper.
This limited edition smoke is currently available here at Havana House, so shop now if you want to try this cigar before they are all gone!
11. Cohiba Behike 54 Cigar – £500 per cigar
The Cohiba Behike 54 is the Rolls Royce of Cuban cigars. Exclusive, elusive elegance amid a wonderful aroma and a numbing complexity. When the Behike was released in 2010, everyone was trying them. (Everyone that could get their hands on them, at least). From reputable cigar aficionados to those who have never smoked before, the publicity was huge!
Some reviewed the cigars as a one-of-a-kind best cigar ever made. Others called them overpriced. Without trying one, the truth will forever be a mystery to you.
The Cohiba 55 Aniversario 2021 Edicion Limitada celebrates the landmark 55th anniversary of the foundation of Cohiba! Hitting such a landmark milestone calls for an extra special celebration, a call which the 55 Aniversario answers in tremendous fashion.
Boasting a hefty 57-ring gauge and measuring just shy of 6” in length, this veritable leviathan of a stick has naturally received the full Edicion Limitada treatment, constructed from only the finest tobaccos possible and aged for a minimum of two years. These vitolas are known as Victoria and are sure to be highly sought after by all cigar fans.
cohiba55aniversario2022
9. Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve – $750 (£597) per cigar, $15,000 (£11,943) per box
The Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve are very rare, with only 100 of these cigars made each year. The pre-order list is consistently pretty extensive, with people waiting years for a taste of these cigars.
Originally, this 7.5 x 52 stogie was only sold to dignitaries, and it’s easy to see why when looking at how it is made. Part of the reason for the limited release and exclusivity of this cigar is the Connecticut Madura wrapper, which is aged for fifteen years before making its way around the twelve-year-old binder and filler from the Dominican Republic.
To make it even more special, the filler is also infused in Louis XIII de Rémy Martin Cognac, to make it even more aromatic. This Cognac alone costs a whopping $2500!
8. Cohiba Behike – $18,000 (£14,331) per box
Cohiba is one of the best-loved Cuban cigar brands, so to commemorate the company’s 40th anniversary, these cigars were released. Grown and blended at El Laguito Cohiba factory, the cigars measure 7.5 in length with a 52-ring gauge.
This edition was very limited, with only 100 boxes sold containing 40 cigars each, meaning that there are only 4000 of these stogies in existence. This rarity is one of the key reasons behind the hefty price tag.
7. Arturo Fuente Opus X – $30,000 (£23,886) per box
First produced in 1993, the Arturo Fuente Opus X was released in 2003 as a 10th anniversary edition cigar. Measuring 9 ¼ x 47 all aspects of this mild cigar are from the Dominican Republic.
If lucky enough to smoke one of these, then you will notice hints of jalapeño. Each humidor contains 100 cigars, costing $30,000 for the box… what an absolute bargain!!
6. Gurkha Black Dragon $1150 (£915) each or $23,000 (£18,312) for a box of 20
The Black Dragon was a very limited edition cigar released in 2006. With a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, five-year-aged Dominican filler and binder from Cameroon, the stogie is quite large, measuring 8 ½-inches with a 52 ring gauge.
The Black Dragon is said to have a very complex flavour, giving off both sweet and sour notes. To make it even fancier, and perhaps to justify the price a little, the cigars also come displayed in a box that has been hand-carved from camel bone!
5. King of Denmark – $4,500 (£3,582) per cigar
It could be argued that these cigars are called the King of Denmark as only royalty would be able to afford them! Really, it is all of the customisable extra features that bump up the price tag on these stogies, which are decorated with gold foil, studded with Swarovski crystals and feature a band embossed with the buyer’s name.
These cigars are also rather rare, as a maximum of thirty are created each day of production. If that isn’t enough, then you can also acquire a matching humidor plated in 24k gold for an extra $8,500… what an utter steal!
4. Regius Double Corona – $52,785.20 (£42,028)
The hefty price tag is not just for the cigars in question, but rather an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. Regius Cigars, based in Britain, offers a special edition Double Corona like no other – quite literally, as to buy it involves flying first class to their headquarters and developing your very own unique blend!
The price also covers 1000 of your custom creations, which actually isn’t too bad value for something so unique, at around $52 each! The last recorded purchase of this package was in 2013, so it’s clear there aren’t that many cigar lovers out there willing to splash quite this much cash around…
3. Gran Habano No. 5 “El Gigante” – $185,000 (£147,298)
The El Gigante is the world’s biggest cigar, at 19-feet long, with a ring gauge of 1920. Making up this gigantic stogie is around 1600 pounds of tobacco. This is roughly the same weight as around 25,000 standard sized cigars. The El Gigante is so big, in fact, that forty people could have smoked it at once! It was actually not created to be sold, rather to be displayed during trade shows. Yet, it was purchased by a dedicated collector for $185,000!
2. Mayan Sicars – $507,000 (£403,678)
These cigars originate from the Maya civilisation and are thought to be at least 600 years old. Discovered in Guatemala in 2012, these cigars were found in a clay pot labelled ‘sicars’. This is where the modern word for ‘cigars’ is believed to have originated. The stogies are so well preserved that they could still be smoked; if you were willing to literally burn away half a million, that is!
1. Gurkha Royal Courtesan – $1.36 million (£1,082,845)
Gurkha has featured a few times on this list, but none quite reach the price of this stogie – the most expensive cigar in the world!
The Gurkha Royal Courtesan is handmade in the Dominican Republic and Hondurus using Himalayan tobacco, which has been watered with Fiji water.
The cigar is wrapped in gold leaf and held together with a band that is studded with diamonds! It is then infused with Remy Martin’s Black Pearl Louis XIII, which costs $224,000 a bottle.
The torcedors who craft these cigars are made to work blindfolded to avoid distraction, with only a few select hand rollers permitted to create the cigars.
While some of these may be a little out of your price range, we have plenty of top quality cigars online available for you to buy now!
A Guide to the Smoking Jacket
20 November 2023 by Ellie
Once upon a time, smoking jackets were worn every night after a dinner while enjoying a puff on a quality stogie. While such jackets are rarely used nowadays, we take a look at the history behind these iconic garments, and why they were so popular in the past.
What is a Smoking Jacket?
For those unaware of what a smoking jacket even is, this garment is designed to be worn over your clothes whilst you smoke a tobacco-based item, such as a cigar or pipe. Typically, the jacket falls to the mid-thigh in length, and features a shawl collar and upturned cuffs, and is fastened using either a button or a tie belt. Soft and luxurious fabrics are used to make the jacket, such as velvet, silk and cashmere.
Why Are Smoking Jackets Worn?
A smoking jacket can be worn to protect clothes from the ash falling from the cigars or pipes. As well as protecting the clothes from damage or stains from the ash, the jacket also lessens the smell of smoke lingering on your clothing.
Image Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication – Smoking Jacket From 1860–70
The History of the Smoking Jacket
During the 16th century, when tobacco was first imported into the United Kingdom, the majority of gentlemen weren’t fortunate enough to possess such vast wardrobes that today’s men enjoy and, therefore, would do whatever they could to protect their most cherished garments.
Cravats and overcoats, as well as tunics, may well have just been magnets for the odour of tobacco, and as a result, men began to wear silk robe de chambres (dressing gowns) as an overgarment when enjoying a smoke at home or in gentlemen’s clubs. With years passing, ideas changed and the dressing gown became reserved for private wear.
Instead, a jacket purely intended for smoking in became popular. This saw the silk robe de chambre evolve into a shorter, mid-thigh length jacket that was designed with the specific intention of absorbing smoke, thus protecting the gentleman’s clothing from falling ash.
Over time, the smoking jacket continued to find its place and fresher versions were fashioned with altered closures to allow gentlemen to sport them in their own residence while dining, which meant they didn’t have to change after they had eaten.
In the 1950s, we began to see the smoking jacket worn outside the confines of the house. Style icons of the time, including Cary Grant, Dean Martin, and Fred Astaire, could all be seen wearing smoking jackets out in public, and not just in private.
One of the most renowned wearers of the smoking jacket is, of course, Hugh Hefner following the release of the first issue of Playboy in December of 1953.
While technically you could wear a smoking jacket all times of the day and night if you so wished, it is intended to only be worn when enjoying a cigar! The luxurious fabrics and tuxedo-style lapels make it far too fancy for daily wear, yet the resemblance to a robe or dressing gown (particularly with ones featuring belted closure) makes it a little too casual and comfortable for a formal event. However, jackets which fasten with a button or clip can be worn in place of a dinner jacket in some settings.
Who Wore a Smoking Jacket?
Smoking jackets became a staple wardrobe item for the classiest of gentlemen after Edward VII commissioned a special blue silk smoking jacket for himself in 1865. This jacket, which he wore to almost every public event thereafter, caused the garment’s popularity to skyrocket. Popularity remained throughout the 20th century, with iconic figures such as Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Hugh Hefner and Fred Astaire (who is said to have been buried in his smoking jacket) sporting the apparel. While smoking jackets may be seen merely as more of a novelty item than the epitome of male style and class these days, here’s to hoping they one day make a comeback!
Would you love to wear a stunning smoking jacket while you enjoy a quality Montecristo cigar and a dram with your smoking buddies? Let us know your thoughts on these jackets, and whether you’d love for them to make a comeback!
Cigar History: El Septimo
12 September 2023 by Ellie
El Septimo is a cigar brand that was founded in France in 2005 but was acquired by Zaya Younan in 2019 to reinfuse the brand with an extra sense of luxury and provide the world with an exquisite new collection of smokes to enjoy. In celebration of the return of El Septimo to Havana House, we explore the history and cigars this brand has to offer.
El Septimo Origins
El Septimo was founded in 2005 in France, although they later relocated their headquarters to Switzerland. They prided themselves as a luxury brand on producing high-quality and innovative smokes. El Septimo took a hands-on approach to crafting their luxurious cigars, developing their own tobacco plantation in the mountains of San Jose, Costa Rica.
What Does El Septimo Mean?
The name ‘El Septimo’ is Latin for ‘the seventh’, in reference to the seventh day of the creation story in the Bible. In the book of Genesis, God created the earth in six days and, on the seventh day, rested. With this rest day in mind, the El Septimo brand was created with the intent of relaxation and luxury.
El Septimo Acquisition by the Younan Collection
In 2019, the El Septimo brand was acquired by Zaya Younan, the CEO of Younan Collection, an international investment firm. Younan Collection owns a number of luxury hotels, resorts, wineries and golf courses, so acquiring a cigar brand is the logical next step for their portfolio to curate a luxury lifestyle.
Since taking on the El Septimo brand, a number of new cigar ranges have been released, including the Zaya Collection, Emperor Collection, Luxus Collection, Sacred Arts Collection and Gilgamesh Collection.
El Septimo Cigar Production
El Septimo uses the entire tobacco leaf throughout their cigars for a rich and full flavour, as each cigar is hand-rolled with 100% long filler tobacco using the Entubar Method.
For an enhanced tasting experience, the tobacco fermentation process includes the addition of white rum and vegetable oil, which helps to draw out extra flavour from this full-bodied smoke. The vegetable oil also gives a luxurious look to these cigars, making them a deliciously appealing smoke.
El Septimo Tobacco
Costa Rica provides the perfect conditions for growing tobacco, with a tropical climate, fertile soil and high altitudes. El Septimo grow their tobacco in Costa Rica with precision farming techniques to boost their crop yield.
Wrapper leaves are grown at high altitudes, which gives the cigars a silky texture with a rich, deep shade and flavourful taste.
El Septimo Cigars are completely organic, with zero preservatives or chemicals added, and are free of nitrosamines, tars, and impurities.
El Septimo Blends
The El Septimo brand now features over 45 blends, each hand-rolled and checked with strict quality control. The precise blend and age of tobacco used varies across the collections, as well as the amount of filler used. Usually, their cigars use tobacco that has been aged between seven and fifteen years, and between three and five filler tobaccos will be used.
El Septimo Zaya Collection
In celebration of the new owner of El Septimo, the Zaya Collection is blended from a selection of high-quality tobaccos aged up to 15 years. Each cigar in the Zaya Collection is rolled with five fillers, giving them larger ring gauges as they are packed with so much tobacco. As a result, these are complexly flavourful smokes.
Each cigar in the Zaya Collection features a dark, shiny and stain-free wrapper. They are medium and full-bodied cigars, offering an intense leather aroma, balanced strength and smooth, rich finish. Providing a complex range of flavours, from sweet marzipan and vanilla to bitter roasted walnuts.
The Emperor Collection celebrates Emperors from history, including Napoleon, Augustus Ceasar and Alexander III. The collection includes cigars with Connecticut or Maduro wrappers, with some cigars available in both formats. The tobacco in the Emperor Collection has been aged for five years before being hand-rolled. These cigars are mostly lighter-bodied, smoother and creamier than other offerings from El Septimo.
The Luxus Collection is the most diverse range from El Septimo – in fact, we bet you have never seen cigars like some of these before! Comprising of ten tobacco lines, each aged for ten years and matured for up to a year, the Luxus Collection includes some of the brand’s bestsellers.
The cigars in the Luxus Collection range from 2-inch speedy smokes to tasty Torpedos. Regardless of size, the cigars in this collection all offer a velvety smoke with a refined aroma. They each have oily, supple, dark wrappers and offer full draws with plenty of depth.
The Sacred Arts Collection takes inspiration from the art world, with each cigar named after some of the world’s best painters. These cigars come in traditional size formats, including Toro, Robusto, Lancero, Torpedo and Salomon. Cigars in the Sacred Arts Collection are medium-bodied and have been aged for ten years.
Cigars in this collection include the Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Da Vinci and Botticelli.
El Septimo Gilgamesh Collection
The Gilgamesh Collection has been created to symbolise one of the oldest stories in existence based on historical records of the Assyrian King Gilgamesh. Cigars in this collection range from medium to full-bodied. Each cigar is 6 inches or over with a ring gauge of 50 or over, providing a longer smoking experience. As you light a cigar from the Gilgamesh Collection, you’ll notice a milder start than other El Septimo cigars, as these offer a more gradual pace of smoking.
Our Cigar History series explores the origins of some of the best cigar brands in the world. Today we are looking at a brand that can trace its roots to the other side of the Pacific Ocean – Rocky Patel Cigars!
About Rocky Patel
Rocky Patel is a boutique brand – this means that every stage of the cigar-making process is overseen by Rocky Patel, from the germination of the tobacco plants to the distribution of the hand-rolled cigars.
Rocky Patel does it all; the tobacco is grown on fields owned by Rocky Patel, bunched in factories run by Rocky Patel, rolled by Torcedors employed by Rocky Patel and marketed across the globe by Rocky Patel himself! The man is truly at the heart of his craft.
We learned this ourselves, here at Havana House, when the man himself joined us on one of our annual cigar cruises down the river Thames. He is a very charismatic man and certainly knows his stuff about cigars!
When Was Rocky Patel Cigars Founded?
Rocky Patel premium cigars is a brand far younger than most, being founded in 1995 during the cigar boom. A trend common with boutique cigar brands, especially those created in the cigar boom, is that the founders were not born into the cigar-smoking community, nor did they ever plan to begin making cigars until they did.
Rakesh ‘Rocky’ Patel was born in India in 1961, but he lived and worked in Los Angeles as an entertainment and product liability lawyer, where he met and worked with numerous celebrities famous for their cigar smoking, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gene Hackman.
Rocky had never been around cigars before. Once he had, however, he was instantly bewitched by the pastime, becoming one of the original founding members of the Grand Havana Club. Rocky had always been an entrepreneurial man, often dabbling in various investment opportunities. It wasn’t until the early days of the cigar boom that he really focused his efforts on his most famous project.
Establishing a Factory in Honduras
Rocky Patel began investing in his budding cigar business by buying a factory and a patch of land in Honduras. According to Rocky himself, his friends and family all told him that he should save his money; he would never make it in the cigar industry. How wrong they were…
Now, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars are known for the unique once-in-a-life experience that they offer their customers. For a limited few, Rocky himself hosts trips to his estate on the island of Honduras so that consumers can see the passion packed into every cigar for themselves.
The trip includes a tour of the whole estate, the various stages of tobacco cultivation and maturation, as well as a chance to meet the Torcedores who roll cigars. The journey is complete with luxury accommodation nearby. It’s like the gentlemen’s version of a golden ticket to see Willy Wonka’s factory!
Indian Tabac
When Rocky Patel first started crafting cigars, he was not operating under his name – instead, the brand debuted as Indian Tabac. This name referenced the Indian Motorcycle brand for which he paid a royalty to use the name.
Rocky first shared his cigars at the 1996 RTDA in Cincinnati. Businessmen and intrigued customers crowded around his booth to purchase these new, brightly packaged cigars. Rocky’s ideology had always been that young companies held the responsibility to create fresh ideas in every industry. So he arrived into the cigar industry by storm with bold packaging and complex, full-flavoured cigars.
Rocky Patel was able to establish Indian Tabac as a premium brand by frequently visiting retailers and ensuring his products were available in the marketplace.
Becoming Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
In 2003, Rocky Patel decided to rebrand his cigar business, moving away from Indian Tabac and placing the focus for the brand on himself. The name of the company was changed from Indian Tabac Cigar Co. to Rocky Patel Premium Cigars.
Rocky produced an untold number of cigar ranges when he first began blending; some were sold, and some were discarded. These were only early-stage experiments, however.
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
It was not long before Rocky made the staple of the brand, the cigar that started it all, the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990. The cigar is nothing short of perfection, and for that reason, it is still in production all these years later. The wrapper tobaccos are the key ingredient. The twelve years aged Connecticut Broadleaf has a tame strength but is full of complexity. If you’ve never tried a Rocky Patel Premium Cigar, we suggest you start with this masterpiece.
The Rocky Patel Vintage cigar has since become the flagship of the brand. There are now five Vintage Series: 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003 and 2006.
Rocky Patel Cigar Development
Rocky Patel put a lot of effort into market research and forming strong relationships with those working in the tobacco industry. His relationships with tobacco growers, brokers and cigar factories allowed him to access some of the highest-quality tobaccos.
These relationships also led to Rocky’s values and beliefs for his cigar range. He is of the opinion that a true premium cigar can never be rushed and that a slow and steady approach is required.
In many cigar factories, a roller may roll as many as 500 cigars a day, but in doing so much, the quality and consistency of each cigar varied too much for Patel’s liking. At his factory, rollers will only craft around 250 cigars per roller per day to ensure high-quality results.
Rocky Patel Cigar Range
When he is not travelling the world, Rocky Patel is focused on production. Rocky speaks to consumers from across the globe every day, so he knows what the market desires. From his first-hand market research, Rocky has decided to sway the theme of his cigars to be more complex than the linear cigars that many brands produce. It is true that there are many brands which produce some excellent complex cigars, but they are inconsistent in taste, at least in Mr Patel’s opinion anyway.
Rocky Patel now produces a rather large range of cigars, and we couldn’t possibly name them all here. Currently, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars have produced more than 100 different lines, each of which contains several different size formats! And that is not including private labels!
Rocky Patel Cigar Recommendations
If you would like to try a cigar from Rocky Patel, here are a few suggestions that are available at Havana House.
Rocky Patel Number 6 Robusto Cigar
The Rocky Patel Number 6 Robusto Cigar is one of our top ten recommended cigars of Havana House – and we’ve tried a lot! The Number 6 Robusto features a Corojo Wrapper, binder and filler from Honduras that provides a medium-bodied profile with honey, vanilla, coffee and earthy notes.
The Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro was ranked number two in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year in 2016, which is quite the accolade. This cigar is triple-capped, hand-bunched and hand-rolled with an oily Broadleaf wrapper and full-bodied Nicaraguan long-filler. You’ll be rewarded with spice and a caramel finish.
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto Cigar
The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto Cigar is an iconic smoke that is always highly rated. Wrapped with a 12-year-old Honduran Broadleaf, which has dulled in strength but grown in flavour and complexity during the ageing process, the Vintage 1990 is milder than other smokes from Rocky Patel, but you won’t be disappointed by the flavour. Packing in a nutty and caramel taste, this Robusto offers an excellent draw and balances flavour.
Rocky Patel Disciple Robusto Cigar
Crafted from the finest tobacco in Nicaragua, the Rocky Patel Disciple Robusto Cigar showcases a signature Mexican San Andrés wrapper. This exquisite composition has come together to create a medium to full-bodied profile filled with smooth notes of wood, earth, and a subtle hint of pepper.
If you want to find out more about the different Rocky Patel cigars, then have a look at our vast catalogue of his cigars!
Cigar History: Cohiba Cigars
13 June 2022 by Ellie
While relatively new in comparison to some cigar brands, Cohiba is one of the most iconic cigar manufacturers in Cuba and the world.
Cohiba is the flagship brand of Habanos S.A. and is known for producing the finest quality premium cigars using some of the world’s best tobacco. They implement unique maturation techniques to craft their famous Cohiba cigars, which offer complex flavour and medium-full body.
In this instalment of Cigar History, we explore more about the past of this iconic cigar brand.
The Beginning of Cohiba Cigars
While most Cuban cigar brands were initially privately owned before being nationalised following the Cuban revolution, Cohiba is fairly unique, as it was created following the revolution as a national company of Cuba.
Cohiba cigars started out as Fidel Castro’s private brand, exclusively supplying Castro with cigars to enjoy or gift to dignitaries.
The story of the first Cohiba Cigars – or how Castro tells it – is that one day in the mid-1960s, one of his bodyguards was smoking a strong aromatic cigar. Castro asked him what he was smoking, to which the man replied that it was not a branded cigar but a gift from a friend who was a local torcedor.
Upon smoking the cigar, Castro made contact with the creator of the cigar and requested they be made for his own personal use. The cigars were produced in the El Laguito Factory for Castro using the unbranded tobacco.
The Cohiba Name
In 1968, the Cuban state tobacco marketing bureau came up with the idea to name these cigars “Cohiba”. The word Cohiba is the name the indigenous people of Cuba gave to the bunches of tobacco leaves they rolled up and smoked. The Cuban people already knew about the uses for tobacco and smoked it before the arrival of the Spanish in 1492.
First Cuban Cigars
In 1968, these cigars were launched under the Cohiba branding, still only for Castro’s exclusive use.
The first Cohiba cigars were dispatched from the El Laguito Factory in 1968. The first three cigars were the Lanceros, Corona Especial and Panatellas.
Becoming a Public Brand
In 1982, Castro relinquished his exclusive hold on Cohiba, and the brand was commercialised, with the cigars released for public sale.
Cohiba was launched as a premium cigar brand into markets outside of the US because of JFK’s embargo. The initial three styles of cigar were launched in conjunction with the World Cup hosted by Spain. This made Cohiba an almost overnight success!
The first cigars to be launched were the Coronas Especiales, Lanceros and Panetelas.
What Tobacco is Used for Cohiba Cigars?
The tobacco used for Cohiba cigars comes from Cuba’s Vegas Finas de Primera (first-class fields). The location of this land was a closely guarded secret for many years, something of a genuine miracle as they managed to hide over 700 acres of tobacco fields in total!
This was certainly a necessary measure as the American CIA was aware of the attempt to revolutionise Cuba’s industries and had plans of sabotage.
Only ten selected fields are used to make tobacco for Cohiba cigars. It is estimated that only the output of five fields are utilised by the end of the cigar-making process due to strict quality control measures. The tobacco used as filler is unique to Cohiba cigars owing to a special third fermentation process in wooden barrels. This method is aimed at producing a smoother flavour than other cigars.
Cohiba Cigar Lines
After the international success in 1982, with sales figures off the charts and plenty of room for expansion, the managing team at Cohiba decided that it was time to add more cigars to their collection.
La Línea Clásica Series
The classic branch of cigars was launched in 1989, which included the Espléndido, Robustos and the Cohiba Exquisito, in addition to the Corona Especial, Lancero and Panetela from the initial Cohiba launch.
La Línea 1492 Series
In 1992, the next addition to Cohiba cigars was introduced – the 1492 line. There were five models in the 1492 collection, named to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of Cuba. These were then rebranded as the Siglo range, featuring the cigars Siglo I, Siglo II, Siglo III, Siglo IV and Siglo V, with a special Siglo VI being added in 2002.
Maduro 5 Series
The Maduro 5 series was launched in 2007 with three cigars, the Magicos, Genios and Secretos, each being wrapped in dark Maduro leaves that were aged for five years.
Cohiba Behike
One of the most famous launches from Cohiba was the Cohiba Behike line in 2010. Their most exclusive line since becoming a public brand, the Behike line contains the Behike 52, Behike 54 and Behike 56.
An exclusive luxury range, the Behike cigars are considered some of the greatest Cuban cigars ever made as they use an exquisite blend of top quality Cuban tobacco. The filler tobacco comes from some of the finest tobacco leaves in Cuba, including the rare Medio Tiempo leaves, which bring a complex flavour to the smoke.
These cigars are in high demand, and only a small amount are made, making the Behike range a premium price and highly collectable.
Cohiba also produces machine made cigars and mini cigarillos, such as the Cohiba Clubs.
Other Cohiba Products
Non-cigar products have also been branded under Cohiba, such as Cohiba Cigarettes and Cohiba Cognac.
What are your thoughts on the Cohiba brand and its range? If you haven’t tried them yet, then you can check out the full range of Cohiba cigars at Havana House.
Cigar History : Montecristo Cigars
19 November 2021 by Ellie
When compared to some other Cuban brands, Montecristo is not particularly old. But what they lack in years, they more than make up for in history!
In the summer of 1935, Alonso Menendez purchased the Cuban Particulares factory from the makers of the popular Particulares cigar brand. Following a trend set by the manager at Romeo y Julieta, Menendez decided to rename the cigar brand to match the cigar rolling Torcedor’s favourite book – The Count of Monte Cristo.
The tale of personal revenge also inspired the Montecristo logo designed by John Hunter Morris which consists of a triangle made of six swords surrounding a flower.
Montecristo and the Cuban Revolution
Following the rising success of the Montecristo brand, Menendez bought the H.Upmann factory a year later and moved production to the site.
During the Cuban revolution, Montecristo was nationalised, and the brand continued production at the H. Upmann factory. Like most private cigar entrepreneurs at the time, Menendez fled to the Canary islands to try to re-establish the brand. He was backed by British investors but unfortunately, production could not resume abroad because of a lost legal battle with Cubatabaco.
Following the Cuban Embargo, Menendez re-established Montecristo in the Dominican Republic so that he could resume shipping to the U.S. This new brand was owned by Altadis SA, though it was not as successful or as well made as the original Cuban made Montecristo brand.
Montecristo Cigars Today
During the 70s and 80s, Montecrsto (now under the leadership of the Cuban government) continued to rise in popularity and quality. The brand was able to entrench itself as one of Cuba’s top lines and is now one of the most popular Cuban cigar brands in the world with a quarter of the market share.
In addition to that, some Montecristo cigars are heralded as the best in the world with the Montecristo No.4 being the best selling cigar across the globe as well as the No.2 being considered the gold standard cigar by many aficionados.
What are Montecristo Cigars Like?
As we’ve already mentioned, Montecristo cigars are widely considered to be some of the best cigars in the business, but what does it mean to be a Montecristo cigar?
Montecristo cigars are typically medium bodied that are able to satisfy that taste of both novice and veteran cigar smokers, not to mention everyone in between.
While the specific flavours vary between each individual line, Montecristo cigars tend to share the same natural woody flavour with a spiced or bitter-sweet tang that makes Montecristo such a distinguished player in the cigar industry.
The Best Montecristo Cigars
If you’re looking to try a Montecristo cigar for the first time, then why not check out one of our favourites.
Montecristo No.4
Not only is this the best-selling cigar in the world, but it’s also a perfect first cigar for novice smokers. With a stout figure and that classic tang that Montecristo is known for, this cigar offers a nice, medium-bodied smoke that every cigar enthusiast has to try at least once!
Montecristo No. 3
Nestled nicely between the No.4 and the No.2 you have the Montecristo No.3. With flavours of smoked wood and the bitter-tang of mocha coffee beans, this cigar offers a lovely medium-bodied smoke.
Montecristo No.2
Arguably one of the best cigars in the entire world, the Montecristo No.2 received a whopping 96 points out of 100 in the Cigar Aficionado blind taste test. This torpedo has defined what it means to be a Montecristo cigar. With tantalising flavours of wood and spice blended wonderfully with the bitterness of coffee beans, this full-bodied smoke is one that every cigar lover should have in their collection.
If you want to try a cigar from one of the best brands in the industry, then why not browse our full range of Montecristo cigars here.
Cigar History: My Father Cigars
29 October 2021 by Ellie
Cigars have been enjoyed across the world for centuries. It’s thought that the first recorded depiction of cigar smoking was found painted on a ceramic pot in Guatemala that dates all the way back to the 10th century.
So, it comes as no shock that a great many of the big-name brands we talk about date back well over fifty years, at least.
In this continuation of our cigar history series, we’re going to be talking about one of the younger names in the industry that managed to take the cigar world by storm.
We are of course talking about My Father Cigars.
My Father Cigars Early History
Jose Pepin Garcia was born in Cuba in 1950 and was already rolling his first cigar by the age of 11. This sparked a lifelong passion that Pepin carried with him as he stepped into the world of cigar making.
In 2003, Pepin and his family bought a small cigar factory in Little Havana where he could make his dream a reality. Here, the My Father Cigar brand was born.
In 2009, My Father Cigar had already grown to the point they were able to open My Father Cigars in Nicaragua. The complex was seven acres and had a fully installed production process which allowed the company to harvest, package, and ship their products to retailers all from one spot.
Now almost 20 years since their humble beginnings, My Father Cigars is still a fully operational and family run business.
Don Pepin Garcia, who was named America’s Hottest Cigar Maker by Cigar Aficionado, works with his son Jaime to develop countless blends for My Father Cigars as well as some of the most prestigious companies in the industry.
Even command of the company headquarters in Doral remains within the family, with Pepin’s daughter, Janny Garcia, leading the charge.
By following the tradition lived and learned by the family in Cuba, My Father Cigars now has two factories, one of which is staffed by a team of twelve expert cigar rollers trained and appointed by Don Pepin himself.
From these two factories, the family continues to produce their twelve traditional company-owned brands that are known by cigar aficionados across the world.
What Are My Father Cigars Like?
The blends used in My Father Cigars are known to be uncompromisingly robust and aromatic and are adored worldwide for their combination of strength, richness and spicy aroma.
Each cigar that comes out of the Jose Pepin Garcia legacy is meticulously handcrafted to give a beautifully wrapped cigar with a traditional triple-cap finish. Since their inception, My Father Cigars had gone on to create an array of award-winning smokes including their Flor de Las Antillas which was named Best Cigar of the Year in 2021.
My Father Cigars has carved its place in the world of premium cigar making and will no doubt continue to produce some of the best traditionally made cigars on the market. The only question left to ask is what this family business will achieve next?
Here at Havana House, we off a wide range of New World Cigars so you can buy My Father Cigars online with free standard delivery on all orders over £50.
Image Credits: My Father Cigars
Cigar History: Hoyo De Monterrey
20 October 2021 by Ellie
Hoyo De Monterrey has long since established itself as one of the top luxury Cuban cigar brands in the business.
Known for their somewhat sweet and creamy tasting notes, Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the most sought after smokes in the cigar world today, with some aficionados even travelling abroad to sample a taste.
Here, we’re going to be delving into the history of this iconic brand, from where they started all the way to how they solidified their place in the cigar hall of fame.
The Early Years of Hoyo De Monterrey
In 1831, when he was just 13, Don Jose Gener y Batet arrived in Cuba. Originally from Spain, the boy had come to work on his uncle’s tobacco plantation in the Vuelta Abajo region.
Thanks to the lush and fertile land, this particular region yields the finest tobacco in the world and is the main source of tobacco for the Habanos.
So, it should come as no surprise that after 20 years of mastering the trade Don Jose Gener y Batet opened his own cigar factory in Havana, where he began producing his very first brand, La Escepción.
With his brand taking off to become one of the most popular and profitable in the industry, Gener took the opportunity to purchase one of the best tobacco farms in the country. From here, he started another exquisite brand of cigars, which he named Hoyo de Monterrey.
Hoyo de Monterrey in the 1900’s
With the brand being a near-instant success, Hoyo De Monterrey was able to stay in the Gener family well into the 1930s. Under their leadership, the brand was able to build its way up to become the largest cigar factory in Cuba.
The brand was then purchased by fellow cigar company, Fernandez, Palicio y Cia Company, who were already known for their production of other popular cigars such as Punch and Belinda.
Hoyo de Monterrey and Davidoff Cigars
There are plenty of big-name brands that can be associated with Hoyo de Monterrey, but none owe their success to the brand quite as much as Davidoff. Following the brand’s purchase, Hoyo de Monterrey was able to play a part in fellow Cuban cigar brand Davidoff’s rise to fame.
In 1940, the brand released a luxury series specifically for a Swiss distributor that was called Hoyo and Chateaux. The line caught the eye of Swiss tobacco merchant Zino Davidoff who would later go on to achieve monumental success in the cigar industry with his luxury Cuban cigar brand, Davidoff, which is still a known favourite today.
The Cuban Embargo
The trade embargo against Cuba was implemented in 1962 as a countermeasure to the Cuban rebellion. The embargo was intended to prevent American businesses from conducting trade with Cuba and has been in place for over five decades.
When this embargo was put into effect, the Cuban cigar industry was faced with its biggest obstacle: their market in the United States was now off-limits.
However, the embargo did lend itself quite nicely to the creation of the global cigar industry. Where before all premium cigars were being made in Cuba, cigar manufacturers were now forced to move throughout South and Central America to create brands of cigars that could be sold in the US.
Included among these manufacturers was the Villazon Company under the direction of Fernando Palicio. They took the chance to establish Hoyo de Monterrey in Honduras, where it became one of the first premium cigar brands to manufacture outside of Cuba.
Hoyo de Monterrey Today
Following the creation of its Honduran counterpart, Hoyo de Monterrey saw resounding success in the US and was able to carve its place in the world of American tobacconists.
In the ’90s, General Cigars (one of the biggest names in the industry with factories in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua) bought the Villazon Company and, in turn, the Hoyo de Monterrey brand.
General has continued to produce Hoyo de Monterrey cigars to this day as well as other familiar high-end brands including, but by no means limited to:
Excalibur
Cohiba
Macanudo
Partagas
La Gloria Cubana
As it stands now, Hoyo de Monterrey has built itself quite the reputation for being one of the best Cuban cigars in the business. With people travelling abroad for a chance at one of these premium smokes, it’s safe to say the Hoyo de Monterrey brand will go down in Cuban cigar history.
What Are The Best Hoyo De Monterrey Cigars?
If you’re looking to give this iconic brand a chance, why not try some of our top picks for the best Hoyo de Monterrey cigars?
Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No.2 Cigar
The Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No.2 has been named as one of our top ten cigars! And there’s no wonder as to why.
This cigar is the perfect blend of crisp and fruity with an easy-going complexity, making for an any-occasion cigar that offers a luxurious smoke no matter where you are.
Hoyo De Monterrey Petit Robusto Cigar
The Hoyo De Monterrey Petit Robusto Cigar quickly solidified itself as a firm favourite when it was introduced in 2004.
Don’t let its size fool you; this 4” wonder is packed full of rich, spicy-sweet flavours that lend themselves beautifully to an outstanding finish.
Hoyo De Monterrey Du Maire Cigar
Another favourite from the Hoyo de Monterrey line is the small, but no less mighty, Hoyo De Monterrey Du Maire Cigar.
This little cigar is nicely put together and offers a smooth, flavorful cigar with a smoke time of about 20 minutes, making it perfect for those quick breaks.
With such a rich history, it’s no wonder that Hoyo de Monterrey has cemented its place among some of the best, and we don’t doubt they’ll keep setting the standard of premium cigars for years to come.
Whether you are just starting out in the cigar world or are looking to freshen up on the basics, this guide will help you turn from a beginner to a refined and well-educated smoker of cigars!
Click a topic, or scroll down to learn everything!
Before you even learn how to cut, light and smoke a cigar, you’ll need to choose one to smoke!
Selecting a cigar for the first time can be a challenge as there are so many brands, shapes, sizes and wrapper colours of cigars to choose. For a novice smoker, this can make the decision a bit overwhelming.
Our Recommendations
Our recommendation for beginners to cigar smoking is to choose a smaller cigar because you won’t have to dedicate hours to smoking it, and smaller cigars are often (but definitely not always) milder to smoke. It is best to start with mild cigars because the strength of a full-bodied cigar can be too much for beginners and may put you off.
While you may not want to spend a lot of money on your first cigar, in case you don’t like it, it is always best to pick a premium smoke. If you choose an inferior smoke just because it’s cheap, the chances are, you won’t enjoy it!
But the quality experience of a slightly more expensive, expertly hand-rolled cigar could be just the thing for you! You can find premium cigars for around £10, so while there are cheaper options out there, this is still a reasonable price!
If you are looking to choose your own cigar, then you’ll need to understand vitolas. A vitola refers to the shape, length and ring gauge of your cigar. There are a variety of standard sizes for cigars, which each have their own name, as seen below.
Cigars are measured in length in inches, by their ring gauge, the diameter measured in units of 1/64th of an inch. This means that a 64 ring gauge cigar would be an inch in diameter – although most are smaller than this!
Each vitola has a very similar length, ring gauge and shape, so you will know what size the cigar is by its name alone. For example, the Montecristo No 3, the Davidoff Chateau Latour and the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Roi are all Coronas.
How Much Should You Pay For a Quality Cigar?
A question that many new smokers have is how much they should be paying for a cigar. While it may seem like you might have to splash out and spend a small fortune to get a quality smoke, prices can actually be fairly reasonable, with quality cigars available under £10.
There are a number of factors which will affect the price of a cigar, such as the brand it is from, how long the tobacco used to make the cigar was aged, how big the cigar is, how many you are buying, and any taxes that may be added!
Buying From a Reputable Seller
Because premium cigars are so desirable, there is, unfortunately, an issue with counterfeit cigars, especially Cuban smokes. To avoid receiving a disappointing, fake smoke, it is important to buy from a reputable seller, such as Havana House.
The first step in cigar preparation is to cut the cap with a cigar cutter. Removing this part allows you to draw through the cigar and puff through it.
Using a knife (or your teeth!) is a big no-no, so a proper cigar cutter, such as a guillotine, cigar punch, double-blade cutter or V-cutter will be required. It is important to use a quality cutter with a sharp blade to ensure a clean cut.
Using a blunt, or low-quality cutter can cause damage to the wrapper, which you want to remain intact. The cap is a small piece of wrapper that has been glued to the end of the cigar.
Only 2-3mm of this needs to be removed with the cutter. Use a strong, quick motion to chop off the end, as this will prevent the wrapper from tearing. For those new to smoking, a double-bladed guillotine cutter is the best bet.
Do You Remove the Band Before You Smoke a Cigar?
This is a matter that is debated back and forth between even the most advanced aficionados out there, so as a beginner, it is fine to be unsure of the protocol regarding band removal! There are a number of arguments for and against removing the band.
For Removing the Band
Firstly, if you smoke a cigar with the band still on, and the band begins to burn, your cigar will just taste like burnt paper, which is not good! To prevent this from happening, some remove the band as a preventative measure.
Against Removing the Band
On the other hand, the band is usually affixed to the cigar with a small amount of gum adhesive. Sometimes too much of this is used, and the band can become fused to the wrapper leaf. This means that when the band is removed, a small amount of the wrapper will come away too, which can impact the structure of the cigar.
It can be best to start smoking for a few minutes and allow the heat of the cigar to soften up the gum, allowing you to easily undo the band!
How Do You Light a Cigar?
Lighting the cigar takes a surprising amount of skill; although it is sure to become like second nature with time!
What to Use
The first step in how to light a cigar will be to choose what you are going to light the cigar with. As cigars are a little more complex than cigarettes, it may be an idea to upgrade any cheaper disposable lighters for some long cigar matches, a butane lighter or torch lighter.
Cigar Lighting Technique
First, toast the foot of the cigar by holding the cigar at a 45-degree angle a little way from the flame, so it isn’t physically touching but is close enough to gently toast. This is different to just fully lighting the cigar, as it ensures that the wrapper and binder are burning as well as the filler.
Puff a little on the cigar and then check that it is burning evenly. The wrapper and binder at the foot should now look white.
Next, bring the flame about half an inch away from the foot to fully ignite the filler. Draw in air through the cigar and the flame should take hold of the foot.
At this point, you will be able to exhale a puff of smoke! Once lit, you may want to wait a minute to allow the burn to stabilise and burn evenly.
Expect to put in some extra toasting on some brands, particularly for those who have selected a cigar with a lot of oily ligero tobacco as part of their blend.
How Do You Smoke a Cigar?
Learning how to smoke a cigar will also take some skill and practice.
Do You Inhale Cigars?
The main guideline for cigar smoking is that you should not inhale the smoke. Unlike cigarette smoke, cigars are not inhaled, as there is too much tobacco and smoke; if you did, you would be coughing up a lung! When ‘puffing’ on a cigar is mentioned, it is quite literal. Instead of inhaling into the lungs, draw smoke into your mouth, hold it a moment, and then blow it out.
Slow and Steady
Regardless of whether you are an experienced cigar smoker, or you are new to the world of the stogie, you should aim to draw on the cigar around every 60-120 seconds.
Smoking too quickly can make the cigar burn too hot and can even make you feel ill; however, not smoking it for more than a few minutes will cause it to go out.
Slow and steady is very much the recommended approach, though, as allowing the cigar to rest will let the flavours caramelise and will give both the cigar and your mouth a chance to cool down.
Once your cigar passes the halfway point and gets to be much smaller, you will want to extend this resting time a little.
How Far Down a Cigar Should You Smoke?
Another hotly debated issue in the cigar world, knowing when to stop smoking a cigar is often more down to personal preferences than actual rules.
Some smokers say that the best part of the cigar is the first half, and so only smoke that much, but that seems rather wasteful! Other cigar lovers argue that around three-finger widths should be left by the time you have stopped smoking.
Another method is to stop smoking when you hit the cigar band (if you have kept that on!), although again this could be very wasteful depending on where the band is positioned on the cigar!
Depends on the Cigar
It also really depends on the type of cigar you are smoking. Some cigars turn hot and harsh as they burn closer to the nub, making the second portion of the smoke less enjoyable.
However, many cigars taste great right up until the end, making it well worth your while to stick with it. As you experiment more with different types of cigars, you will soon discover which ones work best smoked longer, and which should be left to burn!
How to Taste
While it may sound silly – there being a right and wrong way to ‘taste’ – adapting the way you taste your cigar could actually make a world of difference in the smoke you experience.
In the context of cigars, learning to taste properly largely refers to learning how to distinguish different flavours and find the subtleties hidden in your cigar. There are a few ways you can taste a cigar properly:
Smell and taste the cigar before you light it. Place it in your mouth and see if any key flavour notes instantly hit you.
Take the smoke slowly, so that the cigar doesn’t overheat and cause issues that may affect the taste.
Let the smoke linger in your mouth to experience a more pronounced aftertaste.
Retro-hale the cigar, exhaling through the nose to detect any further flavour in the aroma.
Ensure your palate is kept fresh.
Take a look at our cigar flavour wheels to see some of the common notes present in cigars. Some of them may seem unusual, but a combination of these flavours together can produce a well-balanced, flavourful smoke.
Can You Relight a Cigar?
Cigars tend to extinguish themselves if they are not puffed on every now and then, so you may find that you need to relight your cigar.
To do this, hold the flame just in front of the foot and blow through the cigar to get rid of any trapped ash. Then simply repeat the lighting process.
Do try to keep the cigar going on its own though, by taking a puff every minute or so, as continuously having to relight it may cause the cigar flavour to change into something less pleasant tasting.
Relighting a cigar is also only okay if it is the one you have just been smoking. This means that if you decide you’ve had enough of a cigar and want to leave it for another day, it would actually be better to just start fresh than try and relight a cigar that has been left for more than a few hours.
How Do You Put Out a Cigar?
The best way to put out a cigar is to just let it rest on an ashtray and extinguish itself. Cigars should not be stubbed out like you would with a cigarette.
If you stub out a cigar, you will soon regret it due to the bad smell that it will release! This smell occurs due to the oils and tars that build up as the cigar burns. Stubbing it out releases them, and can cause a stale, lingering odour.
As a cigar only burns when it is actively puffed, simply letting it rest will allow it to put itself out fairly quickly. However, if you are in a rush and want to ensure that the cigar is fully out, you can extinguish it in some (non-alcoholic) liquid, although this is certainly not very dignified!
How Do You Store Cigars?
If you just want to try one cigar soon after you have bought it, then you don’t need to worry too much about storing it. Many singular cigars now come in tubes, which is the perfect place to store the cigar until you smoke it. These tubes can then be kept to carry around more cigars in future.
Other cigars will arrive in a clear plastic wrapper, and as long as this is kept in a cool and dry place, this should be fine if you are planning on smoking it within a couple of days.
Use a Humidor
Decided you want to smoke cigars more regularly? Invest in a humidor, so that you can keep your collection in the best condition possible. Without a humidor, cigars dry out, which can cause cracks and wrapper peeling, as well as making the cigar lose its flavour and burn quicker.
Humidors are needed because the humidity level of tobacco growing countries, like Cuba, is far higher than here in the UK. A humidor is needed to keep cigars fresh and at the right humidity level for the perfect smoke!
How to Use a Humidor
Pick a quality humidor the right size for your collection. We recommend one lined with Spanish cedar.
The humidity of your humidor should be set to around 65-70%. This may need to be adjusted depending on whether your cigars are getting too dry or too moist in your humidor.
Your humidor should be just right in size; cigars shouldn’t be crammed or have masses of room. If your humidor is getting a little empty, fill the gaps with extra cedar wood or boxes. If you have too many, it’s time for an upgrade or a second box!
Keep up with humidor maintenance – the humidor needs to be occasionally refilled with water, and the humidification system needs to be checked.
Should You Age Cigars?
Some cigar lovers choose to age their cigars, as this process can enhance the smoking experience. While most cigars don’t actually need to be aged, as the producer will have aged the tobacco for at least a couple of years before rolling, and possibly again after the cigar was rolled, many still find the process fun.
Rather than ageing one singular cigar, it is typically best to buy a box of cigars and put these in a humidor to age. Try one when you first get them and then smoke subsequent stogies from the box every few months or once a year (depending on how many you have).
Each time you smoke them, jot down some notes about the experience, and you’ll be fascinated to see how the flavour and aroma develop over time.
Cigar Troubleshooting
Although it should be rare if you have selected a premium smoke, there can sometimes be issues with your cigar. This may be a fault with the way the cigar has been rolled, or it may be an issue with how you have stored the cigar.
Either way, some issues can be fixed, while others cannot, and the cigar should be discarded. Here we highlight some of the potential issues and how you should deal with them.
Uneven Burn
Burn issues are one of the most common problems with cigars. These can be due to a rolling fault or bad lighting technique. Some cigars may be unrecoverable, but many can be fixed with a bit of patience and a dab hand with a lighter.
Canoeing is often the most common burn issue, with one side of the cigar burning faster than the other. This could be from an off-centre ligero, or from not properly toasting the cigar, so one side is lit more fully than another.
It is fairly easy to remedy a canoed cigar – simply slow down your smoking, so the cigar has time to cool down. The faster you smoke, the hotter a cigar burns, so slowing down your puffs can give the cigar a chance to right itself.
If further action is needed, then stop smoking and let the cigar cool before clipping the end with a cigar cutter. Then blow through the cigar to expel any chemicals within the cigar before relighting properly.
Cigar Beetle
If your cigar has pinprick holes across it, or there is evidence of black dust in your humidor, then it is likely your cigars have been affected by cigar beetles.
A cigar affected by cigar beetles is unrecoverable and should be discarded. Whenever you get new cigars, check them thoroughly before placing them in your humidor to prevent introducing cigar beetles to your collection.
To prevent future problems with cigar beetles, it is important to keep your humidor at a steady temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
Humidification Issues
Issues can also arise from incorrectly storing your cigars in a humidor. If your cigar is over-humidified, then it may feel spongy and damp, whereas an under-humidified cigar may feel dry and brittle.
An under-humidified cigar should be put back in the humidor, at 70% humidity, and left for a week.
An over-humidified cigar should be placed back in the humidor, surrounded by some cedar strips, and left at the right humidity for a week.
Repairing Cigars
Accidental damage can happen to your cigars, whether they’ve been knocked in your bag or unravelled a bit when cutting the cap. You can probably still smoke a damaged cigar, although it is likely that it will have some burn issues. There is also a way to patch up damage:
What Will I Need to Fix My Cigar?
Box 100% Natural Pectin (this can be found in the supermarket)
A small container of some sort (such as the lid to a soda bottle)
A small amount of water
1 Toothpick
A small amount of donor tobacco to use as a patch
How Do I Fix My Cigar?
Place a small measure of warm water into your soda bottle cap.
Add in a small amount of pectin and stir with a toothpick.
Apply pectin with a toothpick to both the cigar and donor tobacco.
Apply patch, press firmly and remove any wrinkles.
Allow pectin to dry for about one minute then enjoy your repaired cigar.
Cigar Pairing
One of the best ways to enhance your cigar smoking experience is to learn how to successfully pair your cigar with food or drink. By matching or contrasting flavours from food or drink items, you can create more complex tasting experiences and may even draw out hidden notes within your cigar.
Finding the perfect marriage between cigars and another ingredient can be tricky to get right, so check out our guide to pairing infographic below to learn the basic rules and discover some essential pairing types.
When it comes to cigar smoking, knowing where to start can sometimes be a bit daunting, so we hope that this guide will provide all the information you need. If you still have any questions, then please get in touch, either via the comments below or through our social media channels!
The only thing to do next is to buy some cigars to try and get puffing!
The History of Culebras
23 July 2021 by Ellie
Everyone has a pretty good idea of what a cigar looks like – a long, brown tube of expertly rolled tobacco with a tapered end. And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong.
Until you came across the Culebra. Join us as we explore this unconventional type of cigar from how it originated right up to how to smoke it.
What Are Culebra Cigars?
Spanish for ‘snake’, a Culebra cigar isn’t so much one cigar, but three separate cigars plaited and then banded together. These eye-catching cigars are usually 5 – 6 inches in length and tend to come with a 38 ring gauge.
The Origin of Culebra Cigars
There is a bit of speculation as to how this twisted tobacco product came to be.
Perhaps the most commonly told story is that Culebras were made as a way to stop workers in cigar factories from taking more than their allotted three cigars a day.
When they’ve been pulled apart, the Culebra cigars hold their crooked and gnarled shape, so anyone seen smoking or taking a straight cigar could be called a thief. People were also less likely to want to buy a twisted cigar and so the factory workers wouldn’t be able to sell them on for their own profit.
This story is often scrutinized since any cigar roller could have made cigars into Culebras. Plus, the separate task of rolling Culebras specifically for the workers would have taken up a lot of valuable rolling time that the companies would be unlikely to waste.
Another origin story comes from the Philippines during the 19th century.
People believed that weaving together a few thinner cigars would help them to mature quicker. The idea, however, never really caught on in the rest of the world and cigar factories stuck to their own cigar maturing methods.
How Are Culebra Cigars Made?
Culebra cigars tend to be smaller than standard cigars. For example, a Corona, the benchmark cigar size, is a 42-44 ring gauge whereas the Culebras tend to be Panatelas with a 38 ring gauge.
To start, the individual Panatelas are rolled a little under-filled to make them smaller than usual. They’re also over-moistened to ensure the wrapper doesn’t split when the cigars are being braided together.
The three cigars are placed together and tied with a ribbon at the cap end before being braided together and tied with another ribbon at the opposite end.
Over time, the cigars began to mould together as they age and the extra moisture evaporates. The cigars then retain their twisted shape, even when they’re unbraided to be smoked.
How To Smoke A Culebra Cigar
At first glance, you might think Culebras cigars are meant to be smoked altogether as a set of three. While this is theoretically possible, we really don’t recommend it.
Instead, unwrap the ribbons on both ends and separate the cigars. Then, take one of the Panatelas to smoke and keep the other two safe and sound in a humidor (or whatever other method you’ve chosen to store your cigars).
If it’s a special occasion, you could always separate all three and share them with two friends for a great social smoking experience.
Despite its unique look, Culebra cigars are not the most popular choice for most aficionados and are often produced as part of a limited edition or small run that doesn’t stay for long. Culebras are, however, a rather rare novelty cigar that has since been considered a collectable!
If you’re looking for cigars online, why not check out our store where we have a great range of Cuban cigars from top brands like Ashton and Davidoff.
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