The Cut Makes the Smoke

As I begin to learn about the anatomy of a cigar, I now know that tastes are varied based on leaf and the filler and how, when and where the cigar was made. But I’ve also learned that how you care for the cigar can affect the taste and now I have embraced that the cut is as important.

There are four basic cutters:

1) V-Cutter: Best for small cigars and provide a large clean smoking areas from the cut








2) Bullet or Punch: Easiest to transport; also the ease of use makes it less likely you will make a bad “cut”. This instrument basically punches a hole into the smoking surface.








3) Scissors: You must choose high quality scissors as bad blades begat bad cuts begat bad smokes.











 4) Double Guillotine – Is the most common of cigar cutters…and its proper name is the coolest.











In the anatomy of the cigar the CAP is the small, round piece of wrapper leaf attached to the head of a cigar. The purpose of the cap is to secure the wrapper. When cutting a cigar smoke, the cap is the perfect place to use as the template for the cut.

                                     

With the Guillotine, V or Scissors, you should hold the body of the cigar firmly between your thumb and index finger in your non-dominant hand. Place the blades of the cutting instrument of choice just before or just beyond the end of the cap. You’re looking at about a millimeter’s difference. With one quick motion, snip the cap off of the cigar. It is important to make one quick cutting motion as not to make the wrapper of the cigar start to unravel.

The technique of making the cut using the cap as a measurement is not available for torpedo or Figurado shaped cigars. The advantage to cutting either of these types of cigars is that you have more choice of how large an opening you can make.

With the Punch or Bullet cutter, again hold the cigar in your non-dominant hand. Place the cutting instrument over the top of the cap. Insert the blade into the cap. After the blade is inserted into the cap, rotate it to cut a hole into the cap, and then remove the blade. It is something aesthetically unpleasing to me about the punch cut; however, when you’re on the golf course and you and your playing partners have all left your guillotines in the car, a divot tool works quite nicely.

There will be times while perusing your favorite tobacco shop when you might decide to enjoy a smoke in house. The tobacconist might ask, before he cuts your cigar, “What type of draw do you like?” He or she is asking if you like a big puffs of smoke or small puffs and will cut your cigar accordingly.

Personally, I taste the cigar better if it’s not over powered by a big draw of smoke; which would suggest that I would like the punch. But I prefer a small draw from a “traditional” cut – just enough smoke and just enough taste.

But…now I’m back…Again...

I resisted coming back for so long because…I have been away so long. But my blog is the homepage on all of my devices and as much as tried to run away…it keeps calling me. I stayed away originally because I was on a fast. My sacrifice was about body cleansing and though I only smoke natural leaf…I thought I had better stay away from cigars too; as I enjoy the taste of fine spirits to add to a delectable smoke.

But…now I’m back…Again.

During my time away, I didn’t have many occasions to smoke. But when I did, I enjoyed it immensely. The fellas and I took a trip to San Antonio, Texas to enjoy a few golf courses. The only thing better than cigars and scotch, is cigars and golf. During that time, honestly, I wasn’t much interested in blogging. Mostly because I spent so much time spraying golf balls all over San Antonio and searching for them. I say, I did it on purpose so that I could spend a little more quality time puffing.


Found a cool new toy to make smoking and golfing easier:

Also, I spent a long leisurely lunch with the brothers in my book club at a local spot called, House of Cigars. This quaint little spot featured its own hand-rolled blends of Connecticut wrappers and leaf, complete with an onsite Cuban cigar roller.











I hope my hiatus can be forgiven. I’ll make up for it. One smoke at a time!

Alec Bradley Classic Blend Torpedo

Cigar: Alec Bradley Classic Blend
Size: 6 X 52
Color: Natural
Cost: $5.00
Drink: E&J VS Brandy

I've not had a lot of time to enjoy a smoke recently...but I'm back!

Today, I stopped by the local tobacco shop and walked in the humidor...without a plan.  After a few minutes of trying to decide what to taste, the tobacconist came to my "rescue?"  I told him that I wanted: light and inexpensive.  He recommended the Alec Bradley Classic Blend Torpedo.

I'll talk about this in a later post, but I'm not a huge fan of torpedo cigars.  I'm always afraid to cut the draw to big.  It's like I don't know where to stop the cutter.  Trepidatiously, I made the cut on this torpedo and was relatively satisfied with the cut.

Upon lighting the cigar, I smelled a pretty strong scent of grass - no, not that grass.  Since it had just rained, I wondered if what I was smelling was the fresh rained upon grass.  But the more I drew the more I realized it was the cigar.

The Classic Blend was sweet and stayed sweet throughout the smoke. Of the cigars have reviewed thus far, this was the mildest and the sweetest.  I was a bit surprised of how mild the smoke was because the cigar was darker in color than originally thought.  The wrapper is Honduran and the filler is Nicaraguan.

I decided to be frugal with the drink as well.  I tasted the cigar with E&J VS Brandy.  The flavors blended nicely together.  I like the band on this cigar - kind of intricate and pretty.

Overall, I really enjoyed the taste of the cigar.  I will most certainly be adding several of these to my humidor.

4 out of 5 stars.

Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Rothchilde

Cigar: Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Rothchilde
Size: 5 X 54 / Robusto
Color: Colorado to Colorado Maduro
Cost: $4.80
Drink: Jack Daniels Green Label Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey

Saturday was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Sunny, mild and just beautiful!  In between the "honey dos" and nightfall, I heard my golf clubs calling my name.  I spent a couple of hours on the driving range next to an old guy.  He was clearly in his late 60s, pot bellied and hit the ball so straight that it would make tour pros jealous.  Okay, that may be a bit of hyperbole but he did hit the ball extremely straight.

He finished his bucket, dutifully cleaned his clubs and sat on the bench behind me and fired up a beautifully fragrant cigar.  So of course, after I finished my bucket, I inquired about his smoke.  Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Rothchilde.  He told me that's all he ever smokes anymore.  He said he like the way it tastes and it was very inexpensive.  So of course, my next stop was the local tobacco shop. I had an article in Esquire Magazine about Chuck Berry I had yet to read, so what better way to relax and get to this article then with this smoke and good whiskey. 

First, the aroma of this cigar is incredible.  I saw Cuban beaches outlined in the smoke.  The leaf is Nicaraguan.  The filler is a blend of Nicaraguan, Peruvian and Honduran.  I tasted what I'm calling a nutty coffee.  It reminded me of the coffee I drink in the morning.  The whiskey that I was drinking also enhanced the nutty flavor.  The color is lighter than maduro, so I was a little surprised at how much aroma there was.  The cigar band was traditional red with gold lettering.  Not so much to look at. 

I don't read blogs until after I smoke so as not to influence my thoughts. Though in my quick research about the brand, it has long be lauded for its price point being more than affordable and its flavor speaking of a much more expensive cigar.

This cigar rates 3.5 out of 5.

CAO Italia

Cigar: CAO ITALIA
Size: 4.5 X 46 / Petit Corona
Color: Colorado Maduro to Maduro
Cost: $5.95
Drink: Woodford Bourbon Single Barrel Reserve

One of the first things I decided as I start this quest, is not to go out half cocked with no idea of what I was going to try or have no plan of how to get started.  The one thing I did know, I wasn't going to buy the most expensive cigars I could find under the auspices that they would be better. So to make this interesting, I decided to go out and find the least expensive cigars with most flavor.

I perused the internet and found several sites that recommended cigars that were both highly rated and very inexpensive.  Enter the CAO brand and for this tasting the ITALIA.

The ITALIA is one of the few cigars made with Italian Leaf and Italian tobacco filler.  The cigar is also filled with Nicaraguan and Peruvian tobacco.

The first puff lent itself to a sweet, peppery taste. The color of the leaf is is dark (Colorado Maduro to Maduro), so as expected, there was a very strong tobacco smell.  Around the middle of the smoke, the cigar began to change flavors.  I'm not sure I can put my hand or my taste buds on the flavor.  It was still rather sweet but without the pepper.  I wonder if my bourbon assisted in enhancing the sweet and easing back the pepper flavor.  I started to taste the "bad" tobacco when there was about an inch to an inch and half left.

I used my XIKAR torch to light the cigar.  It burned slowly and the ash was very sturdy.  According to my cigar tutoring, sturdy ash speaks of purer tobacco filler as opposed to filler that includes paper or pieces of stalk.

Because is the first official tasting, I will rate the CAO ITALIA at 3 of 5 stars.  I reserve the right to amend this as I taste more cigars.  As for now, anything above 3 stars is recommended.  Also, the band is so very cool.  It will definitely be kept for the collection.

Confessions: A Quest called Taste

So...I must confess.  I've been "smoking" cigars for years.  I've had Ashton, Mayorga, Sancho Panza, Royal Jamaican, and on and on and on.  And in the end, I really didn't know what I was supposed to get out of it.  It was just a lifestyle progression.

Until a recent trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic last year, I didn't know that I should be tasting cigars versus smoking them. I sat in a cigar rolling class and learned so many interesting things about the make up of fine tobaccos and leaf and learned to enjoy them on a different level. 

The Tobacconist whose cigar rolling class I attended in Punta Cana owned his own shop.  So the time I spent tasting in his shop was well guided.  When I came home and set foot in a well stocked humidor at the local cigar shop, I felt...overwhelmed.  Now, I see so many different kinds, tastes, sizes and on and on and on.  The store patrons all had their favorites and theirs were always the best.  The store clerks all had massive amounts of information and of course they had their favorites as well.  But as I stood there and took in the sights and sounds and smells, I realized cigars are just like everything else.  "Best" depends on your own tastes.

So, I've since taken up the cause of finding that cigar that tastes the best...to me.  But it won't stop me from recommending certain ones. I hope you enjoy this as much as I will.