What do I look for in a cigar???

So, what do I look for in a cigar you ask? (Well, you didn't ask, I did, but maybe you would like to know.) Well, first think I look for in any cigar that I enjoy is a flavorful experience. Many people who do not smoke cigars might not understand that cigars are not just the same old thing over and over. There are cigars that are peppery and spicy, then there are cigars that are creamy and smooth. Cigars that have an abundance of flavors are what I really go for. There is no use smoking a cigar that has little or no flavor right?

To me it is not really the particular flavor that is important just how it is presented during the cigar experience. I enjoy creamy cigars that really fill your mouth and pallet with the flavors of the tobacco, and I enjoy a "pepper bomb" that explodes into your mouth and does not let go. What I cannot stand is a cigar that dances around the flavors, gives you a hint at the start, then fades away. If you have something good then keep to it!

I also look at how the cigar is constructed and the quality of the wrapper leaf that is used. There is no better sign that a cigar is going to disappoint than seeing a poorly wrapped smoke. If the company who made the cigar cannot get the wrapping right, what is the confidence that I have that the rest of the cigar will be ok? I also tend to go for the darker wrappers as I have found that these wrappers tend to go with the stronger cigars in terms of flavors (not strength of the cigar). Is this a hard and fast rule, no, but it is something that I tend to do.

Next during the smoke, I tend to like a cigar that pumps out the smoke, not one that has a trickle that comes out of the cigar. I also like a cigar that has a nice ash, not one that flakes, but one that stays in its shape. This might just be something that I care about but it really bugs me when an ash flowers.

After all that, I look at the price, that is the last thing I worry about. I tend to find that sometimes cheaper cigars are better cigars. Don't let price dictate the experience.

So what are some of my favorites that fit the above? Well the El Cobre is a great example of a cigar that is so full of flavor. It is a strong cigar in terms of strength, but it is really well made and really flavorful. I also like most of the Don Pepin cigars that are on the market today. He really seems to make a cigar that is flavorful but not overpowering.

But again don't forget some old favorites like the H. Upmann Maduro Reserve, or some new cigars that are out there like the Te-Amo World Collection. I smoked the Nic blend last night and it was flavorful and well made, the ash did flower but overall the smoke was very good. These value cigars can be a great everyday alternative to the more expensive premiums out there today.

Happy smoking!