| When it comes to celebrating birthdays, most people | | | | And even then, your taste will differ from other |
| serve cake. At a wedding, you'll often receive a glass | | | | smokers'. But if you want specific advice on your |
| of champagne to toast the happy couple. But when | | | | selections, go to the experts who offer cigar |
| it's just the guys, out on the town for a bachelor | | | | reviews based on the following five qualities: |
| party, it's time to break out the cigars. | | | | Overall appearance. Is the color of the wrapper |
| If you're in charge of planning this big night out, be | | | | consistent? Is the shape uniform? Is the wrapper oily |
| sure to include a sampler box of cigars. This allows | | | | or does the leaf have a sheen? |
| you to offer a variety of smokes that hopefully | | | | Draw. This measures the ease or difficulty you'll have |
| meet everyone's tastes. Just as the guys probably | | | | drawing smoke through the cigar. |
| won't all drink the same beverage, neither will they all | | | | Burn rate. Not only does this judge the speed of the |
| want the same smoke. | | | | smoke, it also looks for an even burn. You do not |
| Cigars can be categorized as mild, medium or | | | | want your fine cigars to go up in smoke before you |
| full-bodied. This is the way to describe the cigar's | | | | have time to enjoy them. |
| strength and flavor, just as you would describe the | | | | Construction. The way a cigar is assembled can |
| body of a particular wine. | | | | greatly affect the way it smokes. It should not be |
| Mild cigars are light and, as such, have a lighter flavor. | | | | too loose or too tight. And the cigar should not come |
| Medium cigars offer more flavor than a mild cigar, but | | | | unwrapped while you're smoking it. |
| they are not overpowering the way some full-bodied | | | | Taste. A lot goes into judging the taste of a cigar. |
| smokes can be. (And remember that the term | | | | First there is the cigar's actual taste: light, powerful, |
| "overpowering" is not necessarily a bad thing. What is | | | | smooth, bitter, etc. But taste also takes into |
| overpowering to some smokers will be a rich smoke | | | | considering the point at which you experience the |
| for others.) | | | | taste. Is it half way through the cigar? Or did you |
| Full-bodied cigars have the maximum flavor and | | | | experience it throughout the smoke? Did the smoke |
| strength. | | | | start out pleasant, but turn bitter before you finished |
| You'll also want to consider the size of the cigars | | | | it? |
| you're offering in your sampler. Cigars are measured | | | | Another way to assemble your sampler of cigars is |
| by their length in inches and their diameter by the | | | | to include several cigar makers. That way you can |
| ring gauge. The ring gauge is based on 64ths of an | | | | try the best of several different brands. The |
| inch. This means a 32 ring gauge is a half-inch in | | | | following list represents 11 cigars made by such cigar |
| diameter, a 48 ring gauge is three-quarters of an | | | | makers as Palsencia, Rocky Patel and others. |
| inch, and so on. | | | | 1.Aspira Corojo Robusto Natural (4¾ X 50, which |
| Some of your choice of sizes include the petite cigar, | | | | means 4 ¾ inches long and a 50 ring gauge) |
| which is about 4 ½ inches long with a 40 to 42 ring | | | | 2.Don Tomas Special Edition #300 Natural (5 X 50) |
| gauge. The Churchill (named for the famous | | | | 3.Aspira Corojo Robusto Natural (4¾ x 50) |
| cigar-smoking Sir Winston Churchill) is 7 inches long | | | | 4.Don Tomas Special Edition #300 Natural (5 x 50) |
| with a 48 gauge. A Robusto is a short Churchill, only | | | | 5.Famous Nic. Corojo Robusto Natural (5 x 52) |
| 5 inches to 5 ½ inches in length with a 50 ring | | | | 6.Georges Reserve Robusto Natural (5 x 50) |
| gauge. At the top is a Double Coronoa, which | | | | 7.Olor Rothschild Natural (4½ x 50) |
| measures 7 ½ inches and a 52 gauge. | | | | 8.Plasencia Reserva Robusto Natural (4¾ x 52) |
| Another way to ensure a good selection of cigars is | | | | 9.RP American Market Robusto Natural (5½ x 50) |
| to look for tobaccos grown around the world. | | | | 10.Rafael Gonzalez Robusto Natural (5½ x 50) |
| Today's smoker can find handmade and handrolled | | | | 11.Rocky Patel Honduran Robusto Natural (5½ x 54) |
| cigars made with tobacco grown in Africa, Mexico, | | | | After you've assembled your sampler, relax and |
| Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica and Dominican | | | | enjoy the evening. Your guests may not agree on |
| Republic. A good cigar will blend up to five tobaccos | | | | which cigar is the best, but with a good variety, |
| from fields around the globe in an effort to produce | | | | you're helping to make this a night they will long |
| a world-class cigar. | | | | remember. |
| Of course you can only judge a cigar by smoking it. | | | | |