There are not many people who are able to put the words “top quality cigars” and “American made cigars” in the same sentence, after all, who could compete with Cuban made cigars?

While it’s true that the best cigars come from Cuba (and close runners up come from places like Nicaragua, Honduras or the Dominican Republic), settling for an American crafted cigar does not mean that you are limited in taste and texture to something that you will find in the checkout line of a convenience store or in packs of five behind the tobacco counter at Wal-Mart.

In fact, there are actually some very well made cigars that could easily compete with their Cuban or Central American made brothers, if only you know what it is that you are looking for.  You may have to take a little extra time to track these particular brands down – in fact, you may need to check out an actual tobacco or cigar shop or possibly even order in order to find these particular beauties, but in the end, you will be very glad that you did.

Top Three American Made Cigars

Sabor Cubano.  A Sabor Cubano cigar is something that any true cigar connoisseur will enjoy.  Made by Luis Sanchez, Sabor Cubanos are rolled by professional tobacco rollers (or “Tabaqueros” as they are known in Cuba) who worked in Cuba itself before coming to the United States.  The head of the Sabor Cubano team is an experienced gentleman by the name of Leo Peraza who has 46 years experience rolling cigars in his native Cuba.

Sabor Cubano Cigars

A Sabor Cubano’s construction is nearly flawless; perfectly formed and with a dark, oily wrapper that is completely natural and will not leave black marks on your lips or teeth.  The Sabor Cubanos have binders from Ecuador and are filled with a mix of tobacco from Nicaragua and the Dominican republic that combine to give a rich, full, well-rounded flavor; definitely a smoke you are going to want to try.

Tatuaje Cabinet Tainos.  Tatuaje Cabinet Tainos Cigars are the brain child of Pete Johnson who relied heavily on Jose Garcia, a Cuban expatriate who has his own cigar factory in Miami.   El Rey de los Habanos employs a dozen master rollers of Cuban decent.  So well crafted are these cigars that to look at them you could swear that they came from Havana itself.  The tobacco for the Tainos comes from Nicaragua, and the flavor is so impressive; nuttiness tempered with vanilla; that the Tatuaje Cabinet Tainos cigars rated #4 out of 25 in the Top 24 Cigars list of 2005 put out by Cigar Aficionado, an amazing achievement for an American made cigar.

Tatuaje Cigars

Tres Hermanos.  The Tres Hermanos cigar is made at The Cigar Factory New Orleans.  While relatively new as cigar factories go (it opened its doors in 1998), the quality is not to be denied. One of three different cigar lines that The Cigar Factory New Orleans produces, Tres Hermanos has a spicy aroma whose flavor oscillates between cedar and cinnamon/nutmeg and is packed into a Mexican maduro wrapper.

Tres Hermanos UNO

All of the cigars made at The Cigar Factory New Orleans are freshly wrapped, which means they will smoke even better if you let them age in your humidor for at least a few weeks if not a few months before you smoke them.

What are the best cheap cigars available?  Well, that depends on a number of things; primarily on your definition of the word “cheap.”  While there are some who would not blink at spending $10.00 or more per cigar (and consider it a bargain), there are plenty who cannot justify more than a few dollars per cigar given their current budget, but who are just as anxious for a good, satisfying smoke as those with money to (pardon the expression) burn.

Finding the Best Cheap Cigars:

Finding the best to rated cigars that don’t cost a heap of money does not necessarily mean that you have to give up quality of flavor, and while every true guitar aficionado knows just how expensive the best Cuban cigars can be, there are a number of alternatives that can be had for less than $4.00 each; a price that won’t break the bank, but for which you can still acquire a smooth and tasteful smoke.

The cigars listed below may not be available at every grocery checkout, but by doing a little research you should be able to find these in a Tobacco or Cigar shop.  If not, check the brands out online and see if you can find a good quality supplier who does not charge a great deal for shipping and handling.

Drew Estate Java Maduro Wafe

At $3.80, the Drew Estate Java Maduro Wafe is actually not a bad cigar.  It’s rich, smooth taste has an undertone of chocolate and cocoa and finishes up tasting like espresso – it even smells good!

Drew Estate Java Maduro Wafe

Finick’s Rum & Honey Slims

At just $1.00 apiece you may be skeptical of the Rum & Honey Slims, but they are really excellent quality smokes!  With a hint of honey, these mild, rum flavored cigars have an easy draw and will have you hooked in no time.

Finick’s Rum & Honey Slims

Another very inexpensive cigar, Finck’s Cheroots Toro is only $1.65, but tastes like it should cost much more.  It’s light pepper and cedar flavor is decidedly smooth and never goes bland.

Finck’s Cheroots Toro

Helix Remix Amaretto Petite Corona

At $2.65, the Helix Remix Amaretto Petite Corona has a very flavorful wrapper that smells good even before you light it up.  The underlying almond and amaretto flavor will have your taste buds popping.

Helix Remix Amaretto Petite Corona

La Gloria Cubana Wavell

At $4.00 even, the La Gloria is the most expensive cigar on this “cheap” cigars list.  Its cedar undertone and peppery ending makes it a very satisfactory smoke.

La Gloria Cubana

Rum Runner Buccaneer

The Rum Runner Buccaneer is, at $2.20, a very good deal when it comes to flavor and fullness.  Its light rum flavor is incredibly rich and it even comes with a good tasting wrapper.

Rum Runner Buccaneer Cigars

Drew Estate Java Maduro

At $380, the Drew Estate Java Maduro is rather bigger than the Wafe, and while not quite as satisfactory, it is a good deal for the price and size, and its smooth cocoa flavor will make you a fan.

Drew Estate Java Maduro's

Padron Family Reserve Number Forty Four

In this article we will reveal our picks for the 5 best cigars, and why we consider them the top rated cigars in the world…

Cigars can vary greatly in taste and quality. Some will have been better constructed using finer quality tobacco than others. Cigar connoisseurs will be able to tell a good cigar from its look, its feel, its smell, its taste, and how well it smokes. There are hundreds of brands of cigar available in a range of prices. The following list is intended to offer advice regarding the five best cigars which can be smoked.

The Padron Family Reserve Number Forty-Four is a torpedo shaped cigar with a maduro wrapper. Padron are well known for making premium quality cigars, and this is their very best. It gives an extremely dry smoke with a smooth texture. Some of the flavors which can be experienced with this cigar include cocoa, wood, and leather.

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico

It also has a spicy aroma. The quality of this cigar means that it is in high demand, but it is also very rare.

The next cigar on the list is La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico, created by Don Pepin. It is a straight shaped cigar in a natural wrapper. It provides a medium bodied smoke, and a full range of flavors. Another spicy smoke, this one will will evoke hints of dark chocolate, cedar, and generally earthy tones.

The Epernay Le Matin by Illusione is another popular straight cigar. Illusione are a well respected manufacturer of cigars, and the Epernay Le Matin is lighter than their usual output. It offers a full bodied smoke, with hints of wood and nuts. It also provides a very sweet and fruity flavor. This cigar measures six and three quarter inches long, meaning that it provides asubstantial smoke.

Epernay Le Matin by Illusione

The fourth cigar on the best five list is the Cohiba Behike BHK 52. This classic Cuban cigar is short and fat, in a brown Colorado wrapper. Cohiba are one of the best known and well respected of all Cuban cigar brands. The Cohiba Behike BHK 52 ages extremely well. It offers a smoke which ranges between medium and full bodied, with a smooth and creamy texture. The flavors experienced are earthy, with a hint of coffee.

Cohiba Behike BHK 52

The final cigar on the list is the Viaje Oro Reserva VOR Number 5. Viaje are a fairly modern brand, however they have produced a highly valued smoke which is limited in its availability. It is a short cigar at only five inches long, and is extremely well crafted. Some of the flavors experienced when smoking this cigar include cocoa and spices.

Viaje Oro Reserva VOR Number 5

These are the five best cigars currently available based on taste, aroma, and how well they are crafted. They all offer something different, but are consistent in that a smoke of any one of them will be rich and rewarding.

Learn more about cigar sizes and shapes here.

Cigar Types

A Simple Guide To The ‘Types of Cigars’…

If you are new to cigar smoking, the vast selection of styles and sizes can be bewildering at first. The first thing you should know is cigars are broken down into two categories: parejos and figuardos.

The first group, parejos, are cigars which are, for the most part, straight. Parejos are divided into three subcategories: corona, panatela, and Lonsdale. Coronas are probably the most popular and come in a variety of styles to choose from. They are known for their round head and open foot, or tip. Panatelas are longer and thicker than Coronas. Lonsdales are longer than Coronas as well, but they are the thinnest of the three.

Figurados are the second main category of cigars. Figuardos are more irregular in shape and not exactly straight, as if they are each made by hand to be only slightly off. Belicoso cigars are the smallest of the figuardos. They have small, rounded heads, and a larger foot. The Pyramid has, as the name would suggest, a pointed head which taper off to a large foot. The Perfecto cigar is tapered on the head and feet and thinner in the middle. The Diademas is the largest of the figuardos and is commonly known as the ‘giant’ among cigars as it is eight or more inches longer than any other cigar.

Real Cuban Cigars

Picking Out the Imposters…

It is widely known Cuban cigars are the most popular of all cigars, famous for their smooth, rich flavors and taste. Cuban cigars are so popular and sought after that many shady people will try to make some money selling fake Cuban cigars to eager buyers. So, how do you know if what you are getting is real or fake? The first step is to always make sure you are buying from legitimate retailers. It is always best to stick to your local tobacco store or smoke shop. Some mail order services also have a good reputation for selling authentic products as well.

But to ensure don’t buy fake Cuban cigars and if you find yourself in a position to purchase an alleged box of Cuban cigars, take some time to carefully inspect the contents of the box before forking over the cash. Below are a few extra tips to help you tell the difference between the imitations and the real deal.

The first, and most important, thing to look at is the actual box the cigars come in. If the box is an authentic Cuban cigar box, there is a green and white warranty seal on the front, left side of the box. This seal contains a symbol bearing the picture of a shield and a hat. Take a look at the upper right hand corner of the box, a diagonal sticker containing the word ‘Habanos’ should be there. Overall the box should look clean, neat, and presentable. If you see any damage, smudges, frayed ends, or marks don’t waste your time. The color should be sharp not dull. If the box is in bad shape, there is a good chance the cigars have been damaged in transit. The green and white warranty seal is located on the right hand side of the box for Cohiba, Trinidad, and Q’dorsay cigar brands.

Flip the box over and you should see the word ‘Habons’, burnt into the wood. If you suspect a rubber stamp or paper label has been used, they are not real. There should also be a code stamp from the factory on the bottom stamped in green, blue, or black ink indicated the city and date the cigars were rolled.

If allowed, open up the box and smell the tobacco. Cuban cigars have a distinct smell to them; deep and rich a true cigar enthusiast would know instantly. If the smell is weak or smells off, you probably are not holding authentic Cuban cigars. Every cigar needs to face the same direction and the top row may appear flattened which is normal. All the caps should be the same and each foot should have a smooth cut. The rings on each cigar should all look alike and arranged to all face the same direction. If you are able, press on each cigar, feeling for hard or soft spots. Each cigar should give a little, but be mainly firm.

International Havana Cigars

International Cigars : Cigars From Around the World

Most people who have ever smoked a cigar have tried the famous Cuban cigar. How can you tell if your cigar is Cuban or from some other country? For those who are just beginning to dabble in the cigar world, it’s important to note that each country produces a unique cigar. Every cigar (or international cigar) has its own flavor, taste, and character. The uniqueness of each different cigar has a lot to do with the countries quality of soil and the process of producing and rolling the tobacco.

There are significant varieties based on the region the cigar comes from. Here are some tips for learning the differences of the world’s flavors. Cuban cigars are known for their smooth, creamy flavors. They are among the most famous international cigars based on their high quality and rich flavors.

International cigars include Central American countries such as Honduras and Nicaragua have cigars. These international cigars have strong and rich flavors. Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean countries are known for mild flavored cigars.

You can look at the diameter and length of a cigar to further determine its overall flavor, no matter which country it comes from. Cigars with thicker diameters tend to have richer flavors. The longer the cigar the cooler the flavor will be.

Cigar Ashtray

Check Out That Cigar Ashtray

Is there a way to know if your cigar is high quality? There is actually, check the ashtray, the left over ashes can tell a lot about the quality of the cigar they came from. Below are listed some guidelines to follow in order to figure out the quality of your cigars.

The first thing to look for is how quickly your cigar burns. Cigars that burn fast and leave ashes that are easily broken apart, signifies low quality. Take a look at the ashes, if they seem messy and stick together too much this also is a sign of a low quality cigar. One last thing to check is the color. The ash color should not change, if it does, the mixture of tobacco leaves might be a poor, low quality.

A high quality cigar is one that is firmly packed, burns slowly, and has stiff ash. This stiff ash should stay intact and build up to two or three inches long, staying on the cigar and not breaking apart. A high quality cigar will burn clear down to the nub. The taste will change the closer to the nub the cigar burns. You can often let the cigar burn on its own for a bit, to get past the bitter spots.

One Way To Light A Cigar

4 Tips On How to Light a Cigar

If you are new to smoking cigars lighting up can be an intimidating task. Here are four guidelines to follow geared to making you look like a pro, even if it is your first time.

1. Cedar matches work best; however, if you’re more comfortable with a lighter, it should be butane to keep strong odors at bay.
2. Slowly, warm up the foot of the cigar (the open end), over the flame, but don’t let it touch the fire. Allow a black ring to shape around the end.
3. Placing the cigar in your mouth, slowly inhale. Keep the cigar over about half an inch over the flame, but don’t touch the fire. Continue to inhale until a flame appears on the end of the cigar. Slowly, spin the cigar around the flame so it burns evenly.
4. As soon as the cigar appears lit, remove it from your mouth and take a look at the burn around the end. You want the burn to be even, so if it is not even blow on any unlit areas to pull out the burn. You may need to take a couple pulls from the cigar to establish an even burn.

Tips On How to Smoke a Cigar:

Learning how to smoke a cigar is important if you want to enjoy the full flavor of one. If you will be smoking it around other people then you don’t want to seem inexperienced in this area. You need to start out by making sure you understand the right way to cut one. You want to cut the head of it no more than 1/8 of an inch. This way your cigar doesn’t unravel as you smoke it.

Lighting it up is another important aspect of how to smoke a cigar. It isn’t the same as lighting up a cigarette. A butane lighter is the best source of accomplishing this with ease. With the cigar in your mouth you want to place the flame right under it. You never want the flame to actually come into contact with your cigar. Instead you are going to puff and at the same time rotate the cigar with the flame underneath it.

This process can take about 30 seconds to complete so don’t rush it. You want to continue the process until the rim is lit and you can see smoke coming from it. You can relax once it is lit and enjoy your cigar to the fullest. You want to continue to rotate it and to puff on it for about one minute. Make sure you don’t inhale the smoke during this process. If you also smoke cigarettes that can be an instinctive habit and one that you definitely don’t want to take part in when you are smoking a cigar.

You want to consume your cigar slowly and savor the flavor of it. When you are smoking it too fast the heat will destroy the flavor that is offered. Many people wonder how far down to smoke a cigar. This is a personal choice and not something you need to worry about with how to smoke a cigar. Most people though will leave the last 1 inch to ½ inch of the cigar.

It does take some time to learn how to smoke a cigar. If you are intimidated to do it in front of others, practice at home in front of a mirror. Before you know it you will have the process down. You will also be doing it in a manner that allows you to get the full benefit of any cigar you happen to choose to smoke.

Here’s How to Roll a Cigar…

Learning how to roll a cigar can be fun and it doesn’t have to be time consuming once you get the hang of it. Many people do this so that they get the exact flavor that they want from cigars. This process also is less expensive than buying them already made. Part of how to roll a cigar though involves making sure you use high quality products. Otherwise the end results will be a disappointment to you.

How to Roll a Cigar Step 1: Keep in mind that different tobacco has a different strength to it. You will want to use a different type of tobacco for your filler, your binder, and your wrapper. Choose the type of tobacco leaf you want for your cigar and moisten it. Seal it up in a plastic bag for an hour or two. Gently squeeze the contents inside of the bag so that they will squeeze together. You want to let it sit in that format for another hour or two. Then you can remove it from the plastic bag to dry out.

How to Roll a Cigar Step 2: When your leaf tobacco is ready, lay out the binder you are using. Then get the filler and spread it out in a line the length of the size you want your cigars. You will also need to pay attention to how thick you want it to be. This is one area of how to roll a cigar that you will need to experiment with. As time goes by you will have a better idea of how much tobacco leaf you need for each cigar you wish to make.

How to Roll a Cigar Step 3: Your binder and filler will be very brittle so you need to be careful with it. You want to place them into the oven for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees. This will be the process for drying them out. To help your cigars keep their shape you want to have a cigar block which you can either make or you can purchase.

How to Roll a Cigar Step 4: After they cool from the oven you are ready to add the wrapper. For the best results you want to have a thin wrapper. You will find that different types also have a different texture to them. You may want to try out a couple of wrappers so you can make up your mind which you like the best. To keep your wrapper in place you can use glue or even egg whites to keep it securely in place.

Through the process of trial and error you will get better with how to roll a cigar. You will find what works well for you and what doesn’t. You can also experiment with different combinations of tobacco to develop a taste you enjoy very much from your cigars.