The first things you notice with the VegaFina is its nice smooth start, great draw, and pleasing aroma. The smooth starts evolves into a creamy smoothness that lasts throughout the entire smoking experience. The mixture of flavors in this mild to medium body stick include wood and nutty flavors. The subtlety of flavors and blend of tobacco's contribute to a hint of spice, with a sweetness that is carried throughout the cigar.
A curated list of the weeks most interesting cigar stories.
The Most Expensive Cigars In The World Cigar lovers from around the world have branched out, turning away from Cuba to other brands and areas in the Caribbean and Central America. Once such company is Gurkha Cigars. Established all the way back in 1887, Gurkha Cigars has been producing some of the highest quality (and most expensive) cigars on the international market. Read the full story...
Premium Cigar Accessories from Conocedor Conocedor, which means connoisseur in Spanish, officially launched just over a month ago after spending a year prototyping products and other foundational work. The company offers unique premium cigar cutters and intricately designed humidors. Read the full story... Icon - Jimmy Howard
In the 1950's Jimmy Howard raced around dirt ovals in a car he built with his own hands, a cigar clenched in his teeth and head out the window, squinting through dust clouds to the checkered flag. Read the full story...
James Bond’s casino game of choice, baccarat, is for high-rollers with big cajones. With the Baccarat 1871 Dolce Far Nienteyour always a winner, and there's no risk.
This cigar has a soft, spongy feel, with a light Connecticut wrapper. It’s sweetened tip makes this the go-to smoke for the sweet-tooth. It is a mild strength cigar, with a primary flavor of pure tobacco with a hint of pepper spice and maybe a bit of hay. The flavor starts out rough, but quickly transitions to a nice smooth smoke. It has great draw, and leaves a long ash. It does burn a bit fast, but you can expect to get 30-40 minutes out of this smoke.
Jumping into a new passion or hobby can be a daunting task. Pursuing an enjoyment of cigars does not have to feel that way. Members of the cigar smoking club are friendly and excited to share their knowledge with like-minded individuals. For the budding cigar aficionado, below are a few things you should know that will help assimilate you into the cigar culture.
Tobacconists are experts on cigars, accessories, and all things tobacco. As a new smoker the best form of education is talking to the tobacconist and asking questions. Do not walk into a cigar shop and act like you know anything that you don’t. Be honest, open, and communicative.
#2: Know the parts of a cigar.
The full cigar can be divided into four parts. The cap (or tip) is the small piece that seals the top of the cigar and must be cut prior to smoking. The headis the part of the cigar that goes in your mouth. The footof the cigar is the part that is lit. Between the head and foot is the body of the cigar.
#3: Understand the anatomy of a cigar.
The cigar itself is made up of three different parts, the filler, binder, and wrapper. Each of these cigar components come from a different part of the tobacco plant.
The filler is the what makes up the core or innermost part of the cigar, this is where most of the flavor and aroma comes from. Filler is a mixture of the tobacco leaf “primings” - volado, seco, and ligero.
The volado leaf primings provide little flavor, but are a key factor in the burning characteristics of the cigar. The seco leaves have mild flavor and is very aromatic. Ligero leaves, the topmost leaves of the tobacco plant, have the strongest flavors, and contain the largest concentration of nicotene.
The binder is the second layer of the cigar. This holds the filler together and serves as a “platform” for the wrapper to attach to. Binder is usually made up of the capote leaves of the tobacco plant. This is a leaf between the volado and seco plant parts.
The wrapper is the outermost covering of the cigar. The visible part. Seco leaves are most commonly used for the wrapper.
#4: Know where cigars originate from.
Cuba is the country most associated with cigars, however, three other countries are known for their cigar origination. These countries are the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Cigars are 100% tobacco and are typically made from a variety, or blend, of tobacco’s from each of these countries. A cigar that is manufactured with tobacco from only one country is referred to as a “puro”.
#5: Understand how cigars are sized.
A cigars shape and size is referred to as its “vitola”. The vitola typically includes the shape, the size, and the ring gauge. There are two main categories of shapes, with multiple variations in each. Parejos are cigars that have a more normal cylindrical shape. Figurados are irregular and come in a variety of unique sizes and shapes. The thickness, or girth, or a cigar is measured in ring gauge. The ring gauge is based on increments of 1/64th of an inch. A 64 gauge cigar would be 1” around. The closer the number is to 64 the thicker the cigar will be.
#6: Start with something mild.
New smokers should start with a cigar that is mild in strength. The cigars strength refers to its nicotine content. A cigar that is too strong for the smoker can result in dizziness, or nausea. Start mild and work your way up over time. A cigars strength is not necessarily related to its flavor. A cigar’s flavor and taste is referred to as its “body”.
A.J. Fernandez says about this cigar, “A.J. and father Ismael, once again come together, to create a masterpiece.”
This is exactly the flavor you experience once you light the A.J. Fernandez New World Connecticut, a masterpiece. This smoke provides a smooth creamy flavor, medium body, with a lot of leafy, grassy, almost tea like flavors. As the cigar burns it keeps a beautiful light grey and white streaked ash.
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade U.S.A.
Binder: San Andres Mexico
Filler: Nicaragua, Brazil Size: Various
This cigar provides a calming, relaxed experience. It is one of those cigars that tastes like quality. A smoke you never want to end!
