Cigar Information Cigars are a great way to enhance your fun time at the Bachelor Party. Below we have included some great information to make you sound like you are a Cigar Connoisseur!

I. Cigar Tips

As a rule the darker the color of the cigar, usually the sweeter and stronger the flavor can be. The darker color cigars usually have the most sugar and oil content as they usually have spent a greater amount of time on the plant before picking.

Other factors on choosing a cigar is the type of fillers and binders, more expensive cigars tend to be hand wrapped, using fillers that run the length of the cigar giving a more full flavor. The less expensive (usually machine wrapped) cigars tend to use more scraps of leaf, more similar to a cigarette.

A cigar also needs to be judged by its wrapping. A perfect cigar is one that the wrapper is intact and not damaged (if it is, don't buy it). The wrapper should also be consistent in color and should have a nice scent to it. If the wrapper is heavily "Veined", this is another reason to reject a cigar. While feeling it, the cigar should be wrapped nicely, not too tight (very difficult to draw in) or too lose (loss of flavor).

Now, once you have chosen your cigar, it is time to enjoy. Here are few tips on the proper way to cut and light the cigar.

Use a "Guillotine" style cutter (it is not recommended to use the "Punch" or "Wedge" style cutters as they can cause the cigar to overheat, which can lead to an unpleasant flavor)

• When cutting, at the closed end, you should leave approximately 1/8 inch of the cap before lighting.

• Always use butane lighter or match (not a gasoline lighter which can damage the flavor, also avoid matches with a high sulfur or wax content).

• Hold the cigar horizontally, directly in contact with the flame, slowly rotate it until the end is evenly lit.

• Once the end is evenly charred, place the cigar between your lips and while still holding the flame to the other end, draw in slowly, while still turning it.

• Remove the cigar from your mouth and gently blow on the lit end, making sure that it is evenly lit, or else one side will burn faster than the other.

Once lit, a cigar is meant to be savored and smoked slowly. The ash that builds up at the end of the cigar is, unlike its cigarette counterpart, not supposed to be "Tapped Off". Unless the embers become large enough to restrict the incoming air being 'drawn-in' it is best to let the ash fall off on its own.

Cigars are like fine wines (or beer for that matter) and taste is very personal. What might taste good to one person might not to another. Cigars are meant to be smoked slowly, unlike their cigarette counterpart. A smaller cigar might last ½ hour while a larger cigar might last for more than an hour or two.

II. History of Cigars

Little is known of the actual origin of the Tobacco plant, but it is believed that the first peoples to cultivate and smoke the plant were the native peoples of the Americas. Historians believe that Christopher Columbus was the person most responsible for the wide spread attention of Tobacco to the rest of the world after his momentous voyage of 1492.

Cigar smoking in the United States first became notable until the time of the Civil War and by the 19th century cigar smoking became a real status symbol. Many turns of events over the last few hundred years took place all over the world with cigar manufacturing and distribution. In 1959 started the biggest event for the cigar industry, when Fidel Castro's revolution against General Batista. Fidel Castro's nationalization of Cuba caused the US to place an embargo on Cuba and its most popular export, Cigars!

Many of the family's owned and produced some of the most popular cigars (many of who were American-owned) fled Cuba during these times as the nationalization of Cuba included the control of the cigar industry. Many of these same families set up shop in various other places under the same names at they had been growing in Cuba. Some of these notable cigars include: Romeo Y Julieta, H. Upmann, Partagas, La Gloria Cabaña, Punch, and Hoyo de Monterrey to just name a few. They fled to such places as the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico and some even here in the United States.

Cuba is known for having the most optimal climate for growing Tobacco for cigars this is due to three factors; climate, rainfall, and soil. These three conditions make it optimal for growing tobacco for cigars but there are many who disagree and claim other countries produce equal or better cigars. The area other area most notable for competition is the Dominican Republic, which has very similar climate. Many other countries are the producers of the wrappers and binders; these include Cameroon, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, and the US (Connecticut). Some people say that the tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut Valley (Connecticut Shade) are some of the best in the world. This tobacco can sell for over $40 a pound!

Cigars, aside from the actual taste, can be classified by a number of factors:

• Length (inches from end to end)
  Ranging from 3 ¾ to 9 ¼ inches (most standard cigars)

• Ring Gauge (the thickness or girth of the cigar)
  Ranging from 26 to 52 (most standard cigars)

• Shape
  Standard
  Torpedoes (pointed head on one side)
  Figuerados (pointed head on both sides)

• Wrapper Color
  Double Claro - greenish brown color, very mild, very little oil.
  Claro - pale brown, mild.
  Colorado Claro - middle brownish, tawny.
  Colorado - reddish brown, aromatic.
  Colorado Maduro - dark brown, medium strength.
  Maduro - very dark brown, full bodied.
  Oscuro - almost black in color, very strong.