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Cigar Terminology |
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Cigar TerminologyLearn what these terms mean, so you can make better purchasing decisions about your cigars. Band - A paper ring around the head of most cigars. Cigar bands are often imprinted with the name of the brand, country of origin, and an indication that the cigar was hand-rolled. Barrel - The main body of the cigar. Binder - The portion of leaf used to hold the blend of filler leaves togethe; with the wrapper and filler, it is one of the three main components in a cigar. Blend - The tobacco mix used in a cigar, including up to five types of filler leaves, a binder leaf and an outer wrapper. Bouquet - The smell, or nose of a fine cigar. Bundle - A packaging method designed with economy in mind that uses a cellophane overwrap. It usually contains 25 or 50 cigars, typically without bands. Bundles are oftentimes "seconds" of premium brands, and are usually less expensive than boxed cigars. Cabinet Selection - Cigars packed in a wooden box rather than cardboard or paper-covered cigar boxes. These are preferred when buying cigars for aging. Cap - A circular piece of wrapper leaf placed at the head of the cigar. Corona - The most familiar size and shape for premium cigars: generally straight-sided with an open foot and a closed, rounded head. Draw - The flow of smoke from a cigar. Filler - The individual tobacco used in the body of the cigar. A fine cigar usually contains between two and five different types of filler. Handmade cigars have long fillers where machine made cigars usually contain smaller-cut leaf. Finish - A tasting term which refers to the taste that lingers on your palate after a puff. Mild cigars do not have much finish, either in terms of length or complexity, but stronger, more full-bodied cigars have distinctive flavors that linger. Flag - An extension of the wrapper leaf shaped to finish the head of a cigar - used instead of a cap. Flags are sometimes tied off in a pigtail or a curly head. Foot - The end of the cigar one lights. Most often it is pre-cut, except in the case of Torpedos and Perfectos. Head - The closed end of the cigar opposite from the end one lights. Hot - Describes a cigar that is underfilled and has a quick, loose draw. Can cause harsh flavors. Humidor - A room or a box, of varying sizes, designed to preserve or promote the proper storage and aging of cigars by maintaining a relative humidity level of 70 percent and a temperature of approximately 65° to 70° F. Lance - A cutter used to pierce a small hole in the closed end of a cigar. Also called a piercer. Maduro - A cigar, very dark brown in color (like black coffee). These are usually selected by experienced smokers. Thought of as the traditional Cuban color. Oil - The mark of a well-humidified cigar. Even well-aged cigars secrete oil at 70 to 72 percent relative humidity, the level at which they should be stored. Perfecto - A distinctive cigar shape that is closed at both ends, with a rounded head; usually with a bulge in the middle. Shoulder - The area of a cigar where the cap meets the body. If you cut into the shoulder, the cigar will begin to unravel. Sugar - Sugars occur naturally in tobacco. Darker wrappers, such as maduros, contain more sugar, making them sweeter. Torpedo - A cigar shape that features a closed foot, a pointed head and a bulge in the middle. Tubos - Cigars packed in individual wood, metal or glass tubes to keep them fresh. Tunneling - The unwelcome phenomenon of having your cigar burn unevenly. To prevent it, rotate your cigar now and then. Vintage - When a vintage is used for a cigar, it usually refers to the year the tobacco was harvested, not the year the cigar was made. Wrapper (capa) - Leaves with elasticity are used to restrain the filler within the cigar. Good wrappers usually have no visable veins. Colors vary due to the maturing process.
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