Photo Courtesy Of: brehantodd

Cigars are often associated with strong and rich tastes, just like coffee. There are a few though who like milder flavors, while some just want to perk up their cigar smoking experience. I have tried a couple in the past and I must say that I enjoy the sweet and lasting tastes of chocolate and cinnamon. I have heard that there are flavors like appletini, mojito, amaretto, rum, vanilla and even fruity ones such as grapes, mangoes, watermelon and many more.

Just a tip though, experts say that flavored cigars should not be stored or aged, for the reason that its flavor may be lost, which is why humidors only serve as containers so that they are preserved and protected. Like cigarettes, never place flavored cigars with regular ones as they can absorb the flavors even if they are sealed and packaged. So the best thing to do is purchase a few flavored cigars for you to try. If you fancy a flavor and buy a box, then it is time to get another humidor for it.

Making your own flavored cigars is also a no brainer. All you have to do is place unflavored cigars in an air-tight container along with the flavor you want. For example if you want to use Irish cream, simply keep the shot glass there and let the liqueur evaporate until it is gone. Do not pour the shot on the cigars.  It may take a few weeks before the flavor is absorbed, but it is worth the wait. If you roll your own, using flavored wrappers are another option for you to conveniently smoke away.

To some people, it would be best to check out the labels that they come with. The years specified in each box or label have a purpose and this is to show how long the cigar has been preserved thus for people to expect a higher quality taste for them.

Aging cigars may draw negative conclusions. But this would depend entirely on how educated the person who will be lighting the cigar is. There is no basis for waste when one talks about the length of storage a cigar has. The longer a cigar is kept, the better the taste it will provide once it is lit and smoked.

The Gurkha, as popular and sought after as it is now, was not always considered so highly. It hails from India, where it was once looked down on – if you can believe that. But one man changed that perception. Kaizad Hansotia, an entrepreneur based in Miami, bought the brand many years ago simply because he liked what he tasted. His gamble has paid off.

Gurkhas are now considered way up there in the cigar world. To give you an idea of just how highly regarded they are, one cigar goes for $750! Thus, it is not a surprise that you normally find high profile Hollywood personalities puffing on one of them babies.

More on the Gurkha from The Courant:

They are cased in “frosted glass tubes in which Gurkhas are individually packaged, the gold caps on the tubes, and the unique design of each new line of Gurkha boxes, from hand-carved wood in one line, to boxes covered with leather and lined with suede for another.

As for the celebrity interest in Gurkha, Torano said, “Go into any humidor in any good cigar shop in the country, and you can’t help but notice the Gurkha, because of their look. Then you smoke one and find you like them, too.”

Anyone here who has tried a Gurkha?

If you are having problems finding the money to enjoy your favorite cigar, I have an alternative for you – Greek cigars. I actually read about these cigars from a report by the Associated Press, which talks about Domenico Cigars.

This company is based in Greece but their seeds are from Cuba. The people behind the company also have gotten their knowledge and other cigar making secrets from Cuba itself. As a result, their cigar quality is almost comparable to some of the best and most expensive cigars to be found these days.

Truth be told, the cigar industry in Greece is very young, a mere babe so to speak. The industry only started about 5 years ago in an area northwest of Athens. The climate in this area is hot and damp, making it similar to the Pinar del Rio region in Cuba. As such, it is not that surprising that the cigars produced in Domenico are garnering considerable attention.

Experts state that Domenico cigars do not really match the level of “real” Cubans. Despite the seeds being the same, the soil and weather conditions are not exactly alike. Still, people seem to like them and keep buying them. Maybe you should try one and see for yourself.

Tom Johansmeyer recently reviewed this cigar at Luxist, and this is what he has to say:

The box alone suggests that the contents are fascinating. Slick black with orange trim, the only reason you disturb the presentation is because you know what’s inside. The Gurkha Black Dragon Tubo cigars sit within, each encased in a frosted glass tube. Slide the metal cap from the case, and extract the cedar-wrapped cigar … the ritual itself shapes the smoking experience that follows.

Packaging and wrapping aside, does the Black Dragon deliver on taste? Johansmeyer continues:

The Black Dragon is far more powerful than most of the Gurkha cigars you’ve smoked. The dark wrapper belies its fuller taste, which is just a bit north of medium-bodied. Like any sophisticated cigar, the flavor does evolve from one end to the other, as the cigar gains momentum especially after the first two inches. The fullness stays with you to the end, maintaining its potency to the end rather than receding to a disappointing mildness.

More than the powerful flavor that you get at the beginning, I like how the flavor continues to satisfy you till the end. This is perhaps one cigar that you can enjoy to the fullest. Naturally, we should expect to pay for this kind of experience. I am willing, are you?

Naturally, being a Montecristo, you already have an inkling of the high quality of the cigar. On the outside, the White Especial No. 1 is firm to the touch, without a doubt packaged excellently. But what about the flavor and the smoking experience itself?

The initial draw will give you a very light tobacco flavor. That’s about it, really. You do not get any hint of woodsy flavors or anything else. It’s pure tobacco, albeit very mild. As you continue smoking the cigar, you might find yourself expecting the flavor to develop or perhaps intensify. To be honest, though, the mild tobacco flavor stays consistent down to the last draw. Now this is not a bad thing if that is what you are looking for. However, if you want something stronger, then you might not be satisfied with this cigar. On the upside, the cigar burns very well all throughout.

There are also other variations of the white cigar at Altadis USA. Check them out and tell me what you think.

Secondly, cigars are entirely expensive compared to one pack of cigarette. For some cigars such as Cuban or Havana manufactured cigars, the price of one piece of cigar may be equivalent or even more expensive than one pack of cigarette. This is largely due to the materials used in making one cigar roll. Tobacco leaves and storage is different and this can be attested to once they are given the chance to try them out.

The manner of smoking is different. For cigarettes they have filters and are inhaled. For cigars, it does not follow that people will inhale them all the time. Chances are they may even get dizzy if they inhale cigar fumes, but there are people who do so, probably because they have been accustomed to doing so with cigarettes beforehand.

Cigars are rare today, and unless people are the standard cigar addicts, only a few can see people regularly smoking cigars in public. Cigars have become a preserved commodity, usually being lit and puffed during occasions such as a new job, new promotion or a closed deal with partners. Triumph has therefore been associated with cigars, a call to celebration and relaxation in most cases.

Cigars symbolize quality and achievement. Most people would not know why this practice is followed but nevertheless perform it on occasions that call for it anywhere in the world.

For cigar smokers, it does not necessarily have to be the expensive Cuban cigar that everyone is raving about. Sure a person would probably praise you in delight if he would get one, but there are more things that a cigar lover would truly appreciate. There are cigar accessories such as that of cigar cutters and humidors among others.

The list of possible cigar add-on could go on, but finding out of these things is simple if a person would indeed know what it takes to enjoy a cigar and the things needed by a person to go by it.

Cigars would come in different flavors such as natural and chocolate flavors. While no one would really understand what the bearing of flavored tobacco would be, the cigar experts would be the best people to ask why. All they get is smoke, but aside from the relaxation, this has become normal for people who have made it a habit to combine both.

Cigar brands such as Tabaqueria de Filipinas, Blue Label, Don Mateo and Don Diego would depend on the avid cigar smoker. With many brands to choose from, everything would seem to be the same. But don’t tell that to the cigar experts who have preference for their own brand to smoke.