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.

The truth of the matter is that the size of a cigar does not have any bearing on its flavor. Neither does it have anything to do with the quality of a cigar. So what does size have to do with anything? Quite obviously, the larger the cigar, the longer you can enjoy its flavor!

Are there hard and fast rules regarding the size of the cigar? Unlike with color, where there are standard terms for the color of the wrapper, there are varying terms when it comes to sizes. You might hear of a cigar being a Churchill and expect it to be a certain size. However, you should not be surprised if you see that one manufacturer’s cigars, which are labeled Churchill can be the same size as another manufacturer’s cigars which are labeled Double Corona.

With experience, though, comes knowledge. After a while, you will get familiar with the measurements of different manufacturers and as such know what size cigars are labeled which. So what is my suggestion? If you are a new cigar smoker, stick with the smaller and shorter ones. You never know if you can finish a “full size” cigar. Stick with Coronas and Robustos to be on the safe side. After a while, move on to bigger ones.

Don’t overlook the visual aspect.
I am talking about the cigar itself here. Of course, the main idea is to test the flavor of the cigar. However, you also cannot overlook the physical attributes of the cigar. How is the wrapper? How about the size? Make sure that you make it clear to everyone that this aspect is to be judged as well.

(to be continued)

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This post comes as a result of some reading that I have been doing. I was trying to find out more about the health effects of cigar smoking. Although I am quite fond of cigars, I still want to be objective about it when it comes to health reasons so here goes…

The Facts
1. One cigar may contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.
2. Cigars are Addictive.
3. Cigar smoke is more concentrated and toxic than cigarette smoke.
4. Smoking as little as one cigar a day increases the risk for cancer.
5. Cigar and pipe smokers are at risk for early tooth loss.
6. Cigar smoking has been linked to erectile dysfunction in men.

They are all pretty scary when you look at the list – and rightly so. For more information on the items, you can check the original article here.

My take on this, though, is that while I agree with the idea that these things may be true, you also have to consider the smoking habits of cigar lovers. For one thing, not everyone smokes cigars the way they smoke cigarettes. Many cigar smokers do not inhale the smoke. Another point is that cigar smokers do not smoke as many cigars as they would smoke cigarettes.

The bottom line I think is moderation.

Indeed, why is it that cigars are almost always associated with men? Gary presents a feasible explanation:

I guess the sexual divide has mostly to do with the origins of cigar smoking, which throughout history has been a male-dominated practice. Take it to the next level, and maybe one of the big reasons a lot of men band together to smoke cigars is because, let’s face it, it’s one of the few times they can get away from their “significant others.”

It’s true, isn’t it? Throughout much of history, cigars are for the men. When couples have dinner with other couples, the men go to the study for a cigar while the women congregate around something else. I think a lot of women will react to the last line but perhaps it is true.

Then again, we really cannot discount the women who do smoke cigars. As few as they may be – at least when compared to the opposite sex who smoke cigars – they still exist and the least we could do is to admire and respect them for that.

Of course people will still go for the famous Cuban cigars. But with the competition for cigar manufacturing today, various groups of tobacco lovers have taken up the task of providing alternative and affordable cigars for purchase. Advertising or even just plain optimized content through websites today can lure in the tobacco-crazed individuals looking for a good smoke.

Cigars are usually reserved for special occasions but this is not really the case we have today. Cigars have been a symbol of relaxation and a certain status among people adhering towards the social status they are in today. But to be able to be assured they get only the best, they need to look for them and that is exactly why the Internet was placed for proper reference and guidance.