Most cigars are made mostly of what is referred to as filler tobacco. There are three different types of filler tobacco: these being Seco, Volado, and Ligero.

One myth we can dispel here is that the color of the wrapper in no way affects the taste or strength Cuban cigar. In fact, it’s well-known that the wrapper leaf is responsible for only roughly 3% of the taste of your cigar. It’s the age of a cigar that will have a great deal more to do with the flavor and power of your cigar. Wrappers are kept in a humid environment until they are used to fashion the cigars, and come in basically two sizes, small and large.

In case you were wondering, a cigar is nowhere near ready to smoke right after it’s been rolled. Do that, and you may as well have tossed it in the trashcan. As cigar smoking has risen in popularity, you can find cigars a wide variety of qualities and flavors.

Cuban cigars are tightly controlled by a government corporation, and legend has it that back in the bad ol’days when mistakes were made and quality was compromised, lives were lost. It’s not so anymore, but it’s also not hard to see how Cuban cigars got their trademark reputation as the finest cigars in the world. An acute attention to detail from the growers on up to the cigar rollers and packagers leave little room for error. Habanos cigars require careful handling and demand a high level of monitoring for quality.

If you ever have the chance to visit Habanos do so, for it is a trip through history as well as a place to come across perhaps the finest cigars in the world.

Nowadays there are six color variants in use. There used to be as many as ten, but now we’re dealing with just six. Wrapper leaves are grown in the countries of Cuba, Sumatra, The United States, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Cameroon.

The six shades are:
Claro claro – A sweet, lightly green wrapper leaf.
Claro – This is a light tan wrapper leaf, usually grown in the shade. It possesses a neutral flavoring.
Natural – Light to medium brown, it too is grown in the shade.
Colorado – This wrapper leaf is brown to reddish brown, with a rich taste and pleasing aroma.
Maduro – Spanish for “ripe”, the Maduro wrapper leaf is cured longer to produce a rich, dark brown appearance.
Oscuro – Also known as “negro” to denote its dark coloring, it takes the most time to be ready for the rollers.

More great facts to fascinate your friends as you enjoy your cigars!

Cigar labels were first introduced on the market in the seventeen hundreds and people have been collecting them from the beginning. A large majority of them are just garbage especially since they are so readily available and can be made right from peoples homes, but there are still the cigar “gems” that are worth keeping and collecting.

The art on the labels have just about anything on them from animals to nature scenes to sexy women. The artists generally stayed unknown but still captivated cigar buyers with their beauty. They started at a perfect time when advertising was beginning to take off.

If you are interested in starting a cigar label collection, there are a few things you should know. The first thing you should decide is the brand you would like to collect or what type of images you are interested in. Cigar labels that have a theme are among the most valuable collections. You should also decide if there is a time period in which you would be most interested in collecting from. Any labels that date before 1920’s have the most value. Labels that have a gold leaf came from Europe.

Do your research. It is easy to be conned into thinking a label is more valuable than it is. There is a difference between out and inner cigar box labels and if you don’t know what that means you should find out.

As is the rule with just about anything, the rarer it is, the more value it will have and should be in good condition free of tears and wrinkles.

You can purchase labels at places including but not limited to the internet, at auctions or at antique stores. Good luck collecting!

Cigar catering is a great way for your guests to remember the event and there are many options available with cigars for your party. Rather than just passing out cigars, you can have someone there to suggest cuts, offer tips and lights. You can also have a room designated specifically to cigar tasting.

Cigars are associated with luxury. The rich have been the most notorious for smoking them and go perfectly with a glass of champagne. Your guests will be impressed with your tastes by throwing a cigar party. It may even entice them to throw one themselves. Even those that don’t smoke will be impressed by your level of class.

If you are the one throwing the party, you can have your name or logo printed on personalized cigar labels. The labels can easily be placed on the cigars so they are ready to be passed out. Your guests can enjoy them immediately or as a keepsake. This is especially great for business owners because so many times businesses offer items with their logo on it that are great in the moment, but not quite memorable such as a pen or a t-shirt. If you are throwing a party in order to network and get more business, a cigar catering party is something unique and different that potential clients will be impressed by.

Whether your party is large or small, a cigar catered party will help people to relax and therefore bring out great conversations.

Cigar catering companies are all over and if you don’t have one in your local area, you may be able to find one that will travel to you. Like anything else, costs will vary. They may have special package prices available depending on the size of event. They can cater to your needs from small to extravagant. Cigars are not for every party. Obviously you wouldn’t want to throw a cigar party for a child’s birthday, but again, they are great for events centered on adults.

It may be helpful to ask a friend if they have ever used a cigar catering service for one of their events in order to find out if a certain company offers the best service.

Whether your guests smoke their cigar there or take it home with them, cigar catering can offer a memory that most catering companies can’t. You can’t take home ham, or salad, but you can take home a cigar!

It doesn’t hurt to start shopping around right? Do some research and find out if a cigar catered party will be right for you. Chances are, if it is an adult party, it will be a hit!