Education Cigars 101

The History of Rum
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Cigars 101
Rum and cigars have a lot in common. Both are luxury products. Both feature a rich diversity of flavors, styles, and profiles. And both have long, complicated histories that span hundreds of years and multiple continents. While we usually spend our time focused on the cigar side of things, today –– in honor of National Rum Day –– we’re going to explore the history of rum.
And, of course, provide a few rum and cigar recommendations while we’re at it.
A Conversation with Kim Jackson: Cigar Band Artist
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Cigars 101
When you walk into Wilde Cigar Lounge in Dallas, Texas, you will see amazing pieces of art adorning the walls. When you get closer to the art, you will discover that they have been crafted out of cigar bands. No seriously. Portraits of Nolan Ryan (oh and this one is signed.) and John Wayne are just a couple examples of the work you can see in the lounge. What is even cooler, the artist actually works there. Her name is Kim Jackson and she has been creating these beautiful, unique pieces since April 2014. I was lucky enough to spend some time with Kim and discuss her artwork and history in the cigar world.
Cigar Shapes and Sizes 101
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Cigars 101
What does a “regular” cigar look like? Is it thin or thick? Is it short or long? Is its head rounded or tapered off?
Of course, there is no answer to this question because cigars can and do come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. And even seasoned smokers may need help keeping track of every cigar frontmark. So today, we’re going to go back to basics and review a few critical terms regarding cigar dimensions
Our Favorite Large Humidors
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Cigars 101
At Cigar World, we love a good desktop humidor. These relatively small, often budget-friendly products look great in a home or office setting. And, if well-maintained, they should last you for years!
Our Favorite Oscuro Cigars
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Cigars 101
First, a disclaimer: we love mellow, Connecticut-shade cigars here at Cigar World. However, we won’t be talking about any cigars like that today because this blog is all about the darkest of the dark: Oscuro wrappers.
The Best Cigars to Smoke at Music Festivals
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Cigars 101
Cigars have the remarkable ability to make a good time great. After all, that’s one of the reasons why people love celebrating special occasions with premium smokes. So it stands to reason that if you love a good concert or music festival, having a few cigars to puff on between acts will only enhance your experience. But which cigars are best suited for a music festival?
The Perfect Cigars for National Tequila Day
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Cigars 101
We’re celebrating National Tequila Day today –– salud! Naturally, we’re pairing our favorite tequila drinks with some of the finest cigars you’ll find on the market today. As you might have guessed, partnering cigars with tequila's unique agave spice can be tricky. Not to worry, though. No matter what kind of tequila and what kind of cigars you prefer, we’ll fix you up with a recommendation that’s sure to hit the spot.
The Best Cigar Sampler Packs
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Cigars 101
Look, we get it. Buying an entire box of cigars can be a big decision! If you’re going to shell out hundreds (or sometimes even thousands) of dollars on cigars, you want to ensure you’ll enjoy them first. Thankfully, cigar sampler packs offer new smokers the chance to taste numerous cigars while allowing seasoned aficionados to explore new blends. There are a ton of great cigar samplers on the market, but here are a few we’d recommend.
The Story Behind Vintage Tobaccos
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Cigars 101
Age can have a powerful effect on cigars. As with aging fine wine, letting tobacco leaves mature and develop flavor over time can improve and significantly alter the eventual smoking experience. However, not all tobaccos that are aged for a long time can truly be considered “vintage.” Sound confusing? Don’t worry; we’ll explain it further here.
The Ultimate Guide to San Andrés Tobacco
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Cigars 101
If you’ve had more than a passing interest in cigars over the past five years, odds are you’ve noticed an uptick in the number of smokes featuring “San Andrés” tobacco. And no, you’re not imagining things –– San Andrés cigars have become increasingly popular. While farmers have produced tobacco in Mexico’s San Andrés Valley for over a century, recent releases from brands like E.P. Carillo, My Father Cigars, CAO, and Cohiba have elevated San Andrés tobacco’s profile. With that in mind, it’s overdue for a breakdown of this exciting tobacco taking the industry by storm.
Achieving Perfect Cigar Humidity
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Cigars 101
Proper humidor maintenance is an issue that bedevils both long-time smokers and newcomers to the category alike. Indeed, achieving “perfect” cigar humidity at home is a tricky proposition –– particularly if you don’t have an unlimited budget to spend on high-quality humidification tools. The good news is we’re here to help regardless of your setup. Here’s how to tackle your humidification problems and keep your cigars fresh and in fine-smoking condition.
The Best Cigar Subscriptions for Every Smoker
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Cigars 101
There comes a point in every cigar smoker’s life when they consider purchasing a cigar subscription. After all, if you plan on buying cigars regularly, why not join a monthly service that gives you benefits and bonuses at the same time? With that in mind, today we’ll highlight some of our favorite cigar subscriptions that are worth the price –– plus –– break down which one is right for you and your situation.
A Conversation with Shadow Army
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Cigars 101
When you follow Room101 Cigars, Room101 Gin or any other Room101 social accounts, including @itsboofybaby himself, you will see mention of the Shadow Army. What in the hell is the Shadow Army?!
I was able to chat with two members of this illustrious group, and as you can imagine, I am keeping their identities anonymous, so I will just refer to them with their soldier number. Let the absurdity begin…
Our Favorite Maduro Cigars
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Cigars 101
Here at Cigar World, we love maduro cigars. And if you’re reading this, you probably do as well! Or, maybe you’re new to the category and want to know more about maduros. Either way, you’re in the right place because we’re going to rattle off some of our favorite maduros that will delight beginners and seasoned cigar lovers alike.
A Conversation with Matt Booth of Room101 Cigars
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Cigars 101
Everyone who knows the cigar industry knows Matt Booth. He is the creative genius behind the Room101 brand, which includes Room101 Gin, Room101 Cigars, and his Room101 DTLA jewelry line. Matt’s aesthetic is Southern California badass with a sexy silliness sprinkled on top. Room101 Cigars are standouts in the humidor. The artwork is unique, compelling, and colorful.
The Man Behind the Cigar: Simón Bolívar
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Cigars 101
The history of cigars extends back centuries –– to the ancient Mayans who first rolled and smoked tobacco –– and it encompasses thousands of larger-than-life historical figures and events. One such figure may not have been a cigar smoker himself but has nonetheless had a massive impact on both the cigar industry and world history. This is the story of Simón Bolívar: the liberator of South America and the inspiration behind one of the most respected cigar lines in the world.
A Salute to Veterans: A Conversation with Warfighter Tobacco
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Cigars 101
The story of Warfighter Tobacco began in places like Mosul and Tikrit, Iraq, during the initial US invasion of 2003. There, the four men who would eventually found Warfighter –– Scott Jansen, Jon Simmons, Bryan Bettey, and Chris Ferdico, all served within several hundred miles of each other –– though they didn’t know it yet. It was there that they experienced the conflict that would affect them for the rest of their lives. It was also where they developed a love of cigars.
Tobacco Primings 101
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Cigars 101
There are countless factors that make a cigar unique –– from the types of tobacco used to the altitude at which the tobacco is grown. These factors and more will affect the overall cigar-smoking experience. Another way to influence the flavor profile of a cigar is through different harvesting methods, and the most common way to harvest tobacco is through priming. Priming is a term used to describe the basic concept of working your way up from the bottom to the top of the tobacco plant.
The Best Biodegradable Cigars
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Cigars 101
In honor of Earth Month, we’re going to look at the biodegradability of cigars. Though you may not know it, basically all cigars are –– in fact –– biodegradable!
The Story of Eco-Friendly or “Green” Cigars
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Cigars 101
For most cigar smokers, the term “green cigar” means one thing: a candela. If you don’t know, a candela (or “double claro”) is a cigar with a light green wrapper. Candelas tend to have a grassy, herbal tea taste, and while they were once wildly popular, they have mostly receded into obscurity over the past few decades.
However, today we won’t be discussing “green” cigars in the literal sense, but rather the eco-friendliness of cigars and cigar smoking. Here’s a quick overview of the cigar-making process and how you can make your smoke sessions more environmentally friendly.
Famous Women Who Smoke Cigars
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Cigars 101
Step aside, fellas. This blog is about some of our favorite, famous cigar aficionadas –– both past and present. You’ve probably heard of just about all of these women, but you may not have known about their propensity to indulge in a fine cigar. (At least from time to time.) Well, enough preamble. Let’s get to the most famous women who smoke cigars!
Fictional Cigar Ladies
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Cigars 101
The cigar community is full of colorful characters –– both real and fictional. Indeed, cigars and cigar brands are often mythologized by consumers and by the brands themselves! As a happy result, we have a litany of fictional cigar ladies who have captivated smokers for generations.
Female-Led Cigar Brands
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Cigars 101
As we’ve covered before, women are playing an increasingly significant role in the cigar industry –– not just as consumers –– but also as leading figures at some of the most popular brands. Indeed, numerous women have stepped into prominent roles at traditional cigar giants while other enterprising aficionadas have struck out on their own to form new brands. As part of our focus this month on women in the cigar industry, today, we’ll highlight a few of our favorite female-led cigar brands (several of which may surprise you)!
Cigar Madness is Back!
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Cigars 101
Everyone’s favorite bracket-based competition has returned! That’s right –– it’s time for another season of Cigar World Cigar Madness. Eight of the most popular and critically-acclaimed cigars are set to compete for the title of Cigar World Cigar Madness Champion. And the best part is that you –– yes, YOU –– get to decide who wins! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and vote for your favorite smokes all month long.
Cigars with Floral Notes
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Cigars 101
“Stop and smell the roses,” they say. While there’s nothing wrong with that attitude, we’d much rather stop and have a cigar. Thankfully, you can get the best of both worlds by trying out cigars with floral notes.