Want to learn more about Cigars? This page is for you!
This page of resources is aimed at the newcomer to the world of cigars. It's a brief look at some of the basics. Read on and enjoy!

Cigar Questions?
If you have specific cigar related questions, try our cigar helpline - Send you questions to: info @ Absolutecigars.com! We'll get back to you with answers, advice and guidance on your cigar related queries. Also see our "Cigar questions Answered" section below.

NewCigar Rresources
Stay tuned for more Cuban Cigars 101 resources which appear on this page on a regular basis. Also, don't forget to join our free Cigar Gold Club where you'll get information on new cigar products as they hit the market.

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Cigar Glossary

Belicosos finos
A standard cigar size typically 52 ring gauge X 5 1/2" in length. Cone shaped.

Binder
The binding tobacco leaf which supports the filler (See "filler") in the cigar.

Cigar Cap
The "tip" section of the cigar which is cut off with a cigar cutter or punctured to allow for an easy draw.

Cepo
An implement used to measure the diameter of the cigar.

Cervantes
A Cuban specific cigar size, similar to the Lonsdale cigar standard, typically 42 ring gauge X 6 1/2" length.

Cheroot
A classic, and in fact one of the oldest cigar shapes known, although not very commonly seen today. This distinctive shape is slowly flared, typically about 4" x 34 ring gauge, making it a short smoke growing lighter and lighter as it is smoked.

Churchill
Named for the famous British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, this is a standard cigar size typically 47 ring gauge X 7" in length.

Claro
A brown "wrapper" leaf.

Colorado
A dark reddish "wrapper" leaf.

Colorado Claro
A cigar wrapper leaf falling between "Colorado" and "Maduro" in color.

Connecticut shade
A cigar wrapper leaf of Connecticut, USA origin, widely regarded as one of the best wrapper leaves.

Corona
A standard cigar size typically 42 ring gauge x 5.5" in length.

Culebras
This is a cigar format which is actually three cigars twisted/intertwined together, and smoked as one unit.

Cigar cutter
A metal tool used to cut away a portion of the cigar cap to allow the smoker to draw smoke from the cigar. See also "cigar scissors".

Double Claro
A light toned green wrapper cigar leaf.

Double Corona
A standard cigar size typically 49 ring gauge x 7 1/2" in length.

Figurado
A shaped cigar typically 52 ring gauge x 5 1/2" in length.

Filler
The core of blended tobaccos held together by the "binder" which is in turn covered by the "wrapper".

Gran Corona
A standard cigar size typically 46 ring gauge X 5 5/8" in length.

Gran Panetela
A standard cigar size typically 28 ring gauge X 7 1/2" in length.

Hand-rolled (H/R)
Cigars which are rolled completely by hand from start to finish; no machine element. Same as Totalmente a Mano.

Humidity
A measure of airborne moisture, critical to the preservation of cigar quality. The ideal humidity for cigar storage is open to debate but is commonly agreed to be 68-72% relative humidity.

Humidor
A sealed wooden box designed specifically to maintain cigars in an optimal humidified environment. A humidor should include a "hygrometer" which is essential to gauge the level of humidity in the humidor.

Hygrometer
A gauge which indicates the level of humidity within a humidor. The ideal reading for cigar storage is: 72-74 relative humidity

Lectores
One of the more interesting practices in many Cuban cigar factories is the presence of the Lectores, also known as the "cigar reader", who reads aloud from a podium at the front of the rolling rooms where the Torcedores (rollers) go about their business of rolling Cuban cigars.

Lonsdale
Named for Lord Lonsdale of Britain, this is a standard cigar size typically 42 ring gauge X 6 1/2" in length.

Machine made
A cigar rolled by a machine as opposed to "hand rolled". Although machine-made cigars are typically less expensive then those that are "hand-rolled", this is not necessarily an indication of an inferior cigar.

Maduro
Spansish for "Ripe", Maduro is the term used to describe cigars with a wrapper leaf of darker brown hue. Colorado Maduro is a Maduro of a slightly lighter shade.

Panetela
A standard cigar size typically 28 ring gauge X 4" in length.

Petit Corona
A standard cigar size typically 42 ring gauge X 5" or 5 1/4" in length.

Ring or Ring Gauge
The measurement indicative of the diameter of the cigar. One ring gauge unit measures 1/64".

Robusto
A standard cigar size typically 50 ring gauge X 5" in length.

Scissors
A scissor tool is used to cut away the cigar cap to allow for an easy draw. See also "cutter".

Torcedor
The cigar roller (pictured below).

Torpedo
This cigar style is characterized by the funnel shape at both ends of the cigar. The size standard of a Torpedo is typically 46 ring gauge X 6" in length.

Wrapper
The outer leaf cover of the cigar.

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Current (2000) Cuban Date Codes

The current dates codes, in use since 2000, include 5 characters.
This first three indicate the month, and the last two indicate the year.
For example: AGO06 would indicate "August 2006".

Month Codes:

Year codes:

Current Factory Codes
This information has been kept secret by Habanos and to date (2004) no credible interpretation of the current codes is available. We will update this information when we have more details.

Original Cuban Factory Codes
BM: Briones Montoto (Belascoain 852, Havana) -Formerly Romeo y Julieta
CB: Carlos Balino (San Carlos 816, Havana) -Formerly El Rey del Mundo
EL: El Laguito (2302 Calle 146, Marianao, Havana)
FL: Por Larranaga (Carlos III no. 713, Havana)
FPG: Fernando Perez German (Industria 520, Havana) -Formerly Partagas
FR: Miguel Fernandez Roig (Zulueta 106, Havana) -Formerly La Corona
HM: Heroes de Moncada (13402 Ave. 57, Marianao, Havana)
JM: Jose Marti (Amistad 407, Havana) -Formerly H. Upmann
TLP: Lazaro Pena (group of factories in San Antonio)
CFGS: (regional facility in Cienfuegos)
PR: (regional facility in Pinar del Roi)
SS: Sancti Spiritus (regional facility in Sancti Spiritus)
VSC: Villa Santa Clara (regional facility in Santa Clara)
TTB: Granma (regional facility in Bayamo)
TTH: Holguin (regional facility in Holguin)

Cigar Care FAQs Answered
The following is a short summary of common cigar related questions we've received:

Q: At what humidity level should I store my cigars?
A: This is a highly debatable issue. We recommend a humidity of 68-70.

Q: At what temperature should I store my cigars?
A: We recommend a temperature of 70 degrees.

Q: Some cigars I buy are wrapped in plastic. Should I remove this when storing my cigars in my humidor?
A: Yes. The plastic will impair the aging and maturing process that occurs in your humidor.

Q: There is white fluff on my cigar, is this mold? What should I do?
A: If you have been maintaining your cigars fairly well in your humidor, what you have here is most likely not mold, but something known as "plume". Plume is a very normal occurrence in even very well maintained humidors. Simply wipe off the plume and enjoy smoking your cigar!

Q. Properly humidified, how long can I keep a cigar in my humidor?
A: The key here is "proper humidification". If you keep your cigars properly humidified the answer is: Indefinitely. Under the right conditions your cigars can last a lifetime.

Q: I've heard that cigars may improve if aged for a period of time. Is this true, and how long should I age a cigar before smoking it?
A: This is true. Although most premium cigars will have been aged to some extent by the manufacturer, thus can be smoked immediately, your investment may be enhanced by storing your cigars in a properly maintained quality humidor. What aging does is allow the tobacco to mature fully and interact with the Spanish cedar of your humidor, and, over time allows the cigar to lose any remaining vegetal taste characteristics. This results in the smoothness of taste that we all love about a premium cigar.
Although there is no hardfast rule as to how long you should age your cigars; and it is difficult to establish how long the manufacturer has aged the cigar; we suggest a period of about 6 months, and if you can, and are willing to be patient, even longer, up to a year. Again this is not a necessity. We suggest you try one or two cigars from a box periodically. If you're happy with the taste and maturity of the smoke, then don't worry to much about aging. But if you keep a large inventory of smokes, over time you'll be content to age your cigars for at least a few months before smoking them.

Q: I've just purchased a new humidor from you guys, what do I need to do to prepare it for use?
A: Good question! A humidor is not "ready to go" out of the box. Rather it needs some careful, but simple preparation prior to filling it to the brim with your valuable and prized smokes. The wood lining of your humidor needs to absorb, and be holding humidity, before it can properly maintain your cigars.
Take an unused durable sponge, one with no embedded soap or scents. Saturate it with distilled water (available from any drugstore) and wipe all wood surfaces in your humidor, including the sides, trays, dividers, and the base and lid. Now make sure the humidifier is working according to the specs and directions as supplied by the manufacturer. Remember to use ONLY distilled water as your source for humidity in your humidor. Tap water contains minerals that will destroy most humidification systems by leaving deposits that will wreak havoc with your humidification system clogging the humidor element. Once the humidification element is filled, wipe it down to eliminate excess water. Add the humidifying element to the humidor and close the lid. Give it a day and refill the humidifier. After 24 hours your humidor should be ready to go as the wood liner of your humidor has absorbed sufficient humidity to maintain you cigars. You of course will need to maintain your humidor to ensure conditions stay at the optimal level to keep you cigars in perfect condition. Properly maintained, your cigars can last for decades.

Q: I let a cigar dry out completely. Is it retrievable?
A. If your cigar has been left unhumidified for a prolonged period and has seriously dried out, the bad news is that you most likely have done some irreparable damage to the cigar and it's taste. The good news is that you can potentially bring the cigar back to life to a point where it can still be enjoyed, although certainly not to the original taste you would have enjoyed had the cigar not dried out. Re-establish proper humidity in a quality humidor, and slowly the humidity will become restored bringing the cigar to a smokable state.

Q: What kind of glue can I use to fix a loose wrapper?
A: The best thing to use to fix a loose wrapper is corn glue/paste which is an edible glue and is what is used by many factories to finish the cigars. It can be hard to find, but sometimes some stores have some form of edible glue/paste. Another alternative is to mix a little water with some corn starch, thereby making it gummy/gluey, apply a little bit on the inside of the loose wrapper and once you have put a little bit on the inside, roll the wrapper over the outer leaf,and it should stick in place.

Q: I had some tobacco beetle damage to my cigars. What can I do? Are they still safe to smoke?
A: The tobacco beetle exists in all tobacco growing countries. This brown 2 to 3mm insect can infest tobacco leaves before being processed, thereby ending up in your cigar. When cigars are infected with Tobacco beetles small holes indicate where the beetles have eaten through the cigar. There may also be some still inside the cigar even where no hole is present. We recommend discarding any infected cigars. Some smokers choose to keep them and attempt to eradicate the beetles. The normal approach here is to freeze the cigars in an industrial freezer (your household freezer will kill existing insects but likely does not get cold enough to kill the larvae. Once the cigars are frozen this kills any larvae that may have been in the cigars. So, ultimately the choice is yours to discard or attempt to treat the situation, however we do not recommend keeping cigars that have been affected by tobacco beetles.

Q: When a cigar has a "cut filler" what is the average length of the cut pieces?
A: Depending on the size of the cigar, the cut pieces can range from 2 inches to 4 inches. Some machine rolled cigars can have smaller pieces, but the manufacturers usually try to have longer pieces to round out the cigar and allow it a more uniform shape when rolled and a more even burn.

Cuban Cigar FAQs

Q: Are Cuban cigars really better than those from other countries?
A: This is entirely down to your personal tastes. Certainly Cuban cigars have long been renowned for the rich flavors derived from near perfect environmental conditions for cultivation that exist in Cuba and for the high quality production of cigars in Cuba. But we suggest you try a selection of Cubans and make up your own mind!

Q: Can you guide me as to the strengths & flavor of Cubans?
A: Cuban cigars come in a range of strengths & flavors. Here's a simple guide:

Highly Refined with strength & flavor:
Cohiba and Trinidad cigars.

Strong:
Bolivar cigars, Cuaba, Partagas cigars, Por Larranaga.

Medium:
Montecristo cigars, Belinda, Cabanas, Rafael Gonzalez, Romeo Y Julieta cigars, Statos de Luxe, San Cristobal de La Habana cigars, Flor de Cano, Diplomaticos, Fonseca cigars, Jose L. Piedra, H. Upmann cigars, Juan Lopez, Vegas Robaina, Vegueros, La Gloria Cubana cigars, Sancho Panza, Quinteros, Troya.

Mild::
El Rey del Mundo cigars, Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, San Luis Rey, Ramon Allones, Quai D’Orsay.

Q: I bought Cuban cigars from a dealer and the print on the labels is of poor quality, plus the roll is not so great. These are surely counterfeit right?
A: No. These indicators by no means necessarily indicate counterfeits! It may surprise those who are not familiar with Cuban cigars to hear that although the best Cubans are almost exclusively hand-rolled and painstakingly produced by skilled Torcedors (rollers), the Cuban manufacturers do also produce and sell machine made ranges of cigars for the lower end consumer. These cigars are perfectly fine cigars often with a great flavor and strength, but at a reduced price.

Q: So how can I be absolutely sure that I'm getting truly AUTHENTIC Cuba cigars?
A: Simple. Buy from an appointed Habanos dealer based in a country where Cubans are legal. Even still, establish the legitimacy of the company from whom you are buying. Some guidelines:

First, if you're buying from a web company, read the "About us" page.
Is the company properly registered/incorporated?
Can you get a REAL person on the phone when you call?
Is the site secure? Does it have an SSL Verisign Secure certification?
Does the company accept credit cards?
Is the returns policy clearly stated? Does it sound fair?
Do they guarantee delivery? If not who pays if a shipment is lost?
Is there a phone number you can call to talk to a real person? Preferably toll free.
Does the company/site publish their street address? Avoid merchants who post only a P.O. Box!
Is there a physical location where you can walk-in and visit?
Is the company a member of any trade Associations? The RTDA? Better Business Bureau?

Q: The words "Hecho a Mano" appear on a box of Cubans I just received. What does this mean?
A: It means "Made by hand". Here are some more translations of Spanish terms you'll commonly see relating to Cuban cigars (on boxes, on labels, etc.):

Spanish language translations of common terms

Q: OK, with that in mind, what does "Hand rolled" mean exactly?

Q: Where can I get news on Cuba and Cuban related issues?
A: For Cuban news we like to visit Havana Journal

Q: Are there other good cigar directories?
A: A great cigar directory is Smokerings.com

Any questions?

If you have any cigar related questions, try our cigar helpline:
info @ Absolutecigars.com or call us Toll free 877 883-2442