Stogie Commentary: Thoughts from the Humidor

Here are a yet more random thoughts about cigars and the cigar industry:

Are Two Wrappers Better Than One?

Once a gimmick, now it seems to be the next frontier of cigar blending. More and more we’re seeing cigars with multiple wrappers, and not of the barber-pole type. Recently, Joya de Nicaragua and La Gloria Cubana both introduced cigars with two wrappers—one for for the beginning of the smoke, one for the end. The concept makes a lot of sense in a way. Just as dinner usually comprises of an appetizer before the main dish, these new cigars offer a progression of two distinct flavors in one cigar.

Cigars Heating Up

We’re getting to the time of year when temperatures are heating up. That’s a good thing if the cold was keeping you from enjoying a cigar in the great outdoors, but it also creates a challenge when it comes to maintaining proper humidity in your humidor. If you’re unsure about the readings you’re getting use this technique to calibrate your hygrometer.

Mexican Tobacco Surging

When Eddie Ortega told me he had never seen Don Pepin Garcia more excited than when discussing the Mexican tobacco used in the new Murcielago, I knew something was afoot. A recent article in Smoke Magazine about the resurgence of Mexican tobacco confirmed the trend. Until the mid-90s Mexican trade policy made it too costly to import tobacco, resulting in only the production of Mexican puros. Fortunately, the Mexican government is finally eliminating some of the red tape and making Mexican tobacco a viable source for multi-country blends.

No Place Like Home

We’ve said it so many times before but, especially in these challenging economic times, I’ll say it again: It’s important to support your local brick and mortar cigar shop. Sure, sometimes you get a better deal online, but there’s no substitute for a helpful tobacconist. If you don’t support your local shop, the next time you drive by it may be for a going-out-of-business sale.

-Patrick S

photo credit: LGC & JdN