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Cigar smoking has become trendy once again and tobacco smokers are venturing into the aromatic world of the stogie. Many cigar labels provide a wide range of sizes, flavors, shapes and accessories to enhance the smoking experience. In this article, we’ll show you how to choose cigars that have a great taste at a reasonable price.

There are three things you should consider when choosing cigars: flavor, body and aroma. Cigars can be sweet, bitter, salty, and acidic. Bitter and sweet flavors are easy to detect but determining the level of saltiness and acidity can be a matter of personal taste. Aficionados use terms like fruity, nutty, herbal, spicy and floral to refer to the combination and balance of tastes. They identify such flavor notes as pepper, wood, nut, cream, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, citrus, cedar, chocolate and leather. The degree of flavor is classified with the terms mild, medium and full and the aroma should be one that you find pleasing.

There is no standard shape or size among manufacturers, but the world’s finest cigars vary in size from about a 9X64 to approximately 4X30. The first number refers to the cigar’s length in inches. The second number represents the ring gauge, which is the diameter. A cigar with a larger ring gauge will have a fuller flavor and produce more smoke. Larger ring gauges allow manufactures to blend different types of leaves. The appearance is also an important indicator of craftsmanship. It should feel smooth when you roll it between your fingers, and the wrapper should be smooth with a slight shine, with no blemishes or rough stems. Be sure that the leaves all spiral in the same direction and check to make sure that it is not too dry or too firm. It should be spongy to the touch and resilient enough to hold its shape, leaving no indentation where it has been pressed by fingers. Avoid cigars that have soft or hard spots as this indicates shoddy construction. Sample the cigar’s rich aroma. If there isn’t a wonderful scent, it’s not a great choice.

Color also plays an important part in choosing your cigars. Usually the wrapper is described by its country of origin or color such as Claro (light tan) or Maduro (darkest brown). The darker the wrapper, the more full-bodied and sweeter the cigars are likely to be. However, the filler is what determines the flavor, so high quality tobacco is very important. When inferior quality filler is used, the cigar may have a harsh or musty taste and an unpleasant aroma. Cigars taste bitter when smoked without proper ageing too. While you can keep your cigars in a cigar box, it’s best to store them in a humidor to prevent them from drying out.

Cigar smokers have tastes that are as varied as the cigars themselves. Before you purchase a box of cigars, go online and look for reviews and descriptions of different brands. This will help you find a stogie that suits your palate.