Ralph's Cigars Blog | Ralph's Cigars | Chicago, IL

If you have just started smoking cigars, or are thinking about starting, there are a few considerations to make your first stick enjoyable. Like many hobbies you'll want to start simple and work your way up. Beginning with a mild smoke will let you build up your appreciation of aroma and flavor, without the risk of overpowering your senses that a stronger, full-bodied smoke provides. Most important is remaining curious, patient, and open-minded. Everyone’s palate is unique, and over time you will be able to identify your favorite brands and strike your ideal balance of strength and flavor. 

Cigars, akin to fine wine, undergo a transformative journey with time. Aging cigars is an art, enriching their flavors, aroma, and overall smoking experience. This process demands patience, attentiveness, and a touch of serendipity, but it's entirely possible to age your cigars at home on a reasonable budget.

A cigar shape can vary greatly in size from brand to brand, so describing a cigar by its size as well as shape is important. Cigars are measured by two factors: length, which is given in inches, and "ring gauge," a designation of a cigar's diameter broken into 64ths of an inch. A cigar with a 42 ring gauge, for example, is 42/64 of an inch in diameter.

There’s more to a wrapper than meets the eye. The first things we notice about a premium handmade cigar are its band and its wrapper. The way a cigar looks entices us- cigar-makers fixate on a cigar’s color and texture when they create a blend. The wrapper is the most expensive part of a cigar because it must look perfect, but beyond that it can represent sixty to eighty percent of the flavor. Because of this cigar-makers are especially picky when choosing the wrapper for a blend. Here’s an overview of cigar wrappers and how they are classified.

Cigars, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship, hail from diverse corners of the world, each contributing unique flavors and characteristics to the aficionado's palate. One of the most defining reasons for a cigars flavor and profile is the country of origin- that place the tobacco calls home.