Expert: James Yee - 4/30/2007

Question
Hey James, I have been wanting to try cigar smoking for quite a while - but we don't have a real tobaccanist in town.  I was recently on a business trip and visited a tobaccanist's shop.  I asked him what a good cigar would be for a novice, and he seemed more interested in selling me something than advising.  I bought a couple that he recommended.  The brand is Calixo Lopez and they are about 8 inches long and about 3/4 inch in diameter.  Would you say that these are any good?  Also what is a preferable way of storing cigars, because I don't have a proper humidor, and dont want to invest in one yet incase i don't like the cigars.  

Answer
Hi Chris,

Calixo Lopez is a low-end cigar brand produced in the Philippines and the brand itself is rather average.  For the price, this cigar is a good "everyday" cigar that you can smoke but the flavour profile is pretty average and not very special at all.  I've been told that the cigar can be more fragrant if you age them but the flavour and the smoke will hardly improve.  Give it a try and see if you like it or not.  Again, it makes a good, cheap "everyday" cigar if you plan to smoke more frequently but there are better non-Cuban cigar brands in the market that you should also try.  For a beginner's brand, I would recommend Arturo Fuente Curly Head, Punch, Padron or La Gloria Cubana.  These brands are not as strong (good for novices; especially the maduro selections) yet very flavourful.

In regards to temporary cigar storage, if you don't plan on purchasing a humidor any time soon, what you can do is purchase a "humi-pouch".  These are disposable Ziploc-style bags with humidified linings inside and they're intended for short-term cigar storage/travel.  Once you break the seal on the bag, it will keep your cigars properly humidified for 3 straight months.  After 3 months, you will need to replace the bag.  They're available in a variety of sizes and are very inexpensive.  Depending on the size of the bag, humi-pouches can cost between $5 to $15 a bag.  You can find them at any reputable Tobacconist/cigar shop or via mailorder.

As an alternative, you can keep your cigars in a brand new and clean tupperware container lined with Spanish cedar (Note: Must be natural Spanish cedar.  Other types of cedar may have a too strong scent which can ruin your cigars) and either an inexpensive aquafoam or gel/crystal-based humidification device that you can buy at a cigar store or a brand new and CLEAN sponge soaked with 100% distilled water.  You will need to prevent the sponge from touching the cigars so use a piece of cedar to separate them or place the sponge in a recessed dish before placing in the container.  Because tupperware containers are nearly 100% airtight, you will need to properly vent the container to prevent over-humidification.  The best method when using tupperware containers for cigar storage is to partially seal the lid.  By sealing half the lid and allowing the other half to be loose (but still closed), you will allow the container to natural vent humidity and air when needed; preventing over-humidification which can result in cigar damage.

Hope this answers your questions.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask.

Regards,
James