Cigars/cigar feel
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Question
james, what is the difference with a cigar that feels very tight like its packed so tight its ready to explode and it feels very hard vs a cigar that feels mushy or very soft.
jim
Hi Jim,
The difference between a hard cigar and a soft cigar is the way the cigar is rolled. All premium cigars are rolled entirely by hand so how a cigar feels depends greatly on the skill of the cigar roller. If the cigar roller bunches the filler tobacco too tightly, it will cause him to apply the binder and wrapper too tightly and this will cause the cigar to be hard and tight. If the roller bunches the filler too loosely, it can cause the cigar to be under filled and overly spongy; causing the draw to be extremely loose. If the cigar roller bunches too much filler tobacco and too tightly, the cigar can feel heavy. If he doesn't bunch enough, the cigar will feel light.
Regards,
James
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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