One of the most versatile tobacco types used to dress a vitola, Maduro cigars are extremely popular with cigar enthusiasts. If you’ve ever wondered what a Maduro wrapper is, how it’s created, and whether its trademark darker shade symbolizes its strength, we’ve got the answers. What is a Maduro wrapper? Maduro is a Spanish word…

There’s something undeniably special about cigars. Yet, there is far more to a top-notch stogie than meets the eye. Cigar smoking can be a highly complex hobby, especially for beginners faced with an overwhelming choice of cigar brands, unspoken cigar etiquette, and contrasting opinions. If you want to advance you cigar knowledge and ignite a…

Why are Connecticut Shade cigars good for beginners? An easy way to spot a mellow cigar is if it has the word “Connecticut” in its name. It usually refers to the Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf, which is known for its golden-brown color, approachable taste profile, and creamy smoke texture. This makes them particularly popular with…

Oscuro wrappers stand proud as the darkest yet still one of the most flavorful cigar wrapper choices. While a cigar with a dark wrapper isn’t usually strong, Oscuros tend to be on both the strong and dark side, containing more pepper. This means they aren’t usually a wise choice for smokers interested in premium cigars.…

From mac and cheese to Bonnie and Clyde, some things are made for one another. Drinks and cigars are another dream duo. Capable of lifting your flavor experience to new heights, finding a drink that complements your stogie can be a captivating experience. Whether you’re craving a classic cocktail, creamy coffee, or smoky scotch, there’s…

For any cigar lover, humidor mold is a sight for sore eyes. Opening your humidor and catching a glimpse of this repulsive gray or green discoloration can quickly threaten to extinguish your collection of precious cigars. Thankfully, a moldy humidor isn’t like moldy bread. It can often be saved (especially if you discover the mold…

Cigars come from all four corners of the world, but have you ever considered what it’s like to travel with your favorite smokes? Whether you’re jetting off to a sunny paradise, interrailing between cities for business, or watching the big game at a friend’s house, you’ve got to be prepared. Just as you might pack…

Cigars come in many shades, shapes, and sizes, but did you know they can be made in two ways? They can follow the traditional route and be rolled by hand or manufactured by a 19th-century invention — a cigar-rolling machine. In some instances, cigarmakers will even combine the two methods. Many cigar purists feel handmade…

Although both are technically considered cigars in that they are both made with some of the same things, the similarities between cigars and cigarillos for the most part stop there.  There are several key differences between cigars and cigarillos, and today we will be discussing exactly what those differences are and how they create a different smoke.…

A burning question for many cigar beginners is identifying common cigar burn issues, what causes them, and then taking the appropriate action to resolve them. From cigar coning to an uneven burn and struggling to keep the foot fired up, cigar burn problems hit accomplished aficionados just as much as smoking newbies. Thankfully, these common…