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Why are Cuban cigars so highly sought after?

Whenever there is a post online featuring a Cuban cigar, for better or worse, people tend to go crazy.

Is the hype justified?

Don’t get us wrong, some great cigars come out of Cuba. They have great strains of tobacco, and the right growing conditions to yield a premium tobacco product.

BUT, much of the appeal of smoking a Cuban cigar comes down to the fact that, for decades, at least in America, you weren’t allowed to have a Cuban cigar.

The fact of the matter is, there is great tobacco being grown all over the world. Some of it even originating from Cuban tobacco seed, eliminating the need to travel to Cuba to sample some of their native tobacco strains.

Furthermore, when the sanctions were put on Cuba by the US, some amazing growers and blenders took their operations to neighboring countries so they could continue to supply great cigars to America.

Smoke what you like.

As with any cigar, the way your palate reacts to a smoke is going to be different than the next guy or gal.

Instead of leaning on hype to figure out what you like, we encourage people to try anything, and everything until you figure out your preferred flavor profile.

Every cigar-producing country has great cigars being blended, and contrarily, they all have some dogs too. So, keep your options open, and your humidor full.

As always, if you have any questions for the Bet Your Ash crew, send them on over to [email protected] and get featured!

How do you revive cigars that have been stored improperly?

Last week a listener wrote in about some cigars she found in her late grandfather’s attic. She wanted to know if there was any chance of saving the cigars, and making them smoke-able.

Why can’t I just smoke the dry cigars?

In theory, you could give the cigars a try anyway, but you may end up with some issues. When cutting a dry stick you run the risk of cracking the cigar. You will also be dealing with a cigar that smokes extremely fast, and is maybe more harsh than the blender intended.

We recommend re-conditioning the cigar before attempting to light it up.

Cornelius lays out the process he uses:

Firstly, it is not recommended to store the dry sticks in your existing humidor. This could cause instability in your setup, and end up causing issues for your already rested cigars.

Cornelius reccomends putting the questionable cigars in a zip lock bag or food storage container. Get yourself a 84% pack from Boveda, and store it along with the cigars.

After a couple weeks, to a month, you’ll want to check on your sticks and see how they’re doing. If the boveda pack has dried out, or the cigars seem to have absorbed some moisture, you can start stepping your humidity down until you get to your desired level.

If you don’t have that kind of patience there is an option:

If you don’t want to wait for you overly dry sticks to recondition themselves, you can always use some water. You would run the cigar under your faucet for a couple of seconds, let the water absorb, and light up.

This is NOT recommended, but we are not here to tell you how to live your life.

How do I know when the cigar is ready to smoke?

For this, Cornelius recommends a simple ear test.
Just get the cigar close to your ear, and roll it around in your fingers a bit. If the cigar is still dry, you will hear a “crackle” from the stick.

Do note that it may still crackle a bit even when humidified. To be absolutely sure the conditions have improved, give the sticks the ol’ ear test before you start the humidification process so that you have a benchmark to compare against.

As always, if you have any questions for the Bet Your Ash crew, send them on over to [email protected] and get featured!

What is the historical significance of passing out cigars when a baby is born?

During our episode last week, we discussed the significance of sparking up a cigar when a new child is born.

So… What IS the significance of a cigar when a baby is born?

Really, there isn’t one.

Smoking a cigar is a celebratory practice, and having a new baby is as good a time as any, to light one up.

A history of medicine:

In simpler times not only was smoking allowed in hospitals, but according to old-timey photos, seems to have been encouraged.

It wasn’t uncommon to see a whole group of people, including the doctor, lighting up a cigar to celebrate a new birth.

If we’ve learned anything from this little talk, it’s that there’s never a bad time for a cigar. So grab what you like from your local tobacconist, and light one up to celebrate life.

If you have your own cigar related questions, send them in to [email protected] for a feature.

How does ring gauge affect the flavor profile of a cigar?

Last week we were asked how much of an impact the gauge of your cigar has on its flavor. To explain, we take a left turn into the realm of tex-mex food.

The Answer is quite simple:

A great reference for information regarding what a blender thinks about when putting a cigar together can be found in our episode featuring Patrick Potter from Tabac Trading Co.

Very generally, much of the flavor found in a cigar comes from the outer leaf. So the smaller the ring gauge, the more the flavors of the outer leaf will come forward, because there is not as much filler.

To explain this correlation a little more simply, we dove into a conversation about tacos… you heard me.

I’m going to switch it up slightly from the exact conversation had in the episode, but think about it like this:

If you have a taco with a smaller shell, you are going to taste the shell more prominently than you would if you were having a burrito because less fillings are able to fit inside. Contrarily, a burrito’s shell is often overshadowed by its fillings, because there are SO much of them.

To bring it all together:

With tacos, you typically want to taste the filling over the shell, but with cigars the opposite is true.

We all have our own sweet spot when it comes to what feels right on our palate, but if you are looking to taste the outer leaf that was chosen as the prominent flavors for your cigar, stick to a smaller ring gauge.

Have your own cigar related questions?

Send them on in to [email protected], and we’ll pick our favorites every week to get featured.

What is the story behind the carved Native American statue found in front of most cigar stores?

Last week, the guys were asked what the history behind carved Native American statues is, and why they are so closely associated with cigar shops.

Appropriation or Appreciation?

Cornelius dives a bit in to the history of these statues by sharing his experiences when he first purchased his cigar lounge in Denver (Capitol Cigars, 919 E. Colfax ave.).

When he first moved into the shop, there was a full sized carved statue sitting outside of the shop.

Although he was not personally a fan of the idea, he would notice that Native members of Colorado’s population would often stop and observe the statue.

Finally, Cornelius decided to open up dialogue and learn a bit more about history behind the statues, and what they represent.

An appreciation of culture:

It turns out, that this is not an appropriation of cultures, but an homage to the origins of tobacco.

When Europeans started coming to the Americas, and learned about tobacco, and its place in Native American culture, they decided to bring it back and share it with Europeans back home.

The statue was put in front of tobacco shops as a recognition of quality tobacco, grown by the best cultivators in the world: Native Americans.

What makes a Native American reference insulting?

You may be asking, if this is accepted in Native American culture, why the backlash when it comes to, say, some sports mascots.

The answer is quite simple. When references to Native American culture are made to depict their heritage as cartoony, or aloof (Like the Cleveland Indians) it is an insult to their culture.

On the other side of the spectrum, when the culture is represented as savage or bloodthirsty (The Fighting Sioux) that too is a nod of disrespect to their heritage.

It is a fine line between appreciation and appropriation, but we are happy to know the tobacco community falls on the right side of history here.

Have your own cigar related questions? Send them on in to [email protected]. We’ll pick our favorites every week, and maybe yours will get an answer.

What is the best way to fix an uneven burn on your cigar?

Last week we got a great question from Lebanon. After the excitement of our international reach wore off, we got right to it.

The pre-pandemic solution:

This is likely the most simple solution, but also not the most sanitary.

Simply stick your finger in your mouth, and get a little saliva to rub on the part of your cigar that is burning too quickly.

This obviously will trigger the CDC and WHO right now, so may not be the best solution in current situations, but we are not here to judge.

It may be your fault:

A lot of times, an uneven burn can be cause by your initial light. So take your time before the first draw and make sure to light your stick evenly.

Another self-inflicted cause can be from an over-packed humidor.

If there isn’t sufficient air flow in your humidor, the humidification source may be causing one side of your cigars to over humidify, and leave you predisposed to an uneven burn.

To combat this, make sure you leave some room for your cigars to breathe, and rotate your stock periodically.

Speaking of rotation..:

Rotating your cigar as you smoke it will also help keep an even burn for the duration of your stick.

Most of us don’t need to do anything consciously to make sure we do this, but if you always smoke label up, and are regularly dealing with an uneven burn, its time to switch up your style.

If you’ve got your own cigar related questions, send them on in to [email protected]; we’ll pick out our favorite and feature it on the next show!

In the unlikely event of a cigar industry shut down, what 3 boxes are you stockpiling immediately?

With all the uncertainty in the World right now, better safe than sorry. The guys all chime in to let you know their selections to stockpile for the end of civilization.

Tyler and Magee took a personal approach to their picks, while Cornelius was more pragmatic about selecting cigars that will be the first to disappear due to their already limited nature.

Tyler’s (the Newbie) Picks:

1. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero.
   Beyond the fact that this stick is extremely flavorful, the strength of the tobacco is intoxicating (literally).
2. CAO Flathead v660.
   A great medium-full bodied stick, with enough smoke time to handle any post-apocalyptic task.
3. Perdomo Lot 23.
   Perdomo is known for their consistency, and this medium bodied beauty has a great flavor profile that will still leave room on your palate to enjoy another stick later in the day.
   

Magee’s (the Enthusiast) Picks:

1. Padron 1926 Serie Maduro.
   All around great flavor, and sensible choice for relaxation during stressful times.
2. Perdomo Reserve Champagne.
   A great daily smoker no matter the conditions.
3. Illusione OneOff.
   Great flavor profile, perfect draw, and an amazing stick to start your day.

Cornelius’ (The Expert) Picks:

1. CLE Eiroa “the First 20 Years”.
   CLE’s production has already shut down due to the current pandemic. One of Cornelius’ favorite sticks, and surely one of the first to become “impossible” to find in the event of a global market shutdown.
2. La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull.
   Already in short supply, this stick will certainly be one of the first to go extinct.
3. La Flor Dominicana Capitulo II (Chapter 2).
   An intoxicating, strong, flavorful cigar with a long smoke time due to the amount of tobacco they stuff in this stick. Bonus: if you lose your cutter while foraging for food, you can pop the cap off with a little squeeze of the tip.

Honorable Mentions:

1. Ashton VSG Eclipse
2. Liga Privada #9
3. Muestra De Tabac Trifecta

What are your picks?

Let us know in the comments, and send your questions in to [email protected] for a feature.

How long should I let my cigars rest before smoking them?

Last week we were asked how long you should let your cigars rest:
Short answer; as long as you’d like.

What is the purpose of resting a cigar?

The first reason for aging a cigar is simply preference.
You may run into a scenario where the latest batch of your favorite cigar tastes a little off. This is likely due to an increase in distribution which means the tobacco in your cigar, hasn’t aged as long as the first box you purchased.

The second reason for aging a cigar, is less common and may come out of necessity.
If during the fermenting process, the leaves in your cigar weren’t allowed to “sweat” enough, they may produce a slight ammonia smell. This indicates that the fermentation process hasn’t completed, and the tobacco still needs more time.
In this case it is best to let your cigars age for a while unless, of course, you like the taste of ammonia.

Why do you age your cigars?

Let us know in the comments, and keep the questions coming to [email protected].

How do I invite myself to a sports outing with a casual acquaintance?

A little background:

We all have casual friends in our lives. These are people who we may work with, or play a weekly poker or golf game with, but the relationship doesn’t go much beyond that.

When one of these casual acquaintances fails to extend an invite to an activity you are interested in attending, how do you go about securing an invite?

This is the scenario we were asked about during last week’s Q & A.

Upgrading your friend status:

The direct approach:

This is the most simple answer to the question.
First, mention your interest in the event. Then, casually mention that you’d love to pick up the slack if there’s ever an extra ticket available.

This does a couple things. First, it identifies that you’re not looking for a handout. Second, it declares your interest in the event without a guilt trip.

The last thing you want to do is give your acquaintance the impression that you’re needy. After all, you’re just looking to expand the good times you’ve already had with them to another venue.

The casual approach:

The specific inquiry this week was about tailgating and attending an LSU Baseball game. In instances like this, the event is public.

Just go out and buy yourself (and maybe a friend or partner) a ticket to the game. Then mention to your buddy that you also have tickets, and you’d love to meet up during the tailgate, or in the concourse for a beer.

This keeps the ball in your court, and enables you to enjoy the event regardless of being “in the group.”

Closing thoughts:

Whichever solution seems right for your situation, there is still a chance they say NO. You need to be prepared to decide if this means you cut ties with the person, or simply stay in your lane as acquaintances.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions for the Bet Your Ash crew, send them on over to [email protected] and get featured!

At what point do you include cigar smoking in your dating profile?

As the popularity of online dating increases, when should the occasional cigar smoker include smoking in their profile? Here’s what the guys had to say about the topic in our last episode.

There is a bit of a subjective nature to this question.

What we do agree on, is that the “are you a smoker” checkbox is reserved for cigarette smokers. Save the cigars for your bio.

Magee thinks the occasional, celebratory cigar needs no preface in your dating profile.

Instead, he recommends disclosing this information on the first date.

However, if you smoke multiple cigars a week he says to throw the info into your bio, and downplay your usage with phrases like: “a couple” or “a few.”

Cornelius has a more candid approach to the dating profile debate.

Cornelius recommends full transparency in your profile.

The last thing you want to do, is end up on a perfect date, just to have it end because she (or he) feels misled.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Let us know in the comments, and send your own cigar related questions to [email protected].