Dayana Cigar Academy

What is a humidor?

Humidor-- A room, or a box, of varying sizes, designed to preserve or promote the proper storage and aging of cigars by maintaining a relative humidity level of 70 percent and a temperature of approximately 65°F to 70°F (21c). 

What is the white powdery substance that sometimes appears on the cigar wrapper?

If you see white powdery spots on your cigar that looks like mold, chances are it's only bloom, which results when the oils in the wrapper cause the leaf to mature. If this is the case, simply wipe the bloom off gently with your finger. It's perfectly harmless and a sign that the leaf is of good, healthy quality, but if you want to prevent it, keep your temperature and humidity down.

What is "blue mold" and what do I do if I find it on my cigars?

A deadly mold that manifests itself on the wrapper in the form of a bluish fungi. If the cigar is infected with blue mold, don't smoke it; trash it, then check the rest of your cigars - and quickly, too! 

What are those little tan spots I sometimes see on the cigar wrapper?

Don't be alarmed. Also referred to as "sun spots," no one really knows for sure what causes them. It is generally believed they are caused by moisture droplets that have marred the leaf after drying, but they will not affect the taste of the cigar.

What does the term “bouquet” mean?

Bouquet-- The smell, or "nose," of a fine cigar. Badly stored cigars lose their bouquet. 

What does the term “finish” mean?

Finish-- A tasting term. It refers to the taste that lingers on your palate after a puff. Mild cigars do not have much finish, either in terms of length or complexity. But stronger, more full-bodied cigars have distinctive flavors that linger for a while. 

What does the term “draw” mean?

Draw-- The amount of air that gets pulled through a lit cigar. It can be too easy (hot) or too tight (plugged). 

What does the term “box Pressed” mean?

Box-pressed-- The slightly squarish appearance taken on by cigars packed tightly in a box. 

What does the term “fermentation” mean?

Fermentation-- After harvest, workers gather the tobacco leaves in large bulks (or piles), moistening the leaves and allowing them to ferment. Temperatures may reach 140°F before the bulk is broken down and restacked until fermentation stops naturally. This process, called working the bulk, releases ammonia from the tobacco.

How do the cigars stay wrapped?

Gum-- A vegetable adhesive used to secure the head of the wrapper leaf around the finished bunch. 

Cap-- A circular piece of wrapper leaf placed at the head of the cigar to secure the wrapper. 

What is a hygrometer?

Hygrometer -- A device that indicates the humidity, or percentage of moisture in the air; used to monitor humidor conditions. 

What is long filler tobacco?

Long Filler-- Filler tobacco that runs the length of the body of the cigar, rather than chopped pieces found in machine-made cigars. 

What are machine made cigars?

Machine-made-- Cigars made entirely by machine, using heavier-weight wrappers and binders and, frequently, cut filler in place of long filler. 

Is the oil in the cigar good or bad?

Oil-- The mark of a well-humidified cigar which is often found in high quality cigars. Even well-aged cigars secrete oil at 70 to 72 percent relative humidity, the level at which they should be stored. If the cigar is releasing the oil at the head of the cigar then cut it slightly to renew the fresh taste.

What is a plugged cigar?

Plug-- A blockage that sometimes occurs in the tobacco that can prevent a cigar from drawing properly. A plug can sometimes be alleviated by gently massaging the cigar. This will not happen with Perdomo as they are carefully rolled as supreme to other cigars.

What does the term “ring gage” mean?

Ring Gauge-- A measurement for the diameter of a cigar, based on 64ths of an inch. A 40 ring gauge cigar is 40/64ths of an inch thick. 

Why do some cigars unravel?

This is really a pretty common problem among all cigars except it should happen less with better premiums. Wrappers usually peel for two reasons: Either they were not properly wrapped at the factory in the first place, or the cigar has become dry. In the latter case, the wrapper may not have enough elasticity to cling to the binder. Be careful when you clip the cigar, too. If the wrapper is peeling at the head you can often repair it by just moistening it with your tongue. If the wrapper starts peeling from the lit end, or continues to do so even after you moisten it, you should trash it.

How does ring gauge and length affect the taste of the cigar?

Although the ring gauge will significantly affect a cigar's flavor and fullness, length doesn't often have much to do with it. A longer cigar does tend to smoke a little "cooler." But if you're a "hot" smoker and puff too much (a habit often carried over by cigarette smokers or the inexperienced), the cigar will smoke hotter at any length and it may even taste bitter, too. If you draw slowly on the cigar and allow it to rest about a minute between puffs, most any length will smoke cool and taste much better, particularly with a well-made cigar. So, slow down and cool it!

How can you tell if a cigar is fresh?

Cigar wrappers that have a rich, oily sheen show that the cigar has been properly humidified and the leaf is very high quality. But even dull-looking wrappers can be of good quality. One great way to tell if a cigar is really fresh or not is by giving it "the pinch test." Very lightly "pinch" the cigar between your thumb and forefinger. It should feel firm with a little spring to it, not hard. If it feels like a piece of dead wood or if it's particularly soft and spongy in spots, than it is either too dry or too moist.

How do I take  care of my butane lighter?

Many cigar smokers seem to take their lighters for granted. After all, they're relatively inexpensive and easily replaced. But when a butane lighter goes bad, it may not necessarily be your lighter. It may be more about how you care for it. Here are some useful tips that will keep your cigar lighter in top condition and may even breathe new life into your old flame.

• When the lighter is empty, "bleed" it by pressing the tip of a ball point pen against the fuel filling valve to release all the excess gas. If you can, also do this by gently depressing the lighter switch and releasing as much gas as you can from that end, too.
• Never mix fuels and avoid using bargain brand butane. Use only premium butane made by a reputable manufacturer. The cheap stuff can actually clog the system.

What causes "tunneling?" 

Tunneling can be caused by one of two things:

1. The outer wrapper is too moist or too oily, and does not burn at the same rate as the filler and binder, the latter of which is actually selected for its good burning qualities.
2. The filler and binder are not rolled tightly enough, and again, because the binder is designed to burn well, the inner tobaccos take off, leaving the wrapper behind. Or, the filler and binder are a little dry, causing the inner leaves to burn that much faster.

When you light up, be sure you get a good even burn at the foot working your way from outer ring toward the center. The leaf at the center, usually Ligero, burns the slowest, and if the cigar really burns nicely, you should get a nicely formed cone, or "cherry" when you tap off the ash.