The Groom's Crash Course in Cigars
http://www.articlesdirectory.org/articles/136872/1/The-Grooms-Crash-Course-in-Cigars/Page1.html
Ian Lurie
Ian Lurie is a writer and marketer in Seattle, WA. He currently represents ItzaBitza, whose drawing and learning video game helps teach kids to read, as well as Dreambox Learning, whose online math learning game teaches kids critical math skills. Ian's favorite games are WoW and StarCraft. He doesn't let his kids play either one. They'll forgive him someday. By Ian Lurie
Published on 17 April 2009
If you aren't already a cigar aficionado, we have some information here that will help you. So whether it's a cigar at the bachelor party, groomsman's gifts at the wedding or when celebrating the birth of the first baby shortly after, we have everything you need to know about cigars simplified in one place.
As a groom, you will find that in the very near future you will have several opportunities to indulge in a good cigar. If you aren't already a cigar aficionado, we have some information here that will help you. So whether it's a cigar at the bachelor party, groomsman's gifts at the wedding or when celebrating the birth of the first baby shortly after, we have everything you need to know about cigars simplified in one place.
Most guys' first experience with cigars is usually a nausea inducing puff with friends in high school, where they tried to not inhale or look like a dork. But cigars don't have to be stinky nausea inducing things. Read on and you'll find out what you've been missing and what you need to know.
Cigars are defined by most as one of the "finer things in life". As such they make perfect gifts for the wedding party. For starters, cigars are interesting. They come in a wide variety of sizes, flavors and styles. They are usually a rich, oral indulgence, much like fine wine or chocolates. But the very best thing about cigars is that you can multi-task while smoking one, provided that your lovely bride allows you to smoke one in the house. Though you may never make the cover of Cigar Aficionado Magazine, a little cigar knowledge will benefit every guy.
While there is much to know about cigars, and if you're interested you could certainly learn them, we are going to present just the basics here that are sure to impress any bridesmaid or friend of the bride and just might make you or your groomsmen look really cool in the process. And remember that rule #1 when it comes to cigars is DON'T INHALE!
Here are some rules of thumb when it comes to cigars:
How It Is Made: Possibly the most important factor when it comes to cigars is how the cigar is made. One of the most common problems with poorly made cigars is that they are overfilled with lesser quality tobacco. When this happens it makes it hard to puff the cigar properly and that won't provide the adequate amount of smoke, taste and scent. However just as problematic is an under filled cigar. If the cigar is under filled it will burn too quickly, the taste will be harsh and it will likely burn your hand.
How It Burns: A quality cigar should burn evenly and produce a firm ash that extends easily. A poorly made cigar will burn unevenly, have difficulty in staying lit, and have an ash that is too loose or too dense.
How It Feels: A quality cigar has a certain substantial feel to it. It should feel solid and have some resilience to it. One of the ways to determine the quality of a cigar is the squeeze it gently. It should bounce back with no denting or cracking. These are all signs of a poorly made cigar, either over filled or under filled.
Wrapper: The wrapper is probably the single most important feature of the cigar. The wrapper should be smooth with no wrinkles or cracking. The color of the wrapper can tell you a lot about the cigar as well. The darker the color of the wrapper, the fuller and more robust the flavor will be. Lighter colored wrappers will be milder.
The Scent: A quality cigar should have a good pleasant, warm scent that you can smell even before being lit. A variety of smells are possible from a well made cigar, everything from woodsy to a tropical fruity smell is appropriate, but it should be strong enough to permeate the whole experience.
Ok so now that we've taught you a little about cigars, let's talk about accessories. Now chances are that unless you memorize all of this, or print it and take it with you to the cigar shop (which really isn't a bad idea) you'll likely forget some of the information about cigars. But you can still look like a rock star just by selecting some great cigar accessories. Cigar accessories make great gifts for your wedding party and there are some really creative ones out there. One such item combines two popular groomsman's gifts in one, by combining a cigar holder and flask. There are also accessory gift sets that include such items as a case and cutter.
Another creative cigar accessory is the keepsake cigar box. Since guys aren't usually the sappy, sentimental sorts, these are perfect. These sets feature a small number of cigars, 5 or 6, and a keepsake box, occasionally with a small engraved plate. Once you and your comrades smoke the cigars you are left with the box as a memento. It is a manly way to be sentimental.
The final creative cigar accessory that would make a great groomsmen's gift is the cigar journal. Cigars are one of those things that are best enjoyed with others, kind of like fine wine, and you just might find a cool new hobby while shopping for your groomsmen's gifts. So the way that cigar journals work is that it allows you to record data about the cigar such as who makes it, the style, the flavor and so on and they will usually have a section for you to write notes about each one. What makes these great groomsmen's gifts is the fact that once you give one to each groomsmen, you can then sample different cigars together, thus creating a new hobby, and allowing you to spend time with the guys, hopefully with your new bride's approval.
Hopefully, guys, we've given you some valuable information about how to choose a good cigar so that you can show your groomsmen how much they mean to you and pay honor to two of life's greatest things, great friends and great cigars.
Most guys' first experience with cigars is usually a nausea inducing puff with friends in high school, where they tried to not inhale or look like a dork. But cigars don't have to be stinky nausea inducing things. Read on and you'll find out what you've been missing and what you need to know.
Cigars are defined by most as one of the "finer things in life". As such they make perfect gifts for the wedding party. For starters, cigars are interesting. They come in a wide variety of sizes, flavors and styles. They are usually a rich, oral indulgence, much like fine wine or chocolates. But the very best thing about cigars is that you can multi-task while smoking one, provided that your lovely bride allows you to smoke one in the house. Though you may never make the cover of Cigar Aficionado Magazine, a little cigar knowledge will benefit every guy.
While there is much to know about cigars, and if you're interested you could certainly learn them, we are going to present just the basics here that are sure to impress any bridesmaid or friend of the bride and just might make you or your groomsmen look really cool in the process. And remember that rule #1 when it comes to cigars is DON'T INHALE!
Here are some rules of thumb when it comes to cigars:
How It Is Made: Possibly the most important factor when it comes to cigars is how the cigar is made. One of the most common problems with poorly made cigars is that they are overfilled with lesser quality tobacco. When this happens it makes it hard to puff the cigar properly and that won't provide the adequate amount of smoke, taste and scent. However just as problematic is an under filled cigar. If the cigar is under filled it will burn too quickly, the taste will be harsh and it will likely burn your hand.
How It Burns: A quality cigar should burn evenly and produce a firm ash that extends easily. A poorly made cigar will burn unevenly, have difficulty in staying lit, and have an ash that is too loose or too dense.
How It Feels: A quality cigar has a certain substantial feel to it. It should feel solid and have some resilience to it. One of the ways to determine the quality of a cigar is the squeeze it gently. It should bounce back with no denting or cracking. These are all signs of a poorly made cigar, either over filled or under filled.
Wrapper: The wrapper is probably the single most important feature of the cigar. The wrapper should be smooth with no wrinkles or cracking. The color of the wrapper can tell you a lot about the cigar as well. The darker the color of the wrapper, the fuller and more robust the flavor will be. Lighter colored wrappers will be milder.
The Scent: A quality cigar should have a good pleasant, warm scent that you can smell even before being lit. A variety of smells are possible from a well made cigar, everything from woodsy to a tropical fruity smell is appropriate, but it should be strong enough to permeate the whole experience.
Ok so now that we've taught you a little about cigars, let's talk about accessories. Now chances are that unless you memorize all of this, or print it and take it with you to the cigar shop (which really isn't a bad idea) you'll likely forget some of the information about cigars. But you can still look like a rock star just by selecting some great cigar accessories. Cigar accessories make great gifts for your wedding party and there are some really creative ones out there. One such item combines two popular groomsman's gifts in one, by combining a cigar holder and flask. There are also accessory gift sets that include such items as a case and cutter.
Another creative cigar accessory is the keepsake cigar box. Since guys aren't usually the sappy, sentimental sorts, these are perfect. These sets feature a small number of cigars, 5 or 6, and a keepsake box, occasionally with a small engraved plate. Once you and your comrades smoke the cigars you are left with the box as a memento. It is a manly way to be sentimental.
The final creative cigar accessory that would make a great groomsmen's gift is the cigar journal. Cigars are one of those things that are best enjoyed with others, kind of like fine wine, and you just might find a cool new hobby while shopping for your groomsmen's gifts. So the way that cigar journals work is that it allows you to record data about the cigar such as who makes it, the style, the flavor and so on and they will usually have a section for you to write notes about each one. What makes these great groomsmen's gifts is the fact that once you give one to each groomsmen, you can then sample different cigars together, thus creating a new hobby, and allowing you to spend time with the guys, hopefully with your new bride's approval.
Hopefully, guys, we've given you some valuable information about how to choose a good cigar so that you can show your groomsmen how much they mean to you and pay honor to two of life's greatest things, great friends and great cigars.