Before getting into how to smoke a cigar, what goes into cigars? The answer to this question is
the key to assessing the quality of a specific cigar. All but the thinnest cigars include three
elements: (1) the filler tobacco at the center, (2) a binder leaf which holds the filler together and
(3) the outer wrapper, which is rolled around the binder.
For beginning cigar smokers, it’s critical to identify the difference between handmade and
machine-made cigars. Cigars which are made by hand generally use “long filler” tobacco: leaves
which run the length of a cigar. In a handmade, the filler, binder and wrapper are combined
manually to create a cigar.
Machine-made cigars utilize high-speed machinery to combine “short filler” tobacco - usually
scraps or pieces of tobacco - with a binder and wrapper. Because of the tension placed on the
tobacco by the machines, the binders and wrappers are often made of a homogenized tobacco
product which is stronger than natural leaves and can be produced in a variety of flavors,
strengths and textures.
A few brands combine machine-bunching (using long-filler tobacco) with hand-rolled wrappers;
this practice has been very properly dubbed “hand-rolled” as opposed to handmade by cigar
expert Rick Hacker in The Ultimate Cigar Book. And some larger cigars use “mixed” or
“combination” filler of long-filler and short-filler tobaccos.
The quality of the tobaccos and more importantly, how they are blended, determines the quality
of the smoking experience. In the filler, “ligero” leaves which provide power are blended with
“seco” leaves with a milder flavor and “volado” which helps to ensure an even burn. These are
combined with a binder and wrapper to provide a balanced flavor.
Is there anything other than tobacco in a premium, handmade cigar? Yes. A tiny bit of gum,
often gum tragacanth (sap from a gum tree) is applied to seal the wrapper. It’s a tasteless and
safe form of dietary fiber keeps the cigar together until you can enjoy it!
Before getting into how to smoke a cigar, what goes into cigars? The answer to this question is
the key to assessing the quality of a specific cigar. All but the thinnest cigars include three
elements: (1) the filler tobacco at the center, (2) a binder leaf which holds the filler together and
(3) the outer wrapper, which is rolled around the binder.