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11 September 2020

Cigar Anatomy

You don’t necessarily need to be able to dissect your cigar in order to enjoy it. However, a bit of knowledge about the anatomy of your cigar might give you a better appreciation for it, and could enhance your overall cigar smoking experience. 

Cap

The cap is an essential component of the cigar, holding everything together. Made from a loose piece of tobacco, the cap is attached to the top of the cigar using natural glue to secure the wrapper and ensure that it does not unravel. This is the portion of the cigar that you cut before the fun of smoking it commences. It’s a good idea to cap about 2 millimetres off your cigar but be sure to do it with an appropriate cigar cutter.

Body

The body is the main part of the cigar, and is comprised of three different layers of tobacco: 

• Wrapper

On the outermost layer is the wrapper. It is a single tobacco leaf that is wrapped around the cigar. Sometimes, the wrapper is actually the most flavourful part of the cigar. The leaves often come from the bottom of the tobacco plant, a section known as Volado, which burns well and helps the cigar to be smoked properly. The tobacco leaf used for the wrapper must be absolutely flawless. In fact, the cigar makers are so resolute on providing the most aesthetically impeccable product that less than 10% of all tobacco gets accepted as being good enough to use as a wrapper. Because of this, it is the most expensive aspect of the whole cigar.

• Binder

The next layer of the cigar is known as the binder and is arguably the most important. A coarser and tougher type of tobacco leaf referred to as Seco, which comes from the middle of the plant, is used here to hold the filler together. These leaves do not provide much flavour, putting the key focus on the filler flavours that are expertly blended. The strength of this layer aids in the process of giving the cigar its signature shape.

• Filler

The tobacco leaves in the middle of the cigar make up the filler. These dark and flavourful leaves, found at the top of the tobacco plant, called Ligero, are varied and impact the most on the taste of the cigar. The more ligero leaves used in the filler, the stronger the cigar will be! In each filler, there are usually between two and five different sorts of tobacco. Master blenders take several varieties of tobacco, in different amounts, and then combine them to attain the desired taste and strength. This is the key aspect of producing a sense of individuality and uniqueness between brands and regions of cigar makers.

There are, of course, problems that could arise in the construction of cigars. If too much filler is used, it can block the airflow through the cigar, meaning that it will frustratingly go out all the time, and may cause the wrapper to split. Conversely, too little tobacco will give an uneven appearance and feel. Too much space for air to pass through will make the cigar burn faster than it should, which can mask the subtle flavour tones and ultimately taste unpleasant.

Cigars can take more than three years to make. This is mostly down to the ageing process of the tobacco. It is aged for that long in order to obtain deeper and more complex flavours. The tobacco is examined carefully and constantly by experts specifically trained to guarantee top quality and consistency in the flavour, feel and form of the tobacco.

A torcedor then takes charge, highly-skilled in the art of combining the filler, binder and wrapper tobaccos, ensuring the cigar stays smooth and pleasing to the eye. But also, and most importantly, this expert cigar maker will make sure the cigar burns correctly.

Foot

This is the open end of the cigar that you light. Not covered by the wrapper, you can see the blend of tobacco within the body. To really enhance your smoking experience, many like to smell this end before lighting the cigar, to really enjoy the expertly formed aromas.