A Beginner’s Guide to Cigars | How to Choose, Pair and Enjoy the Perfect Smoke

For many, cigars are an obvious compliment to a day at our private country club or on the golf course. During social gatherings, a well-chosen cigar can elevate the experience, engaging the senses and turn a good moment into a memorable one.

If you’re just stepping into the world of cigars, or want to feel more confident the next time you wander into your local cigar shop, we’ve rounded up a general guide to get you started.

There are an amazing array of things to consider when selecting a cigar. Things like size, shape, country of origin, flavor profiles, band numbers, color, strength …. and they don’t make it easy. A standard lexicon does not exist and one brand’s large cigar could use the same term as another’s small. Don’t even get us started on dual origin brands.

To cut through some of the confusion, here are some core elements to focus on as you get started.

The outer color, the wrapper color, indicates flavor and strength of the cigar. Lighter colors have a more mild, creamy smoke with darker colors offering a richer, stronger flavor. The color is dictated by the varietal of tobacco used, fermentation, age and the oil and sugar content of the leaf. There are six main colors:

• Claro claro or candela: light green with a mild and sweeter taste
• Claro: a light tan color sporting a relatively neutral flavor profile
• Colorado: brown to reddish-brown featuring rich flavors and a subtle aroma
• Natural: light brown to brown known for balanced flavors, sometimes with sweet or spicy notes
• Maduro: dark-brown with a rich, strong flavor and mild aroma
• Oscuro or negro or black: the darkest wrapper with the most bold, deep flavor

Labeled as mild, medium or full, strength refers to the nicotine content, not necessarily the intensity of flavor.

• Mild: as the name would suggest, mild cigars have the lowest nicotine content, making them perfect for beginners
• Medium: this is the most common strength, nicely balancing noticeable nicotine levels and rich flavors
• Full (or Bold): this category has a high nicotine content and is best smoked slowly by aficionados who enjoy a good kick

The shape and size of a cigar can also greatly impact how the flavors are experienced. Tapered shapes concentrate the smoke to intensify flavors. Thicker cigars tend to burn cooler offering a smoother experience and highlight the filler tobacco while thin cigars burn hot and you’ll taste the wrapper flavors more intensely.

Pairing a great cigar with your favorite libation can elevate the flavors of both to create an even more enjoyable experience. Personal preference reigns supreme, but there are some general guidelines to keep in mind.

Once again making things a little complicated, there are two schools of thought – complementary pairings which align similar flavor profiles to intensify the experience, and contrasting pairings that are said to more sharply highlight the nuanced flavors in both the smoke and drink.

Brown spirits are the most common pairing as their complex, aged, smoky richness and earthy, spicy, caramelized flavor profiles are similar to those often found in cigars. Mild cigars go well with light drinks such as crisp beer or white wine while full-bodied cigars are best paired with bold drinks like scotch and deep red wines. Coffee is another great choice to complement a cigar after dinner.

At the end of the day, the goal is to match intensity and enhance flavors, not overpower them.

Naturally, the ideal storage situation for a cigar collection is a seasoned humidor kept between 65 – 75% relative humidity at 65-70 degrees. The team at Fumar Cigars Inc. says 70% relative humidity at 70° is the sweet spot, but warns this can be notably difficult to maintain in our dry Arizona climate. Be sure you are consistently checking and adjusting your humidor for best results.

For travel, a Ziplock bag or airtight container with a damp sponge or paper towel will do the trick. Even better if you have a humidification pack. Without careful storage, cigars can start to dry out in as little as one to three days.

Note: always use distilled water to avoid introducing minerals or bacteria into your system.

Enjoyment of cigars is a very personal experience and everyone has their own preference of flavor, strength and smoke time. And, much like wine pairings, your choice of beverage can dictate the choice of smoke and vice versa.

At Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club we work with Fumar Cigars to curate a diverse cigar menu based on member requests and an in-depth knowledge of cigar flavor profiles. To learn more, members can contact the Club Concierge.