Hand-rolled A cigar made entirely by hand with high-quality wrapper and long filler. Havana Capital of Cuba. The traditional center of manufacturing of Cuban cigars for export, and a term widely used to designate Cuban cigars. Also refers to the tobacco types grown from Cuban seed in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Head The closed end of the cigar; the end you smoke. Hot A term used to describe a cigar that is under filled and has a quick, loose draw. Can cause harsh flavors. Humidor A room, or a box, of varying sizes, designed to preserve or promote the proper aging of cigars by maintaining a humidity level of 70 percent and a temperature of approximately 65 to 75 degrees F. Ligero One of the three basic types of filler tobacco. The name means "light" in Spanish, but this aromatic tobacco lends body to a blend. Long Filler A term used to designate filler tobacco that runs the length of the body of the cigar, rather than chopped pieces found in machine-made cigars. Machine-made A term that refers to cigars made entirely by machine, using heavier-weight wrappers and binders and, frequently, cut filler in place of long filler. Maduro A term used for a wrapper shade varying from a very dark reddish-brown to almost black. The word means "ripe" in Spanish. The color can be achieved by sun exposure, a cooking process or a prolonged fermentation. Mold The wooden form used in cigar making to give shape to a finished bunch. It has two parts, which, when assembled, are placed in a press. Also, a potentially damaging fungus that forms on a cigar when it is stored at too high a temperature. Oscuro A black shade of wrapper, darker than maduro, most often Brazilian or Mexican in origin. Puro A Spanish term used to distinguish a cigar from a cigarette. Modern usage refers to a blend of tobaccos from one country. Ring Gauge A measurement for the diameter of a cigar, based on 64ths of an inch (or millimeters). A 40 ring gauge cigar is 40/64ths of an inch thick. Seco The Spanish word for "dry," seco is a type of filler tobacco. It often contributes aroma and is usually medium-bodied. Shade-grown Wrapper leaves that have been grown under a cheesecloth tent, called a tapado. The filtered sunlight creates a thinner, more elastic leaf. Smoking Time A 5-inch cigar with a 50 ring gauge, such as a robusto, should provide anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes of smoking pleasure. A double corona, a 7 1/2-inch cigar with a 50 ring gauge, may give over an hour's worth of smoking time. A thinner cigar, such as a lonsdale, smokes in less time than a cigar with a 50 ring gauge. Sun-grown Tobacco grown in direct sunlight, which creates a thicker leaf with thicker veins. Volado A type of filler tobacco chosen for its burning qualities. Wrapper A high-quality tobacco leaf wrapped around the finished bunch and binder. It is very elastic and, at its best, unblemished.   Previous Page		BACK?