If storing cigars for any period of time it’s recommended to store them inside a cedar lined cigar humidor. The cedar encourages the flavours and ageing of the cigar and also helps maintain the humidity level inside the humidor, as it holds moisture well. A relative humidity of between 65-75% should be maintained and a temperature of 18-21°C  (64-70°F) is considered optimal. At temperatures below 12°C  (54°F) the cigar ageing process can be compromised, and if storing cigars in temperatures exceeding 24°C  (75°F) tobacco worm is more likely.

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I should preface this review with a disclaimer of sorts. I rank the Cohiba Siglo VI as the best of all modern Cuban cigars and easily my most preferred.

The Siglo VI has had criticism in the past for alleged varying degrees of quality. To set the record straight my experience with regard to quality has been impeccable and I always enjoy time spent smoking this cigar. The weather had been hot and humid and partnering my Siglo VI was a Boag’s Classic Blonde Low Carb beer. This particular Siglo VI was no different to any other I had smoked as it offered a flawless oily wrapper and perfectly formed cap. The stunning rich aroma offered is one of the Siglo VI traits that keeps me coming back time and time again. I cut the end with my trusty CC Cutter and lit up using a single flame jet lighter. The Siglo VI lit up superbly and right from the outset the even burn gave way to a draw that was cool and creamy.

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It was the Australia Day long weekend and as expected the weather had been typically warm for this time of year. I welcomed the chance to review the newest cigar from Jose. L Piedra; the Petit Cazadores. I had heard good things about this hand made Cuban short-filler and decided to buy a bundle of 25 and smoke as an everyday cigar. At only AU$145 for 25 sticks I didn’t have much to lose. With the weather mild my drink of choice was a new low carb Australian beer, Carlton Dry with Natural Lime. It’s certainly not the prettiest cigar with the dark wrapper displaying many veins.

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When lighting your cigar it’s best to use a butane lighter such as a jet flame lighter or a wooden match stick. Try to stay away from ‘gasoline’ type lighters as the odours are absorbed by the cigar and the flavour tainted. Also try to avoid matches containing wax, such as paper matches, or matches with high sulphur content. Take your time when lighting your cigar as a badly lit cigar will definitely spoil your experience! Initially hold the cigar horizontally in direct contact with the lighter flame, and slowly revolve it until the end is evenly charred all over.

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All Havana cigars have a double cap over the head with the best cut approximately an eighth of an inch or 2-3mm just above the cap line. Ideally you should open 75%-85% of the cigars total width to allow the smoke an uninterrupted passage. Be careful because if you accidentally cut above the cap line the cigar may begin to unravel. There are number of cigar cutting tools and methods of cigar cutting. These include double bladed ‘CC cutters’, cigar scissors or a punch cutter with a circular blade. And remember.. the cut should always be clean and level. The best way to achieve this is with a quick, decisive cut!

My opportunity had finally come to sample one of the new Trinidad Ingenios LE 2007 cigars. I had a box of 12’s sitting in my humidor for about 3 weeks and I had been waiting for the right time to smoke one.

It was a warm night and luckily my wife and son had gone to bed early! My drink for the evening, not by choice, with this cigar was a Banrock Station Cabernet Merlot which is an o.k. quaff standard of red. Anyway.. on with the review!

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Made exclusively by Habanos SA under the request of The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for the Asia Pacific, a new cigar size in the Por Larranaga brand.

Available from November 2007, the 2007 Regional Edition - Por Larranaga Robusto - was launched across Asia Pacific by The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd. This rare and special cigar will be exclusive to The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for two years.

The Por Larranaga brand was registered in 1834 by Ignacio Larranaga at 94 O’ Reilly Street, Havana. The name, Por Larranaga, means “by Larranaga”. By the end of the 19th Century, Por Larranaga was a well-known cigar brand favored by the rich and famous. Despite the fame, Por Larranaga has never been a brand of large output, the cigars produced are always in selected quantities and are often sought after by discerning aficionados.

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I was recently in Bangkok on business at the Novotel on Siam Square. Sitting at the bar after a long day of meetings I did the usual and ordered a Singha and began to wind down. As I’d run out of my own cigar stash I chose to order one of the Jose L. Piedra Cuban cigars sitting behind the bar in a small wooden humidor with a typical glass door. To my surprise the bar staff presented a cigar lighter and proceeded to warm the length of the cigar before cutting it! My instant reaction was ‘Is there something I should know that I’m missing regarding cigar etiquette?’ So when I got home I decided to do some research on this and found the answer.

Apparently not! I’m told this was done in the 19th century to burn off the unpleasant gum used on some cigars made in Seville. Today’s handmade Cuban cigars use a small drop of flavourless, odourless vegetable gum at the cap end of the wrapper leaf.

Habanos S.A. is proud to present the Montecristo Reserve: A perfect gift for the most demanding smokers.

Montecristo is the best known and the one of the most appreciated brand of Habanos throughout the world. The name comes from the hero of Alexandre Dumas’ famous novel ‘The Count of Montecristo’, which was a firm favourite amongst the cigar rollers at the factory where it was founded in 1935. Montecristo’s perfectly balanced blend is created exclusively with selected leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region, home of the finest tobaccos in the world.

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The renowned Habanos Collection series pay homage to H.Upmann. The size selected is a Magnum Especial (girth 55 and 155 mm long).

Habanos S.A. are proud to announce the launch of the Habanos Collection to the market. As usual this case resembles a book that has resulted from the expert hands and great skill of Cuban craftsmen.

Volume No. 7 of the Habanos Collection, dedicated this time to the prestigious H. Upmann brand, will be launched to the market for full enjoyment of the lovers of this brand. H.Upmann‘s exceptional quality has set the standard for premium cigars since it was born as a brand in 1844, reaching an important position in the world of Habanos.

All leaves in H. Upmann are from the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region and they are long filler, premium cigars totally hand made. It’s excellence regarding the quality of their cigars are shown in the shape of gold medals in no less than eleven international exhibitions during the 19th Century.

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