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 The
cigar's appearance is an important indicator of care and craftmanship. The
cigar should look and feel smooth when you roll it in your fingers. The color of the different cigars in the each box should be consistent from one to the next, if they are not, then the manufacturer did not do his color selecting properly. Wrappers, even from the same crop, can vary over twenty or thirty shades of color. Variation in color is not bad in itself, but the manufacturer who pays attention to detail makes sure that , in a given box, all the color shades are simillar. The wrapper should be smooth with a slight shine, no blemishes or rough stems, its leave all spiralling in the same direction. The cigar should not be too dry or too firm. Give your cigar a gentle squeeze. It should be spongy to the touch and resilient enough to hold its shape where you have pressed your finger to it. Beware of any soft or hard spots that are inconsistent with the cigar as a whole, this is an indication of poor construction. Take a whiff of its rich aroma, if there isn't any, it's not a great cigar. While it is never really recomended to chew the end, the cigar should feel firm and resilient in the mouth. While draw and burn are the most important factors affected by construction, the aesthetics of construction can provide early warning signs regarding quality, taste, and aroma. Is it reasonable to assume that the company that places little importance on aesthetics places any importance on Quality? Pride goes a long way toward ensuring a premium product, and a beautifully constructed cigar unquestionably enhances the smoker's experience. |