The blissful and bright days of summer are upon on, and for many, that means kicking back during those long leisurely evenings with an aromatic cigar. Enjoying a flavorful cigar after a barbeque or while just sitting around the patio furniture with friends and loved ones can make an ideal summer scene complete.
Ask any experienced cigar aficionado, and they will tell you that one’s choice of smoke makes a big difference between the mild months of summer and the frigid days of winter.
To help attain the optimal summer cigar experience, here are three tips to make an optimal warm-month selection of a leaf-wrapped tobacco experience.
1. Choose a Cigar With Thinner Wrappers
Cigars with light & delicate wraps accommodate the heat better because they tend to be less bitter and reduce tar buildup. Look for brands that advertise cigars wrapped in the lower leaves of the tobacco plant. These leaves are usually larger but thinner than the upper leaves. Asking your cigar supplier or shop manager can help you select a thin-leaf cigar for summer enjoyment.
2. Choose a Summer Flavor
Look for brands that feature tropical fruit, citrus, or floral flavors. Additionally, some brands offer “woody” flavors while others incorporate various aromatic herbs. Some examples are cloves, lilac, lilac tea, cinnamon, hazel, anise, and coconut. Last but not least, consider a cigar flavor that sports a “minty zest.” That makes for a kind of cool, almost menthol-like spin on the flavor.
3. Consider Long-Format Cigars
This simply means cigars that are longer than average length. Long-format cigars are those with an average length of 7 inches, 7.5 inches up to 8 inches. Most cigars are manufactured in the 4-inch to 8-inch range. A “standard” length is considered to be 5.5 inches. The reason that long-format cigars are better for summer is that they smoke cooler than shorter cigars. That’s perfect for a warm summer evening.
Additional Factors to Consider
One might think that cigar sellers bring out their bestselling summer brands for sale as summer approaches. However, studies show that prices and flavor types of cigars bear little association with the time of the year they are sold.
Experts say that the months of September through December tend to be the best time to purchase cigars. That’s because new flavor and brand releases make their debut at trade shows and other professional forums. Also, shoppers may find attractive deals on cigars of all brands during Black Friday, Father’s Day, or near the holiday shopping season.
Don’t Forget the Humidity
Summer months are generally more humid than winter, when the air tends to be very dry. That means cigar users should take extra measures to store their cigars in a humidor with a humidity level of 60 to 75% RH. Avoid storing cigars in locations above 75°F.
Some cigar users invest in humidification packs to maintain their tobacco products at optimum humidity levels.
Finally, puff at a slower pace while enjoying a summer cigar. That helps maintain some coolness in the mouth. Another tip is to let the cigar rest a bit more frequently to let the cherry cool down. This is a known way to preserve the flavor of a good cigar.
