Where cigar aficionados, hobbyists and industry insiders come together to offer tips and advice on everything related to cigar culture. http://www.whatsknottolove.com Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:12:21 GMT One the biggest mysteries is what separates a cheap cigar from an expensive one, and if that relates to differentiating a bad cigar from a good one. Part of the answer is that good cigars use higher quality tobacco and better blends of tobacco. Good cigars are hand rolled instead of machine made. But there's more to it than that. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/52 Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:12:21 GMT S. T. Dupont lighters are pure luxury. The lighter I was holding was $525, and worth it. The cover of the lighter was made out of sliver plate and etched with tiny vertical lines, similar to a pin stripe suit. And this was a mid-range model. Some of the fancier, more expensive lighters are around $1000, made from of Chinese lacquer or gold dust lacquer. Clearly, S. T. Dupont takes making lighters very seriously. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/51 Tue, 11 Oct 2005 20:43:21 GMT Tobacco beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) are nasty little buggers; left to their own devices, they will eat tobacco, lay eggs in cigars, and make cocoons, completely destroying your cigars in the process. Because their eggs hatch quickly, 5 to 10 days, and tobacco beetles can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, it is important to act at the first sign of an outbreak: a pin-sized hole on the wrapper of one your cigars. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/50 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 19:03:23 GMT Altadis U.S.A. has announced their promotion to raise money for victims of Hurricane Andrew in the Carribean will now apply immediately to victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast. The promotion's goal is to raise over $1 million for the charitable World of Montecristo Relief Organization. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/49 Sat, 10 Sep 2005 19:45:33 GMT The cigar wrapper isn't just one more component to a cigar -- it carries the majority of the cigar's flavor and nearly all of its aesthetic appeal. In fact, publications like The Cigar Encyclopedia and Cigar Aficionado suggest that the wrapper is responsible for 60% or more of the cigar's flavor and value. With more diverse wrappers being released than ever before, getting a handle on their styles and terminology has never been more important. Fortunately, comprehending these subtleties is easy with a little effort. The following ten points will help you understand, identify and discuss the majority of cigar wrappers available today. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/48 Thu, 02 Jun 2005 00:31:09 GMT Both cigar retailers and producers are basking in the warm sun of rising cigar sales. As stalwarts like Altadis, USA continue to report solid growth in their earnings, independent cigar makers like Cusano and Alec Bradley are having to hire more employees to meet demand. These independent producers are discovering they are part of a changing world in which the newest cigar smokers -- a growing population of twenty-something aficionados -- are looking at them not as fringe independents, but creators of some of the highest rated smokes around. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/47 Wed, 18 May 2005 23:36:55 GMT The websites, magazines and general media that are helping to rate cigars and keep quality in check are inadvertently producing a downside: how can cigar hobbyists objectively find the cigars that suit their tastes when price, ratings and brand-reputation weigh in to taint their opinion before the first draw is even taken? The solution lies in mastering the art of the blind tasting. By following the five easy steps outlined here, cigar hobbyists, store owners and even professional tasters can be sure that they are influenced only by the inherent quality of the cigar they are smoking at any given moment. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/46 Thu, 28 Apr 2005 04:57:14 GMT In the most rewarding new industries, there is often a convergence of factors that make them lucrative and sustainable. Factors like the emergence of new technologies, a ripening of the consumer market, or a political climate that spawns laws and regulations that give a particular business model oomph can revolutionize an industry. Over the last two decades, the counterfeit cigar industry in the United States saw all three of these factors converge to create the perfect storm of the illicit trades market. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/45 Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:31:20 GMT It would be an understatement to say that the current economic and political climate in the United States is not conducive to growth in the cigar industry. The founding fathers are wincing in their graves as taxes on cigars and pipe tobacco invoke memories of a certain point in the nation's history when the King of Britain was told to shove off. Indeed, not only are local cigar shops faced with this burden, but cigar hobbyists are confronted with the challenge of finding a bar or hotel they can still smoke in. Interestingly, Cigar Aficionado has reported this month that these efforts to oppress hobbyists have largely failed. 2004 was the biggest year for cigar sales since the peak of the 90's cigar boom in 1997. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/44 Fri, 22 Apr 2005 17:52:22 GMT The new Sauza cigar by the drew estate is packaged beautifully- the two sizes I now carry are the Don Javier, 5 x 50, and the Don Eladio, 7 x 50 both come encased in glass, and are wrapped in cedar sleeves with a cork top. The Adobe wrapper is flawless, silky smooth, shiny, and attractive. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/43 Fri, 22 Apr 2005 05:06:02 GMT There's something about shyness that has never appealed to me. One of the reasons why my Denver, Colorado flagship cigar shop has one of the best smoking rooms in the state is so my customers can challenge me. Challenging each other is why we have a good time, and how we learn new things about Cigars. Cigar smokers in the blog community are no different. Recently, I discovered that I've been buying into a pervasive myth regarding cigar humidors: that a decrease in temperature should be followed by an increase in humidity, and vice versa. This is a common, but totally false belief. http://www.whatsknottolove.com/cigarsavvy/tip.php/42 Thu, 21 Apr 2005 04:06:02 GMT