Any Habanos specialist can tell you that recommending a cigar is much like recommending a wine. This is something to which Curtis Webber, owner of La Tienda Cigars, and Chris Harden, owner of the Burlington Taboccanist On Whyte, can attest.
There are factors to consider when purchasing a cigar: body, flavour, intensity and appearance. These are familiar characteristics to wine lovers. But cigar smokers also look at time, or how long the smoke will last, which is determined by a cigar’s length in inches and its ring gauge (diameter).
Maybe you are enmeshed in cigar culture, maybe you have a passing knowledge. Either way, you probably know that Cubans are the most popular cigars. But, due to the current economic crisis in Cuba, the quality of cigars produced is lower than in past years. “This is the most interesting time to be a cigar smoker,” Harden says. Cuba is not the only country skilled in the art of cigar making — a good Cuban holds its allure. Regardless of a cigar’s provenance, here’s your chance to learn a little more.
This is a cigar that flies under the radar. A medium-bodied stick measuring 5¾ inches with a 52 ring gauge, this is a good 60-minute smoke. The Casa Turrent 1901 Robusto envelopes the palate with notes of cocoa powder, roast coffee, sweet cedar, nuts and leather, finishing off with the sweet taste of caramel and cherry. Cigar aficionados who enjoy Cubans will enjoy the familiar heavy, leathery tones of this Mexican puro. Find it at Burlington Tobacconist On Whyte.
This is a good option for someone starting out in the cigar world. The H. Upmann Half Corona is a mild-to-medium bodied puro with notes of cedar, sweet honey, shortbread, coffee, nuts and nutmeg. A sweeter option that finishes with a combination of leather, wild white peppers and the occasional citrus. It measures 3½ inches with a 44 ring gauge stick, ideal for a shorter break.
“The Half Corona has a really great blend,” says Webber. “If someone is just being introduced to cigars and they want a great experience, this is the cigar.” Find it at La Tienda Cigars.
My Father The Judge is a full body stick, measuring 5 inches with a 60 ring gauge. There is a rush of red pepper spice at first draw, followed by intense earth and dark chocolate flavours. Deeper into the smoke, notes of cedar, coffee and plum emerge. This Nicaraguan’s strength is better for a seasoned smoker.
“My Father is the largest cigar factory in the world,” says Webber. “If you are looking for a starter cigar, Flor de las Antillas is a very well-rounded, high quality option.” Find it at La Tienda Cigars.
Bolivar cigars have built a reputation for their strength and full-body build. The Bolivar Belicosos Finos, measuring 5½ inches with a 52 ring gauge, is composed of a perfect blend of earthy flavours — espresso, cocoa, leather, spices and toasted nuts consume your palette at first draw. Bask in its pronounced aroma of barns and the countryside. Find it at La Tienda Cigars and Burlington Tobacconist On Whyte.
The Romeo y Juliete Linea De Oro Diana is a smoother cigar, of medium body and strength. It is a sweeter and cedary option of brown sugar, coconut, baking spices, Marsala wine and honey. This stick, measuring 5¾ inches with a 52 ring gauge, was designed for special occasions but that shouldn’t stop you from taking an hour off your evening after a long day to enjoy its great profile. Find it at La Tienda Cigars.
Consuming a cigar should never be a quick experience, especially not the Partagas Linea Maestra Rito. This stick, measuring 6⅝ inches with a 52 ring gauge, is meant to be a slow-burn experience — that could take a delicious 80 minutes. At first draw, expect intense sweet-and-spicy notes of dark chocolate and chili peppers. Find it at La Tienda Cigars.
One of the most expensive options by the stick. This medium- to full-body cigar, measuring 4¾ inches with a 52 ring gauge, is widely considered the pinnacle of Cuban cigars. The Cohiba Behike 52 obtained its reputation due to its particular blend that features rare medio tiempo leafs, which are intense due to their sun exposure and nutrient concentration. This cigar is smooth and creamy, with notes of coffee, earth, caramel, cedar and sweet spices.
“Because of Cohiba’s popularity, the company decided to take that kind of extra age treatment and the best kind of tobacco and put it on some of the other brands,” says Webber. It served as the model of what is considered a fine cigar. Find it at La Tienda Cigars.
The Davidoff Oro Blanco Special Reserve has a peculiar blend of dusty earth, dried fruit, baker’s spice, milk chocolate and clove — a sweet, yet pungent combination. This medium to full cigar, measuring 6 inches with a 54 ring gauge, is more of a collector’s item than an everyday smoke. But if you choose to light it up, reserve a two-hour session.
“This is a limited edition Davidoff, each filler had been aged for over 12 years before the cigar was rolled,” says Hansen. The 111 in the name refers to the combined number of years of aging of the tobaccos used for a single cigar. Find it at Burlington Tobacconist On Whyte.
These Habanos specialists are not here to encourage you to smoke more but to smoke better. “Cigars are meant to be enjoyed slowly, over a good cup of coffee,” says Webber. “Not drunkenly at a wedding.”
Regardless if you have been dubbed a cigar connoisseur, there is always room to explore different terrains. So don’t be afraid to go into a shop and ask someone knowledgeable for recommendations, says Webber.
Burlington Tobacconist On Whyte
Strathcona | 10468 Whyte Ave NW, Edmonton | tobacconist.ca
La Tienda Cigars
Garneau | 8426 109 St NW, Edmonton | latiendacigars.com
