Cigar 101 - Choosing The Proper Cigar Accessories
The only way one can enjoy a cigar smoking experience is if you have the right accessories to go with it. These cigar accessories include humidors, lighters and cutters.
Cigar smoking was, once upon a time, a status symbol; only the wealthy can afford cigars and cigar accessories. But nowadays, cigars and accessories have become more and more accessible to the general public; in fact, the price of cigars and cigar accessories, like humidors and cutters, has become more affordable which is why more and more people are enjoying cigar smoking.
Choosing the Right Accessories
Choosing the right cigar accessories for your cigar smoking experience is important so that you can enjoy them. The brand is not important; what is important is that it serves its purpose well. When choosing cigar accessories, you need to keep in mind that some brands, like all other luxury brands, charge their customers 'luxury bonuses' because they carry the expensive brand's name. They may be much more expensive, but they don't necessarily qualify as better products; in fact, regular priced cigar accessories are usually just as good as the luxury brands. In the end, it is your choice whether you buy luxury products or retail products; what is important is that they are of the best quality and that they come with a warrant and/or guarantee.
One of the most important cigar accessories is the humidor. A cigar humidor ensures that your cigars are kept properly and are protected from the elements, like moisture. Humidors can be made from either, plastic or wood; there are many kinds of cigar humidors and they can cost from as little as a hundred dollars to almost a thousand dollars (luxury brands). Generally, cigar humidors have their insides lined with cedar and are equipped with a humidification device. Cigar humidors usually carry a large number of cigars, but because of the large demand for a more portable cigar humidor, cigar accessories manufacturers have produced smaller sized cigar humidors that are perfect to place at your office desktop and are light enough for travel. Whether you buy the large sized humidor or the more portable humidor, what is important is that the humidifying device the humidor carries is of a good quality and that the seal its seal is very tight.
The next cigar accessory you would need is a cigar cutter. A good cigar cutter provides you a smooth cut along the cigar cap; make sure that you test the cigar cutter before buying it. The most effective kind of cigar cutter is the guillotine model; this model provides a good, clean, smooth and even cut. In fact, it is the most popular model of cigar cutter. Other kinds of cigar cutters are scissors, v-cutters and bullet cutters; all of which are effective cutters that can prepare cigar for lighting. The most important part of a cigar cutter to look at is the blade. It is important that the cutter's blade is made of strong material and that it retains a sharp edge for a very long time.
Some cigar smokers will claim that a long match is sufficient in lighting a cigar, while others still believe butane lighters are better. One of the main reasons why they believe that is that matches leave an unwanted taste in the cigar; something that a cigar aficionado does not appreciate. The better models of lighters are expensive, but they last longer than cheaper lighters.
Lastly, ashtrays are very important to cigar lovers as well. You can opt for a more personalized ashtray or an ashtray with a modern design. Newer models of ashtrays even have small motors that suck in the excess cigar smoke; this lessens the second hand smoke that people around you can inhale.
Cigar smoking is more than just lighting up and puffing it. It involves a little bit of knowledge, finesse and skill; with the help of cigar accessories, you too can enjoy the experience of cigar smoking today.
The author is a cigar enthusiast and has written extensive guides on such products as the
Golf Humidor, a great way to keep cigars fresh on the golf course, and making the best
Homemade Humidor. Also, see some of his latest guides on the
Palio CutterArticle Source: ArticlesBase.com
