Cigar Anatomy
A premium cigar is a deliberate piece of construction. Understanding its parts — wrapper, binder, filler, cap, foot, head — is the foundation of every other premium…
Vitolas: The Format Vocabulary
A vitola is a cigar format — a specific combination of length and ring gauge with conventional naming. Cuban tradition defines a hundred-plus vitola names; the New…
Wrapper Colors
The wrapper color is the first visible signal a cigar communicates. The seven-tier classification (claro to oscuro) is the editorial vocabulary for reading wrapper…
Strength, Body, and Flavor
A cigar review without these three terms is incomplete. They are not synonyms — they describe distinct, measurable dimensions of the cigar experience that the…
Common Defects
Even premium cigars from disciplined factories produce defective examples at a small rate. Recognizing the defects matters: most are minor, some compromise the…
Cigar Glossary
Premium cigar vocabulary is dominated by Spanish terms — the legacy of Cuban tradition shaping the industry vocabulary worldwide. This glossary covers the essential…