On this page
What makes a cigar premium
There is no single definition everyone uses, but the industry and U.S. regulators have described a premium cigar in similar terms: wrapped in a whole tobacco leaf, with a binder of whole leaf tobacco, mostly long filler, made by hand, with no filter, tip or mouthpiece, and no characterizing flavor other than tobacco.
Put simply, a premium cigar is whole leaf, handmade, and tastes of tobacco. Everything about how it is made follows from that. For the parts named here, see Anatomy of a cigar.
Side by side
| Premium handmade | Mass-market machine-made | |
|---|---|---|
| Filler | Long filler: whole leaves, blended from several tobaccos | Usually short filler: chopped leaf |
| Binder | Natural tobacco leaf | Often a homogenized tobacco sheet |
| Wrapper | Natural leaf, selected by hand | Natural leaf or homogenized sheet |
| Made by | Teams of bunchers and rollers | High-speed machines |
| Ingredients | Usually tobacco, water and vegetable gum | Sheet tobacco can include binding agents and other ingredients |
| Burn and ash | Slow, even burn and a firm ash | Faster burn; ash falls sooner |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
Machine-made cigars are not failed premium cigars. They are a different product, made for a different price and purpose.
Where the money goes
- Time. From seed to box often takes several years: a growing season, months of curing and fermentation, a year or more of leaf aging, and more rest after rolling.
- Skilled hands. Bunching and rolling take years to learn, and a good roller makes a limited number of cigars a day.
- Wrapper leaf. Shade-grown wrapper is costly to grow, and much of it is set aside during sorting for tears, stains or heavy veins.
- Selection. Leaf is sorted by size, color and texture, and finished cigars are checked for draw and sorted by color so a box matches.
- Taxes. Federal and state tobacco taxes add to the price, and state taxes vary widely.
- Keeping. Cedar boxes, humidified warehouses and shops all cost money, and are part of why a premium cigar arrives in good condition.
How to judge quality
- Look. An evenly colored wrapper without tears, tight seams and a neat cap.
- Feel. Firm along its length, with a little give and no soft spots or hard knots.
- Draw. After cutting, a cold draw should have slight resistance: not plugged, not loose.
- Burn. A fairly straight burn line that rarely needs a touch-up.
- Ash. Firm and layered. Long filler cigars often hold an inch or more.
- Consistency. One cigar in a box should smoke much like the next.
Does price mean quality?
Up to a point. Construction, leaf and aging cost money, and a very cheap premium cigar has usually saved on one of them. Above a certain price, though, you are often paying for rarity, extra aging, packaging or a name as much as for how the cigar is made. Many excellent cigars sit in the middle of the range.
Two things matter more than price: whether the cigar is well made, and whether you enjoy the blend. And condition counts. A premium cigar that has dried out is a poor cigar, so buy from a retailer that keeps its stock properly humidified (where to buy) and store it well at home (how to store cigars).
Questions
Are machine-made cigars real tobacco?
Yes, but usually chopped leaf rather than whole leaves, often with a homogenized sheet as binder or wrapper.
What is homogenized tobacco leaf?
A uniform sheet made from ground tobacco mixed with a binding agent. It is cheaper and easier for machines to handle than natural leaf.
Why are premium cigars expensive?
Years of growing, curing, fermenting and aging; skilled hand labor; costly wrapper leaf; careful selection; and taxes.
Is a handmade cigar always better?
Not always. Construction varies from maker to maker, and handmade cigars have natural variation. Judge a cigar by its draw, burn and taste.