In general cigars can be divided into two types:

Longfiller cigars (wet cigars)

The filler consists of whole leaves, laid parallel to each other and wrapped with a tobacco leaf. This type of cigar is normally hand-made, big and very expensive. They originate mainly form the Caribbean area: Cuba, The Dominican Republic and the U.S.A.
The Cuban Cigar is a product from a warm and very humid country, so it should be kept and smoked moist. As far as taste and aroma are concerned these products are completely different from the European cigars.



Short filler cigars (dry cigars)

The filler consists of a large variety of threshed tobacco particles. Virtually all the European cigars are short filler. A great advantage of short filler is that they allow the manufacturer to use more tobaccos to compose a blend. As a consequence there can be greater variations in flavor.
Additionally the small particles provide a consistent, easy draw when smoked. Short fillers are dry cigars with a low degree humidity (about 12%) and they can only be fully enjoyed in a really dry condition.

European cigars consists of three important parts

Filler: The filler tobacco is a blend of up to 20 different types of tobacco. This tobacco must be free of stems and veins and is carefully selected according to pre-determined quality requirements. Filler tobaccos must be aromatic and tasteful.
Binder: This is the tobacco leaf, which surrounds the filler tobacco and keeps it together. Filler and binder together are called a "bunch" and this is the name used for the unfinished cigar before wrapper is added.
Wrapper: That is the outside leaf, which is visible on every cigar and must be of natural tobacco. It is possible to make a cigar without a binder, but never without a wrapper. The wrapper is an important element for the flavor of the cigar and also for its burning qualities.

When the whole tobacco leaves to be used for the wrapper are cut into halves in order to prepare them for further working, the veins of these 2 halves are pointing into either a left or right direction. This shows later on the wrapper of the cigar and is the reason for "left" and "right" cigars. To avoid a somewhat disorderly impression in the cigar boxes, these left and right cigars are packer separately in the boxes.

To fully enjoy your cigars, some tips:

1) European cigars are short filler oven-dried cigars with a low degree of humidity. This means that you should smoke them carefully between your lips, for they may break if you bite on them.

2) Take small puffs and try to keep cigar alight.

3) Do not inhale. A cigar cannot be smoked like a cigarette. In order to reach the best smoking satisfaction, allow the smoke of the cigar to circulate around in your mouth and nose.

4) Do not forget to enjoy the side stream of smoke, like the bouquet of a glass of wine. The fragrance of wrapper gives an extra dimension to cigar smoking pleasure.

5) Light the cigar with a normal gas lighter or an ordinary match. Never use a petrol lighter, which will damage the precious cigar aroma.

6) A cigar that has gone out should really only be relit:
- when cigar is still warm
- when the cigar is not shorter than half of its original length.

7) Do not smoke the cigar more than 2/3 of its original length.

8) Do not crush the cigar-end to extinguish it. Put it in the ashtray and let it extinguish itself without creating an unpleasant smell.

9) Choose your cigar to match the situation and occasion. There is variation enough in the sizes and qualities available. Do not hesitate to experiment in this field.

10) Generally, when one starts smoking cigars, a thick cigar is advised. A thin cigar with a small diameter generally has a more spicy taste than the thicker ones.

How to Store Your Cigars

Temperature
The recommended temperature is 18-20°C with extremes of 12-35°C. Severe cold, excessive heat and sudden changes in temperature should be avoided. In general, cigars should be kept away from places where the temperature is higher or lower than the normal room temperature throughout the year, such as the floor, against outside walls or near sources of heat.

Shelf life
Given lack of humidity, mould or staleness will never threaten the quality of Dutch cigars. Therefore, shelf life is practically unlimited under normal climatic and handling conditions. Dutch cigars should not be stored in humidors.

Several years of storage do not affect the quality of the cigars in the least, provided they are not humidified and not moved about frequently. On the contrary, years of storage will improve their flavor. Like some good wines, cigars like to age to bring the integration of the blend to perfection.

In the cigar industry many cigar shapes are available. For the industry each shape is defined as a format with a number. Related to that number a wrapper shape is defined and several specific machine parts to produce such a cigar. PMB Tobacco has a wide range of tooling related to these shapes and specific parts. (see picture). The format numbers are standardized and spare parts can always ordered related to the format number. These numbers are know in the industry, but of course not for cigar smokers in general.

Cigars come in all shapes and size and certain "size names" are often used to refer to a particular size of cigar. Names such as "corona" or "Churchill" designate a cigar of a certain length and ring gauge. However, there are no naming and sizing standard in the cigar industry and after generations of manufacturers independently deciding which name went with which length and ring gauge, there is much confusion. While one manufacturers may call a particular size a Churchill, a different manufacturer calls that same size a double corona.

Cigarillo
Cigarillo is the smallest of the cigar sizes, looking more cigarette-like than any other cigar size. In general, Cigarillos are classified as any cigar with a ring gauge of 29 or less.

Demi-Tasse
Demi-Tasse is a common cigar size for Cuban machine made cigars. In general, Demi-Tasse ranges from 30 to 34 ring gauge and up to 5 inches in length. The typical Demi-Tasse is 30 by 4 inches.

Perfectos
A figurado, or odd shaped cigar, perfectos are rounded at both ends.

Small Panatela

Slim Panatela
The same ring gauge as Demi-Tasse (30 to 34) but longer than 5 inches. Slim Panatelas are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Short Panatela
A shorter version of the Panatela, the range for this program is from 35 to 39 ring gauge and up to 5.375 inches in length. Short Panatelas are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Panatela
A slim, long cigar, it's small diameter limits it to one or two kinds of tobacco. This makes the flavor less complex than the larger ring gauges. Lengths range from 5.5 to 6.875 inches and the ring gauge ranges from 35 to 39. The typical panatela size is 38 x 6.5 inches. Panatelas are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Long Panatela
A longer version of the Panatela, In general the sizes ranges from 35 to 39 ring gauge and 7 inches or longer in length. Long Panatelas are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Petit Corona
Petit coronas are straight-sided cigars (parejo) with an open foot and a closed head. Lengths range up to 5.125 inches and ring gauges range from 40 to 44. The typical size for Petit Coronas are 40 x 5 inches.

Corona
Coronas are straight sided cigars (parejo) with an open foot and a closed head. Lengths range from 5.25 to 6.25 inches. Ring gauges are from 40 to 44, with 42 x 6 inches begin the typical size.

Lonsdale
The ring gauge for Lonsdales are the same as for Coronas, but with a longer length, ranging from 6.375 to 7.25 inches. Lonsdales are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Giant Corona
With ring gauge similar to Coronas and Lonsdales, the Giant Corona is longer. In general, the size ranges from 40 to 44 ring gauge and lengths from 7.375 to 8.5 inches. Giant Coronas are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Corona Extra
In between Petit Corona and Robusto, this size ranges from 45 to 47 ring gauge and up to 5.5 inches in length. Corona Extras are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Gran Corona
In between Corona and Toro, this size ranges from 45 to 47 ring gauge and between 5.625 and 6.625 inches in length. Corona Extras are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Churchill
The Romeo y Julieta brand is generally credited with the introduction of the name "Churchill", in honor of the British statesman. The typical Churchill is 47 by 7 inches. Churchills are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot. In general, the size ranges from 6.75 to 7.875 inches in length and between 45 and 50 ring gauge.

Robusto
One of the more popular cigar sizes, robustos provide the benefits of a larger ring gauge that can be smoked in a shorter period. The typical Robusto is 50 by 5 inches. This size includes Rothchilds, typically 50 by 4 1/2 inches. Robustos are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot. In general the size ranges from 48 to 55 ring gauge and up to 5.5 inches in length.

Toro
In between a Robusto and a Double Corona, the typical Toro is 50 by 6 inches. Toros are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot. In general the size ranges from 48 to 55 ring gauge and from 5.625 to 6.625 inches in length.

Double Corona
Perfect for a meditative hour and a quarter, the larger ring gauge of the Double Corona allows the cigar maker to blend four or five different tobaccos, allowing for more complex tastes. Double Coronas are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot. In general the size ranges from 51 to 55 ring gauge and from 6.75 to7.875 inches in length.

Gigantes
Gigantes cover a wide range of ring gauges but are at least 8 inches in length. Gigantes are parejos with straight sides, a closed head and an open foot.

Pyramid
A figurado (odd-shaped cigar) with a closed head that widens to an open foot.

Torpedo
Similar to Pyramids, Torpedos are figurados (odd-shaped cigars) with a pointed, closed head that grow larger from head to an open foot.

Belicoso
A small pyramid shaped figurado (odd-shaped cigar) with a rounded head rather than a point.

Culebra
Three panatelas braided together, Culebras were originally made for cigar factory workers.

Diademas
A giant cigar 8 inches or longer, Diademas differ from Gigantes in that they are figurados, or odd-shaped cigars. Most Diademas have an open foot, but occasionally can have a closed foot similar to perfectos.

Perfectos
A figurado, or odd shaped cigar, perfectos are rounded at both ends.

Figurado
Any figurado shape not otherwise classified