Beginner's Guide: Part 1- Anatomy Of A Cigar

Filler The filler are long leaves of tobacco or cut up pieces of tobacco that comprise the bulk of the cigar and deliver most of the flavor. Most premium cigars are made with "long filler" which means it runs the lenght of the cigar. Filler can also be a blend of different tobaccos sometimes from different regions.

Binder

The binder is a tough, coarse tobacco that is wrapped around the filler that holds the cigar together.

Wrapper

A silky leaf of tobacco that is the outer layer of the cigar. The wrapper shows the visual quality of the cigar and gives it most of it's flavor which also makes it the most expensive component. 

Cap or Head

The small circular piece of tobacco at the head of the cigar that offers a nice appearance and prevents the cigar from unraveling. The cap is also the portion to snip, cut or punch before smoking.

Foot

The bottom of the cigar that you light.

Lighting A Cigar

Lighting your cigar doesn’t have to be a long or drawn-out process. The point of properly lighting your cigar is to increase your smoking enjoyment by eliminating uneven burns and self-extinguishing cigars. Here’s how to do it:

-Make sure you have a wood match or butane lighter. Liquid fuel lighters should be avoided, since   the odor enters the cigar and affects its taste. Also paper matches have sulfur in the head and are infused with chemicals to keep the paper burning. Also a number of companies make long matches specifically for lighting cigars.

-Hold the cigar about ½” away from the flame at about a 45 degree angle, rotating it slowly while allowing the foot to char slightly.

-Slowly draw on the cigar while still holding the flame to the cigar foot. After a few puffs, the smoke should be pulling easily. Your cigar should be fully ignited and an ash will begin to form.

Keep in mind that the taste of your cigar can also be affected if you allow it to self-extinguish and save it for another time. While it can be re-lit by the same process described above, you should anticipate different – and often sour – flavors from a re-lit cigar. You’ll probably derive more pleasure and consistency from your cigars by smoking small cigars and cigarillos when you are pressed for time, and saving larger cigars for those times when you can fully enjoy them. Now enjoy!