What is a Premium Cigar

If you’ve ever wondered why some cigars cost $1 and others $10 – the answer is craftsmanship.

Premium cigars are hand-rolled, high-quality masterpieces made entirely by hand from natural tobacco leaves. The flavor and color of Premium cigars result solely from curing and fermentation – no other chemicals are used. These cigars are known for their expert craftsmanship, use of long-leaf filler and whole-leaf wrappers.

Non-premium cigars, on the other hand, are rolled by machine, and their flavor profile and color may result from chemical altering.

💡 Interesting fact: A single premium cigar can pass through the hands of more than 200 skilled artisans before it reaches the smoker.

Features of a Cigar that is Premium

The question “What is a premium cigar?” is best answered by the following six characteristics:

• It is handmade;
• The cigar is made of whole, long-leaf filler tobacco;
• It is wrapped with whole tobacco leaves;
• Made of high-qualilty tobacco;
• The premium cigar weighs at least 6 pounds per 1,000 units;
• The cigars have no filters or tips;
• The tobacco is aged for long periods of time;
• Premium cigars have no artificial flavors other than tobacco
  
  💡 Interesting fact: While this is the classic definition, a popular sub-category known as “infused” premium cigars has emerged. These cigars are cured with natural herbs, botanicals and essential oils to create unique aromatic profiles, with a prime example being the popular Acid cigars lineup.

Premium vs Non-Premium Cigars: Key Differences

The table below highlights the main differences between premium and non-premium cigars:

Feature	Premium Cigars	Non-Premium Cigars
Production	Handmade by skilled rollers	Machine-made
Filler	Long-leaf tobacco	Short or chopped filler
Wrapper	Whole tobacco leaf	Paper or homogenized tobacco
Flavor	Natural fermentation	Often chemically flavored
Structure	Wrapper, binder, filler	Not always all three
Experience	Complex, slow, aromatic	Simpler, faster burn

How much does it Cost?

Premium cigars cost from $2 a stick upward. Such a cigar does not necessarily cost a fortune like luxury cigars, but there are exquisite cigars that can cost a lot, like investment items.

How are Premium Cigars Made?

Crafting a premium cigar takes time, precision, and passion. From the first seed to the final roll, the production of cigars follows traditions passed down through generations

• Firstly, tobacco seeds are cultivated in greenhouses. After a few weeks, farmers transplant only the best-developed plants outside in the fields.
• When tobacco plants mature, they are harvested by hand and sent to curing barns.
• After curing, tobacco leaves are left to ferment. Fermentation is followed by aging and categorization processes.
• The next step is for the cigars to be blended and rolled by hand.
• Rolled cigars are left to age and then branded and packed.

FAQ

Do premium cigars have nicotine?

Premium cigars, as all cigars and cigarettes, contain nicotine.

Are these cigars good for beginners?

Premium cigars are perfect for novice smokers. They have uniform characteristics, so it is easier for an inexperienced aficionado to keep track and develop his palate properly. You can learn more about this in our beginners’ guide to cigars.

How to store a premium cigar?

You should store your premium cigars in a controlled environment with about 70% relative humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to do this is to use a premium cigar humidor with a calibrated hygrometer.

Are premium cigars bad for you?

Cigar smokers are not daily consumers and do not inhale the smoke; the health effects are relatively modest. So says a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.