Casablanca Cigar Lounge

  • HOME
  • MEMBERSHIPS
  • BLOGS
  • RESERVATION
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Articles posted by Casablanca Cigar
January 18, 2021

Author: Casablanca Cigar

Save Premium Cigars Industry

Sunday, 07 October 2018 by Casablanca Cigar

The FDA is trying to smother the handmade cigar industry. We need your help.

We, CASABLANCA CIGAR LOUNGE, supports the call to write the FDA and help save premium cigars industry. The Food and Drug Administration is making it harder and harder for family-owned, handmade cigar companies to produce and sell their products. The new rules are unnecessary and political. They will drive these companies out of the business, leaving all of us, Cigar Lovers, with fewer choices for premium cigars.

We have to help in stopping that. We encourage everyone to write to FDA and below is the sample message provided by CigarAficionados. Feel free to use the letter below, though you can also craft your own message.

Send your letter/comments to this FDA link : https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FDA-2017-N-6107-0001

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Sir or Madam:

As an adult who chooses to enjoy premium cigars, I am writing to share my thoughts on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that was published on March 26 of this year pertaining to premium cigars.<

It is my understanding that in order to assist in its evaluation of the regulation of premium cigars, FDA is seeking comments and other information that may have developed since the final rule was issued.

As a premium cigar consumer, I have closely followed what FDA has done since it announced its Final Rule regarding premium cigars in 2016. I continue to believe that premium cigars are a unique product, very different from the cigarettes and smokeless tobacco that Congress actually instructed FDA to regulate. FDA’s actions in regulating premium cigars demonstrate that the agency has attempted a “one size fits all” approach to regulation. But premium cigars do not present the health, addiction and youth access issues associated with other tobacco products. FDA should respect those differences, rather than lumping premium cigars into the same group as cigarettes and cheap, candy-flavored cigarette substitutes.

A premium cigar is made by skilled artisans, using all-natural tobacco. It has no additives, using only aged tobacco, water and some vegetable gum. It doesn’t have filters or tips, and comes in artistic and ornate packaging that shouldn’t be marred by glaring warning labels.I agree that recent studies should lead FDA to reconsider its overreaching rules on premium cigars. Data from the 2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey, the 2013-2014 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, and the National Longitudinal Mortality Study from 1973-2011, show that very few youths use premium cigars and that the typical premium cigar consumer faces no statistically significant elevated health risks. The findings have been confirmed in peer reviewed articles in the New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of the American Medical Association. This new and rigorous research alone should cause the agency to reevaluate the harshness of the final rule.

No one said it better than the head of the FDA himself, Dr. Scott Gottlieb. In an April 2012 op-ed published before he became Commissioner, Dr. Gottlieb wrote, “Whatever the FDA does, the fight [to regulate cigars] reveals a broader trend of expanding the scope of regulation to cover areas never envisioned by Congress.” Dr. Gottlieb noted the agency does not have to regulate premium cigars simply because they contain tobacco: “The agency could argue that the premium cigars fall within its jurisdiction as a “tobacco product” but that, for now, it will exercise discretion and not regulate the high end smokes.”

Read more
  • Published in Cigar News
No Comments

Cigar Anatomy

Sunday, 07 October 2018 by Casablanca Cigar

What Are The Different Parts Of A Cigar?

In its most rudimentary form, a cigar can be divided into three functional parts, which consist of the head, foot and the body or barrel. The cigar’s head is the often-capped area, which touches your lips. Meanwhile, the foot is the part reserved for lighting and the body or barrel is the space in between.

As indicated in the illustration above, these physical areas of a cigar are made up of different types of tobacco. Each of these have their own functional and aesthetic characteristics.

Different Parts Of The Tobacco Plant

Before further exploring the different ways tobacco is used to make a cigar, it’s worth taking a quick glance at the tobacco plant. A single plant consists of leaves that are cultivated a series of priming’s as they ripen.

These are each harvested as layers from the bottom upwards in the following order:

  • Volado
  • Seco
  • Ligero

Simply knowing these three parts and their characteristics will vastly improve your understanding of cigars and how they’re blended.

Tobacco Field In The Sun

 

Volado Tobacco

Close Up Volado Tobacco LeavesThe first priming of a tobacco plant consists of the leaves found at the base sometimes referred to as the Mañanita and Libra de Pie. With a lower sun exposure than the other leaves, the Volado consists of very little flavour.

However, it’s a very thin and light tobacco that offers superior burning qualities than the following primings because it’s more combustible. Therefore, it’s included in a cigar’s blend to ensure an even and consistent burn when smoked.

In Cuba, the section just between the Volado and Seco is sometimes referred to as the Capote. This is the Spanish word for “binder” and offers a balanced leaf with characteristics of both primings.

Seco Tobacco

Tobacco Seco Leaves In CultivationAs can be deduced from the name, the Seco is the second priming found in the plant’s middle section. Unlike the volado, it is coarser and offers a mild flavour. As well as the Seco, sometimes this area s referred to as Uno y Medio depending on the seed.

Additionally, the Seco is quite a large area and may include a “Viso” just above it. Both of these sections consist of a series of primings within themselves depending on the seed:

  • Centro Fino: Fine leaves with a rich but restrained potency.
  • Centro Ligero: Not to be confused with the Ligero, it features bulk of Seco leaves.
  • Uno y Medio: The first Seco layer that often features Capote leaves.

A well-balanced and oily leaf, its flavours may be understated but it is considerably aromatic. As a general rule, the Seco can be considered a compromise between the thin Valedo below and thick Ligero above.

Ligero Tobacco

Tobacco Ripe Ligero LeavesThe leaves harvested from the very top of a tobacco plant are known as the ligero. Exposed to the most sun, it is a thick and heavy leaf that is extremely potent in flavour.

In order to maximise its potency, it is left to overripen as the last leaves to be cultivated. With the previous layers having already been harvested, the nutrients will slowly concentrate in these remaining leaves to provide a full-bodied flavour.

Nevertheless, the Ligero itself consists of several levels, which varies from seed to seed:

  • Medio Tiempo: Three or four thick, small leaves at the very top that are the most potent.
  • Corona: Top section of the Ligero beneath the Medio Tiempo.
  • Centro Gordo/Centro Alto: Thick and potent leaves at the Ligero’s base.

Whilst the majority of the above primings are often used, the Medio Tiempo is quite rare due to its extreme potency. This may be included in some of the boldest and most intense cigars but lacks subtlety for the majority of flavourful blends.

However, because they are extremely coarse and thick, Ligero leaves don’t burn well. Therefore, it’s important that they are used in combination with lower portions to ensure an even combustion.

Overall, the Ligero is somewhat less aromatic than the Seco, which is why both are carefully used together for a harmonious blend. Whilst the Ligero offers potent flavours, the Seco provides enticing aromas.

Read more
  • Published in Cigar Guide
No Comments

Cigar buying tips for Beginners

Sunday, 07 October 2018 by Casablanca Cigar

Buying your first cigar can be daunting.

With so many choices and a whole new vocabulary, you might not even know where to start.

If that sounds like you, try following this brief guide to buying cigars for beginners. It won’t teach you everything, but hopefully it will make your first foray into cigar buying a success.

1. Stick to tobacconists.

Buying from a fine tobacconist has many advantages.

You’ll have a large selection of quality cigars to choose from. Plus, you can count on the fact that those cigars have been well cared for.

What’s more, you’ll have excellent guidance. The knowledgeable staff can help you pick out the right cigar and share some cigar tips for beginners. If you really want to learn about cigars, your local tobacconist is the perfect classroom.

2. Purchase a few at a time.

When you’re just starting with cigars, you won’t know what you like, and your preferences will change quickly. That’s why it’s smart to only buy a few at a time. You’ll be able to experiment with a different bunch of cigars, and even more importantly, you won’t be stuck with a lot of cigars that you don’t enjoy.

3. Start on the mild side.

For a newcomer, full-bodied smokes can be overwhelming and potentially even unpleasant. So one of the most common cigar tips for beginners is to choose mild cigars. They’ll ease you into cigar smoking and ensure that you’re not turned off at the very beginning.

4. Don’t break the bank

As a general cigar buying tip, you usually get what you pay for. But as a newcomer, there’s no need to spend a fortune. You can get a quality cigar for under $10, and at your level, you don’t need to light up anything too fancy. Stick to moderately priced cigars at first, and once your palate develops, then you can treat yourself to that extravagant smoke.

Do you have any more cigar buying tips for beginners? Help out the newcomers by leaving a comment.

Read more
  • Published in Cigar Guide
No Comments
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2018. Casablanca Cigar Lounge. All Rights Reserved.

TOP
Buy Cigar on Our Store