Light 'em Up Lounge — Episode 3: The Most Common Cigar Questions

Hosts: Reinhard Pohorec & Christian Wohlrab

Topic: How cigars are made — and other common questions around premium cigars

🔥 Episode Overview

Reinhard and Christian tackle the most common questions cigar newcomers ask — from construction and choosing the right cigar, to smoking etiquette, storage, flavor, and how cigars make you feel.

A hands-on, honest, and human take on premium cigar fundamentals.

🧭 Key Discussion Highlights

1. How are cigars made?

• Premium cigars are handmade from whole tobacco leaves (long filler).
• Three main components: wrapper, binder, and filler.
• The wrapper leaf contributes much of the cigar’s aroma and aesthetic.
• Techniques like accordion or entubado rolling ensure airflow and combustion.
• Craftsmanship and sensitivity of the torcedor (roller) define quality — a centuries-old art form requiring muscle memory and intuition.

2. How to choose the right cigar

• Start by consulting a knowledgeable tobacconist — your best guide.
• They’ll tailor recommendations based on experience level, palate, and occasion.
• Ask yourself: How do I take my coffee? Do I prefer wine, beer, bitter, or sweet flavors?
• Beginners often assume small cigars are easier — but smaller ring gauges can smoke hotter and harsher.
• Pick a medium ring gauge (50–52) for balance and smoothness.
• Don’t judge by color — a dark Maduro wrapper isn’t necessarily strong; it’s often rich and sweet.

3. How to smoke a cigar properly

• Puff slowly and rhythmically — avoid overheating the cigar.
• If it goes out, gently tap the ash, relight, and “blow out” to clear stale smoke.
• Don’t relight cigars after several hours or the next day — they’ll taste bitter and ashy.
• Think of it like coffee: once cold, it never tastes quite the same reheated.

4. How to store cigars

• Key factors: relative humidity (~69–70%) and temperature (~20°C / 70°F).
• Consistency is everything — too dry, and oils are lost; too humid, and cigars spoil or won’t burn.
• Simple setup: desktop humidor + Boveda humidity packs.
• For starters: a humidified bag or airtight container with a humidity pack works great.
• Serious collectors upgrade to cabinet humidors with sensors and active systems.

5. How do cigars make you feel?

• Cigars contain nicotine but are not inhaled.
• The experience is relaxing, not intoxicating — a ritual of calm and reflection.
• If dizziness occurs, try sugar — it helps balance nicotine and ammonia effects.

6. Are cigars flavored?

• Premium cigars are not artificially flavored.
• Their complexity comes purely from the blend of leaves — different seeds, regions, soils, and fermentation methods.
• Each blend is a painter’s palette: natural, layered, and expressive.

7. Books & brains segment

Pick: Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell — exploring why certain ideas or products “go viral.” success often arises when mavens, connectors, and salesmen converge — a perfect metaphor for how cigar culture spreads through shared passion.

💬 Final Thought

Cigar knowledge is a lifelong journey — even masters stay students of the leaf. Every cigar, every puff, offers something new to learn.

With that — light ’em up.