Shopping for Havanas

Shopping for Havana cigars is not a cheap task, not even when the duties are much lower in countries outside of the UK. However, shopping for Havanas in the UK is a much safer prospect, as we provide a wide range of cigars and a unique security system, unlike any other, that allows us to stop counterfeits entering the country. It is said that Cuba knows that they should only ever send us their best cigars as the market that receives them is very highly educated.

Choosing your tobacconist is as important as choosing the right cigar when it comes to purchasing Havanas. The correct advice is crucial when you’re unsure what cigar you are looking for. There are many options to choose from so you should feel comfortable when talking to the staff.

Shopping for Havana cigars becomes more difficult when you realise the massive choice that you have. Handmade Havanas come in no less than 42 shapes and sizes, making your first purchase very confusing. They range in length from under 4 to over 9 inches and with a ring gauge from 26 to 52 64ths of an inch. There are cigars available for any time of the day, morning, afternoon and night time. However if you smoke more than one cigar a day, a good tobacconist will recommend you never smoke a lighter cigar after a full cigar.

Your tobacconist might ask you when you are planning on settling down and actually smoking your cigar and how much time you have available to enjoy the cigar that you choose. Because a Havana cigar doesn’t develop its flavour until you start smoking it, the worst thing is to have to stop smoking it due to lack of time. Any good tobacconist will have a high quality humidor which is visually pleasing and tidy. Like wine, a Havana cigar will mature and improve for up to 15 years but this can sometimes take longer. If the tobacconist doesn’t store the Havana cigars properly then they could be left with a harsh taste.

Havana cigars should be stored at a temperature between 16C and 18C with a relative humidity between 65% and 70%. Britain cigar smokers tend to smoke cigars that are 1 to 2 years old, so if your preference is vintage cigars then you should purchase them now and put them away. You shouldn’t worry about the sign of a bloom (sometimes this is mistaken as mould) on a cigar which is on sale, this is just a sign that the cigar itself is breathing and it can be brushed off with a soft brush. When shopping for Havanas, always heck for the English Market Selection guarantee of quality. This comes in the form of a coloured stamp, which is changed annually to determine the age of the cigar and combat counterfeiters.