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Welcome to the Thompson Cigar YouTube channel, a resource for aficionados and newcomers who are interested in everything about cigars, from the basics to new product reviews, interviews, and more. Thompson Cigar talks to experts and casual smokers alike about their smoking experiences while also providing useful tips and advice for fellow lovers of the leaf. Come here for all your cigar news and information. We look forward to hearing your feedback!

More than simply a luxurious hobby, enjoying and collecting fine cigars is a pastime steeped in tradition. Whether you’re just discovering the fine art of selecting and enjoying great cigars or you’re a seasoned aficionado, retaining and maximizing the flavor of your acquisitions is of paramount importance for a complete appreciation.

Fortunately, with a few important yet simple steps and the help of some select gadgets and devices, you can be well on your way to making the very most of each and every cigar you purchase. Read on to find out how you can keep your cigars in tip top condition while in storage and how to enjoy them properly on those special smoking occasions.

Temperature and Humidity Control

Once you’ve moved beyond the buy-and-smoke stage of cigar appreciation to the point where you’re ready to start a real collection, one of the most important issues you must confront is how to store your acquisitions. The two factors that make the biggest difference in quality, long life and preservation for you cigars are temperature and humidity.

The point of temperature and humidity control is maintaining a constant moisture level in your cigars. However, temperature plays an additional important role as well. Cigars can sometimes run the risk of carrying a few unhatched eggs of the tobacco beetle. These beetles can eat holes through a box of cigars in remarkably short periods of time, rendering them completely useless.

Keeping your cigars at a constant temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit offers an ideal temperature to keep your collection at a persistent humidity level—around 70 percent—while still being cool enough to keep any errant tobacco beetle eggs from hatching. The danger zone for this problem begins at 75 degrees. If for some reason an outbreak should occur, immediately dispose of any affected cigars and freeze the rest for at least 48 hours to kill any surviving insects.

Proper Storage

The easiest way to keep your collection at the ideal temperature and humidity level is storing it in a good humidor. Some factors to consider when picking out your ideal humidor is capacity, material and climate control devices. The following examples of good quality humidors offer an excellent overview of humidors on the market today.

Bally IV Glass Top Humidor

Representing a classic styled, solid humidor, Bally’s IV Glass Top model offers enough room to fit about 100 regular cigars in a single tray. This medium sized box sports the traditional styling of dark mahogany wood veneers and is lined on the inside with Spanish cedar.

The front of the box is adorned with an analog hydrometer and built in humidifier, to keep your favorites in just the right conditions. The box also offers keyed entry and a generous viewing window on the top so you can look over your best cigars without exposing them to the air.

Perfecto XLT Travel Humidor

When business, vacations or other occasions put you on the road for extended periods, there’s no need to give up the quality of your cigars. The Perfecto XLT Travel Humidor offer plenty of space for protecting and humidifying 8 regular sized cigars while on the go. The durable yet attractive black plastic case telescopes to perfectly accommodate any length of cigar without the risk of bruising.

Turn the case on end to discover the ultra convenient built in hydrometer, which lets you keep a close eye on the climate levels maintained by the unit’s built in humidifier. This attractive case includes a fragrant Spanish cedar divider as well. The perfect choice for carrying cigars for you and some close friends for special occasions, the Perfecto XLT also makes a great gift.

Cigar Cutters

Of course, another key piece of equipment for getting the most out of your cigars is the cutter, that is, of course, unless you are an aspiring cowboy and prefer the seasoned bite off and spit method. While the type of cutter you choose is ultimately a matter of personal tastes, it helps to know the differences between styles before picking one out for the first time.

•V – These popular cutters are best suited for smaller cigars. They often can’t handle larger ring sizes or torpedo shapes.  Their advantages include offering ideal air circulation while keeping tar and bitter tastes away from your mouth.

•Guillotine – These cutters can handle nearly all types and sizes of cigar, but they require a bit of practice to yield a clean cut. The cuts they leave may also let tar or burning tobacco contact your mouth.

•Bullet Punch – These inexpensive cutters have the advantage of offering smaller holes, but sometimes they can result in too little air flow.

With a bit of experience and experimenting, not to mention some handy products, maximizing the flavor of your cigars will become second nature in short order.

Get Your Thompson Cigar Promo Codes Here

If you are in search of Thompson cigar coupons and other promo codes, you have come to the right place as this is the best way to save money on your total purchase on all of their items. They run specials from time to time so that other new people or even repeat customers can enjoy all the fantastic items they have on their web site for sale.

They currently have many different sampler packs of cigars along with accessories to choose from if you are interested in not only cubans or other premium smokes for your self or as a gift to someone else.  You will notice that some of the items on their site also have the free shipping, which if you click on the links in this article will give you that promo code added to your order automatically.

See the Top Thompson Cigar Deal Here with Free Shipping

The Thompson Cigar Company is a major cigar and cigar accessories retailer located in Tampa, Florida. Thompson Cigar is the oldest mail order cigar company in the United States.[1]  Originally located in Key West, Florida, Thompson Cigar first opened in 1915. In 1920, Thompson Cigar made the decision to move its operations to Tampa, Florida, where they still hold Postal Permit #1.

Now if you are in the market for a great gift of cigars for that someone special, friend, or foe, I think that Thompson Cigars will not let you down as they offer quality products along with great service to go along with it.

Cigar Travel Humidors

Cigars are the best, they are the absolute perfect leaisure time accessory. Tons of options and flavors and brands, from all over the world. And the longer we smoke cigars, the MORE we love them and the more we WANT to learn about them.

And they get BETTER with age.

As long as they are taken care of and stored correctly – in a humidor.

Cigar Travel Humidors – Complete Info and Reviews For Top Travel Humidors

When cigars are stored inside of a quality humidor they will not only stay fresh and completely smokable – but they will GET BETTER. And there is no reason why our stogies should suffer in quality or smokability just because we have to leave home for any extended period of time -or even if we enjoy taking them to work or the office everyday.

Selecting A Quality Cigar Travel Humidor

Usually when we are choosing a travel humidor,its best to treat it like a regular full size humidor that we have at home. Along with a great finish and an aestheticly pleasing look and design, we want a cigar travel humidor that will do its job.

In those respects our humidor should be looked at and judged in a similar fashion to selecting our Primary Humidor.

But there are some differences in our travel humidor – mainly differences in size and outter shell , for protection reasons.

We want the travel humidor to be easily portable, and it should be able to protect our best cigars from any type of damage or air or liquids -depending on where you are going and how long you will be traveling.

Here are some of the main things to look for and evaluate:

Seal or Lid – Should not slam shut (if your travel humidor has a closing or hinged lid) Although its smaller, its still needs that whooosh sound upon closing. No air should be able to seep in  -no matter what. Casing or Shell – Personally I never sacrificed style just because the travel humidor was smaller or used less frequently. And we should still select a Cigar Humidor that has a proper casing. It can be aluminum or wood. Some even use leather.It all depends on a)how many cigars b)how long you travel c)how often you plan on using your cigar travel humidor Lining – Make sure that the humidor has places for each cigar to fit nicely.NO LOOSE CIGARS while traveling.It is a must to have fingered lining -as well as proper materials like spanish cedar or something similar to that.(and a nice insulated material is always a bonus) Humidification Device – Any respectable travel humidor will have its own humidifier. They are actually a simple device -but it makes all the difference for thosee that are doing any regular or long term travel.

You can find out more information on Humidor Humidifiers and great Cigar Travel Humidors as well at the “Cigar Travel Humidor” website.

There are  even some greatreviews for Travel Humidors thatcost less than $30- and they come with Humidifers and great Finishes too -which is quite hard to find-

Ah, the fine premium cigar. There truly is nothing to compare to the experience of a fine cigar, a glass of really good cognac, and an evening in the shade. It is a peaceful experience to say the least.

However, have you ever looked at your high-profile smoke and wondered what the events were that led to the making of it? Most true cigar aficionados have at one point or another.

The chain of events that led to the production of the cigar that you now hold in your hand is a long one, spanning back over 500 years. It all began when a brave explorer by the name of Christopher Columbus decided to throw caution to the wind and risk it all to prove that there was more to the world than everyone knew at the time. In 1492, he found success, along with a little something in the new world called tobacco.

Ironically, Luis De Torres of a Spanish Envoy to America decided to take some back to his home for personal use. After spotted lighting it, he was arrested for witchcraft and sentenced to a decade in prison.

The presence of tobacco popped up again as Cortez stumbled upon a tribe of Aztec natives that are smoking tobacco. Through Cortez, the tobacco makes its way throughout Spain. From there, the pipe-smoked substance began to grow in fame and use. By the mid 1500’s, tobacco had made its’ way all the way to France where the first seeds were planted and cultivated by a monk by the name of Andre Thevet.

From there, tobacco made its’ way to the distant lands of Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and Italy. The Portuguese, via a trade route, introduce it to the Japanese. Onward it spreads to Morocco, Egypt, and even to the Philippines. Finally, in the early 1600’s, it makes a full historical circle as documents reveal that the husband of Pocahontas, John Rolfe, brings tobacco to the state of Virginia.

By the early 1600’s, Cuba has built a solid name for fine tobacco growth and becomes the major supplier for the majority of the known world.

In the mid 1700’s, the infamous Catherine the great creates the cigar band as a concept. It seems that Catherine would smoke cigars so often that her fingers would take on a brownish colored stain. Therefore, to avoid this, she had a band designed so she could hold her cigars without the irritating stain.

From there, it is only a matter of time until the major brands began to establish themselves. Cohiba, H. Upmann, Partagas, El Rey del Mundo, Sancho Pancza, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo and the rest of the premium cigars that you and I enjoy today become very notable over the next century.

That brings us to the here and now. Today, we can sit back and enjoy our fine cigars knowing that they have a history that dates all the way back to Christopher Columbus. So when you enjoy that next high-profile smoke, blow a plume and say, “Here’s to you Chris!”.

What are the basics of cigar smoking?  How do you light a cigar?  How do you draw on the cigar properly?  Do you inhale?  What are the dos and don’ts of cigar smoking?  If you have ever pondered any of these questions, read on.  Here is a simple and accessible primer designed to help you gain familiarity with the sometimes confusing, always enigmatic world of cigar smoking.  

First Step:  Lighting Up

First, all new cigar smokers should learn how to properly light a cigar.  Use a clipper designed for cigars to clip off the edge of the head (the section you put to your mouth). If possible light the foot of your cigar with a cedar match.  Avoid regular cigarette lighters.  They produce a nasty odor that can linger and ruin a good cigar.  If you must use a lighter, use butane lighter.  These will keep the odor to a minimum.  However, you should always strive to use a wooden match because lighters can easily taint the foot of your cigar.  How do you light up?  Simply strike a match and hold the edge of your cigar over the flame.  Avoid touching the cigar to the fire, simply hold the cigar over the flame and draw deeply until the cigar is lit.

Second Step:  Burn it down to a nub?

Should you burn your cigar down to a nub?  Experts recommend you leave at least two inches to your cigar.  Even the finest cigars will tend to get bitter if you let it burn all the way down.  What about ashes?  Should you knock the ashes off of your cigar?  Rather than knocking the ashes off the edge, let the cigar rest in the ashtray when you’re not smoking it.  The ashes will fall off naturally.  

Third Step:  Relax and Enjoy

A cigar should never be rushed.  By design, cigars should be savored, preferably after dinner and with a glass of good brandy.  Hold the cigar between your thumb and fingers—anything else might be considered bad taste.  Also, don’t inhale deeply.  The smoke should not reach your lung.  This is very bad for your health, and it will not help you taste the cigar any better.  Of course, you should always be considerate of those around you.  If possible, smoke in the company of other cigar smokers. A good cigar can be enjoyed alone and even more so with friends.

Smoking a cigar is an enduring pleasure that the cigarettes do not provide. In fact, branded and quality cigars are believed to be the status symbol that showcases your wealth and class. They come in a variety of flavors and brands to cater the tastes of different people. Put simply, smoking a cigar has long been a popular way to portray an air of high-status, especially in business deals to confirm your dominant status.

The history of a cigar

Researchers teach us that the cigar has been in use for more than five hundred years. According to history, records show that citizens of Europe were much more unaware of tobacco before Columbus’s grand trip of 1492. However, the original native population of the islands in the Caribbean and the rest of North America started the use of cigars. Since then, cigar smoking has generated a lot of interest and passion in the United States as well as European countries.

Types of cigars: choose according to your taste

Different people have different favorite types of cigars. Many cigars have their own unique specialty they have gained favor by aficionados globally. Cigars offer a number of options to choose from but only a handful boast global recognition. Some of these include Gurkha Cigars, Macanudo Cigars, Cohiba Cigars, Padron Cigars, Acid Cigars, Ashton Cigars, Arturo Fuente Cigars, Montecristo Cigars and the list goes on. Basically, every cigar has three parts – the filler, the binder and the wrapper.

Storage of cigars

As mentioned above, cigar smoking is an enduring pleasure that comes with a fresh and fine cigar. But it is a fact that cigars are very fragile and need special storage as well as an environment of sufficient humidity to keep the cigar tobacco fresh and tasty. This is why a good quality humidor is essential to keep cigars fresh and classy by keeping them away from a number of problems like harsh taste, a broken wrapper, fast burn, tobacco beetle infestation and difficulty in lighting. Put simply, a good quality cigar humidor keeps cigars in an environment of ideal humidity because an ideal humidity of around 55 to 70 percent is required to remain the tobacco fresh.

Buy your favorite cigars online

The availability of premium branded cigars at online stores at reasonable prices has also increased the popularity of cigars. One of the interesting factors about purchasing cigars online is that you don’t have to worry about the delicate nature of cigars. Moreover, these online stores accept all types of payment options like Paypal and credit cards and also deliver them to your doorstep as quickly as overnight if you desire.

What are some of your favorite cigar moments? Here are a few reasons to enjoy the experience, taste and aroma of premium and super-premium cigars:

1. After a wedding when the groomsmen are enjoying a moment amongst themselves, and celebrating the groom’s good fortune.
2. After the birth of a child, whether it’s your child, a niece, nephew, Godchild or the child of a colleague.
3. After the commencement ceremony for your favorite protégé or ward.
4. After purchasing your first home and evaluating the work and hope ahead of you.
5. After selling your first home for a handsome profit and remembering the rewards of work and the pleasure of work rewarded.
6. After burning the mortgage, and knowing that there will never be another payment. The place is yours, lock, stock and barrel.
7. After leaving the factory job for the last time.
8. After the best dinner you’ve ever had.
9. After the best and most complete play, concert or opera you’ve ever attended.
10. With the rest of the campers at the end of a hike in the woods or in the desert.
11. Beside the garden wall when there is a break from the labor of working with your hands in the good earth.
12. While standing and surveying the view of a field of harvest, full of the promise of work and the promise of prosperity, while remembering the planting of that field.
13. While working on a vintage automobile like a convertible Cadillac from the 1970’s.
14. After negotiating for–and getting–a vintage automobile.

As you can see, there is a wonderful tradition of celebration and the constancy connected to the smoking of a great cigar. The sentiment and sensation of cigars and pipes are part of understanding the cigar consumer. Therefore, the best way to give a cigar is by purchasing them either through reputable online stores, many of which will sell and ship them gift-wrapped, or by purchasing them through tobacconists and fine cigar and pipe stores.

Remember that quality cigars are hand-rolled and custom made. There are countless ways to find out what kind of cigars would be best suited as a gift. For example, select according to smoke time. A good cigar will have a smoke time of 20 to 60 minutes, depending on its size and style. Other factors are color and aroma.

Whatever the celebration and whatever the occasion, giving and receiving fine premium or super-premium cigars–or just enjoying them on your own–will top off the pleasure of each experience and enhance life’s special moments. The best part of the cigar experience is to discover what moments you can plan for cigar enjoyment. So start with giving and receiving premium cigars, and then let them accompany all your great life celebrations.

Nowadays, the number of cigar smokers has been increasing more than ever before. There are many reasons why people have switched to smoking cigars from cigarettes. The first and foremost reason is health, as cigars are comparatively much healthier than cigarettes. This is because tobacco used in cigars is less detrimental to health. Due to the advent of many cigar brands with diverse flavor and accessories, there has been a huge boom in the cigar industry.

Cigar accessories

Cigar cutters, ashtrays, savers, oasis and clothing are popular cigar accessories that give smokers additional satisfaction. Even cigar clothing is very popular among people. Hats, boots, jackets and trousers are popular types of cigar clothing worn by smokers. These are specifically designed for cigar lovers and exhibit a logo of a favorite brand. Cigar clothing is very celebrated among those who are loyal to a particular brand.

How are cigars and cigarettes different?

People generally think that there isn’t a large difference between cigars and cigarettes, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, cigars and cigarettes are different in both size and the type of tobacco used. Generally, cigars are more uniform in size and are comprised of less than one gram of tobacco. On the other hand, cigars can differ in size and shape and can be larger than 7 inches in length. In fact, large cigars can contain between 5 and 17 grams of tobacco. Generally, people take between 1 to 2 hours to smoke large cigars, whereas most cigarettes take less than 10 minutes to smoke.

How to find a cigar?

In order to make the process of buying cigar easier, online cigar stores have played a vital role. Especially in the cigar boom of the last decade, online stores have revolutionized the industry and have made the purchasing of cigars cheap and stress-free. Both online as well as offline stores offer a variety of brands, from the low-cost to the premium. Nowadays, Cuban cigars are considered one of the sought after cigars, thus they are expensive and difficult to find.  But with the presence of the internet, one can find various tobacco cigars at cost effective prices. But a simple search through the internet offers many different types of cigars at cost effective prices due to competition in the online market.