Cigar Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ ABOUT US:

“What’s the difference between Boutique Cigars and other Premium Cigars?”
Boutique Cigars are premium handmade cigars which, in contrast to regular premium cigars, are made in small batches. There is greater detail on quality, and the tobacco leaves are special and hand selected to create a distinguished complex flavor. A Boutique cigar company makes less than one million cigars annually. While difficult to find in many cigar retailers and cigar stores and smoke shops, Boutique brands are something different from the ordinary mass produced cigars commonly available in most cigar shops. Their flavor and aroma is unmatched.

“Why do you only sell Boutique Cigars?”
Due to the cigar boom, the price of raw tobacco leaves had escalated to levels that would have required Boutique Cigar makers to price their cigars out of the market. This problem made it very difficult for these high quality makers to get the best, most delicious tobacco leaves. Due to the high demand for cigars, many boutique makers followed the pack into mass production. As the cigar boom ended, the tobacco farmers focused more on quality and the Boutique Cigar makers were again able to obtain the choice leaves for their cigars at prices that are reasonable. They went back to their roots of only making these cigars in small batches. There is NO COMPARISON in quality and taste between the boutique cigars and those made by mass production cigar makers. As cigar lovers we decided to share this wonderful and unique smoking experience with everyone else. Now everyone can get these incredible cigars at incredibly low prices.

“Why should I buy from Cuban Crafters Cigars?”
We know Boutique Cigars and only sell those that meet our high standards. These hard to find cigars are our only business. You get them at the lowest discount sale prices in the Weekly Specials section. You can conveniently buy cigars online through our Cigar Website, mail order through our cigar catalog or by telephone toll free. The shipment will be out to your within 24 hours. We pride ourselves in serving the sophisticated cigar lover and will bend over backwards to exceed your expectations.

“What guarantee is there that I will be happy with the Boutique Cigars that I purchase from Cuban Crafters Cigars?”
All cigars purchased from us are unconditionally guaranteed and backed by a full refund of the purchase price, minus the low shipping charges. After receiving your cigars, you have a full week to try your first one. If, for any reason whatsoever, you are not fully satisfied with them or with our service, just contact us and we will issue a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. This entitles you to return to us for a full refund. The transaction is not finished until you are fully satisfied.

“Can I return the cigars to Cuban Crafters Cigars if I don’t like their taste or aroma?”
You can return them to us under our exclusive Cigar Company FULL SATISFACTION GUARANTEE for any reason at all…no questions asked.

“Is my credit card transaction safe?”
For your safety we use the state-of-the-art industry standard SSL technology to keep anyone from reading any information which you transfer to us through the internet.

“Is the information that I provide Cuban Crafters Safe?”
All the information that you provide us is kept confidential. See our Privacy Policy for further information.

“Since Boutique Cigars are in large demand and the supply is limited, how do I know that the Boutique Cigars I buy are in stock?”
We only offer in our WebSite and in our catalog what we have in stock. Unless we can buy a reasonable amount of cigars from makers, we do not offer them. Understanding that these cigars are made in small batches and only the best tobacco leaves are used, we normally buy the full production from the maker. We also feature cigars from our exclusive partner, Tabacalera Esteli. As their exclusive worldwide distributor, we will always try have their great cigars in stock.

“How do you ship the cigars to me?”
We ship all orders received before 1:00 P.M. that same day. All shipments are sent STANDARD SERVICE by UPS Ground Service or United State Postal Service Priority Mail. This normally takes 2 to 5 days to reach you. For an additional fee, you can have the cigars shipped 2nd day air or even next day delivery. See our WORLDWIDE SHIPPING POLICY for further information.

“Do you ship international?”
Yes. We will ship almost anywhere in the world. The Charges are $26 above out STANDARD U.S. SHIPPING CHARGE. See our SHIPPING POLICY for further information.

“How much are the shipping charges for my purchase?”
STANDARD SERVICE charges are only $5.95 for the first item and $2.00 for each additional item in the same shipment, up to 5 items. Thereafter it is only $1 per additional item. Any order over $200 is shipped free. For quicker delivery you can upgrade for an additional fee. See our SHIPPING POLICY for additional information.

“How do I track my shipped cigars so that I know when they will arrive?”
After your order is placed, we will email you an order confirmation. Once we ship them, we will send you an email with the tracking number on it if your order was shipped through UPS. You can go to the UPS web site or through the Cubancrafters.com web site, click on ORDER STATUS, and track every step of your shipment

“How can I find out the status of my order?”
You can click on ORDER STATUS on this Web Site and it will show you the full status of your account. You will need your Order or Customer number and either the Sold To Zipcode, Phone Number, or Email Address.

“Where can I get more information about how Boutique Cigars are made?”
You can click on HOW CIGARS ARE MADE and see exactly the skilled artistry that goes into every boutique cigar. You can also see the pictures of the tobacco fields from which your cigars are made.

“Will the small batch production of Boutique Cigars that I buy from Cuban Crafters Cigars affect the availability of the cigars that I enjoy in the future?”
Since these cigars are made in small batches and very exclusive tobacco leaves are used, once a brand is depleted from our inventory, we may not be able to offer it again. This is especially common in SPECIAL HARVEST cigars as they are exclusively made from the select tobacco harvest of the year which appears on the label. Our recommendation is if you like them, get them while you can.

“Do you have a catalog and mailing list?”
Yes. We have both and when you make any purchase from our catalog or Web Site, your name is automatically included in the list for a catalog and other special promotions. You can choose to opt-out from receiving any further communications from us by just letting us know.

“Do you often offer special deals?”
Yes. We generally offer special deals when our inventory of certain cigars is being depleted and we no longer carry the cigars in our regular line of boutique cigars. Additionally, we also offer special promotions in order to expand boutique cigar smokers’ tastes. We also offer an extensive selection of Cuban Crafters Original Humidors, Cigar Cutters, Cigar Cases, Lighters, and other Cigar Accessories all made to compliment our fine cigars.

“Why should I answer Cuban Crafters Cigars’ survey?” or Register on your website?
Because it not only helps in evaluating cigar brands to determine if we should offer them in our regular line, but it also enters you in our monthly cigar give away. Every month we give a free box of a different cigar to all those that enter our Cuban Crafters Free Cigars contest.

What is the Cuban Crafters Cigar Club and why should I join?”
This is our select club for Boutique Cigar lovers. There is no cost to join and all you have to do is order a box of your favorite boutique cigars. Every month thereafter we will automatically send you a box of those cigars at a 20% discount. Additionally, everything you buy from our Web Site or Catalog is rewarded with a 20% discount while you are a member. In addition to great savings, you will be offered special promotions not offered to anyone else and you get first pick at limited edition boutique cigars.

“How can I make some extra money through Cuban Crafters Cigars affiliate program?”
If you have a WebSite, you can apply to be an affiliate of Cuban Crafters Cigars. You are provided with full instructions on placing a link on your Web Site and you can earn up to a 15% commission from sales generated from anyone who clicks that link on your site.

 

FAQ CIGARS:

How do I select the cigar that is right for me?
First determine the strength of the cigar. Generally as a rule, the darker the wrapper, the stronger the cigar will be. Every cigar, being hand-made, has a distinct taste. Cigar strengths are divided into 3 main categories: mild, medium-bodied, and strong. There are also cigars that fall between the 3 categories.

Next, look at the wrapper leaf. It should have a mild sheen and feel smooth. It should not be heavily veined. The various colors of the wrappers are candela (greenish), natural (light brown), Colorado or Rosado (reddish brown), Habano (darker brown), Maduro (dark brown) and Oscuro (dark brown bordering black). The different types of tobacco leaves change their colors based on how they are grown. When the tobacco is grown in direct sunlight, they are darker. While when grown in the shade, they are lighter.

After looking the wrapper over, feel the cigar to make sure that it does not have soft spots and that it is evenly rolled. It should feel firm but not overly tight. Soft spots cause the cigar to burn hot and uneven. While too tight makes the draw very difficult.

Determining how much time you have to smoke the cigar also determines the length of it. Cigars are measured by inches in length and by ring size in width. 1 ring size is equal to 1/64 of an inch. The larger the ring size, the slower, cooler burning the cigar will be. Wider cigars (those with larger ring sizes) have more tobacco in them and tend to have more complex and delicious flavors than small ring size cigars.

After you have selected the ideal cigar for you, try others in order to broaden your cigar horizon. You’ll find that based on many factors, time of the day, your mood, changing tastes, etc…, you will smoke different cigars with different flavors.

Does a cigar’s name indicate their size?
Yes. Their names generally mean that the cigar is a certain size. The most common are PRESIDENTE (Longer and thick), CHURCHILL (long and thick), TORO (shorter and thick), ROBUSTO(short and thick), ROTHCHILD (shorter and medium width), CORONA (medium length and width), LONSDALE (long and thin), PANETELA (long and thinner), TORPEDO (long and thick with the cap coming to a point), PIRAMIDE (long and medium width and the width gets narrow and ends with a small round cap), TRIANGULO (similar to the Piramide but the cap is pointed), BELICOSO (similar to the Torpedo but shorter), PERFECTO (varies in length and width but both sides of the cigar are closed), DIADEMA (a Perfecto that is at least 8” long), and CULEBRA (three panatelas twisted around each other and must be separated before smoking).

Are all cigars round?
NO. There are many different shapes, the most popular of which is the box-pressed cigar which is square shaped.

What is box-pressed?
A cigar, while fresh and moist, is actually pressed in a wood box and the pressure creates a perfectly square shaped cigar. The box-pressed cigars usually burn long and give a more flavorful taste.

What is Diamante?
The translation is Diamond and basically it is a cigar that is pressed in a wood box to form the shape of a diamond. It is intended to create a different shape than the ordinary and enhances the cigar’s taste.

What is a Puro?
It is a cigar that is made entirely from the tobaccos of only one country. The wrapper, binder and filler are all from the same country. It is considered a great achievement to be able to make a Puro, as balancing the tastes of the cigar by using tobacco leaves from different countries is a requirement for good, complex tastes. The only two countries that have been able to achieve this honor are Cuba and Nicaragua. Both have similar soil and very flavorful tobacco leaves.

What are those little spots that I sometimes see on cigar wrappers?
These are called sun spots and no one really knows what causes them. They do not affect the quality or taste of the cigar. Some in the tobacco industry actually prefer the sun spots because they claim that it makes the cigar taste better.

What is the white powdery substance that I’ve seen on some cigars?
This is called bloom and results when the wrapper’s oil matures. It is simply the residue of the wrapper’s oils fermenting. Just wipe it off with your fingers, it’s harmless and a good indicator that the leaf is of good quality. It is also a sign that you are storing the cigars in the proper temperature and humidity. You can prevent it by keeping the temperature and humidity down where you store the cigars.

Should I remove the cigar’s cellophane wrapper when storing them?
Since cigars are a 100% natural product, they are placed in cellophane to prevent the elements from damaging the cigar during shipping. Once you have them in your humidor or properly stored, the cigars will age better without the cellophane. An even better way to do this is to remove a few cigars from the cellophane and keep the others in them. As you smoke the ones without the cellophane, remove the cellophane from the others. This way you can keep the cigars from getting damaged.

Should the cigar’s band be removed or left on before lighting it?
It’s up to you but proper European etiquette is to remove the label. Sometimes it might be difficult to remove it without the risk of damaging the cigar’s wrapper. You should smoke the cigar about two thirds down, as the heat and moisture will soften the band’s natural glue. At that time you can safely remove the band.

How much of the cigar’s cap should I clip off?
Always use a cutter or cigar scissor with sharp blades. You should only clip off from 1/16” to about 1/8” of an inch. Since it is difficult to measure when you’re about to light the cigar, just measure about 2/3rds of the cigar’s cap. Do not cut the whole cap off. If you do, then as you smoke the cigar and moisten it with your lips, the cigar will open wider and you will eventually get tobacco particles on your lips or on your mouth. Some people actually chew the end as they smoke it. If that is the case, cutting the cap off will not affect you.

What’s the right way to light my cigar?
You can light your cigar with any flame as long as you light it evenly and slowly. Always hold the cigar horizontally and warm up the cigar’s end by holding it over the flame and rotating the cigar. After the end is evenly charred, put the cigar in your mouth and hold the flame just close enough to the end so that the flame touches it lightly. Draw on the cigar slowly while rotating it in your mouth until it is evenly lit. If you draw too fast, it will oxidize the tobacco and give you a bitter taste. This bitterness is temporary but unnecessary. After it is fully lit, take the cigar out of your mouth and blow gently on the glowing end to make sure that it is burning evenly. Then place the cigar back in your mouth and enjoy it!

What happens if my cigar’s wrapper unravels while I’m smoking it?
This only happens for two reasons. The first is that it was improperly wrapped by the roller who made it. This is very uncommon with Boutique premium cigars. The second is that the cigar is very dry. The lack of moisture decreases the wrapper’s elasticity. If this happens and the unraveling is on the head of the cigar or in the middle, simply lick the part of the wrapper that is unraveling. Make sure that your tongue is not too wet. This will usually seal the loose wrapper.

Why is my cigar not burning evenly?
Uneven burning cigars are usually a result of poor lighting techniques. It can also result from very windy conditions where the cigar is being smoked. The poor lighting techniques can be avoided by following the lighting procedures above. If it is very windy where you are smoking the cigar, just face the opposite direction of the wind so that it blows from behind you. Sometimes one side burns faster than the other as a result of smoking the cigar too fast. Just put it down and let the longer side catch up with the other. Tap off the ash afterwards and draw on the cigar softly.

When is the right moment to tap the ash off the cigar?
The ash is very sturdy and will hold on the cigar for between ¾” to 1”. You should consider lightly tapping it off every ½” or so. The ash is actually good as it absorbs some of the heat and allows the cigar to burn cooler. This will enhance the flavor and the smoking experience.

How far down can I smoke the cigar?
You can smoke it as far down as you want if you are still enjoying its’ flavors. A great cigar will tempt you to smoke it down to the point where your finger tips are feeling the heat. After you are done, drop it in an ashtray and do not crush it down to put out the lit end. This will only cause it to smell bad. Just leave it and within a few minutes it will go out by itself.

What’s the correct temperature and humidity to store my cigars?
The ideal conditions for cigar storage are 70% humidity and 70°F (21°C) temperature. In such an environment, cigars keep aging properly. This can vary by about 10 without hurting the cigar.

How do I revive my dried out cigars?
If your cigars are very dry, the process to restore them must be very slow in order to avoid excessive intake of moisture by the cigar. If you try to revive them too quickly they will inflate and explode. You will need a reliable hygrometer. Place them in your humidor or in a sealed container. Use a humidifier device or a sponge and put a little water (+/- a teaspoon) in it. Keep it closed. Every 24 hours you should put another teaspoon of water into the humidification system or the sponge. After you notice that they are back to life, keep them in a humidor. Never go under 65%, and don't panic if RH goes up to 75%, but avoid going over this maximum. During this process, keep the container in the coolest place you have (but not your fridge!), away from light and heat.

If my cigars have beetles, how do I know?
A danger of not storing cigars under proper conditions is the Tobacco Beetle. Although tobacco is usually fumigated, eggs can escape the fumigation process and lie dormant in the tobacco leaf. When conditions are proper, they can hatch and ruin your cigars. They will tunnel to the surface of the cigar and make a hole straight through to the outside wrapper. These little pinholes are indicative that you have them in your cigars. They will continue eating through your cigars until you take action.

What do I do if they have beetles?
Discard any cigar found with beetle holes. Next you have to remove all the cigars from your humidor and clean and aerate the humidor. Place any undamaged cigars in a sealed plastic bag. Place the bag in the freezer for at least 72 hours. After you remove them from the freezer, thaw them at room temperature and return them to your humidor. Keeping your humidor at proper levels will keep this from happening to you again.