Cigar Myths: Debunking Common Misconceptions
- gpgrantswiss
- Apr 25
- 10 min read
Updated: May 5
Cigars are more than just fragrant smoke and refined taste; they come with a whole culture that has developed many myths and outdated traditions. Over time, smoking cigars has become a ritual, some parts of which no longer make sense. Beginners often get confused, and what seems like a sign of sophistication could actually be a mistake. Today, let’s tackle some of the most persistent cigar myths and explain why it’s time to let them go.
Cigar Myth # 1: Cuban Cigars are “the Best in the World”
This is a debatable opinion that largely depends on personal taste. If you enjoy Cuban cigars, that’s perfectly valid. However, from an objective standpoint, the quality of a cigar is determined not just by its origin but by factors like tobacco quality, construction, and consistency. In these areas, Cuban cigars can sometimes fall short. This myth is especially misleading given that after Castro’s revolution, many Cuban producers opened factories in other countries. Today, even the most experienced aficionados may not always be able to distinguish a high-quality Cuban cigar from a Dominican one.
While Cuba is the birthplace of dark air-cured tobacco, the “golden age of cigars” is largely thanks to producers outside its borders. The statement “Cuba is the best” is more about personal preference than an objective truth. Among Cuban cigars, there are both good and bad ones. This myth is perpetuated by Hollywood and self-proclaimed connoisseurs.
“Cuban Seeds” = Quality?
Tobacco grown from Cuban seeds (both in Cuba and abroad) can be either excellent or mediocre. Several factors influence quality, including soil, climate, fermentation, and rolling. This myth gained popularity after the American embargo, when manufacturers sought to increase the value of their cigars by referencing “Cuban seeds.” In reality, most premium tobacco strains originate from Cuban seeds but are cultivated in other countries for decades. If a box says “Cuban Seed,” the manufacturer probably has little else to boast about their product.
Cigar Myth # 2: Cigars Need to be Pre-heated
Some smokers believe that dipping the tip of a cigar in cognac will make its aroma more intense and its flavor more refined. They even cite Winston Churchill, claiming he did this. However, this story is more of a fanciful embellishment than a tradition related to proper smoking practices.
In reality, Churchill did sometimes dip his cigar in cognac, but not for flavor enhancement. He did it out of necessity. The British Prime Minister smoked cigars almost continuously. His day would start with a cigar and a cup of coffee, and end with the last cigar smoldering in the ashtray next to his bed. On some days, he could smoke up to twenty cigars, which, of course, came with some consequences.
Constant contact with the tobacco leaf caused severe irritation to his lips. The resins and oils in the wrapper leaves left a persistent feeling of dryness, tingling, and even pain after prolonged smoking. To alleviate this discomfort, Churchill started wrapping the smoking end of the cigar in special thin paper, chosen to match the color of the cigar so that it wouldn’t be noticeable. This minimized contact with the irritating components but created a new problem — the unpleasant taste of paper on his lips.
It was then that he began dipping the wrapped end of his cigar in a glass of cognac. This softened the taste of the paper and made the smoking experience more comfortable. However, this was not done for the sake of enhancing the cigar’s flavor, but rather to eliminate discomfort. The aromatic drink did not improve the tobacco — on the contrary, dipping the cigar in liquid could risk distorting the flavor balance, and the tobacco leaf itself could become deformed.
Nonetheless, many smokers, unaware of the circumstances, took this gesture as a sign of refined taste. Thus, the myth arose that dipping a cigar in cognac is a mark of good taste and a deep understanding of aromas. In reality, true connoisseurs avoid any contact between the cigar and liquids. It is far more enjoyable to savor a cigar and a fine cognac separately, allowing their flavors and aromatic notes to harmoniously blend during the smoking and tasting process. This is where true pleasure is found.
Cigar Myth # 3: Cigars Are Just as Harmful as Cigarettes
Research shows that cigars may be less harmful than cigarettes because cigar tobacco undergoes natural fermentation, unlike the added chemicals in cigarettes. The harm caused by cigars depends on the individual’s health and lifestyle. For some, cigars might pose more of a risk, while for others, unhealthy eating habits might be more damaging.
Cigar Myth # 4: Dipping a Cigar in Cognac Enhances Its Flavor
Some smokers believe that dipping the tip of a cigar in cognac will make its aroma richer and its flavor more refined. They even point to Sir Winston Churchill as an example, claiming that he supposedly did this. However, this story is more of a beautifully embellished myth than a reality tied to proper smoking traditions.
In fact, Churchill did occasionally dip his cigar in cognac, but not for flavor refinement. He did it out of necessity. The British Prime Minister smoked cigars almost continuously. His day would begin with a cigar and a cup of coffee, and end with the last cigar smoldering in the ashtray beside his bed. On some days, he would smoke up to twenty cigars, and, of course, this brought not only pleasure but also certain consequences.
Constant contact with the tobacco leaf caused intense irritation to his lips. The resins and oils in the wrapper leaves left a persistent feeling of dryness, tingling, and even pain after frequent smoking. To alleviate this discomfort, Churchill began wrapping the smoking end of his cigar in a special thin paper, chosen to match the color of the cigar so it wouldn’t stand out. This minimized contact with the irritating components but created a new issue — the unpleasant taste of paper on his lips.
It was then that he started dipping the wrapped end of the cigar in a glass of cognac. This softened the taste of the paper and made the smoking experience more comfortable. However, all of this was done not for the sake of enhancing the cigar’s flavor, but to relieve discomfort. The aromatic drink did not improve the tobacco — on the contrary, dipping the cigar in liquid risks disrupting the balance of flavors, and the tobacco leaf could become deformed.
Nonetheless, many smokers, unaware of the context, took this gesture as a sign of refined taste. Thus, the myth arose that dipping a cigar in cognac is a mark of good taste and a keen understanding of aromas. In reality, true connoisseurs avoid any contact between a cigar and liquids. It is far more pleasurable to enjoy a cigar and a fine cognac separately, allowing their flavors and aromatic notes to harmonize during the smoking and tasting process. This is where true enjoyment lies.
Cigar Myth # 5: The Best Cigars Are Rolled on the Bare Thighs of Sexy Mulatto Women
This is perhaps the most romanticized and widespread myth. Contrary to the legend, cigar rolling has traditionally been considered a man’s job — to roll a cigar well and tightly, you need very strong hand muscles, and only a few women possess such strength. In Cuba, cigar rollers were always men, and the first female roller appeared at the Havana factory La Africana only at the end of the 18th century. Furthermore, rolling cigars requires a firm, flat surface, whereas a slim mulatto woman’s thigh has a completely different shape.
The author of this myth is believed to be Prosper Mérimée. In preparation for writing his novel “Carmen,” the French writer traveled to Spain to better understand the Spaniards and their way of life. Being a handsome, statuesque man, Mérimée began an affair with a young Spanish woman. Since Spain in the 19th century was a deeply religious country, extramarital affairs were severely punished, so the lovers had to carefully conceal their relationship from outsiders. Mérimée rented a small room specifically for meetings with his lover. They came and left at different times, always on guard as all eyes were on the handsome Frenchman.
Mérimée spent many hours in that small room waiting for his lover to arrive and, after her departure, waiting for the chance to leave. All was well — the hours of waiting were worth the time spent in the lover’s embrace — but Mérimée was an avid smoker. He adored cigars and bought them every day. Spending so much time in the secret room meant he couldn’t restock his cigar supply. The solution to the problem came quickly. His resourceful Spanish lover bought tobacco leaves and, resting in bed after their passionate escapades, rolled cigars on her thighs. She turned out to be very skilled at rolling cigars, and they were simply magnificent. Mérimée smoked the freshly rolled cigar, and the cycle began again…
This adventure left such an impression on the writer that, upon returning to Paris, he shared it with all his friends. Within a couple of weeks, everyone in Paris was talking about the finest cigars rolled on the beautiful, bare thighs of hot mulatto women. In the process, everyone forgot about Mérimée and his romantic escapades in Spain. The myth, however, remained.
Nevertheless, this misconception did not arise from nowhere. On a cigar factory’s “despala” section, where the central vein of the tobacco leaf is removed, women known as “despalilladores” typically work. They stretch each tobacco leaf over their knee and quickly pull out the vein. This could be where the misunderstanding originated — that cigars are rolled on the bare thighs of women. Unfortunately, this is not true. The vein is removed, not the whole leaf being rolled, and not on bare thighs, because tobacco leaves absorb sweat, and doing so would not improve the aroma of the future cigar.
The case with Mérimée can be considered an exception — the cigar rolled on his lover’s thigh was doubly enjoyable for him.
Cigar Myth # 6: The Darker the Cigar, the Stronger It Is
Many people believe that the darker the wrapper leaf, the stronger the cigar. It seems logical — rich color, rich flavor, intense effect. But this is like judging a book by its cover. It’s misleading. Are maduro cigars stronger than cigars with lighter wrappers? In fact, the opposite is true: the maduro wrapper becomes sweeter during the roasting process.
In reality, the strength of a cigar is not at all related to its external color. You can find cigars with almost black, oily wrappers that turn out to be surprisingly light and smooth. And conversely, an innocently light-colored cigar can hide a true nicotine storm inside.
The color of the wrapper leaf is determined by the tobacco variety, fermentation conditions, and aging time. There are about seven basic shades of wrapper leaves in the world — from light green to almost black — and Cuban torcedores identify up to seventy subtle gradations! The wrapper leaf itself has more influence on the aroma and slightly on the flavor, but not on the strength.
The strength of the cigar depends on its filler — its heart. Ligero leaves from the top of the plant are rich in nicotine, giving the cigar strength and density. The more ligero leaves there are, the stronger the cigar, regardless of the wrapper color.
Richness (depth of flavor) and strength (nicotine, intensity) are two different things. A cigar can be rich but not strong.
Why do dark cigars seem stronger? It’s all about the oils and resins in the dark wrapper, which are more abundant. They remain on the lips, creating an illusion of richness and strength. But this is like decaffeinated coffee: the taste is there, but the effect is illusory.
A cigar is like a person. Don’t judge its character by its appearance alone.
Cigar Myth # 7: The Thickness and Length of a Cigar Affect Its Strength
Many people believe that for those who prefer a mild flavor, it’s better to smoke cigars with a smaller diameter. In reality, this is not the case. To enjoy a mild taste and delicate aroma, you should choose cigars with a wider diameter. In these cigars, the smoke has a better chance to cool down, making the smoking experience cooler. On the other hand, thin cigars have less cooling of the smoke, making them sharper and hotter.
The length of a cigar has no impact on its strength. It only affects the duration of the smoking experience, giving us more time to enjoy it. However, the closer the burning end of the cigar is to the lips, the hotter the smoke becomes since it doesn’t have time to cool down, resulting in a sensation of “burning.”
Cigar Myth # 8: White Ash is a Sign of a Great Cigar
This is a misconception. The color of a cigar’s ash is not directly related to its quality. It depends on the mineral content in the tobacco, such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which make the ash white, while potassium gives it a grayish hue. This process is tied to the soil in which the tobacco is grown, not its quality.
The color of the ash is influenced by the minerals in the soil (calcium, phosphorus make it lighter, potassium makes it darker). It has no impact on the quality of the cigar. Many premium cigars produce ash with a “salt and pepper” appearance.
Cigar Myth # 9: Soft Cigars Are Fresher
This is a misconception. Cigars that feel too soft are either poorly packed or over-humidified. A high-quality cigar should be firm throughout its length, ensuring an even burn and proper smoke flow. Softness is not a sign of freshness or superior quality.
Cigar Myth # 10: There Is an Ideal Consistency of Flavor
This is a misconception. Absolute uniformity of cigars from batch to batch is impossible. Each handmade cigar may have slight variations—and this is perfectly normal. The flavor can also change slightly depending on the harvest, as tobacco, like any natural product, is affected by climate conditions and the time of year.
Handcrafting involves small variations. Each harvest is unique.
Cigar Myth # 11: A Cigar is an Element of the “Bourgeois” Lifestyle. The More Expensive the Cigar, the Better It Is. Cigars Are Only for the Rich.
This myth originated during the communist era and persisted until the early 1990s. Propaganda posters depicted capitalists and oppressors of the working class with cigars in their mouths, creating associations with oppression. At that time, cigars were seen as a symbol of the bourgeois, and thus an unjust lifestyle. However, it was well-known that in Cuba, cigars were smoked not only by revolutionaries like Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara but also by ordinary workers. Despite this, the myth continued.
The key is that a cigar should justify its price, whether it’s cheap or expensive.
A cigar is a symbol of enjoying life and appreciating its moments.
