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original Havana manufacture of these brands are now
practically exhausted, but there are ,stUl world-
famous manufacturers producing cigars in Havana
itself, namely, Larranaga, Punch (J. Valle y Ca),
Romeo y Julieta and Upmann.
HERE'S HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD CIGAR
The choice of an oUy glossy outside-leaf wrapper
of the cigar usually shows the likelihood of the best
flavour such as is appreciated by connoisseurs. A
dull,light leafshows that the filler has no "character"
and will be flavourless.
To put a dgar to one's ear and pinch it to see whether
there is a crackle, as a guide to its "condition", is a
fallacy,as it is likely to damage the cigar,and,anyhow,
even a fresh and fairly wet one will give some crackling
sound. The feel of firmness in a cigar, and the
absence of a cold (damp) feeling when it is taken
into the hand, is more likely to indicate its smoking
"condition", and there should be a noticeable space
between the top ofthe dgar and the inside ofthe box,
owing to the drying-in while "conditioning" having
slightly shrunk the dgar,since it was packed wet.
HERE'S HOW TO KEEP CIGARS IN GOOD
CONDITION
Ideally, dgars should be kept in an even and constant
temperature of about 65 degrees, which can only be
ensured by rooms being constantly heated night and
day, as a change of temperature is apt to spoil the
condition very rapidly.
For the average consumer,the best way to keep dgars
is to store them in a cupboard in a living-room, but
it is imperative that this cupboard should be against
an inside wall,nottoo near the fireplace.
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