I think it is safe to say that in the world of cigars consistency is the single most important attribute for a cigar manufacturer. Sure, we all seek quality in a cigar, yet if a brand lacks consistency of construction, strength, aroma, and taste profile, I honestly don’t think it would make it to the top, and the reason is simple: cigar aficionados aren’t going to buy a box of 25 cigars in the hopes of finding 12 really good smokes. In general, if the brand is inconsistent, it is normally black listed in my book of “cigars not worth my hard earned money”.

While pondering this personal pet peeve of mine, it increasingly dawned on me how daunting the task of producing a consistent cigar time and time again really is. I mean, forget about the rolling process for a minute and just consider the mastery of picking and blending cigar leaves alone. It is a daunting task, yet one that has been turned into a true art. In what I’m calling Cigar Leaves and Blends (Part I), I would like to introduce a series of articles focusing on the work that goes into not only creating but also maintaining a consistent vitola from one delicious cigar to another.

First we must consider that like all organic products, no two tobacco leaves could possibly be the same. Yes, they may come from the same estate, or even the same plant, but the individual conditions that produce each leaf is unique. They resemble each other as much as perhaps identical twins do to the casual observer, but to the master blender, it is their differences, however subtle, that make possible the ever growing variety of cigars in the industry; each with its own distinct personality and profile.

Therefore, before even thinking about blending tobacco leaves, a more rigorous task of careful classification by size, texture and color, all aided by a well seasoned gut feeling about the fine properties of the leaves, must be achieved. To this end, following the drying and initial fermentation process, which take place at the tobacco farm itself, tons of tobacco leaves are dropped off at special centers where those who have inherited the trade for several generations will begin the detailed classification work.

Following this brief introduction, in part II of Tobacco Leaves and Blends, I hope to provide a detailed look at the mechanics of this classification process.

Linked to: Cigar Intelligence Agency