There are signs everywhere that cigars are becoming popular again. For example, you can't pass a magazine stand without seeing two or three new magazines glorifying the subject, and restaurants all over the country are devoting entire nights to "smoke dinners." So why is the cigarette still considered offensive and is generally scorned by all? This seems strange since cigars and cigarettes have so many things in common: both are made of tobacco, both are rolled into tube-like shapes, and both are smoked. However, it must be the differences that make the cigar so much more popular. Cigars are made from better quality tobaccos, cigars are hand rolled, and cigars have a more pleasing aroma.
Both cigars and cigarettes are constructed of tobacco, but the care used in raising fine cigar tobacco is second to none. Only the finest leaves of the plant are selected. The drying and fermenting process is long (nine months for filler leaves and up to two years for wrapper leaves) and closely watched. Cigarette tobacco is grown for quantity; not necessarily for quality. No regard is given to the aroma and smoke of the different types of tobacco. The only type of tobacco grown is fast-maturing strains they can get to the market quickly. Careful and attentive raising is non existent. The leaves are quickly dried and thrown into boxes for shipment to the rolling factory.
Fine cigars are hand rolled, whereas all cigarettes are machine rolled. Including the type and quality of the leaf, rolling is the ultimate judge of whether a cigar is good or bad. Cigar companies go to great pains to be sure they hire only the best "Torcedores" (cigar rollers). If a cigar is underfilled it will burn hot and harsh; if it is overfilled it is "Plugged" and will not draw. To be sure that the cigars are of the best quality, one out of ten is inspected (that's two out of each box). On the other hand, ...