THE ALTADIS U.S.A.

CIGAR GUIDE

Many things in the world are called handmade, but few

actually embody the terms as artfully and luxuriously as a
premium cigar. From the tobacco seedlings first days in the
nursery - where workers carefully tend to each new sprout - to the
intricate process of rolling the completed cigar, skilled hands guide
every stage of its evolution. Every step of making a cigar - from the
painstaking field work of planting new seeds, picking, and
harvesting, to curing in barns, sorting, rolling and packing - it's all
done to some of the most exacting standards of any artisanal pursuit.

At every stage from sprout care to quality-inspecting the final

product, each tobacco leaf is examined to make sure it lives up to
Altadis USAs rigorous quality standards. This attention to detail
is precisely what has made Altadis USA premium brands like
H. Upmann, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta the
famous iconic names they remain today.

www.altadisusa.com
A TASTE OF WHERE ITS GROWN

Like with fine wine, country of origin directly impacts the flavor and
aroma of a cigar. Soil conditions, temperature, humidity, and sunlight
all create distinct characteristics in the tobacco.

Dominican Republic Producer of top quality tobacco, especially in the Cibao

River Valley area near Santiago.

Connecticut Valley Source of some of the worlds finest pale wrapper leaves
highly regarded by cigar makers and connoisseurs. Connecticut Shade is
shade-grown under huge tents to protect the delicate leaf. Connecticut Broad
Leaf is grown in the sun for a wrapper thats coarser, darker and produces a
sweeter taste.

Indonesia Indonesia wrapper tobacco is dark, tasty, and fragile in nature.

Recently, special strains of Java married with Connecticut tobacco are producing
a rich, flavorful, fine-burning wrapper and binder tobacco. Grown under shade,
commonly referred to as TBN.

Mexico The San Andrs Valley is famous for a sun-grown Mexican Sumatra
used for wrappers. Dark tobacco used for long fillers and binders gives the cigar
a distinctive sweet, peppery, light texture. Mexican wrapper leaves are often
used for Maduro wrappers.

Nicaragua Nicaraguas bold, full-flavored tobacco, attributed to the regions

optimal climate and soil, is said to rival the best from Cuba. There are three
main tobacco-growing regions: Esteli produces full-flavored tobacco, Jalapa
is sweeter, and Condega falls somewhere in between.

Cameroon This West African country is known for a high-quality neutral

wrapper leaf thats ideal for full-flavored filler blends. Because of bad weather
and political climate, availability has suffered, but the leaf remains a favorite
among cigar connoisseurs.

Ecuador A producer of both filler and wrapper tobacco as well as shade and
sun grown. Here, tobacco grown using Connecticut and Sumatra seeds tends
to be milder in flavor.

Honduras Honduras produces quality Cuban seed and Connecticut seed tobaccos,
both full-bodied, with strong, spicy flavors. Connecticut seed variety is shade-
grown in Honduras and similar to Connecticut grown shade leaf tobacco.

Brazil Tobacco from Brazil tends to be dark, rich and smooth with a slightly
sweet flavor. Brazilian tobacco leaves become deep brown after fermentation.

Cuba Cuban tobacco is known as some of the finest in the world. The primary
growing region is the legendary Vuelta Abajo area in the western part of the
country. Ever since the U.S. embargo in 1963, Cuban-grown tobaccos are not
used in cigars sold in the United States.
CIGAR MANUFACTURING

The journey of a handmade cigar is a long one. From seed to its final
packing, a single stick may pass through as many as 200 pairs of hands
during the artful process of creating this true handmade luxury.

GROWTH AND HARVEST

Growing tobacco requires exceptional artistry and

experience. Plants are nurtured in nurseries and the
seedlings are transported to fields. When its time to
harvest, leaves are picked from the bottom to the top.
Valdo, the bottom leaf, has the mildest taste. Seco, in
the middle, has a medium flavor. Ligero, at the top, is
exposed to the most sun and has the strongest flavor.

CURING AND FERMENTATION

Specially chosen leaves are bundled according to size

and hung to dry in curing barns for six to eight weeks.
During curing, the tobacco must ferment to remove
ammonia and other natural chemical components.
Improperly fermented tobacco causes harshness or
bitterness and will not stay lit.
After this preparation, the master blender pre-blends
the filler by selecting a special combination of
tobacco leaves. Expert hands make the difference in
a fine cigar. The buncher forms the filler into a
cylinder, which is rolled into a binder leaf and placed
in a mold to coax it into a cigar shape. The roller
then skillfully applies the outer wrapper tobacco leaf.

SORTING AND AGING

After rolling, cigars are placed in the marrying room
for a minimum of three weeks. This is a temperature
and humidity-controlled cedar room that gives the
selected tobaccos time to meld their tastes and allow
the moisture to equilibrate.

COLOR AND CLASSIFICATIONS

Candela: From a greenish-blonde to a light Claro: Blonde or tawny color. Cut before
green. Harvested before the plant fully matures. full maturity. Also known as Natural.
Mild-flavored; also known as Double Claro,
Jade and American Market Selection (AMS).
ANATOMY OF A CIGAR

Every cigar has three basic parts: the wrapper, which wraps around the
outside of the cigar; the binder, between the filler and wrapper;
and the filler, which is rolled into the center of the cigar.

WRAPPERS

The wrapper (outer covering) can contribute from 60% to 80% or more to a cigars
overall flavor. Wrappers grown in the shade will be smoother, have smaller veins
and should be slightly oily. Those grown in the sun will be darker, have larger
veins and should be velvety to the touch. They will tend to have a full flavor
and hint of sweetness as the increased sun exposure increases sugars on the leaf.

Criollo San Andrs Medium to full body, grown in Mexicos San Andrs Valley.
San Andrs Morrn Medium-bodied, dark and flavorful version of the above. Rich and slightly sweet.
Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Slightly more flavorful and richer in color than Connecticut Shade.
Ecuadorian Sumatra Grown from Sumatran seed. Mild flavor, hint of sweetness.
Connecticut Shade Mild to medium flavor, silky quality, lightly golden to red.
Nicaraguan Cuban-seed leaf grown in Nicaragua since the 1990s.
Indonesian TBN An aromatic and rich wrapper. Light colored.
Connecticut Broadleaf Thick, oily and veiny wrapper leaf. Full of flavors and aromas.
Cameroon Fragile, thin leaf. Light flavor, sweet aroma.
Ecuadorian Cubano A Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador in shades from light to dark. Full-bodied, rich.

BINDERS

Binders are the strong, flexible tobacco leaves holding the cigar together. Found
between the wrapper and the filler, the binder holds the form of the cigar true to
its shape. The thicker tops of the tobacco plant are used as a binder.

FILLERS
The filler is the center, which comprises the majority of the cigar. These leaves
often come from different fields, regions, and countries. Cigar filler is primarily
from the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Dominican has a
medium body with sweet undertones; Honduran is rich with coffee tones;
Nicaraguan is spicy/earthy, and Mexican filler tends to be strong, sweet and
spicy.

Colorado Claro: Colorado: Medium-brown leaf, with Colorado Maduro:

Light-brown color occasional reddish hues. Also known A full-brown color
as English Market Selection (EMS).
SIZE AND SHAPES

All cigars can be divided into two categories:

parejos, or straight-sided cigars,
and figurados, cigars with irregular shapes.

PAREJOS (STRAIGHT SIDED)

Robusto 4 1/2 - 5 x 52 - 54

Corona Grande 5 5/8 x 50

Lonsdale 6 5/8 x 42 - 44

Corona 5 1/2 - 6 x 44
Churchill 7 x 50 - 54
Toro 6 x 52 - 54

Cigar smokers sometimes resort to shorthand when referring to the size

and shape of cigars. The simple phrase, Ill have a Monte #2
encapsulates size, shape and brand in a word and a number.
Ring gauge is the measurement of the cigars diameter based on 1/64 increments.

FIGURADOS

Petite Belicoso 4- 4 1/2 x 52 - 54

Belicoso 6 x 52 - 54

Torpedo / Pyramid 6 - 6 3/8 x 50 - 52

Diademas 9 1/8 x 54

Maduro: Dark brown with occasional red tints Oscuro: Virtually black. Left in the field
taken from the top of the plant. Strong flavor. the longest. Exposed to maximum sunlight.
Matured longer than other tobaccos.
TIME TO ENJOY

Whether enjoying a fine cigar with friends or

savoring a smoke in quiet contemplation, the love of
a good cigar always endures.

COMPLIMENTARY PARTNERS: DRINKS AND CIGARS

Good pairings give you an experience beyond the sum of its parts. A single
barrel bourbon or single-malt Scotch will complement even strong cigars.
Mild and medium-bodied cigars go well with VSOP cognacs. The sweetness
and alcohol work nicely with a full-bodied cigar. If you prefer wine over
spirits, try a Cabernet. Port has long been recognized as an ideal partner
for great cigars. Coffee also pairs well with a cigar

CIGAR CUTTERS

Part of the cigars cap must be removed

before lighting so the smoke can flow
evenly. When cutting, make sure to take the
slimmest possible bit off the top that still
allows you to take a comfortable draw.
Cigar scissors and guillotines both provide a straight
cut and are two popular ways to start your cigar off Montecristo Signature
right. A straight cut is the best way to remove the Samurai Slim-Line V Cutter

cap from torpedo, belicoso and perfecto format cigars.

Punch cutters take a different approach and pierce the cap, creating a
hole through the binder and into the wrapper, which creates a concentrated
stream of smoke. The bullet makes a hole anywhere from a .25 caliber to
12 mm in diameter. The V-cut (once referred to as a Cats Eye) was popular
until the 1970s, when it fell out of favor and is now popular again.
Above all, use a sharp blade; a dull one can damage the wrapper and
cause it to unravel. Biting off the end has the potential to damage the
cigar and draw.

LIGHT IT UP

When it comes time to light your cigar,

start off by toasting (charring) the foot
of your cigar. This will ensure an even burn.
Next, angle the toasted end of your
cigar just above the flame as you gently
draw air, rotating the cigar over the flame
to make sure all sides are evenly lit.
Turn the cigar around and blow gently
into the new ash. If the entire foot of the
cigar blazes with an even orange glow,
your lighting process is complete. Enjoy.
CIGAR BRAND WRAPPER BINDER FILLER COUNTRY.

A.TURRENT PURO COROJO San Andrs Corojo Nicaraguan Corojo San Andrs, Nicaraguan Corojo (H)

A.TURRENT TRIPLE PLAY San Andrs Morrn Connecticut Broadleaf Nicaraguan, San Andrs (H)
& Honduran Maduros
CASA DE GARCIA
CONNECTICUT BLEND Connecticut Shade Connecticut Dominican, Honduran (D)
MADRURO BLEND Connecticut Broadleaf Connecticut Broadleaf Dominican, Honduran (D)
SUMATRA BLEND Sumatra Connecticut Broadleaf Dominican, Honduran (D)

DIAMOND BACK Ecuadorian Connecticut Nicaraguan Nicaraguan (N)

DON DIEGO Dominican Connecticut Shade Dominican (D)

DON DIEGO FUERTE BYOMAR ORTEZ Ecuadorian Cubano Nicaraguan Dominican, Nicaraguan (N)

GISPERT (NATURAL) Ecuadorian

Connecticut Shade Honduran Honduran, Nicaraguan (H)

GISPERT (MADURO) San Andrs Morrn Nicaraguan Honduran, Nicaraguan (H)

H. UPMANN 1844 RESERVE Ecuadorian Cubano Nicaraguan Dominican (D)

H. UPMANN SUNGROWN Ecuadorian Sungrown Broadleaf Honduran, Nicaraguan (H)

H. UPMANN VINTAGE CAMEROON Cameroon Nicaraguan Dominican, Nicaraguan, (D)

Peruvian

HENRY CLAY Connecticut Broadleaf Dominican Dominican (D)

Madruro

MONTECRISTO Connecticut Shade Dominican Dominican (D)

MONTECRISTO
CLASSIC COLLECTION Select Connecticut Shade Select Dominican Dominican (D)

MONTECRISTO PLATINUM San Andrs Cubano Dominican Dominican, Nicaraguan, (D)

Peruvian

MONTECRISTO RESERVA NEGRA San Andrs Morrn Nicaraguan Honduran, Nicaraguan (D)

MONTECRISTO WHITE Ecuadorian

Connecticut Shade Nicaraguan Dominican, Nicaraguan (D)

OMAR CORTEZ ORIGINALS Nicaraguan Nicaraguan Nicaraguan (N)

ONYX RESEVE Blackened Connecticut Nicaraguan Dominican, Nicaraguan, (D)

Broadleaf Peruvian

ROMEO Y JULIETA 1875 Indonesian TBN Dominican Dominican (D)

ROMEO Y JULIETA ANIVERSARIO Ecuadorian Sumatra Connecticut Broadleaf Dominican, Nicaraguan, (D)
Peruvian

ROMEO Y JULIETA RESERVE Nicaraguan Nicaraguan Honduran, Nicaraguan (H)

ROMEO Y JULIETA RESERVA REAL Ecuadorian

Connecticut Shade Nicaraguan Dominican, Nicaraguan (D)

ROMEO Y JULIETA VINTAGE Ecuadorian

Connecticut Shade Mexican Dominican (D)

SAINT LUIS REY Nicaraguan Nicaraguan Honduran, Nicaraguan, (H)

Peruvian

SAINT LUIS REY SERIE G NATURAL Nicaraguan Habano Nicaraguan Habano Honduran, Nicaraguan (H)

TRINIDAD RESERVE Ecuadorian Cubano Nicaraguan Honduran, Nicaraguan (H)

VEGA FINA Ecuadorian Connecticut Nicaraguan Nicaraguan, Dominican

(D) = Dominican Republic (H) = Honduras (N) = Nicaragua

GLOSSARY

Binder(Capote): The leaf between filler and wrapper that binds the whole stick together; hence the
name. Binder leaf is chosen for its combination of burning qualities, flavor and aroma.
Blend: Tobaccos for the cigars wrapper, binder and filler are what make up its blend.
As the oils from the tobacco leaves blend over time, the cigar assumes its
blend-specific flavor.
Bloom: A naturally occurring gray or white fuzz that sometimes appears on the wrappers
of well-aged cigars and can be removed with a finger or soft cloth. Not mold. Also
known as plume.
Body: Also known as the strength of the cigar. The term is not to be confused with flavor,
although people often use the terms interchangeably. It is very possible to have a light-
bodied cigar with a heady burst of flavor, and vice versa. A full-bodied cigar is one
with a complex blend that affects the palate more strongly.
Boite nature: A plain cedar box without any markings, holograms, edging paper, or lithographs.
Box-pressed: Cigars that, by virtue of being placed into a tight-fitting box, have been pressed into a
squarish shape.
Bunch: Filler and binder tobacco rolled together, before the application of the wrapper.
Bundle: Literally a bundle of 20 to 50 cigars, wrapped in ribbon and sold without a box.
Cameroon: A fragile and thin wrapper leaf produced in the Bertoua region of the West African
country of Cameroon. Imparts a light flavor and sweet aroma.
Cap: A small tab of tobacco leaf affixed to the head of the cigar with vegetable glue to
close to the head. The cap is always clipped off before smoking.
Capa: A Spanish term for wrapper.
Casa de tabaco: The structure that hosts the initial stages of tobacco-leaf drying, with the leaves
strung up on poles hung from the rafters.
Chaveta: The crescent-shaped cutter used to slice tobacco leaves in preparation for rolling into
a cigar.
Churchill: Named for the iconic British prime minister, a 7 double corona with a 47 to 54 ring gauge.
Cigarillo: Spanish for little cigar. Short, narrow, and filled with shredded tobacco.
Connecticut Broadleaf: This thick, oily and veiny wrapper leaf, also grown in Connecticut Valley, USA,
is full of flavors and aromas.
Connecticut Shade: With a mild to medium flavor, a silky quality, and a hue that gradates from
slightly golden to red, this tobacco grown in Connecticut Valley (also referred to as
Tobacco Valley) is some of the most sought-after and prized in the world.
Criollo San Andrs: A flavorful leaf that yields cigars of medium to full body, grown in Mexicos lush
San Andrs Valley.
Cujes: The pole used to string tobacco for drying from the rafters of the casa de tabaco.

STAGES OF TOBACCO LEAF GROWTH

The leaves are harvested from the field in stages (also known as primings).

First Priming
Harvested 45-50 days
after sowing.Taken
from the very base Third Priming
of the plant. Leaves Second Priming Harvested 58-62 days
tend to be very Harvested 50-52 days after sowing. Central
light and sweet, after sowing. Mild, parts of the plant, which
and burn evenly. generally used for filler. are lighter in tone.

Sixth Priming
Harvested 75-80 days
Fourth Priming Fifth Priming after sowing. Responsible
Harvested 68-72 days Harvested 73-75 for the darkest, most
after sowing.Often days after sowing. powerful tobacco. Leaves
used for stronger- Strong tobacco are small and often of a
flavored wrappers. from the center. limited quantity.
Cutter: The blade used to remove the cigars cap. Comes in scissors, single- or double-bladed
guillotine, punch, bullet, or V.
Demitasse: A 4 cigar with a 30 ring gauge, also known as a lady finger.
Draw: Airflow through a lit cigar. It can be too effortless (hot) or too tight (plugged).
Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade: Connecticut-seed shade wrapper produced in Ecuador, slightly
more flavorful and richer in color than Connecticut shade.
Ecuadorian Cubano: A Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador in a variety of shades ranging from
light to dark. Fuller-bodied and rich, it is sometimes referred to as Corojo 98.
Ecuadorian Sumatra Wrapper leaf, grown from Sumatran seed and using Ecuadors
near-continuous cloud cover, yielding a mild flavor and a hint of sweetness.
Fbrica: Spanish term for a cigar-making factory.
Fabuloso: Traditional term for the largest cigar in a particular brand.
Filler (Tripa): The tobacco leaves, rolled into the center of the cigar, form the foundation of the blend.
Finca: Spanish term for a tobacco farm.
Finished head: A particular finish to rolling a cigar in which the cap and the body are formed from
one piece of leaf.
Foot: The end of the cigar that one torches.
Frog strip: A filler leaf after the central stem has been stripped away; so named because it
supposedly looks like the underside of a frog.
Full cut: A guillotine cut.
Guayabera: The cigar makers distinctive four-pocket shirt, ideal for both touring the factory floor
and meeting with important guests afterwards.
Hand: Approximately 20 tobacco leaves bunded together.
Handrolled: A cigar whose wrapper had been hand-rolled onto the binder and filler.
Head: The end of the cigar with the cap that one cuts. Often referred to as the top of a cigar.
Hecho a mano: Translates as handmade. Stamped on cigar boxes to indicate their handrolled,
premium quality.
Honduran Connecticut Shade: Connecticut Shade tobacco grown in Honduras, providing ideal color
and balance between strength and flavor.
Hygrometer: The device placed inside humidors to track the interior humidity.
Indonesian TBN: An aromatic and rich wrapper that is rather light colored (TBN stands for tabaco
awah naungan, which translates as tobacco under sheet, or shade-grown);
the best of this leaf is grown in the eastern province of Java near Jember.
Ligero: The full-flavored top leaves of the tobacco plant, used in filler.
Long filler (Tripa Larga): Filler tobacco leaves that run the length of a cigar. Long filler, when lit,
leaves behind a suitably long ash; because less surface of the leaf is exposed to flame,
the resulting smoke is often cooler and milder than what you experience with short filler.
Maduro: The term for very dark tobacco.
Marrying: The term used to describe the phenomenon by which different tobaccos, when brought
together mix their flavors and aroma; this process is the basis of blending distinctive cigars.
Nicaraguan: A Cuban-seed wrapper leaf grown in Nicaragua since the 1990s, known among
producers for its difficulty in producing; only a few leaves from the very top of the plant
end up as wrappers.
Perfecto: A cigar that tapers at both ends, an iconic shape often 4 to 5 long.
Pig Tail: Also known as a Curly Head or Fancy Tail, the Pig Tail is a small twist of tobacco on
the cap of a cigar, formed by the roller twisting that last bit of leaf. Also known as Rat Tail.
Pilon: Large piles of tobacco leaves assembled for fermentation.
Plancha: A five-count bundle of wrapper leaves, also known as a hand.
Plume: A naturally occurring gray or white fuzz that sometimes appears on the wrappers
of well-aged cigars. Can be removed with a finger or soft cloth. Not mold.
Also known as bloom.
Puro: A cigar whose binder, filler, and wrapper come from the same country in which its rolled.
Quebrado: A tobacco leaf torn in the field.
Rat Tail: Also known as a Curly Head or Fancy Tail, the Rat Tail is a small twist of tobacco on
the cap of a cigar, formed by the roller twisting that last bit of leaf. Also known as Pig Tail.
Ring gauge: The measurement of the diameter of a cigar, with 64 ring-gauge units per inch.
San Andrs Morrn: A medium-bodied leaf grown in the San Andrs Valley of Mexico, considered
thick and flavorful.
Seco: Medium-flavored filler leaves from the middle of the plant.
Select Connecticut Shade: The best of the best of Connecticut Shade, grown in Connecticuts
Tobacco Valley.
Semillero: The nursery, often within a cigar-makers compound, where tobacco seeds are grown
and spend their first days as sprouts.
70/70: The optimum environment for a humidor; 70 percent relative humidity and 70F.
Spill: A strip of wood (usually cedar procured from a wood sheet used in cigar boxes) used to
light a cigar.
Sticks: A quasi-slang word for cigars - other variants include stogie, gar, and rope.
Stripping: The factory process of removing the stem from a tobacco leaf.
Strength: Also known as the body of the cigar, strength falls into three categories: mild, medium
and full. A new smoker may take some time to determine which cigars strength best
fits his or her personal comfort zone.
Square-Pressed: Also known as box-pressed. Occurs when cigars are inserted tightly into a box so
as to press them into a perfectly square shape.
Tapado: A tobacco field overlaid with cheesecloth to create shade-grown tobacco.
La tabla: The wooden cutting board on which the cigar roller does his or her work.
Torcedor: In Spanish, one who twists, and a term used to indicate a roller of premium
handmade cigars.
Tubos: Cigars that are packaged in individual tubes. These tubes are typically made of
aluminum; however, they can also be made of wood or glass.
Vega: A tobacco plantation.
Veguero: One who grows and harvests tobacco.
Vitola: Spanish terminology for the shape and size of a cigar.
Vitolphile: One who collects cigar bands.
Vuelta Abajo: An area of Cuba renowned for its soil and tobacco-growing qualities.
Volado: The lighter-flavored lower leaves of sun-grown tobacco plants used in filler.

CHOOSING YOUR CIGAR

Educate Yourself. Part of the fun of smoking cigars is learning about the various countries
of manufacture, tobacco types, and cigar making techniques. Of course, the real fun
comes when you try the cigars and discover the brands and characteristics that most
appeal to you. Subjective ratings can be helpful, but you may wish to concentrate
on reviews that mention flavors, strength, and characteristics that you know you
like. And keep in mind that the bigger diameter a cigar, the cooler it will smoke.

Whats Your Taste Profile? Friends and tobacconists can provide you with recommen-
dations and are great sources for helpful information. In addition to asking them
what they smoke, describe the flavors you like so they can suggest cigars of similar
character that fit your particular taste preference.

And Remember...When it comes to a great smoking cigar, you can always count on
Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, Trinidad, VegaFina and the many other
fine cigars of Altadis USA.

SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Tobacco

Smoke Increases The Risk Of Lung Cancer
And Heart Disease Even In Non-Smokers.