Gary Korb

As the holiday season sails into view, gift ideas are on everyone's mind. Fortunately, when shopping for the cigar smoker, there are not only great cigars to choose from, but cigar accessories, as well. Here are some outstanding gift suggestions from the four primary cigar requisites: cigars, a humidor, a cutter, and a lighter. (Hint: leave this page open in a conspicuous place so your spouse will see it.)  Davidoff 9 Cigar Sampler This is the Whitman's Sampler for cigar lovers - a veritable candy store of some of Davidoff's finest tobacco confections and a great way to sample the many varieties of this luxury cigar icon. Made in the Dominican Republic, Davidoff cigars are venerated even by aficionados in Cuba. They're not only among the finest handmade cigars in the world, this selection offers nine of their best cigars chosen from all of their line extensions: Aniv... (more)

Those Fabulous Figurados!

You’re browsing through your favorite cigar catalog or Website and words like “Pyramid,” “Belicoso,” “Torpedo,” and “Perfecto” keep jumping out at you. Originating in Cuba, these are traditional names for a variety of non-parejo (or non-straight-sided) cigar shapes referred to as “figurados.” Since some shapes are similar in appearance, the question that arises is: What’s the difference between a Torpedo, a Belicoso, and a Pyramid, or the difference between a Perfecto, a Double Perfecto, and a Diademas? More ... (more)

Outstanding Cigars of 2004

2004 saw the debut of some excellent cigars, and in this issue I want to share with you (in no particular order), some of the more outstanding cigars released last year. I say “outstanding” because I don’t believe any cigar is “the best” any more than I believe any one movie or record album is “the best”; each cigar is unique in and of itself, which this list embodies. Davidoff Limited Edition 2004 Robusto Real “Especiales 7”  Another remarkable luxury cigar from Davidoff made in very limited edition. The Robusto Real cigars are... (more)

The Cigar Smoker's Bible

A captain can’t navigate the seas without the aid of good charts. For the cigar aficionado, the best way to chart the course of his or her favorite pastime is with the aid of Perelman’s Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars. Now in its 12th year of publication with the current 2006 edition, writer and publisher Richard B. Perelman and his staff have assembled the most comprehensive guide to virtually every brand of cigar marketed nationally in the United States of America. This year’s edition features a picture of the White House against a stark, royal blue background. Ho... (more)

Travel Humidors

Before you sail off to the next port of call with your cigars, you’ll need a travel humidor that will keep your precious cargo out of harm’s way. Whether it’s a simple pocket humidor or an elaborate attaché case, the humidor must do two things for your cigars: keep them fresh and protect them. According to Michael Chunko, President & CEO of Csonka Worldwide, one the cigar industry’s leading makers of customcigar cases, a good cigar case will keep the cigars properly humidified. A great cigar case will provide good humidity, but will do so with style, elega... (more)