Cruise for a Single

If you're cruising your local cigar store, chances are you're looking for a single cigar or two -- otherwise, you should proably be shopping online or through a cigar catalog. Here's a guide to looking for a good single cigar in a cigar shop: * If you plan to smoke right away, look for open boxes in the cigar shop's humidor that appear to have been there for a while. Cigars are shipped "wet" to avoid drying, and need to sit for a week or more in a proper environment before smoking. If you're holding them in your own humidor, this is not a problem. * Squeeze the cigar gently. It should "give" but not be too soft. * Look at the wrapper. It should be smooth and tight, and not damaged on either end. * Look at the tobacco in the exposed end. Look for extreme or abrupt color changes. Poor tastes and uneven burns will often be the result.