Welcome to what I dub the “Ultimate Cigar Glossary”. In it, I will attempt to cover some of the more popular cigar terms you are likely to encounter. When possible, I will also include some of the rarer phrases.
 

We covered some basic terminology in a previous article, and this article will attempt a more defined, all-encompassing approach to cigars. At the end of this series, I would suggest that you print all of the terms out and store them in your library. It can also be used for HERF gatherings, in cigar pursuit games, or even cigar-scrabble. But mostly, the more you understand about your cigar, the better your experience will be.Bl

8-9-8: A box of cigars, stacked three high, with eight cigars on top and on the bottom, and nine in the middle.

Aging: When most people think of aging they think of Wine, or maybe cheese, and the end result that smokers are seeking is similar. To age a cigar means to store it in a humidified location for a given amount of time. Manufacturers do this between three to six months. Cigars of the same type are placed together, to allow them to blend together, insuring that each cigar tastes the same. This process is known as wedding. You can also do this in a humidor.

Amarillo: A tobacco leaf, yellow in color and grown in the shade, used for wrapping.

Amatista: A glass jar of either 25 or 50 cigars that is sealed tight and sold as being “factory fresh”.

AMS (American Market Selection):  A wrapper that is Claro-colored. The term was created by Cubari in the early to mid 1950s.

Baling: The process of taking fermented tobacco leaves and packing them into a bale. The bale covering is made of the sheath from palm trees and is then covered in burlap, where they will stay as they age and get relocated.

Band: A piece of paper wrapped around the cigar near the head, signifying which manufacturer made the cigar. Alongside the name, you can typically find the country it originated in, and whether or not the cigar was hand or machine made. Bands make good collectors items, and are nice to paste into a cigar diary.