Packing: As the name implies, packing is the process of…well…packing your cigars. In terms of premium cigars, there are two ways manufacturers pack: square and round.

Panatela: Panatela is a cigar shape. Cigars of this type are long and thin.

Parejos: You can find this type of cigar in varieties such as the Corona and Lonsdales. They feature straight sides.

Partido: An area known for growing tobacco in Cuba.

Perfecto: Known for its bulging middle, this cigar is closed at both ends and features a round head.

Piloto Cubano: Grown in the Dominican Republic, this tobacco is grown from Cuban seeds. It is known for its rich, luxurious taste.

Pinch Test: To see if a cigar has been made well, one conducts the pinch test. Simple pinch the cigar between your thumb and index finger (not too hard!). You are looking for a firm response. If it is hard or too squishy, it is poorly made and not the cigar for you.

Pinhole Cutter: Another name for the drill cutter.

Planchas: Prior to being fermented, tobacco leaves are laid out on boards, known as Planchas.

Plug: If you notice that your cigar is not drawing properly, it could be do to a plug, or blockage, such as a rogue stem. Try giving your cigar a gentle massage and it might do the trick.

Plume: Another name for Bloom, or the white powder found on cigars as oil rises to the surface.

Pre-Castro: This refers to any Cuban cigars made prior to January of 1959, or after Fidel Castro took office.

Pre-embargo: Any Cuban cigar made prior to the US trade embargo against Cuba. This was initiated by John F. Kennedy in 1962.

Premium: A cigar brand that is magnificent in both construction and taste, and that is consistently the same from cigar to cigar, box to box. Always handmade.