For many enthusiasts, the allure of a fine cigar extends beyond the simple pleasure of smoking. An appreciation for craftsmanship, a connection to history, the feeling of relaxation and a journey of sensory exploration inspire many cigar lovers to build their own collections. 

Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or just beginning to explore the world of premium tobacco, building and maintaining a cigar collection can be exciting and satisfying. This guide walks you through the essential steps, from understanding the motivations behind collecting to mastering the art of long-term storage.

Why Do People Collect Cigars?

The following are key reasons why cigar lovers cultivate unique collections:

• Enjoyment: For many, their love of smoking cigars inspires the creation of their unique collection. If you'd enjoy having a range of varieties to sample, exploring flavors and savoring new sensory experiences, then it's time to start collecting. Another part of collecting cigars is the personal connections you can form by introducing a friend to cigar smoking or sharing your collection with a fellow aficionado.
• Appreciation of craftsmanship: Another factor that inspires collecting is a reverence for the skill and artistry involved in growing, curing and blending tobacco. Collecting cigar cigars helps to preserve this traditional craft and supports the livelihoods of cigar makers.
• Cultural and historical significance: Many individuals enjoy collecting cigars to preserve cultural heritage. Learning and expanding your collection can connect you with the role of cigars in different cultures and historical periods. Cigar smokers often enjoy learning the stories behind specific products and brands, appreciating the tradition and history.
• Ritual: Many cigar lovers consider the process of selecting, cutting and lighting a cigar to be a ritual. The ritual engages all of the senses, and many cigar lovers experience stress relief and find time for contemplating as they smoke.
• Socialization: Another reason people collect cigars is for the joy of sharing cigars with friends and fellow enthusiasts. Interesting additions to your collection can spark conversation and build connections with others. Collectors can host a cigar party, join cigar clubs or attend cigar events to build community with others who share their passion.
• Investment: Rare and limited-edition cigars often increase in value over time. Varieties known to age well develop desirable qualities if stored properly. 

How to Start a Cigar Collection for Beginners

Want to learn how to start a cigar collection? Here are some steps that will help you build a collection and maintain the quality of your cigars.

1. Invest in Proper Storage

Even the best cigars can lose flavor if stored improperly. For long-term cigar aging, which can sometimes span years or decades, cigars must be stored at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% relative humidity (RH). 

Cigar humidors are specialized storage containers, traditionally made of wood, used to maintain the correct humidity for preserving tobacco products. Humidors keep cigars fresh and flavorful by replicating the optimal natural conditions for tobacco to mature.

When it comes to choosing the right humidor, there are various factors to consider. How portable should your humidor be? What do you want to spend? What sort of wood or material do you prefer? It's important that the humidor you choose has a tight seal to protect your cigars.

2. Expand Your Knowledge and Palate

When you enjoy a cigar, take a picture with your phone or write down the brand and details in a notebook. Begin to build your collection around cigars you have enjoyed in the past, and it will grow from there. 

Once you have found a few favorites, sticking with what you know can be tempting. However, exploration is a key part of the experience. Try new varieties, and make sure you focus on quality. 

Learning how to identify a quality cigar includes understanding its parts and what to look for:

• Head: The head, or cap, is the rounded end of the cigar you place in your mouth for smoking. A well-applied cap is essential for a good draw and should be smooth, even and securely attached to prevent unraveling.
• Foot: The foot is the end of the cigar you light and should be evenly cut and free of imperfections. It can be flat or tapered to provide different flavor profiles. Ensuring the whole foot is alight before smoking helps the cigar burn uniformly down its length. An even burn ensures that the tobacco in the filler, binder and wrapper burn at the same rate.
• Filler: The filler is the center of the cigar. Long-filler tobacco is typically made from whole tobacco leaves that run the length of the cigar and is generally used for handmade options. Short-filler tobacco consists of chopped leaves and is often used for machine-rolled cigars. Long-filler tobacco is typically viewed as a signifier of higher quality.
• Binder: The binder is the tobacco leaf between the filler and wrapper that holds the filler leaves together, creating the shape of the cigar. A good binder should be strong and resilient, sealing in the flavor and maintaining density for a consistent burn.
• Wrapper: The wrapper is the outermost leaf of the cigar. The leaves selected for this layer can significantly improve the quality of the cigar, contributing to a substantial portion of its flavor and aroma. The wrapper's color, texture and overall appearance influence a cigar's visual appeal. High-quality wrappers should exhibit a consistent color, a smooth and supple texture and minimal veins or blemishes. An oily sheen is also desirable, indicating a higher concentration of flavorful oils. 
• Band: The band, typically made of paper or foil, is wrapped close to the cigar's head, intended to capture the attention of potential customers. Some cigar lovers prefer to remove the band, while others leave it on. If you take the band off, do so after the cigar is lit and warm to make removal easier. The bands themselves are also sometimes considered collectibles.

Once you've determined your favorite features, keep track of them. Documenting your preferences allows you to seek cigars with similar flavor profiles for your collection.

3. Diversify

Once you understand construction, you can learn even more about the many factors influencing a cigar's flavor and how it smokes. 

Different cigars pair with certain beverages and foods, and creating a diverse cigar collection allows you to have the perfect option for every occasion. 

Here are some components you can consider when building a well-rounded collection: 

• Strength: Cigars range from mild to medium to full-bodied. Milder cigars are ideal for beginners, everyday smoking or when you simply want a more subtle experience. Mild to medium cigars will often have wrapper types like Connecticut shade and Ecuadorian Connecticut. In contrast, medium to full-bodied cigars usually feature stronger wrappers such as Habano, Maduro and Corojo.
• Size and shape: When it comes to cigar shapes, a Parejo is straight-sided for a classic, consistent burn, while a Figurado is tapered, which can offer a more concentrated draw and unique flavor development. There are also many different cigar sizes, which affect how long the cigar will last. Diversifying your collection with various sizes and shapes allows you to find what suits your preferences and available smoking time on any given occasion.
• Origin: Where the tobacco comes from, such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua or Honduras, and how it is prepared and combined creates different cigar flavor profiles that can be included in your collection for variety.
• Sweetness: Every cigar enthusiast should try sweet cigar varieties to expand their palate and collection. Many people believe sweet cigars are only for complete novices, but this is a myth. Don't miss out. 
• Flavor: As you smoke, learn which flavor notes you enjoy. Do you love spicy, floral or woody? Paying attention to which flavors excite you can help you choose which cigars to add to your collection.
• Brands: Experimenting with different brands may be how you find your next favorite.
• Price: You might want some moderately priced cigars on hand for everyday use and more luxurious options for social events or special occasions. 
• Construction: When creating your collection, learn the difference between machine-made and handmade cigars. While machine-made cigars are often more affordable, handcrafted cigars are more traditional and often of higher quality. 

As your collection grows, you may want to consider investing in rare and vintage cigars for special occasions or resale. Cigars can appreciate in value, making a cigar you enjoy on a momentous occasion all the more special. 

Finding rare and vintage cigars can be a challenging, exciting and rewarding experience for enthusiasts. It may take research, expertise and a network of sources to find a certain type of cigar, and the satisfaction of acquiring a rare cigar can be immense. 

Tips for Maintaining Your Cigar Collection 

Explore the following tips and tricks for keeping your collection in top condition.

Organize Your Cigars

Organizing and cataloging your cigar collection is key to maintaining and even improving quality. You can use a spreadsheet or a cigar inventory app to track your collection. You can choose what information to include, such as purchase dates, aging status and tasting notes. You can organize your cigars by brand, blend, aging status or whatever method makes most sense to you. 

Rotate the Collection

While humidors should have consistent humidity throughout, they can vary slightly inside based on the placement of the humidification source. 

For this reason, the best way to maintain the quality of your cigars is to move their positions in the humidor every one to three months. 

Always wash your hands before beginning to avoid transferring oils or contaminants to the cigars. Prepare a flat, clean, dry surface. Rotate each cigar onto a new shelf or compartment. The key is to ensure that cigars that were previously in a less humidified area now have a chance to be in a more humidified area, and vice versa.

Buy Packs or Boxes

After finding some favorites, consider buying cigar boxes or packs so you always have some on hand. This is an effective way to build your cigar collection on a budget. A five-pack is ideal for sharing, and you can split boxes with friends for fun and affordability.

Choosing Cigars for Long-Term Aging

Some cigars are known for improving with age, developing a more complex and nuanced flavor profile over time. However, not all cigars are created equal in terms of aging potential.

Here's what to look for when selecting cigars for long-term storage:

• Quality: Well-made cigars using premium tobacco typically develop desirable characteristics with age.
• Full flavor: Cigars with bold, complex flavors are best to age as the flavor will mellow over time.
• Oily wrapper: Look for wrappers with a visible sheen because oil content contributes to successful aging.
• Reputable brands: Stick to brands known for quality and consistency, such as Arturo Fuente, Padrón, Davidoff and other similarly reputable options.
• Classic sizes: Robustos, Toros and Churchills are generally good choices for aging, as their balanced proportions allow for optimal flavor development.

Well-Known Cigar Brands to Add to Your Collection

While part of the fun of collecting cigars is discovering cigars you haven't heard of before, it's also important to experience the quality of popular brands that are known and respected for good reason. 

Padrón

Nicaraguan Padrón cigars are well-known among aficionados and collectors. These premium-quality cigars come in natural and Maduro wrappers and are a testament to quality. This family-owned brand pays close attention to detail to create full-bodied flavor. 

If you are new to this brand, perhaps try a Maduro sampling pack or order an assortment of natural Padrón cigars to find your favorites.

Davidoff

Davidoff has become a household name among cigar smokers because of its limited-edition products and notable flavors. This prestigious brand began with Cuban roots and then moved to the Dominican Republic, maintaining its unwavering commitment to quality.

One of the most popular varieties is the Davidoff Signature No. 2, which offers a complex yet subtle smoking experience focused on balance, smoothness and refined flavors. This bestselling Dominican cigar is ideal for collectors who appreciate understated luxury and mild, nuanced smoke.

Arturo Fuente

Arturo Fuente makes a range of cigar varieties, ideal for novice and experienced collectors. For many cigar lovers, this globally loved brand has been a gateway into the premium cigar world. Arturo Fuente offers affordability options without compromising on quality.

Cohiba

Even those who've never smoked may have heard of Cohiba and their globally acclaimed cigars. Dominican Cohiba cigars display a red dot to set them apart, symbolizing excellence and opulence. This well-known brand is a fantastic addition to any collection and remains a familiar favorite among cigar enthusiasts.

The Cohiba Red Dot range of cigars is considered some of the finest on the market. They feature hand-selected Dominican Piloto Cubano tobaccos bound together with a dark Cameroon wrapper. These cigars are a symbol of sophistication and luxury, an ideal addition to any collection.

Explore Cigars for Your Collection from Corona Cigar Co.

Now that you're inspired to begin or build your collection, you must find a trusted company to source your next cigars. Corona Cigar Co. is your one-stop shop for all your cigar-related needs. 

We stock a vast selection of the finest hand-rolled cigars from the United States, the Bahamas, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Our store also has samplers, accessories and humidors available for your convenience. 

Contact us to learn more about cigars, or order a free copy of our Corona Cigar catalog to discover new additions to your collection.