One hundred
years ago, all cigars were handmade. The first machines for making cigars came
out in 1920, increasing production and reducing costs. This does not mean that
artisanal production has ceased, on the contrary, its demand grows steadily.
Although
most smokers think that handmade cigars are superior to those produced by
machine, the decision on the subject has to do with personal preferences, among
which stand out individual taste, economic availability, and smoking frequency.
That's why it's important to know the differences between them.
Manufacturing
process:
Handmade
cigars are rolled entirely by expert rollers through a completely artisanal
process. Each cigar is made individually, from the selection and blending of
tobacco leaves to the final rolling and finishing, allowing attention to
detail, thus achieving higher quality.
Machine-made
cigars are mass-produced, using automated machinery that cuts, fills, and rolls
cigars quickly and efficiently in large quantities.
The
leaves:
In the
production of artisanal cigars, long, high-quality tobacco leaves are used for
the various parts of the cigar's anatomy (wrapper, binder, and filler), which
are carefully chosen for their flavor, aroma, and combustion characteristics.
Tobacco artisans have the freedom to select a wide variety of tobacco leaves
from different regions and varieties to create complex and balanced blends.
Machine-made
cigars generally use processed and homogenized tobacco leaves, which have been
cut and shredded to facilitate handling in manufacturing machinery. These
leaves are often of lower quality and have less variety compared to the leaves
used in handmade cigars.
Taste
and complexity:
Due to the
careful manufacturing process and individualized selection of tobacco leaves,
handmade cigars tend to offer greater complexity of flavors and nuances.
Artisans can blend different types of tobacco to create unique and
sophisticated flavor profiles.
The
automation of the manufacturing process tends to limit the variety and
selection of tobacco leaves used, so machine-made cigars often have a more
limited range of flavors and nuances compared to handmade cigars. Leaf
homogenization can result in a more uniform and less complex flavor.
Shapes
and sizes:
Handmade
cigars usually offer a greater variety of shapes and sizes, as artisans can
tailor the rolling to individual smokers' preferences.
Due to machinery limitations, machine-made cigars tend to be available in standard shapes and sizes, offering fewer customization options.
Smoking
experience:
In terms of
"smokability," a properly made handmade cigar will allow for a
longer, slower burning time and cooler smoke, making the smoking experience
unique and gratifying. While machine-made cigars may be a convenient option for
some smokers, the common characteristic of machine-made cigars is that they
burn quickly, often diminishing the enjoyment of the experience.
Prices: Due to the laborious artisanal
process involved, handmade cigars tend to be substantially more expensive than
machine-made cigars.
It is worth
noting that, although everything seems to indicate that handmade cigars are
superior in almost every way to machine-made cigars, the lower price of
mass-produced cigars and the frequency with which someone smokes them can be a
significant variable when selecting the cigar to buy.