h1>Smoking a Stogie
The World's Finest Cigars.
According to the Ministry of Tourism's most excellent Director of Public Relations, Anna Jimenez, the Dominican Republic is the largest producer of cigars in the world. Their Web site, www.godominicanrepublic. com offers wonderful insights into the smoky realm of the cigar world. "Most cigar aficionados know that the best cigars today come from this country," says [ ], the [ ]. "Our industry is an art form." While Cuban cigars are often more recognizable, the DR is known to enthusiasts around the globe as the preeminent "Cigar Country." Dominican varieties are a superior quality, with products that cover a wide variety of sizes, shapes, aromas, wraps and colors- and price tags. The traveling golfer will find it hard to resist a fine Dominican cigar (a stogie after a boogie?)-hand-rolled, fragrant, freshly made and hypnotizing. After Cuba, cigar manufacturing was attempted in Nicaragua and Honduras before a more stable environment-politically, agriculturally and economically- was found in the Dominican Republic. The industry searched for a new center after the Cuban revolution in the early '60s, and found Santiago in 1980. The majority of cigars are produced in Santiago with more than 600,000 acres of tobacco plants. "It is because of our careful cultivation and management of tobacco crops that the DR is able to produce cigars that are truly distinctive and of impeccable quality," says [ ], the [ ]. "We select, we age, we hand roll. The manufacturing of cigars is an involved process and takes from two to three years," asserted [ ]. The Process: It takes four months for a seed is ready for harvesting, or removal of the mature, ripe leaves. The tobacco leaves are picked in six stages, from the bottom of the plant to the top. These stages include libra de pie (the base), uno y medio (section directly above the base), centro ligero (center of plant with thinnest leaves), centro fino (center of plant with mid-sized leaves), centro gordo (center of plant with thickest leaves) and corona (top of plant or crown). Following the harvest, the tobacco must be dried immediately and leaves are hung inside for six to eight weeks. Then they are placed in piles and covered with burlap. This allows the remaining moisture to initiate the fermentation process, giving the leaves their brown color while lowering the tar and nicotine levels. Following the fermentation process, the leaves are sorted according to color, size and texture, and are flattened and moistened, with any broken leaves discarded and used for cigarettes. Then a second, two-month fermentation process occurs to allow leaves to reach ideal temperature and humidity and, finally, the leaves arrive at the cigar factory where they can age for up to two years, depending on the cigar type. What are the basic components of a cigar? Wrapper Responsible for aroma and appearance, the wrapper is a high quality tobacco leaf that encloses the binder and filler. The leaf should ideally feel thick and oily. The darker the color of the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor and the greater the oil and sugar content will be. Light wrappers include Connecticut, Natural and Colorado Claro. Popular varieties of dark include Colorado, Colorado Maduro and Oscuro. Filler The filler is a unique blend of tobacco leaves rolled into the center of the cigar. Originating at the middle section or base of the tobacco plant, the leaves partially determine how strong the cigar will taste and how distinctive the flavor. The two types of fillers include the long, which is an entire leaf rolled into the cigar, and a short, consisting of a variety of tobacco leaf scraps. Binder The binder is a leaf that holds the filler, or tobacco leaves, which are then enclosed into the wrapper. It originates from the top of the tobacco plant, where the extra sun exposure creates a strong flavor. Depending on the manufacturer, some use the binder as a filler to increase the flavor intensity of the cigar. It is this unique blend of wrappers, binders and fillers that determine the overall flavor of the cigar. Those made in the DR are considered an art form and include world-recognized brands: Arturo Fuente Arturo Fuente cigars are family made with high quality tobaccos. Described as a "heavy-weight" cigar, they are made with Cameroon wrappers, except the Chateau Fuente selection, which uses a Connecticut wrapper.
La Aurora La Aurora possesses a mild to medium taste and includes a blend of Dominican tobaccos. It is wrapped in African Cameroon leaves. León Jimenes Containing a Dominican filler and binder, León Jimenes is a medium taste cigar with a Connecticut wrapper. Carbonell Carbonell is a very mild cigar that has no aftertaste, so it will not cling to breath, clothes or hair. Cojimar Cojimar is a sugar-tipped cigar made with Dominican tobacco. Tourists are encouraged to try all seven flavors, including amaretto and vanilla. Juan Clemente Juan Clemente is a smooth cigar with a full-bodied taste. The filling and binder are from local Dominican agricultural areas. It contains a Connecticut wrapper. Montecristo The recipe for this famous cigar originated in Cuba, but the DR has manufactured its own version since 1995. Montecristo has a medium-to-heavy taste and uses a Connecticut wrapper with a Cuban filler and binder. Romeo y Julieta Favored by Jack Nicholson, Romeo y Julieta provides a smooth, mellow taste and is made with a Dominican filler and binder. The wrapper used is grown in Indonesia. Thiriet Mercedes Thiriet Mercedes encompasses a mild-to-medium taste and has a Dominican long filler and binder with a Connecticut wrapper. Cigar Factory Tours Grupo León Jimenes Tobacco Company Founded in 1903, Grupo León Jimenes is an international and multinational tobacco factory that offers tours to the public and includes a factory store. Santiago (809) 755-2514 Fabrica Anilo de Oro Located in Tamboril, one of the most famous tobacco and cigar towns in the world, Fabrica Anilo de Oro is a small cigar producer that offers a tour along with a free, fresh rolled cigar at the end. Calle Real 85, Tamboril, Santiago (809) 580-5808 Los Maestros This factory is a small, family-owned company. Visitors are advised to call ahead for a tour. Tamboril, Santiago Prov. (809) 299-1702 Tabacalera Jacagua Tabacalera Jacagua gives visitors a great sense of the cigar-rolling craft. Like Fabrica Anilo de Oro, guests will be offered a free, fresh rolled cigar following the tour. Cappelan 13, Tamboril, Santiago (809) 580-6600 Pinar del Rio Tabacalera Located in Villa Gonzalez, guests can learn the art of cigar-rolling from professionals. Following the tour, a distinctive gift shop awaits. Tubano's This factory is heavily used is quite popular with tourists, who will see the cigar-rolling process and visit an exclusive gift shop