There is a fine art to smoking cigars. To look like you know what you are doing and really enjoy the complete cigar smoking experience, there are several accoutrements that you will need to acquire for your cigars.  BCC is here to help. Always. Everyone has their own take as to what is a must have and what you can really do without.

Our top five must haves:

1. Quality Lighter.  From inexpensive to top shelf. Some even come with a built in bullet punch.  Some people prefer matches, cedar, we have even seen a cigar lighter made from a camping fuel container.  A nice lighter is always a good investment. (side note, bring your lighter in to BCC and we will fill it for you)

2. Cigar Cutter. We know several aficionados who totally wing it and bite the end off. Cowboys. Renegades. Get’s the job done. For those slightly more refined,  several types of cutters are in existence – all a matter of taste. There is the guillotine cutter, a v-cutter, a punch, and the perfect cut, among others.

3. Humidor.  From the cool-a-dor made from a camping cooler to a high end Burl wood one that holds all your premium cigars. Your humidor is the ticket to maintaining your cigars in a ready to smoke, aged and perfectly hydrated state.

4. Ashtray. The cool ones that state the name of one of your favorite sticks, to crystal or basic black. Ashtrays are necessary, ask the carpet.

5. Cigar Caddy.  The way to take your cigars out and about. According to your need there are ones that hold only a few cigars and fit in your pocket, all the way up to those holding enough to share.  In a pinch we still see the handy and ever popular zip lock bag. Zip lock bag cigar caddy people? You know who you are. Not passing judgment.

BCC’s  very own, trained professionals, Tony, Karl, Greg, Rick, and Tom are available to point you in the right accessory direction, whatever your budget is.

There is a saying we have all heard, you get what you pay for.  The Internet has become the go to place for ordering premium cigars at a low price.  Several downsides to this include that you must wait for the cigars to be delivered.

Premium, high quality cigars should be ready to smoke once they arrive at your home. If the cigar was made correctly, including being allowed to age correctly and being stored properly, it should be ready to light up. This is generally not the case.

Premium cigars are going to taste better if you allow them to rest in your humidor before you light one up. You can never be exactly sure how the cigars were stored once they were loaded on a delivery truck. Secondly, you do not know what conditions the cigars were exposed to while they were being shipped. Think about how your suitcase is handled, pushed around during the journey, and most probably a few extreme temperature fluctuations while en route.

Cigars do get some amount of non humidified resting time while they are being shipped. If they were properly packaged, the packaging materials should help shield and insulate them. The most common complaints are about cigars that were shipped ground, which usually takes three to five days.

Regardless of how long it takes for your cigars to arrive, we recommend letting your cigars rest in your humidor for a minimum of one week before you light the first one. By allowing your new cigars to rest in your humidor for a week or two, you will allow them to adjust to the conditions they will be stored in, inside of your humidor.

While this process might seem slow, it is important to go at a steady pace. Cigars are comprised of many layers of tobacco, and if the layers of tobacco are unevenly hydrated, it can cause your cigars to burn unevenly, crack, and warp, rendering them unsmokeable. If the cigars are introduced to, and shocked with too much moisture, they will be at risk for bursting.

This is all only a matter of opinion.  The next time you order cigars online, smoke one on arrival.  Put the rest of the cigars in your humidor. Smoke one in a weeks time,  wait  another week and smoke another,  etc.  You will be able to see, and taste, the difference.

To avoid the wait, and the worry, we recommend buying where you know the cigars have been properly stored and cared for- right here at Broadway Cigar Company.

Two of the greatest minds in the cigar industry, Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia, came together to create the Casa Magna. This cigar is rolled at Nestor Plasencia’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Manuel Quesada is from Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Their family was from Cuba and had worked with tobacco since the late 1800′s and the 1974 opening of their factory in Santiago was their first venture into cigar making.  He is to have said they started the business with $100, a chair and a phone.  Quesada started the business with his father and brother until they were both in a tragic accident. There is a great article and interview in Cigar Aficionado magazine about Manuel, and his life a few years back.

Nestor Plasencia is also from a tobacco growing family and emigrated from Cuba after the revolution in 1959. As a result of a revolution in Nicaragua in the 1980′s he lost his tobacco farm and factories there. At this time he moved across the border to neighboring Honduras.  Today he again has factories in Nicaragua but keeps his primary operation in Honduras. His company is the one responsible for the manufacture of 30 or so cigar labels, including Rocky Patel and Swisher International.

We wonder how the two met and how the conversation went. This cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, and is medium to full bodied, with both the binder and filler from Nicaragua. Perfectly wrapped in an oily Colorado wrapper, this stogie gives off hints of cocoa and sweet cedar. Super smooth smoke.

Casa Magna Belicoso – Notes of caramel, toffee, cocoa, coffee and cedar. Oily Colorado wrapper.  Rich and full bodied.

Country – All Nicaraguan leaf grown in Esteli, Nicaragua for ‘strength, balanced by the sweeter and milder Jalapa leaves.

Details – Full flavor, rich coffee notes, balanced by a cedary sweetness hint of raisins. Complex.

Verdict = Very nice cigar!

Skip the flowers, chocolates and bubbly this year and opt for a cigar to light up the passion. This Valentine’s Day our sultry smokes are sure to spark any flame. So fall in love with our top three romantic stogies:

1. The Macanudo Vintage 1997 Maduro. This two-for-one is not only a smooth cigar but it comes with it’s own ring.

2. Romeo by Romeo Y Julieta. The newest in a great line of cigars and third on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list, this smoke is it’s own love story.

3. My Father Le Bijou 1922. A quality cigar with an oh so sweet tone.

While we all wait on the edge of our seats for Cigar Aficionado to announce that coveted #1 spot for best cigar of 2012, we thought we would take you through our personal top 12 list. So take a gander, check off the ones that sound interesting and stop by so we can see if it tops your charts as well. Please note cigars are in no particular order:

• Montecristo White Toro: A refreshing cigar, well constructed, and consistently smooth.

• La Gloria Serie R #5 Natural: A solid consistent burn, and the go to cigar for many of us here at Broadway Cigar.

• Flor De Las Antillas: A nice draw and steady flavor throughout.

• Padron Exclusivo Maduro: The dark wrapper brings out the subtle sweetness in this classic cigar.

• Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic: Being wrapped in an aged Cameroon wrapper gives this medium bodied cigar a complex flavor.

• La Hermandad: A new breakout cigar from El Primer Mundo. What a great treat.

• Jaime Garcia Toro Gordo: A My Father luxury.  This toothy wrapper has a hint of pepper on the light then smooths into Nicaragua goodness.

• Foundry Wells: A blend of tobaccos from four different regions gives this cigar a distinct taste and an overall new experience.

• My Father #2: The Pepin Nicaraguan pepper flows from this My father gem.

• Diamond Crown #6 Connecticut: The perfect first cigar of the day- light, but full of flavor.

• Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real Churchill: Smooth and creamy with the consistency of the Romeo brand.

• La Flor Dominicana DL700 Maduro: This strong powerhouse is not for the light hearted.

Thank you for being such a loyal customer!

    Happy Holiday’s from the Broadway Cigar Family to yours.

This year, celebrate your holiday traditions with flavor- at Broadway Cigar. Picking out your perfect ‘gar can be hard enough, but selecting a stick for someone else too? Nearly impossible. That’s why we are here, you’ve got questions and we’ve got answers:

Looking for a simple stocking stuffer? We’ve got the cutting and lighting accessories perfect to brighten anyone’s day.

Not sure what you are looking for? We understand, let our knowledgeable staff assist you in your selections or pick out a few favorites for you.

Have an aficionado in your life? We’ve got a wide range of smokes and some collectable items for the hard to please.

Still a little stuck? We’ve got gift cards available in any denomination for the cigar lover who knows exactly what he or she wants.

Need a break from the Holiday rush instead? Stop in, it’s time to sit back, relax and light up a few cigars amongst friends.

The fine stogies below consist of the the newest cigars available at Broadway Cigar. Make sure you get your hands on this premium goodness:

1. Cohiba Edición Diamante Capa Reserva 1980

This Limited Cohiba has cigar enthusiasts riled up, with it’s aged 1980 Cameroon tobacco wrapper and classy design, what’s not to like? Pick yours up today to enjoy this Indonesian binder, Dominican filler and aged Cameroon wrapper. Be sure to note the unique packaging, easy lighting, and wonderful taste profile. These cigars are hard to come by, get yours soon while we have them.

2. Reserva Superior Salomon

Noted for it’s distinctive blend profiles and detail oriented construction, this cigar is a fine choice for any aficionado.  With a box production of only 500 this is rare offering. The primary wrapper is Dominican Habano, the binder is Brazilian and the filler is Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Lancaster PA. Available for a limited time, and rest assured, these cigars will go fast.

3. Diamond Crown Holiday Collection

Taste the Diamond Crown family in a way that not many have with this set. A mix of three wrappers and three blends, only available with this offer. The gift set includes a leather carrying case, one Diamond Crown MAXIMUS, one Diamond Crown Julius Caeser and one Diamond Crown Cameroon Select. You better jump at this one, because frankly, who wouldn’t want a diamond for the holidays?

When: Saturday, December 8th from noon to 9:00pm.

Where: Broadway Cigar’s Eastside location at NE 36th and Broadway.

Who: Meet Shorty and puff on his Diesel Shorty Grind or a San Lotano Oval cigar!

Cost: Absolutely FREE to attend!

It’s likely that if you live in the northwest you’re ready to escape the cold and are dreaming about a place that is nice and warm. Guess what, your cigar is too. If you’ve upgraded to a nice stogie, it’s time you also upgrade the way you treat it.

Now we aren’t talking about storing your newest box of classics in your bathroom where it’s humid and toasty. Cigars need a certain level of constant humidity to keep them fresh, delicious and to aid in an even burn. We usually recommend getting a nice humidor and keeping the humidity between 68-74% with a temp of about 65°F. So stop in and we will help you treat your cigars to a nice home.