Light the cigar. Inspect the ash—a white ash is superior to a gray ash due to soil growing conditions. Check the draw and burn rate. Check to see that the cigar is burning evenly.

 Taste. Pperhaps the best way to explain the taste of a cigar and how it is to be interpreted by an inexperienced smoker is to say, a negative taste impression is a valuable experience. If the taste you’re experiencing is pleasurable and relaxing, then that is a good cigar. Forget about the undertones and complexities of flavor for now, just try lots of different cigars, perhaps starting with milder, bigger cigars as thinner cigars have more binder and filler and won’t contribute as much to your education

Price. A moderately priced cigar from an established manufacturer is probably the best guide to use in determining price/quality when experimenting with different cigars. Find a good source with a good selection and try different brands.

Choosing. Each country's cigar production has its own taste and character. Cigars are made all over the world, with tobacco grown in different soils, cured by different processes, and rolled with different techniques, each element contributing to the taste and flavor of individual brands and types.

These are not hard and fast rules, but you'll have something to go by when you're faced with a humidor full of cigars from which to choose.

• Cigars from Jamaica are usually considered mild.
• Cigars from the Dominican Republic are mild to medium in strength.
• Cigars from Honduras and Nicaragua are stronger and heavier smokes.
• And cigars from Cuba are considered to be some of the richest and creamiest in the world!