What other characteristics of construction should be considered?

While taste and aroma are the most important attributes of the consistently well-constructed cigar, there are others as well. Some of these have to do with aesthetics. All are other indicators of how well a cigar is made.

Assuming the cigar is properly lit, it should burn evenly all the way down. A terribly uneven burning cigar is a sign of one that has been poorly rolled.

The ash should be relatively firm and get to an inch long without difficulty (except in small ring gauges) and hold tight to the cigar. A falling ash is not necessarily a sign of a poorly constructed cigar, but it can be annoying to find cigar ash in your lap.

A cigar should have good mouth feel. While it is not recommended to chew the end, the cigar should feel firm and resilient in the mouth. If the cigar is soft and mushy, it’s another sign of poor construction.

Cigars should feel good and look good. A good cigar looks and feels smooth and the wrapper should not have many blemishes. The cap and band should be applied neatly. The color of the cigars in the box should be consistent from one to the other. A manufacturer who pays attention to detail makes sure that all the color shades are the same in a given box.