Summer Bestsellers 2011 Buying Guide

Buyer's Guide Sampler #14

10 Super Summer Smokes
at 1 Low Price!

Better than a bottle of sun block, and much tastier, too, this month's Buyer's Guide Sampler #14 includes 10 of the bestselling Summer cigars at a great price. Handcrafted by the leading manufacturers, these "boys of summer" cover the entire range of strengths, a big variety of wrappers, and a good assortment of shapes. So, grab a beach chair, a cooler, your cigar cutter & lighter and ride this big wave of flavor. Certain to make all your Summer days bright, sunny, and delicious, order yours now while they last.

$34.95

A $59.32 value

Hot Fun In the Summertime
By Gary Korb

Ahhh...Summertime. Baseball, beaches, mini-golf, adventure parks, barbeques, cold beer, iced-tea, convertibles, motorcycles, camping, the din of the neighborhood ice-cream truck combing the streets, and of course, great cigars to while away the hours of those long summer days and warm summer nights. This is the time of year that cigar smokers, especially those who've had to wait out the winter, can take advantage of some great deals and stock up. Plus, there's nothing like being able to sit outside with good friends and share the pleasure of smoking your favorite cigars.

So, is there such a thing as a "summer cigar." Maybe...maybe not. According to a recent CigarAdvisor.com survey, Do the cigars you smoke change depending on the season?, about 73% responded that they did not change the cigars they smoke. Perhaps a summer cigar is a cigar that's longer than what you normally smoke because you have more time for cigars like Churchills, Presidentes, Torpedoes, etc. during the summer months.

I'm pretty certain that a lot of cigar smokers have specific cigars that they prefer only for the beach, the golf course, or sitting out by the pool, whatever. But even if most cigar smokers prefer to stick with their regular cigar regime year-round, chances are they're also looking for something new and different to smoke. That's where summertime can also play an important role in educating your palate. When you're more relaxed it's easier to appreciate the nuances of your new discoveries. I hope you find some great new cigars this summer to add to your regular rotation. In the meantime, see you in September!

Are you a "fast smoker?"

Do you find that you smoke through your cigars rather quickly? If you notice that your cigars often turn bitter, it could be that you're puffing too hard and/or too fast. If so, here's a good solution: SLOW DOWN! A good rule of thumb is to puff on the cigar about once a minute. I refer to this as letting the cigar "smoke itself" between puffs. It helps the cigar burn cooler, and helps you appreciate the cigar's aroma, too. Taking fewer puffs can also help make more full-bodied cigars a little more manageable. Finally, allowing even more time between puffs during the last third will also help keep your cigar from turning prematurely bitter.