Filler In Cigars: Filler is a term to describe the tobacco inside of a cigar. Filler is bunched together and bound inside of a cigar with a binder tobacco leaf. In hand rolled cigars, the filler usually consists of several blended varieties of long tobacco leaves, and is called long filler. In machine made cigars, short filler is usually used, which contains chemicals and other substances in addition to short pieces or remnants of tobacco leaves.

Depending on the particular cigar, filler is responsible for about half of a cigar's flavor. The outer wrapper leaf of tobacco, which wraps around the binder, is responsible for the balance of the cigar's flavor. The binder has little or no flavor.

Wrapper of a Cigar: The wrapper is the outer tobacco leaf of a cigar, which wraps around the binder, which in turn, holds the filler. Wrappers are responsible for about half of a cigar's flavor, depending on the blend of filler tobacco and the wrapper, itself. There are many kinds of wrappers, the most common of which are Natural and Maduro.

Ring Gauge of a Cigar: The ring gauge of a cigar is a measurement of its diameter expressed in 64ths of an inch. For example, a cigar with a ring gauge of 42 means that it is 42/64 inches thick.

Cap of a Cigar: A small circular piece of tobacco wrapper leaf that is used to seal the head of a cigar and secure the wrapper.

Binder: The binder is a tobacco leaf, having little or no flavor, which is used to bind and contain the filler tobacco inside of a cigar. Another tobacco leaf, called a wrapper, is wrapped around the outside of the binder to complete the cigar.

Plugged Cigar: If the filler tobacco inside of a cigar is packed too tightly (or otherwise bunched together improperly), the cigar will not draw very well. In some cases, it may be possible to gently massage the cigar between your fingers to alleviate the plug. As a last resort, if the plug is located near the head of the cigar, a toothpick (or similar object) can be carefully inserted into the head of the cigar to loosen the filler (be careful not to damage the wrapper). Most reputable tobacconists will gladly replace a plugged cigar.

After becoming familiar with these terms, you are ready to start your cigar collection. Don't let this valuable investement fade away in some makeshift cigar humidor, or low-quality travel humidor. Start by selecting your favorite waterproof travel humidor from Northstar Cases. Our cigar humidors and cigar humidor accessories are the best on the market, with prices that will bring a smile to your face, go ahead...check them out!