My top 5 key items of a Good Cigar

When enjoying the good life with a fine cigar there are 5 things that I look for in a good cigar.  Those of you who follow me on twitter know these already, but here they are:

1. Draw: A nice easy draw of the smoke form the cigar.  Nothing worse then getting light headed trying to draw on the cigar

2. Flavor: Mild, medium, or bold...All have to agree to the palate with hints of various flavors.  It all depends on the mood.  Know the flavor of the cigar and you can pair it with the perfect libation (Beer, Scotch, Whiskey, Wine)

3. Relights: An occasional relight of the cigar is okay, if talking, busy, etc...But a cigar you have to constantly relight feels like work.

4. Burn:  A cigar that has an even burn is heaven.  No one likes an uneven burn on one end, giving you a "hanger" or as we call it here in Toledo a "Troy Burn".  This can easily be overlooked if the cigar meets the first three above.

5. Ash:  Everyone loves a long ash.  Night imperative but nice.  White ash the best.  Be careful of the long ash and know when its time to dump it or face the consequence of it falling in your lap.

Now go to your humidor, pick out a fine cigar, fire it up and poor yourself a cocktail.