"Cigars are no longer just for the seasoned smoker.      They have become a staple in society for rookies and veterans alike,        representing an air of character, class and pleasure. Whether it's a          satisfying smoke after dinner, during a round of golf, or out at the          bar for drinks, cigars are the perfect complement to your lifestyle        because that is exactly what defines cigar smoking:      -- your lifestyle. Welcome to the good life!"
CIGAR CULTURE
First Fermentation
First Fermentation of Tobacco Leaves

The cured leaves are tied in bunches and taken from the farm to the Sorting House. There they are placed in big cloth-covered piles and undergo an entirely natural process of fermentation, triggered by the moisture in the leaf.

Fermentation is essential to the smoking quality of the cigar. It sweats out impurities in the leaves, reducing acidity, tar and nicotine. It smoothens the flavor of the filler leaves and evens out the color of the wrappers.

Leaves that were grown higher up the plant need a longer period of fermentation because they are thicker and richer in oils.

Fermentation is exactly the same process as the one that takes place in a garden compost heap. The moisture and compression of the bunches combine and generate heat.