Wine has been around for millennia, but not the corkscrew. In early days, wine was stored in earthenware vessels or in wooden barrels.
It was just a few hundred years ago that wine began to be stored in corked bottles. However, even before that, a variety of other substances were stored in a bottle with a cork, and therefore required an implement to pull the cork out.
So, where did the first corkscrew come from, and who was its inventor? Well, we don’t really have a clear answer to that, but here is what Ron McLean, a corkscrew historian—who knew there was such a thing!—with the Virtual Corkscrew Museum has to say,
“It is unknown when and who made the first corkscrew. The first corkscrews were derived from a gun worme, a tool with a single or double spiral end fitting used to clean musket barrels or to extract an unspent charge from the barrel. By the early 17th century corkscrews for removing corks were made by blacksmiths as using a cork to stopper a bottle was well established.”
McLean’s research also lists five patents, filed in England, France, Untied States, Germany and Canada, in that , from 1795 to 1883.
It’s interesting to note that the style of manual corkscrews hasn’t really changed much since those early days. When the lever style corkscrew became popular in the recent past, many thought, “ooh, what an original idea.” Many thought wrong. The lever, or winged style wine bottle opener, has actually been around since the late eighteen hundreds and the newer designs are based on that.
Of course, today in the twenty first century, we like our gadgets and gismos. If there’s a way to automate a day to day task, we’re all for it. So the electric wine bottle opener is now a common thing. Oh, you likely won’t see the sommelier at your favorite restaurant using one to open that fine cabernet or merlot you ordered, but many a household use them and love them for the ease of extracting a cork from a bottle. For those who find using an old style corkscrew next to impossible, or are just tired of picking crumbled cork out of their wine, investing in an electric model may be the right choice.
And if those YouTube videos you stumble across are to be believed, you can also use a phone book or the trunk of a tree to open a bottle of wine if you’ve lost your corkscrew somewhere!
So, however today’s corkscrew came to be available, we have a variety of different styles to choose from. From the very simple screw on a handle to much more sophisticated models.
And once you get the cork out of the bottle, please drink responsibly!
You can follow me at , where I document and review a variety of different corkscrews and share info about wine in general.
Another typical day on the Czar deck a little too much alcohol has been consumed and the results are obvious. The H Upmann Monarch is one of the proposed cigars to be discontinued by Habanos SA so Rob and Ken do a quick review on this great cigar.
Life insurance, specifically Term Life, is arguably one of the best values in the entire financial services arena. Where else can you go and get hundreds of thousands of pounds in protection for literally pennies per day? Rates for Term Life insurance remain at all-time lows, and now is the time to lock in the best prices. Here are some ways to help you save money when purchasing life insurance.
when you’re young. Although your financial needs may be lower at a younger age, the rates are also substantially cheaper when you’re young. Remember, the goal is to cover your primary assets (like your salary and house) so that if something were to happen to you, your beneficiaries would be able to persevere financially. The best advice is to lock in as much protection at a young age while your health and prices are still good.
Your “half” birthday could be costly. While some companies raise their prices based on your actual age, most companies increase the price of their policies six months before your birthday. It’s a term called “Age Nearest” in the industry, and that half-year price increase could really add up over a 20-year term policy.
before any major health issues arise. Healthy people have the best mortality risks and thus are much cheaper for companies to insure. This translates into lower rates for the “Super Preferred” customer than someone with higher risk factors such as a heart condition, cancer or diabetes. Conversely, if you were unhealthy when you acquired your policy, and your health has now improved, it might be time to for a new policy, as your rates are likely to be lower.
Select the right length of coverage. Everyone has different needs, and not one size fits all when it comes to term life insurance. While it may make sense for people in their 30s and 40s to secure a 20-year term length, a 10-year term might be more appropriate for someone nearing retirement.
People who are trying to quit smoking, for example, might be best suited purchasing a shorter term (and then replacing it with a longer term policy when they qualify for non-tobacco prices). Lastly, individuals who have 30-year mortgages might want to consider a 30-year term to ensure that the house is protected throughout the period of the loan.
Check for price breaks. Companies often offer “price breaks” at certain coverage amounts (i.e. £250,000 vs. £225,000). The truth is that many people can actually pay less money for more coverage. Check how much or little your prices increase when you increase coverage to £250,000, £500,000, or £1,000,000.
the right amount of coverage. Many agents may try to sell you more coverage than you need. The purpose of life insurance is to “indemnify” (replace financial loss), and what most people should be looking for is income replacement for their beneficiaries. Independent financial planners recommend the following rule of thumb: purchase an amount of coverage equal to 6-10 times your annual gross income.
The right hobby with the wrong company could cost you. People who participate in high-risk sports or activities (such as hang-gliding, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, and racing), or even those who like to have an occasional cigar could very well pay more money if they don’t pick the right company.
Every company looks at risk factors differently and some are more liberal in certain areas than others. Make sure you work with an insurance company that has properly matched your personal profile with their underwriting criteria.
Work policies aren’t always the best deal. . Work policies are often based on a composite profile of the employees you work with, many of whom may be less healthy than you, or have other underwriting factors that might drive up rates.
These type of policies also expire if/when you leave the company. Inexpensive term life insurance polices that cover your dependents until they can live comfortably on their own are often a better alternative.
Check out your payment options. Many life insurance companies offer discounts to consumers who pay their premiums annually.
Review your policy often. Do a review of your life insurance policy a minimum of every three years, if not more often. Rates may be lower, and your circumstances may have changed, necessitating more or less protection. If you are replacing a policy, make sure you allow enough time to get your new policy in place so coverages won’t overlap or lapse.
Don’t overspend on protection. Term life insurance is the most affordable and cost-effective pure protection available, and it is typically much less expensive than a comparable whole life policy. The old axiom still rings true: “ Term and invest the difference.”
Find in the UK. We are independent insurance brokers sourcing the lowest rate possible and then lowering it further still.
When you are trying to quit smoking you have to be aware of the steps you need to take in to avoid weight gain. Many people experience weight gain within the first month of quitting. In this article I will reveal several tips which will help you quit this unhealthy habit without gaining any extra pounds.
Don’t try any harsh diets. This is probably the worst time to try any crash diets. All you really have to do is eat a little bit healthier. Choose whole grains, lean protein, low fat dairy and plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. healthy treats. Given that you will crave a snack every now and again, make sure that you low calorie treats (such as gum or hard candy). Increase your intake of water. In to reduce your appetite and help yourself feel full more often, make sure that you drink plenty of water. A tall glass of water before every meal will help you eat less. Increase your intake of fiber. Fiber, similar to water, helps you feel full. Make sure that you eat plenty of fiber rich foods. Exercise. Exercise will help you burn excess calories. However, aside from helping you burn excess calories, fitness is also a great distraction from food and cigarette cravings. Speak with your doctor regarding any cessation aids. If you are having a hard time handling this situation on your own you can always speak with your doctor.
“After years of trying, I finally Quit Smoking with !
Cigars are available in a wide range of prices with a great variety in terms of qualities. While the most discerning cigar fanatic can purchase cigar brands that cost upwards of several hundred dollars for just a small pack, he may also choose from a range of discount cigars that promise a really pleasing smoking experience. In fact, many people do not know that some of the high quality brands of cigars can be purchased at steeply reduced prices; only if one is ready to do a little search around. Discount cigars constitute a substantial portion of the multi-billion dollar cigar industry in North America, making the cigars accessible to smokers belonging to all income levels.
One of the widely accepted methods of purchasing discounted cigars is via the Internet. Even a simple search for ‘discount cigars’ is bound to produce hundreds of results with lots of low-priced cigar brands to choose from. There are many prominent discount cigar merchants also that offer low-priced cigars, lighters and humidors. Some popular sites are perfect for any cigar lover looking for quality tobacco and cigar products at reduced prices. Some of the most liked brands of premium cigars are made available at highly discounted prices. These brands feature several different types of cigars having varying tastes. Even though, they are available at discounted prices, they do not compromise on quality, and those types of cigars are widely purchased and smoked by smoking enthusiasts all over the world.
The key way to avail of real savings in discount cigars is by buying them in bulk. Often, when an individual opt to a large assortment of tobacco cigars at one go, major discounts are provided. Cigar bundles are a popular choice among smokers who yearn for a variety of cigar choices or sheer quantity for purposes of gifting them to friends and relatives. Although a few of the well known brands of cigars are always expensive, discount cigar sellers can make cigars and cigar products affordable for people belonging to all income groups.
On the other hand, everyone knows that it is risky to smoke cigars and cigarettes, but only a very few know about the dangerous effects of smoking a cigar. Smoking tobacco cigars on a daily basis is proved to be dangerous for your health. Studies have revealed that cigar smoking cause cancers of the lungs, oral cavity and oesophagus in human beings. More recent studies state that pancreas cancer is also caused, in rare instances, by cigar use. The chances of contracting heart and lung diseases will get increased as you enjoy cigars by inhaling the tobacco smoke. The smoker is at an increased risk of contracting oral cancer compared to a nonsmoker. The deleterious effects of regular cigar smoking are well documented and are well known. Another thing is that it is more addictive when compared to cigarettes. It does not matter at all the way in which tobacco cigars are smoked. As long as there is nicotine in these cigars, it is sure to produce addictive effects.
The author is an SEO copy writer and internet marketing specialist. To know more about and visit epuffer.eu
Any time I talk about writing articles, I hear people say things like “I don’t have the ability to write” or “I’m a really good writer but I have a hard time with procrastination.” Now, I don’t have a problem with the writing. I know I can write pretty well but I do have a problem with getting started and then finishing.
Of course, staring at my computer screen all day isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. Certainly, I’d much rather be carving waves or mountains. What would you rather do: toil away all day on your computer writing article after article or simply rewrite some high quality articles, tie them together, make them look like your own and then do whatever it is you like to do?
If any of the stuff above reminds you of the person that you see every morning in the mirror, then these four ways that you can profit from private label content are for you as are the other four in Part 2.
Here are four ways in which you can use private label content to easily make money:
1. Take the content, plug your affiliate links into the content and compile them into a spectacular little eBook.
I just love to use this little strategy Now, for instance, let’s say that you have a website that sells cigars. You private content about cigars that cigar aficionados would like then compile it into a mini eBook. Then load the eBook with links back to your website and encourage your customers to pass it along so that it will spread like a virus.
And you can take it a step further if you have a rebrander program. Don’t know what a rebrander is? With a rebrander, your affiliates can take your eBook and place their affiliate link to your store in it. This really is the essence of viral marketing because now it is easier and more profitable for your affiliates to promote your web site.
2. Make a solid report by culling some of the articles together and then give it away to promote your site. Also, if you use a rebrander, you can rebrand the report and allow your affiliates to promote your website by giving it away for free.
Of course, most salespeople know that it takes an average seven contacts with a customer before they will place an . A few people will the first time, but more often than not, you will have to contact them 4+ times before they will . The small problem is that you need their email address because they’re not going to just hand it over… that’s way you give them the free report.
Well, the better the report the more trust you build with your customer and the more likely they become to open their wallet. I mean, let me ask you this: would a report with 25 articles in it make you happy? Damn straight you would!
3. Simply create a small niche content site and make money by placing Google Adsense on your website’s pages.
I love Google Adsense… it’s the easiest way to make money! Why? Because even a small little website with only five pages can make me $5-10 per day. You can make $36,000-73,000 by simply creating twenty little 5-page websites. A 25-page site can make me $25-50 per day… 365 days per year!
You do the math. A small little website + submitting your articles to article directories = $$$$. Simple. Awesome. Extremely lucrative. And with private label content… very little work!
4. With private label content packages, you get hundreds of articles across various niches every month so you can load up your articles to go out once a week and have a newsletter set for a year in advance.
Are you like me? Do you like to spend time setting something up all at one time so that you don’t have to deal with it for a year or two? Just so I never have to any for the rest of the year, I always two cases of toilet paper at Costco. Well, with private label content packages, you get hundreds of articles each month so you can do the same basic thing.
I mean, wouldn’t it be great to take the articles and put them together as an newsletter that goes out every single week like clockwork? Wouldn’t that be spectacular? Every day, money will flow into your bank account for work that took you one day months or years ago.
If you want to make money with private label content, then these four ways are an excellent starting point. Of course, these are not the only ways to make money from private label content. In fact, if you haven’t already done so, check out part 2 of this article. Just click on one of the links in the resource/bio box below!
Edward M. Brancheau has built the best membership site for . Visit it today! For an original version of this article, and here for original.
Dubai has a fantastic assortment of international-standard restaurants catering to all budgets and tastes. With a large expatriate community from the Sub Continent, it’s little wonder there are some truly world-class Indian restaurants among the top-billings.
As Dubai is a Muslim city, many restaurants, especially at the cheaper end of the market, are not licensed to serve alcohol. In contrast, restaurants in tourist and business hotels almost always serve alcohol.
The restaurants below have been classified into three pricing categories: Expensive (over Dh500) Moderate (Dh150 to Dh500) Cheap (under Dh150) These prices are for a three-course meal for one with a bottle of house wine or equivalent, including tax.
Sales tax at 10% is added to all bills. Service charges at 10 to 15% are also frequently added but, if they are not, a 10% tip is expected. Expensive Al Mahara Making a fair stab at being the most expensive restaurant in Dubai, the Al Mahara often divides local opinion. Some say it is overpriced for what you get, but others swear by it, especially if someone else is paying. The experience begins with a three-minute mock submarine ride to the restaurant, located alongside a giant aquarium. This puts diners in the mood for savouring the high-quality seafood that has won the restaurant numerous awards, including the What’s On category for Best Seafood Restaurant in 2008.
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Tel: (04) 301 7600. Website: www.burj-al-arab.com Al Muntaha Al Muntaha, meaning ‘The Ultimate’ or ‘The Top’, in Arabic, has the best location in Dubai, suspended 200m (656ft) above the Arabian Gulf, at the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel. Service is immaculate and the slanted glass windows give the restaurant the feel of a great ocean liner heading out to sea. Al Muntaha also delivers on the plate: try the roasted prime beef rib with mustard crust. Reaching the restaurant in one of the world’s fastest panoramic elevators is almost – but not quite – enough to put you off your dinner.
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Tel: (04) 301 7600. Website: www.burj-al-arab.com La Baie This fine dining restaurant would not be out of place in a major European capital, with its mellow piano music, unfaltering service and elegant table settings. One of the most exotic starters is the marinated sturgeon carpaccio with caviar and yoghurt sauce, while a highlight among the mains (and rumoured to be the chef’s favourite) is the grilled hammour fish on a bed of green lentils.
Ritz Carlton Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Tel: (04) 399 4000. Website: www.ritzcarlton.com Verre Gordon Ramsay’s Dubai venture has proved a resounding success and is firmly established as the best place to eat in Dubai. The minimalist décor might not suit all tastes but the simple surrounds and the well thought-out lighting help focus deserved attention on the food. A nice touch is the chef’s specialities – tasty morsels of food that come between the impressive courses. Mains include ravioli of lobster, salmon with a fricassee of peas and horseradish or poached chicken on a bed of tagliatelle. The desserts are divine. The three-course lunch specials offer excellent value.
Hilton Dubai Creek, Beniyas Road Tel: (04) 212 7551. Website: www.gordonramsay.com/dubai Moderate Café Chic Top quality ingredients, smooth service and a menu that cuts deftly between the classics and some daring variations make this is a top dining choice. Relax afterwards in the cigar bar for supreme decadence.
Le Méridien Hotel, Garhoud Tel: (04) 217 0000. Website: www.dubai.lemeridien.com India Palace The emphasis at this popular restaurant is on Rajasthani cooking backed up by themed décor and artefacts shipped in from the region. The open kitchen is a nice touch, as are the family booths upstairs, with privacy available at no extra charge. The excellent-value menu features starters such as lentil soup and prawn bisque with fresh vegetables, while mains include chicken and vegetarian kebabs and a range of delicately spiced curries. Alcohol is not available but the lassis (yogurt-based drink) are excellent, especially the unusual lassi seasoned with salt.
Opposite Dubai Marine Hotel, Bur Dubai Tel: (04) 286 9600. Pierchic Seafood-loving trendies are flocking to Pierchic, in the glamorous Madinat Jumeirah development, the place to be in Dubai at the moment. Located on a wooden pier, with views of the expansive Arabian Gulf, the venue is perfect for trying some local and international seafood dishes. Mains include the likes of poached Atlantic lobster with snow peas, enoki mushrooms and passion fruit dressing, or Arabian chilled seafood platter laced with Iranian caviar.
Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah Tel: (04) 366 6730. Website: www.madinatjumeirah.com Cheap Cactus Jacks It may never win any culinary awards but Cactus Jacks seldom disappoints a hungry stomach. A Mexican theme for the décor includes Aztec fabrics and bright designs, as well as multicolour tiled pillars. The restaurant has a live DJ at weekends and things can turn quite wild after 2300, when the spicy Tex Mex food and the tequila kick in. Parties of eight diners or more receive a 30% discount on their bill.
Millennium Airport Hotel, Al Garhoud Tel: (04) 282 3464. Website: www.millenniumhotels.com Deira City Centre Food Court Of the many food courts that are dotted all around Dubai, this is one of the most popular. On is the full smorgasbord of international foods, with the only unifying feature being that all the stands are cheap. The most popular stands serve up simple Chinese and Indian specialities accompanied by boiled rice. They also have a play area for kids.
Deira City Centre Mall, Deira Tel: (04) 295 1010. Thattukada The excellent South Indian restaurant at the Palm Beach Rotana Inn serves great-value food. Diners sit on long, wooden benches and are surrounded by film posters on the walls. The Kerala-influenced dishes include kappa erachi (tapioca and chicken curry) and karimeem porichathu (fish fry) and are guaranteed to fill diners up without breaking the bank.
Robert Frank’s book titled Richistan is about the lives of the new rich and those who make up the wealth boom occurring in the United States. The book is 250 pages long and is fun to read. While we know there are millions of millionaires in the world, Frank exposes them in completely new ways, from how they hire butlers to the silly ways in which they make their fortunes. Frank gives us perspectives that we never think about when it comes to the self-made, rich population.
To start the book, the author gives the reader an idea of just how many millionaires there are in the United States; about eight million as of 2003. This number has risen drastically between 2003 and 2009. He also goes on to define the term “Richistan,” and divides his new country into three different categories based on household net worth. Lower Richistan consists of households worth $1 million to $10 million dollars. Middle Richistan consists of households worth $10 million to $100 million dollars. The elite Upper Richistanis consist of households worth $100 million to $1 billion dollars. There are only several thousand households in the Upper Richistani category.
Chapter one is titled, “Butler Boot Camp: Housetraining the New Rich.” This chapter serves as a great introduction to the secret world of the new rich households. Frank talks of butler boot camps, especially the boot camp held at the prestigious Starkey International Institute for Household Management. Here, men and women train to simply run the households of millionaires and billionaires and get paid a ridiculous amount of money to answer to the wishes and needs of the super rich. These butlers get paid anywhere from $75,000 dollars to well into six-figure territory. They must know how to please the super rich, and tasks include washing high-end cars, rolling cigars, setting up home entertainment systems, and the usual services such as cooking and babysitting.
Chapter two is titled, “The Third Wave: The Era of the Instapreneur.” There are thousands of people who are becoming instant millionaires every year. In fact, in 2005 there were about 227,000 new financial millionaires in the United States alone. Robert Frank describes in this chapter the six ways that most people acquire their wealth and points out several individuals who have instantly made millions of dollars through development and sales of several large companies. Jared Polis, for example, has developed more than a dozen companies and sold them all for more than a total of $600 million dollars.
Chapter three is titled, “Making It: Ed Bazinet, King of the Ceramic Village.” This chapter is devoted to those who have made fortunes in an unlikely manner. One person mentioned in this chapter is Sydell Miller. Ms. Miller operated a hair salon and developed a shampoo line called Matrix Essentials, which she was fortunate enough to sell to Bristol-Myers Squibb for a mere $1 billion dollars. Then there is the chapter’s title man, Ed Bazinet, who created miniature ceramic houses and ended up mass producing them for department stores. By taking a chance and producing his line of mini houses, he is worth over $100 million dollars. This chapter gives you the feeling that anyone can be rich if you have the will and a good idea.
Chapter four is titled, “Living It: Tim Blixseth.” This chapter talks about those who love their work and make their work their life. Men and women like Tim Blixseth do not seem to have the capability to relax; they are always thinking about business. Tim may be on vacation or relaxing on his yacht, but he never stops working on his business. Blixseth started in business at a young age by buying and selling timber to various other companies, and eventually started the Yellowstone Club, which charges $250,000 dollars to join and millions of dollars for the right to build a house on his land. This ultra-exclusive club has members such as Bill Gates and Dan Quayle who want their own retreat where privacy is at a maximum.
Chapter six is titled, “Barbarians in the Ballroom: New Money vs. Old.” Formal celebrations and balls are popular in the world of the ultra-rich. People are invited and expected to attend, knowing that a large monetary donation to the charity of choice is mandatory. The rich must donate large amounts of money and when they fail to donate, controversy arises. Not only are people expected to donate up to millions of dollars at a time, but there is also controversy about who is allowed or nominated to be chairperson of these formal events. The chapter goes on to discuss homes owned by Donald Trump and Sean Combs and how much property in various parts of the country can sell for. This chapter is the least interesting of the book, but still gives good information on the world of the ultra-rich.
Chapter seven is titled, “Size Really Does Matter: My Boat is Bigger than Your Boat.” The seventh chapter is all about comparing the property and expenses of the rich versus the ultra-rich. Mega yachts seem like standard property for a rich person these days, and boats are coming in huge sizes with all kinds of crazy options. Some foreign leaders are having boats made that are about 500 feet long, costing over $200 million dollars to build. The boats come with smaller boats, helicopter pads, dozens of hot tubs, swimming pools, theaters, gold-plated bathrooms, etc. The author goes on to mention how millionaires compare cars, watches, and homes, and spend vast amounts of money just so they can have the biggest and the best.
Chapter eight is called, “Performance Philanthropy: Giving for Results.” This chapter is intriguing, and it discusses entrepreneurial charity. People like Philip Berber who made a vast amount of money with an online stock trading company which he sold for nearly a half billion dollars, are finding new ways to spend their money. Berber started Glimmer of Hope, a company which uses large amounts of money to help make the world a better place. Other millionaires and billionaires like Michael Dell have donated millions of dollars to help Berber build schools, health clinics, waters wells, and vet clinics in countries where poverty is a severe issue. Men and women like Berber and Dell have high hopes to heal the world and have taken the initiative to help fight poverty with the fortunes they have accumulated.
Chapter nine is titled, “Move Over, Christian Coalition: The New Political Kingmakers.” The ninth chapter deals with the money that drives politics and campaigns. This chapter presents how policymakers ask for money to fuel their campaigns and the differences between the techniques Republicans and Democrats use to find their much-needed money. Four Democratic supporters in Colorado helped to elect their candidate to the House of Representatives. Not only did this happen in Colorado and the House of Representatives, but it happens all the time in the race for President of the United States. The Republican Party often gains large sums of money in a public manner while the Democratic Party often collects money from the ultra-rich in a more private manner. This chapter shows that people will stop at nothing to have their candidate nominated into office, even if it means donating millions of dollars every year.
Chapters ten and eleven are titled, “Worried Wealth: The Trouble With Money,” and, “Aristokids: We’ll Always Have Paris.” These two chapters talk about the troubles that come with large amounts of money. For example, more than half of America’s super-rich agree that money does not happiness. Money can dominate their lives and leave little time for personal time with kids and spouses. Money can cause such concern that millionaires have started meeting groups to discuss financial matters and meet with similar people in similar situations to get concerns out in the open. Who better to talk about your millions of dollars with than other millionaires? The final chapter of the book talks about the super rich children, or those who are in prime position to inherit fortunes. Kids today are attending classes to learn about manners and living the high-life. They also are being forced to learn about finances and what to do with millions of dollars so when they do inherit the money one day, they will not make unwise decisions and blow the money away like many of today’s celebrities and heirs/heiresses are doing.
Overall, Richistan is an engaging and enlightening book about today’s new rich. This book will keep you reading as you learn facts about the rich that you probably never knew. The chapters about prestigious butlers and how “bigger is better” are especially interesting and will give you a great idea how millionaires and billionaires really live and spend their fortunes. This book is rated 4.5 out of 5.
Daniel Breedlove is the owner and manager of Corner Office Books, the internet’s premier website for reviews and sales of hundreds of business-related books.
To understand the concept behind the humidor, one must first be informed of the long-term effects of ageing on tobacco products. First, there is the effect of bloom. This is often mistaken for mold by less learned cigar smokers. Bloom will appear as a white powdery substance on the cigar. In all actuality, Bloom is a good aspect, as it is a sign of proper ageing. This actually intensifies the flavor of a good smoke. If you would rather, you can simply dust this off or, in some cases, simply blow it off, but most cigar aficionados would not.
Mold, on the other hand, does truly occur. Tobacco mold most often comes in the form of blue mold. It is a bluish colored fungus that grows on the outer wrapper of your cigar. If you find this, do not attempt to merely cut the mold off and smoke it anyway. This can be quite harmful to your health. As painful as it might be, simply throw that cigar away.
If properly aged, Mold will not occur, but Bloom will. A properly aged cigar is generally stronger and has a much more distinct flavor. Most people will only bother to age a high-profile smoke, such as a fine Cuban cigar.
Proper aging is done via the Humidor, the focus of this article. A humidor is a device designed solely for the purpose of creating the perfect environment in which to age a cigar. You see, aging a cigar in normal room environments leaves it prone to excessive temperatures, varying humidity’s and other environmental factors that can increase the possibility of the occurrence of mold.
A humidor allows the smoker to maintain a steady and ideal environment for the aging of the cigar. The ideal settings for your humidor are somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 65 to 75 percent, roughly.
Do you need a humidor? This all depends. If smoking a cigar is nothing more to you than a quick distraction, if you are content to smoke a cigar that is simply aged between the point of manufacturer to distributor then the answer is no. However, if you consider yourself to be a true connoisseur of fine tobacco, then your life will not be complete without a good humidor to age your cigars to perfection.
Some people prefer to make their own humidors. However, if you do not have the know-how to attempt this, you can find them for online anywhere between the prices of $20.00 to $1000.00. The cheaper ones do work, but as with all products, you generally get what you pay for. In the long run, it would be best to pay a little more for the better product.
Denis is the author and webmaster for CigarInspector.com, your source for and .
