1. What does the term ring gauge mean?  Cigar size is measured by length and diameter.  The diameter of a cigar is described as its ring gauge, which is measured in 1/64 inch.  Example:  a cigar with a ring gauge of 40 is 40/64hs of an inch thick.  A 64 ring gauge cigar would be 1 inch in diameter.

2.  Does the colour of the wrapper give an indication to the strength of a cigar?   The simple answer is No.  A cigar's strength is determined by the tobacco it is rolled with, and just because a cigar is darker on the outside, does not mean it will be a strong cigar.

3.  Can I use a Tupperware container to store cigars?  Absolutely!  A 'Tupperdor' is a very convenient and cost effective alternative way to keep your cigars fresh.  Great for travelling.  Choose a container that is bigger than you need - leave 20 to 25% of the space in your tupperdor empty so that humidity can circulate around your cigars.  Add a humidity pack of your choice - these usually last around 2-6 months depending on how many cigars you have in your tupperdor.  One pouch is generally sufficient for 25 cigars.

4.  Should I keep the cellophane wrapper on my cigars?  The simple answer - it is up to you!  It really doesn't make much difference to the enjoyment of the cigar, or the ageing process.  Pros - your cigars will be better protected, with less chance of a split foot or cracked head, and there is less likely to be accidental damage to the cigar.

5.  How do I know if a cigar is bad?  The most obvious sign is that the cigar has dried out and becomes difficult to smoke - a dry cigar will often crack or crumble when you smoke it.  Another sign is the appearance of mould, which can appear as blue or greenish-blue patches or spots on the surface or foot of the cigar and leave a mark when brushed off; these cigars should not be smoked.

6.  What is the powdery substance on my cigar?  If this is white, then it is the result of your cigars naturally sweating out oils - this leaves behind a residue which you can brush off.  This is a perfectly normal occurrence and is often described by cigar aficionados as 'plume'.  If the powder is blue or greenish-blue then it is mould and this means that your humidor is not at an optimal temperature and/or humidity and the cigar should not be smoked.

7.  Is there an app to keep notes on my cigars?  There are many different websites/apps out there for this purpose.  Just for ease, here is the link to one we like:  Cigar Scanner

8.  Why do you need to purge a lighter? - When you first buy a torch lighter, it does not come filled with butane. Instead, your lighter’s gas chamber is filled with oxygen that needs to be purged by being replaced with butane. Have you ever received a new lighter, filled it with butane, and when you tried to light it, a flame shoots out for a split second and immediately goes out? Well, this is because the butane is trying to ignite, but because oxygen is not as flammable as butane, the oxygen from the chamber blows the flame out. To prevent this from happening, you need to purge the air so that only butane is released. Another reason to purge your lighter is to release excess air pressure that builds in the gas chamber, expelling butane from your lighter every time you fill it. If the pressure is not released after each use, it can build and build with every refill, meaning less and less butane will flow into the gas chamber every time you refill it. This may lead you to believe that your lighter just isn’t holding butane any longer, but you’ll see that regular purging will make a world of a difference.

9.  How to purge a lighter - Purging a lighter is very easy to do and only requires a can of butane and a paper clip. Simply take your new lighter and turn it upside down. You should see the fuel valve on the bottom of your lighter. While learning these steps, keep in mind you NEVER want to aim the fuel valve towards your face (this you can learn the easy way or the hard way).

1) Take your can of butane and fit the nozzle over the fuel valve. Firmly push down to fill the gas chamber in 5-10 second intervals until it cannot take any more.

At this point, both oxygen and butane are in the gas chamber and pressurized. The butane will appear as a liquid in the gas chamber, and the oxygen is still in its gaseous form. What you can’t see is there is vapour from the liquid butane mixing with the oxygen. The next step will release this mixture, leaving behind a small amount in your gas chamber.

2) Use your paperclip to release the mixture by bending it so one end sticks out like a spear. Turn the lighter upright and use the pointed end of the paper clip to press down firmly on the fuel valve. Be careful because the butane comes out extremely cold. While it won’t give you frostbite, it is pretty unpleasant if you get too much on your fingers.

After you complete these steps, fill the fuel tank again with butane and you should be good to go. If it still does not light, adjust the fuel level to increase or decrease the amount of fuel being expelled each time you press the button to ignite the lighter. Follow these same steps after a few uses to relieve the excess pressure in your lighter and it will continue to take a proper amount of butane during each filling. (Written by:  Gary Korb, Executive Editor of Cigar Advisor)