1955 The U K B G Guide to Drinks (2nd edition revised)

U. K. B. G. GUIDE TO DRINKS

the ash will depend on the cutting of the"filler"and not necessarily on its quality. Wdrite ash does not denote the best cigars, for Havanas produce an ash which is steel-grey in colour. The Care and Keeping of Cigars Choice and expensive cigars, which are made with such skill and labour, require more care from the people who sell and smoke them than they often receive. On account of the sensitive and absorbent quality of the leaf, they should be bought and stored in small quantities and kept in a constant temperature of 60-65 degrees F; they need just as much protection from the quick-drying effects of central- heating as from draughts and smells. They can even become contaminated by the smell of soap from the hands. Since too much heat spoils their quality and damp produces mould, humidors, designed to keep them in perfect condition, are always a wise investment. In a room where a number of boxes are to be stored, a cedar-wood cabinet is essential, for this wood affords the best protection and yet allows the process of maturing to continue. Cigars should not be displayed in open boxes and the lids should be firmly closed after each one has been removed. "Green" cigars, which are freshly packed (Americans, with whom they are popular, commonly refer to them as "fresh ") should be kept in aluminium tubes, cellophane wrappings or glass jars to preserve their moistness. As long as cigars carry a faint sheen on the surface of the "wrapper"they are probably in good condition, but if they are soft to the touch, they are still probably"green" and, except for those who prefer them in this state, they need to be kept in the correct conditions for several months. From the time they are packed in the "green" state, cigars may take up to a year to reach full maturity. Through the slight sweating which they undergo during this period, the contents of some boxes may be found to be covered with a fine grey powdery deposit called "bloom"; this is not harmful if it is removed with a soft camel-hair brush. Cigars which have been allowed to become dry should never be moistened ; and those which, through excessive damp, 286