The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 18

How to Make a Cuban Cigar
There are in the world just a few things that are
known without question to be the best of their kind.
A Havana cigar is one of them.
These exquisite cigars are made entirely by hand with
a selection of leaves taken from one of the famous
Vegas de Primera (First Class Fields) found on the
island of Cuba. They are crafted using methods
that have remained almost unchanged in over two
centuries.
It takes up to six classifications of leaf to make a
Havana cigar and each one has been specifically
grown and prepared for its specific purpose.
They are Capa (wrapper leafs), Capote (known as
Binder), Volado (used to aid combustion), Seco
(praised for its aromatic characteristics), Ligero (used
for strength and depth) and finally, very occasionally
Medio Tiempo (even fuller flavoured than Ligero
and only used in the Cohiba BHK range).
Using just a few basic tools, including the flat blade,
known as a Chaveta, a Torcedorea (cigar roller) is
able to produce cigars of incredible variety, both in
terms of size and shape as well as in taste and aroma.
Firstly, the Torcedora lays out the leaves that form
the binder. They then gather together the leaves of
the filler, folding and aligning each leaf to ensure a
straight passage for smoke in the finished cigar. All
leaves are placed with their lighter-flavoured tips
towards what will be the foot (the lit end) of the cigar
so that the flavour will intensify as it is smoked. The
stronger-flavoured, slower-burning.
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove
and his
at Cook
& Butler
and we by
cracked
Now
the team
Torcedora
forms
the ‘bunch’
rolling the
along
at
a
goodly
pace.
Our
guests
were
admirably
filler into the binder. Then the Torcedora prepares a
introduced
by Liveryman
Morrison
and our
leaf
to be used
to dress the Fran
outside
of the cigar.
This
Principal
Guest,
Tim Wonnacott
gave a generous
is
known as
the wrapper.
The Torcedora
then lays and
it
very
humorous
reply
to
which
I
responded
initially
on the board with its most veined side facing upward,
by drenching
poor Tim
in to
a glass
of water
- he outside
was
leaving
its smoothest
side
be visible
on the
very
about
(sorry Tim!).
I was
very
of
the kind
cigar.
The it Torcedora
lightly
trims
the pleased
leaf
to
show
off
the
newly
found
Livery
Grant
of
Arms
with the Chaveta blade, paying special attention to
and edge
Letters
which
been
missing
for many
the
that Patent
will be
seen have
on the
finished
cigar.
years - our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and
Finally
the ‘cap’
. First
a section
the new comes
Immediate
Past
Master,
Chris called
Allen, the
and ‘flag’
his
is
cut
out
from
the
spare
wrapper
leaf.
It
is
then
IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful re-
wound
round and
the they
head are
to now
close resplendent
off the open in end
and
presentation
frames
secure
add (or
the close
finishing
touch, also
a
carved the
with wrapper.
tobacco To
leaves
to); Sandra
small
disc
of wrapper
cut seen
out since
with the
Casquillo
located
a huge
banner is not
1985
and Angus
and
secured
on to
the the
head
with Mariners
a natural and
vegetable
Menzies,
Clerk
Master
never shy
gum.
of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
Quarterdeck.
In a day, a good Torcedor can make between 60 and
150
Habanos
this going
fashion,
depending biblical-
on the size
Whilst
all this in was
on, apparently
and
the shape.
style complexity
downpours of were
being had all over London
- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch
Jimmy McGhee
and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee,
Hunters & Frankau
Cigars, and Cognac awaited us (I did mention that
our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’s..) and
which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma
Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars
and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
year such a special start.
The Master
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