Are you shopping for a gift for someone in your company or a business associate? If you have someone on your gift list who is a cigar aficionado you may want to consider buying them a high quality cigar. You don't have to be the world's foremost authority on the subject to be able to choose a good cigar. Below I have compiled a few tips to help you be successful in your search.

Cigars are now more popular than ever before which makes it much easier to find them. Though they used to be considered only for people of influence but now the general public is getting into the act and with the plethora of smoke shops available it is easier than ever to find what you are looking for. Finding high quality Cuban cigars is still tough and will be until the embargo is listed, but that won't stop you from finding a top quality cigar that will please the person you are giving it to.

The first step to finding a high quality stogie is to go to a local smoke shop that specializes in cigars. Stay away from the so-called "drugstore cigars", they maybe cheaper but the reason they are cheaper is because they are filled with inferior fillers, preservatives, and irritants. The product you are seeking should be composed on pure, 100% tobacco only. If you are in doubt or have some questions about the ingredients, ask the clerk or salesperson on duty. In most shops these people are highly experienced and knowledgeable and will be able to provide you with any and all information you may need to make a decision.

Even though you may want to shop online to find better bargains, the local tobacco shop is the place to start because you can smell and touch the products which will help you make a good choice. A tip that will help you here is this, when you squeeze a good quality stogie it will compress just a little. It should also be uniform in shape, firm, and not have sections that are soft or hard. The wrapper should be very tight and not rough at all and should not be dry or discolored. If you see a wrapper that has any of those features you shouldn't buy it. The color of the tobacco inside of the product should be even and this can be inspected by looking at the end of the cigar. There will be some slight color differences but sharp changes in contrast of the tobacco indicate that the product was not rolled correctly which greatly affects the burning and can also put off unwanted odors.

The best choice of length when you are unsure how much the person smokes is to go with the longer cigars. These will have a better taste and are great for novices as well. For people who are regular smokers, buy them one that has a larger diameter which will have the richer flavor that they will like.