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Last post 5 years ago by yankeelawdog. 29 replies replies.
Should I Remove the Band on a Cigar?
Burner02 Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,861
by Mr V May 04, 2018

The Cigar band, a diadem. The encapsulator of dried tobacco leaves.

The cigar band has held a strong place in cigar smokers hearts for both decades and centuries. Indeed, it is the only indicative feature on a cigar that allows us to identify one vitola from the other. Today this small band comes in a myriad of design and intricacy and all placed within an inch of paper, providing each brand only this narrow platform to portray their presence.

The origins of the band is steeped in ever-growing myths, all of which add to the underlying romance that characterises the history of cigars. However, it turns out that the credit is owed to a certain, Gustave Bock, for the innovation which he began back in the 1830s. Many recall that the Tsaritsa, Catherine the Great, wrapped her cigars within a silk ribbon in an attempt to avoid staining her fingers, which naturally lead to members of her court following suit. Yet, as the late Sir David Tang points out: ‘200 years ago, personal hygiene was not top priority.’ Further myths do back up this tale, and point to the British by way of validation. Apparently, upon learning of Catherine the Great's antics, cigar merchants decided to mimic this practice and introduced paper bands for all cigars exported to England so as to prevent the staining of a gentlemen's white gloves. Again, it should noted that these well heeled smokers of the day would rarely have been interested in the paper attached to the smoke.

Either way, by the late 1850s the majority of Cuban cigar makers were placing bands on their exported cigars, registering their marks with the government and insisting customers only ask for banded products.

So what is the band for?

As stated above, at a basic level the band is a tool used to identify each brand. However, certain smokers contest that its actual purpose is reserved for holding the capa or wrapper leaf in place for the smoker. Yet I feel this is incorrect, perhaps this thought stems from when Habanophiles take to removing the band too early, thus tearing the wrapper leaf.

What people do?

There are a few among us that can be seen rapidly removing the band prior to smoking, this was originally considered a move started by the British in the late 1800’s, and stems from the upper classes' perception of advertising as vulgar. And to this day people still remove bands yet without knowing the root reason.

On the subject of offence, the act of removing the band only to place on one’s little finger in place of the signet ring, is a definitive no. If this does happen, please remove those persons from your smoking circle, for fear of association by proxy.

While we appreciate that the adhesion on bands often loosen, the only dignified solution is to gently slide and/or peel and place to the side.

Did you know?

To this day the use of cigar bands remains key feature in modern cigar production, especially considering the recent trend towards larger and more elaborate designs in evidence. Cigar bands are considered a collectible by some, with collectors organised various groups including: International Label, Seal and Cigar Band Society.

In summary, you are not governed by the band, yet you should take time to appreciate both its form and beauty. Next time you smoke with friends or with likeminded fellows, see what habits they elicit. Moreover, now you are confident in the origins of the cigars, why not share this somewhat mythical tale.


Herfing
Ewok126 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
Nice indeed, I had found this out a few months back and honestly love the history or story behind it. I like to leave the band on myself until it is needed to be removed. I do this mainly because I do like the look and have an appreciation for the history. Now sad part, I tend to forget to remove it when needed until I taste and smell paper burning. Its OK though because I damn sure looked good up until that point. Anxious
jjanecka Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 12-08-2015
Posts: 4,334
Band always stays on until it gets close to the band. Tired of ripping my wrapper to shreds because of overglue.
RMAN4443 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 09-29-2016
Posts: 7,683
jjanecka wrote:
Band always stays on until it gets close to the band. Tired of ripping my wrapper to shreds because of overglue.

+1
Ewok126 Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
jjanecka wrote:
Band always stays on until it gets close to the band. Tired of ripping my wrapper to shreds because of overglue.



Its not over glue, its that you have big arse knobby gorilla fingers. Looks like the hands of a midget! jester
bs_kwaj Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 02-13-2006
Posts: 5,214

Seems that most of the people I smoke with out here on the island will be puffing away and I ask them, Whatcha smokin'?

In almost all cases, they don't even know, they pull the band out of their pocket or out of the trash and say... here ya go.


d'oh!

Beer
Cathcam13 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 01-11-2018
Posts: 1,264
It depends upon the cigar, some bands are at the bottom of the cigar, in which case, I remove them, and if there is more than one band, I leave only the one closest to the tip of the cigar, of course, for holding... although I of course remove it before it catches fire, unlike our furry friend!
Mrs. dpnewell Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 08-23-2014
Posts: 1,373
I leave the band on to prevent the cigar from staining my white gloves. White gloves and a silk smoking jacket are requirements to cigar enjoyment.

All kidding aside, I leave the band on until the last moment. I've had the band save many a cracked wrapper.

I read when I smoke, so like our little fury friend, many a time I don't realize I've reached the band until I smell or taste it.

Speaking of glue, about a year ago DE released some micro blends. They used a band with a "sticky note" type glue printed on the band is a series of tiny dots. The bands held firm, yet peeled off with ease. Also the glue only stuck to the paper band and not the cigar wrapper, thus preventing wrapper damage from over glueing. I'd really love to see the industry go to this type of glue.

David (dpnewell)
tonygraz Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
I remove the bands before smoking - carefully. My wife made me give up my smoking jacket about 15 years ago - I do miss it.
rfenst Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,100
jjanecka wrote:
Band always stays on until it gets close to the band. Tired of ripping my wrapper to shreds because of overglue.


This.
corey sellers Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 08-21-2011
Posts: 10,338
^^^^^^^^
What he said
midmofan Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
Phil222 Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 10-01-2017
Posts: 1,911
The time of band removal for me is dependent upon the cigar that I’m smoking. Some of those with the bigger bands or the double bands, I like to go ahead and just get them out of the way.
RMAN4443 Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 09-29-2016
Posts: 7,683


not many options with those d'oh!
JGKAMIN Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 05-08-2011
Posts: 1,387
jjanecka wrote:
Band always stays on until it gets close to the band. Tired of ripping my wrapper to shreds because of overglue.

Me too! Even when I try and take 5he bands off carefully, they don’t always come off easily and without damaging the stick and/or band. Funny thing about those bands was back before I knew much about cigars I was on vacation in Jamaica and wanted to bring some Cubans home. The store owner told me I’d lose them at customs, so he was going to take the bands off for me and replace them with crap band OK in the USA branded bands...I realized quickly what sort of scams are out there, that he had an original dog rocket he put the Cohiba band on to then reverse the process. Also and more recently, my bro-in-law was buying some CCs from a place out in western Canada, they send the sticks in one package and th3 bandsin a separate package just to get them through customs. Again, another scam way of tricking people with this intricate process of selling off junk and people thinking it’s legit because of the sleight of hand tricks.
bgz Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
Oh, I always thought the question was celo on or celo off...

I guess I'm behind the times.
Ewok126 Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
Nahh that question still pops up over and over...

Celo on for me.
tamapatom Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
The band protects cigar if your fingers are wet
tonygraz Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
What about the ribbons on the cigar foot ? Do you remove them ? Do the blue ones taste better than the red if you don't ?
Bucephalus Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 01-05-2005
Posts: 436
jjanecka wrote:
Band always stays on until it gets close to the band. Tired of ripping my wrapper to shreds because of overglue.


Nailed it. I am rarely in company that would think I am being pretentious by leaving the band of my Padron Anniversary or Cuban. I don't associate with people like that ;-)
Bucephalus Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 01-05-2005
Posts: 436
tamapatom wrote:
The band protects cigar if your fingers are wet


An if I get a crappy clip, it keeps the wrapper from unraveling.
Buckwheat Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Burner02 wrote:

The cigar band has held a strong place in cigar smokers hearts for both decades and centuries. Indeed, it is the only indicative feature on a cigar that allows us to identify one vitola from the other.
Herfing


Aside from the cigar's shape, color, size and actual taste. Beer Herfing
joeman Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 26
I do what I think most Americans do. I remove the band when it gets hot enough to loosen the glue, typically as the burn line gets within a 1/4 inch of it. If you remove it too early, you'll tear the wrapper.
Strunky Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 05-24-2018
Posts: 3
Just as I remove the packaging from my food before I eat it, I remove the bands from my cigars before I smoke them. People smoking cigars with bands on them just look weird to me at this point.

Since the glue used on the wrappers and bands (rollers usually use a gel called "Bermocoll 320") is scientifically a "thermo gel," it does not "soften" when the cigar gets hot. In fact, thermo gels remain hard or get even harder as they are heated. That is their unique physical property and that's why they're used in cigars. If they didn't, the entire wrapper would unravel as you smoked it.

So unless rollers are using non-approved glue on the bands, the idea that the bands get easier to remove as the cigar is smoked is a myth.

And if the rollers are so sloppy as to glue the bands to the cigars, find better cigars to smoke.
RMAN4443 Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 09-29-2016
Posts: 7,683
Yes, I think at some point you Should remove the band....unless that's a flavor you enjoy....if that's the case, carry on Anxious
hnixon12 Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 04-20-2009
Posts: 2,873
supposedly in England, if you dont remove the band from the get go, you are considered to be a snob by showing everyone what you are smoking, but of course if you are smoking a White Owl, not a whole lot of bragging LOL
Mrs. dpnewell Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 08-23-2014
Posts: 1,373
Strunky wrote:
Just as I remove the packaging from my food before I eat it, I remove the bands from my cigars before I smoke them. People smoking cigars with bands on them just look weird to me at this point.

Since the glue used on the wrappers and bands (rollers usually use a gel called "Bermocoll 320") is scientifically a "thermo gel," it does not "soften" when the cigar gets hot. In fact, thermo gels remain hard or get even harder as they are heated. That is their unique physical property and that's why they're used in cigars. If they didn't, the entire wrapper would unravel as you smoked it.

So unless rollers are using non-approved glue on the bands, the idea that the bands get easier to remove as the cigar is smoked is a myth.

And if the rollers are so sloppy as to glue the bands to the cigars, find better cigars to smoke.


Not entirely true. Cigar glue is usually a food safe adhesive made from yucca, corn, wheat or rice starch. Some factories use the same glue on their bands while other factories use one glue for the wrapper/cap and another glue for the band.

From my personal experience of smoking over 10,000 cigars, I know for a fact that with some brands, the band glue will indead soften when heated by the burning cigar. Others will not.

On a side note, the only reference I could find about Bermocoll 320 being used in cigar manufacturing comes from the sellers of Bermocoll 320. From what I can find, Nick Perdomo uses a yucca based starch in his factory.

A couple years ago, I posted a question on another board to Jon Huber (Crowned Heads) and Steve Saka (Dunbarton) about their wrapper glue. I am gluten intolerant, and was wondering if their glues where wheat based. They both stated that their glues at the time where starch based and gluten free. Sure doesn't sound like they are using Bermocoll.

David (dpnewell)
robo60 Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 07-28-2016
Posts: 112
Take the band off. Light cigar. Smoke cigar.
yankeelawdog Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 09-24-2012
Posts: 44
I've always kept the band in place until the very end. Lately, I've had problems with bands on over humidified cigars sticking to the wrapper making it literally impossible to remove without destroying what's left of the cigar. The heat seems to weld the band to the wrapper making removal a difficult task. Just a heads up. Memo to self: remove band from "wet" cigar.
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