Cigars are one of the oldest and most popular forms of smoking around the world. While they may look different, they all share a common language of terms and phrases. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cigar smoker, understanding the most common cigar terms is essential to enjoying your smokes.

Ring Gauge – The ring gauge is the diameter of a cigar, and it is measured in 64ths of an inch. The larger the ring gauge, the larger the cigar is in diameter.

Wrapper – The wrapper is the outermost layer of a cigar. It’s usually made from a single type of tobacco leaf and can range from light to dark in color.

Binder – The binder is a layer of tobacco that binds the filler tobacco together. It’s usually made from a single type of tobacco leaf and is located right beneath the wrapper.

Filler – The filler is the innermost layer of a cigar. It’s comprised of a mix of different types of tobacco leaves, providing flavor and complexity.

Cap – The cap is a small piece of wrapper that is placed at the head of the cigar. It’s used to keep the wrapper in place and to keep the filler tobacco from spilling out.

Torch Lighter – A torch lighter is a type of lighter that is designed to burn hotter and more evenly than a standard lighter. It’s used to light cigars and pipes.

Cutter – A cutter is a tool used to make a clean, straight cut on the end of a cigar prior to lighting it. It can be a guillotine type, punch type, or V-cutter.

Draw – The draw is the amount of air that is pulled through the cigar when it’s smoked. A good draw is essential for a good smoking experience.

Aging – Aging is the process of letting a cigar sit for an extended period of time in order to allow the flavors to develop and mature. This process can take months or even years.

There you have it – a few of the most common cigar terms, but there are many, many more. Let us know if their are any more that you want to learn about!

Also read: What are the different cigar vitolas?