NBV - Nicotine by Volume

[Le Buzz]

Sometimes you really want to smoke something powerful. You might have just had a huge ribeye, or a helluva day at work and want something that will satisfy you or make you forget. You spark up that new stick you picked up from the B&M and you realize a third of the way in that this stick will leave you clamoring for more even after nub'in it.

Other times you really don't. You might have just had a light breakfast, or you're between things during the day with an hour to kill. You grab an Opus and realize very soon that it was a big mistake. Now you gotta go back to work or face the rest of the day and you have a huge headache, you're groggy and your mind is in a thick fog. You wish you'd grabbed that little innocent looking Connecticut Petit Corona that was more than adequate and willing to deliver some good flavor without biting you in the behind.

More often than not I'm in the latter scenario. I like to smoke in the mornings, and I like to smoke when my whims demand it, not just after a big meal. Also, I like to smoke once or twice a week, and so my body never really gets used to metabolizing the ol' vitamin N as well as I'd like. I usually don't end up smoking too many fuller strength sticks because I just can't get past the first third without a nicotine rush. Of course, there is always a 1926 or a Tat Reserva that I manage to enjoy entirely but that is after a big dinner and on the weekends when it doesn't matter if I'm not as energetic the next day.

Furthermore, there is the issue of health. I know this might not be the most pleasant topic to raise, but I'm not talking about what the doctors warn you about. We're all gonna go at some point. I'm talking about those of us that like to be active. Whether it's fishing, hunting, basketball, racquetball, hiking, or whatever you might be into it stands to reason that a lot of us have to balance our smoking hobby with our other endeavors. I have no clue if any of you other brothers feel the same way so I might be completely alone on this.

Every consumable in our lives is now labeled. Nutrition information, possible allergy contamination, alcohol by volume, organic, etc. etc. You might think it is a case of "big brother" or you might appreciate the info if it helps you make decisions. I appreciate that an IPA is labeled by ABV so I know what to expect. I know I can shotgun a Coors Light and not be hit by a freight train. Ok, I don't shotgun anymore just making a point.

So it begs the question, would you guys like to see a nicotine content label on the smokes that you buy? I am talking about making this an optional but encouraged practice for manufacturer's, not necessarily mandated by law. Would it add to your smoking experience or would it be a detriment? Would it be a negative burden on the cigar industry or would it maybe make it more accessible and inviting to newer smokers, making our community larger and stronger, or would it have the opposite effect?

Heck, maybe this isn't an issue at all and I'm way out of left field on this. Please discuss.

 

[luckysaturn13]

I think it would be neat for the reasons you mentioned but unfortunately I think it would be used as a tool for opponents of tobacco to further dampen our fun. I fell they would say cigar x has y amount of nicotine and the average cigarette has x amount so cigars are 20x more powerful so we should tax even more or ban them outright....

 

[xjsnake]

I tend to agree with luckysaturn.

That said, I think many brothers and sisters of the leaf figure out reasonably quickly what they can handle and what they can't given their particular tolerance.

While the nicotine content would be useful for some, I would say there is significant enough variation within what is really a boutique industry, that trying to say Brand G stick in 5x54 has 75mg of nicotine would be almost impossible to keep reasonably consistent.

 

[luckysaturn13]

That question was very well spoken le buzz

 

[Le Buzz]

That question was very well spoken le buzz

Thanks! Probably a little long winded but hope it's good reading

 

[Chris Wilkes]

Im not sure they can accurately judge the amount of nicotine in every stick. Its not like large batches of alcohol where a little bit can be tested to determine content for the whole batch. Every leaf is going to be different to the point where accurtely figuring out might not be possible.

 

[KGD]

Ya know, they do enough as is needed by highlighting if its a mild, medium, medium to heavy, or a ligero bomb... you should be able to make wise choices when needed acordingly

 

[Le Buzz]

Ya know, they do enough as is needed by highlighting if its a mild, medium, medium to heavy, or a ligero bomb... you should be able to make wise choices when needed acordingly

Thanks for your input.

 

[Cigary43]

Labeling nicotine content would be something a bit difficult to really nail down and it would just confuse the hobbyist as to what we already know to be something that has ingredients that can be harmful. Drinking alcohol can be bad if you overindulge...too much sugar...that triple burger with extra cheese...everything in moderation is key here and cigars are something we just make a choice as to what we put into our bodies. I accept the risks and if one just has to know what the contents are in things that are already a "known value" then maybe cigars should be taken off the menu...just sayin.

 

[Zigarro]

I wouldn't mind a universal color flag on the package indicating strength for newbies. Most of us are at the point that other indicators give us a clue. What I'd really like is if they'd find a way to all use the same sizes for various classifications ie, 5 x 50= robusto, 6 x 50= toro, etc. In some ads, there's two 5.5x50 sticks, one labeled as a robusto and the other labeled as a belicoso at $5 more for the box? Same stick exactly... what sense does that make?

 

[Cigary43]

I wouldn't mind a universal color flag on the package indicating strength for newbies. Most of us are at the point that other indicators give us a clue. What I'd really like is if they'd find a way to all use the same sizes for various classifications ie, 5 x 50= robusto, 6 x 50= toro, etc. In some ads, there's two 5.5x50 sticks, one labeled as a robusto and the other labeled as a belicoso at $5 more for the box? Same stick exactly... what sense does that make?

It's a science project for sure but some Vendors already put their info as to what constitutes strength....Famous Smokes comes to mind as they tend to let the buyer know what value/strength a cigar is. What might be good for the goose doesn't necessarily mean it's the same for the gander....we process nicotine differently where some can barely handle a mild to medium cigar and others can smoke 3 LFD's in a row without a problem. There are mitigating circumstances for nicotine intake for those who are already predisposed with health issues....example diabetes, heart conditions, etc. and that tends to really take on that "choice" issue we all deal with. AS far as the cost of each vitola goes the cost is measured by how difficult it is to roll...so the upcharge is about the cost of labor. I tend to buy cigars that's aren't roller influenced....just a regular cigar w/o all of the nuances of the head.

 

[Zigarro]

+1^^^

 

[Master Shake]

I tend to buy cigars that's aren't roller influenced....just a regular cigar w/o all of the nuances of the head.

I'll have to go the other way on this as I can truly appreciate some good head...of a cigar. I enjoy belicosos specifically for the fact that I have a lot more control as to how the cigar will draw, and I can open it up I feel the need to at any point. I also like that if for whatever reason you get an issues with tar its easy to clip past it without having to cut past any part of the cap and deal with unraveling or anything like that.

 

[Cigary43]

I'll have to go the other way on this as I can truly appreciate some good head...of a cigar. I enjoy belicosos specifically for the fact that I have a lot more control as to how the cigar will draw, and I can open it up I feel the need to at any point. I also like that if for whatever reason you get an issues with tar its easy to clip past it without having to cut past any part of the cap and deal with unraveling or anything like that.

You have brought up a point that seems to take over our hobby and the different vitolas....belicosos like torpedos do not influence the draw all that much unless you make the cut past the cap. ( if what you say is accurate there would be far more purchases of this type of vitola....I hear all the time how a torpedo or beli can make the draw tight....because the tobacco is more concentrated towards the head and that tends to constrict the smoke from getting to the smokers mouth.) It's the cut that influences the draw more. If you cut your cigar ( belicoso ) with a straight cut you can still get that oozing tar that will bubble right to the surface....however, if you use a V cut the tar stays in the groove and you won't have to deal with the oozing aspect unless you put your tongue right into the that groove. This is the great benefits of the V cut...another benefit is that the groove helps direct the smoke in a more concentrated way into your mouth.

Not to say in every case that you're wrong...your experience seems to prove to you that the belicoso gives you what you like and that's really all that matters if you're getting what you want.