There are few products that are as sophisticated and distinguished as a cigar. Like a fine wine, each individual element of a cigar contributes to the individual character and flavour of the product. In today's globalized world, it is easier than ever before to create your own brand of cigar by using some of the best tobacco leaves from around the world.

If you are planning on developing your own cigar brand, here are four steps that you will need to complete:

Step 1: Choose the Type of Cigar You Want to Create

Cigars are usually categorized by their shape and size. For example, terms like Corona or Panatela, which correspond to the approximate length and width of the cigar and not the manufacturer or brand, are used to differentiate between types of cigars.

And although most manufacturers use commonly accepted size names to describe their cigars, the actual size of a particularly named cigar can vary among manufacturers of different cigar brands. While many cigar brands have created their own names for certain sizes of cigars, there are eight main types of cigars:

• Corana

• Panatela

• Lonsdale

• Churchill

• Robusto

• Toro

• Presidente

• Torpedo

Step 2: Choosing the Right Filler

Once you have chosen the type of cigar you want to manufacture, you need to decide on the appropriate filler.

The Filler consists of a mixture of small pieces of tobacco called the 'melange' or blend. The choice of each type of tobacco contributes to the flavour and consistency of the body. A pleasant aroma and a rich flavour are vital, and the filler should be developed so that it burns evenly.

This blending process is at the heart of creating a truly unique cigar. This process affects the colour, aroma, texture and burning quality of each cigar and is an essential part in helping your cigar stand out from the other brands in the market.

Step 3: Choose the Right Binder

The binder holds the body of the cigar together. Like the body, the quality of the binder affects both the burning quality and the aroma of the end product. So it's important to match the flavour of the binder with that of the body so that the combination of aromas works to best effect.

The world's most premium cigar brands source the tobacco for their binders from place such as Cuba, Connecticut, Mexico, and Ecuador, although Java and Sumatra binders are also highly prized for there durability and flexibility.

Step 4: Choose the Right Wrapper

One of the most important steps in creating a new cigar brand is choosing the right wrapper. The wrapper of the cigar carries the majority of the cigar's flavour and nearly all of the aesthetic appeal of a cigar.

It has often been said that the wrapper is responsible for over 60% of the cigar's flavour and value. Today, there are more wrappers available than ever before, making it essential for cigar manufacturers to choose the right one in order to ensure the success of their brands.

As the wrapper is the visible, outside of the cigar, it's essential that it has a consistent top-quality aroma, shape and appearance. To ensure that the wrapper combines well with the flavours and aromas given by the body and the binder, all three leaves should come from the same region.

Build Your Brand

Now that you have a basic understanding of how a cigar is made, you can begin experimenting with different combinations of tobacco to create a unique smoking experience. The quickest and easiest way to start is by searching the web for a number of cigar manufacturers that can help you create your very own unique cigar brand.