For someone who often shops for cigars, we all know it may be mostly about the cigar, but it’s also about the packaging. A cigar novice may be grappling with these questions; “Why are some cigars in tubes and others aren't?” “Does the tube make any difference in terms of flavour?” “Should I prefer a tubed cigar to a naked one?”

In this article we shall be answering these questions in a bid to demystify the tubo.

A Tubed or a Naked Cigar?

Before we answer this question, we must first explain the purpose of a tube. Tubes serve two purposes. 

One, cigar companies pack their sticks in tubes to preserve the humidity, to avoid too many fingerprints on the cigars especially in a brick and mortar situation, and also to protect the cigar from getting easily damaged in case the client is on the move.

You do not need to be told how terrible it would be if you accidentally sat on the cigar in your pocket or squeezed it. Cigars are fragile and need careful handling. Tubes offer the necessary hardware to keep the cigar protected.

Two, tubes are beautiful, catchy, and perfect for marketing purposes. Every cigar that is in a tube commonly referred to as “tubo” stands out and is more appropriate for a gift than a naked cigar.

However, this in no way implies that a tubo is better tasting than a naked cigar. The tube is simply for preservation and marketing.

Should I Keep My Tubo in the Humidor?

Since your cigar is in a tube, you may think it’s not necessary to keep it in a humidor. This is a terrible mistake. While the tube may protect the cigar from drying out for a few days, if you do not get your cigar in a humidor it will eventually dry out.

Naturally, the next question would be, “Should I remove the cigar from the tube as I store it in the humidor or not?” 

This is entirely a matter of opinion. The truth is, cigars that remain in the tube take longer to mature because of limited air circulation. If you intend to age and smoke your cigar in a few years, take it out of the tube entirely or at least uncap the tube.

If you are in no hurry at all, then you can retain the capped tube.

Perks of Tubed Cigars

As earlier mentioned, tubed cigars make great gifts. I think the most outstanding perk is that instead of having to buy a 5 pack or a box as a gift, you can splurge on a single top-notch cigar as a gift as long as it’s a tubo.

Again, when you’re outdoors and need to take a few cigars with you, tubos are perfect. You can throw a few into your pocket or bag and think nothing of it.

Outstanding Tubed Cigars You Should Buy 

At Gotham Cigars we have an amazing array of tubed cigars. And this is not an exhaustive list; it’s just the few examples we could mention.

We’ll begin with these decadent Camacho Connecticut Robusto Tubos followed by Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto Glass Tubes. 

We have several Macanudos namely Macanudo Maduro Hampton Court, Macanudo Lords, Macanudo Portofino, and Macanudo Crystals. These are all mouthwatering smokes packed in exquisite tubes.

If you’re a Montecristo fan, feast your eyes on  Montecristo Platinum Tubes Rothchilde, Montecristo White Toro Grande Tube, and Montecristo White Court Tube.

Romeo Y Julieta is also in this mix fronting Romeo y Julieta 1875 Romeo's Court en Tubo and Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Clemenceau En Tubo. Cohibas also have amazing tube cigars including Cohiba Nicaragua N5x50 and Cohiba Toro Tubo

You will also love AVO Robusto Tubos, CAO Eileen's Dream Tubo, Partagas Sabroso, AVO XO Intermezzo Tubo, Ashton Monarch Tubes, Punch Cafe Royales, Punch After Dinner Maduro, and Punch Elites Maduro.

Final Thoughts

I am a big fan of tube cigars - just in case you couldn’t tell from all the examples I gave. And once you begin buying these, you will be too! You will be impressed with the ease the tubes provide when you need to run around. To purchase these and many more, visit us at Gotham Cigars.