Introduction
When I first started smoking cigars back when I was a teenager, I smoked them to celebrate with friends and to look cool, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. Most of the times I would get machine made cigars, most notably the ones with the wooden tips. I smoked to smoke and I didn’t overly enjoy it, however it was fun and I was with my friends. I puffed the hell out of those cigars and it was more about who could produce the most smoke out of their cigar, rather than enjoying the flavor from the cigar. I didn’t start getting serious about cigars till my twenties when I started smoking premium handmade cigars, the ones that you actually needed a cutter for. I watched my Dad smoke cigars by the campfire and tried to replicate it, but to me cigars still tasted awful. I scoured the internet and found some helpful information but it wasn’t enough. The cigar industry is sort of an underground brotherhood and doesn’t get much attention from the masses. This article is to help the newer cigar smoker enjoy their cigars and to appreciate a premium hand rolled cigar for what it is.
Slowing Down and How to Smoke a Cigar
The best tips I can give to a new cigar smoker are slow down and realize that you are smoking cigars to relax and to enjoy the flavor of your cigar. To get good flavor from your cigar you have to smoke slowly. It isn’t a race. The most important aspect of cigars is the flavor. Generally I suggest taking a good puff from your cigar about every 30 seconds. You don’t have to count it in your head but if you puff on your cigar too much the cigar will burn hot and the flavor of your cigar will not be good. Take some small puffs too. To draw smoke from your cigar, gently draw smoke from your cigar almost like sipping a good scotch or wine. Keep the smoke in your mouth for a couple seconds and savor the flavor and aroma, then gently exhale. Also do NOT inhale the smoke of your cigar. Cigars are made with different tobacco than cigarettes and are much stronger.
Cutting your Cigar
The thing that makes most experienced cigar enthusiast cringe the most is when someone will take a cutter and lob the entire head of the cigar off. If you examine your cigar you should see a cap that was placed by the torcedor. You can use that cap as a guide to tell you where you need to cut your cigar. Generally speaking you want to cut above the cap which will leave you the right amount of exposed cigar to draw from. I like to tell people to just nix the top of the cigar. You can always cut further if need be. Cutting the entire head off of your cigar can lead to a poor mouth feel and the wrapper of your cigar unraveling on you.
Lighting your Cigar
Whether you are lighting your cigar with matches or a lighter it is important to remember to slow down while lighting you cigar. Getting an even light is much more important that getting your cigar light fast. Again, this isn’t a race. When lighting a cigar with matches make sure to use cigar matches instead of paper matches which are meant to light cigarettes and you’ll end up burning your fingers. Strike your match and be sure to let the sulfur burn off before you begin to toast your cigar. Be sure not to let the flame touch the cigar. All you are doing is using the heat from the flame to light your cigar. When it comes to toasting your cigar with a lighter, do not use lighters with lighter fluid such as a Zippo. The gas smell can affect the flavor of your cigar thus negatively affecting your overall experience with the cigar. The same concept applies when lighting your cigar with a lighter. Try not to let the flame from the lighter touch the cigar. You don’t want to scorch the tobacco; this will negatively affect the flavor of your cigar.
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