Cigar Information

Cigar-smoking, although looked down on in some circles, is still a ritual that many consider to be a mark of distinction, the signature of a gentleman. If you are new to the art of smoking cigars — perhaps you have never smoked before, or perhaps you are used to cigarettes or some other form of tobacco — then you will eventually learn a lot just by experience, and will eventually even develop your own unique smoking habits. Here are some basic tips, however, to get you started, and to save you possible embarrassment when smoking with those who have more experience.

Many cigars have a cap over the end — a small piece of tobacco glued over the end that goes in your mouth. Locate the cap and insert the end of the cigar into the cigar cutter. The cut should be made only a few millimeters from the end of the cap. When you do make the cut, make it with a single, sure movement. Messy cuts can cause an uneven draw and can even cause the cigar to begin unraveling from the end as you smoke it. Different people prefer different methods of cutting. Winston Churchill, for example, did not use a cigar cutter, but would pierce his cigars with the end of a wooden match. It is a matter of preference.

While smoking your cigar, do not draw on it too often. You want to savor the taste and the smell, and to allow the nicotine to enter your system gradually. If you are not used to cigars, smoking slowly can also help keep you from feeling sick. A corona cigar should take about thirty minutes to smoke, and larger cigars — not suitable for the novice — can take an hour or more. Keep an eye on the lit end: it should burn evenly all the way around. If it starts to burn unevenly, try holding it so that the part that is not burning as well is positioned upwards.

Keep an eye on the ash, too. You won’t need to ash your cigar as often as you would ash a cigarette. In fact, the better a cigar is made, the longer its ash can grow without falling off. When the ash grows to an inch or longer, try tapping it gently against the ashtray — but avoid tapping too hard, as this can cause you to lose the cherry. You may also try resting the cigar against the ashtray and rotating it slowly while exerting a gentle pressure.

The cigar is finished when it begins to leave a harsh aftertaste and you can feel the end heating your mouth and fingers. Generally this is when the cigar is about two inches long. When this happens, you do not need to grind the cigar out in the ashtray, as you would a cigarette. Instead, you can simply leave it to burn itself out. If you are smoking in your own house, dispose of the cigar end shortly after it has burned itself out, since stale, cold cigar ends can leave a potent and unpleasant smell.