Many people that are new to cigars are often introduced to the hobby by those not quite as knowledgeable as they should be. I myself was introduced to cigar smoking by someone who was less than accurate and helpful in ‘teaching’ me how to smoke. Small cigars like Black and Mild or Swisher Sweets are often thought of when someone first starts smoking, this is well and good but a fine cigar is another beast entirely and should be treated as such.

First of all, let us start with some nomenclature. The closed end of the cigar, where you smoke is called the ‘head’ of the cigar. The open end of the cigar is called the ‘foot’ and that is where you light the cigar. The outer leaf of the cigar is called the wrapper and you should be careful with how you handle the cigar as the wrapper is the most delicate part of the cigar.

Unlike the cigars with tips, a fine cigar must be clipped in order to draw smoke through it. When cutting your cigar, examine the head. There should be a line where the top cap of tobacco is pasted to the cigar. When cutting the cigar you should cut just above the line. Once the cap is cut off you should be able to see the inside of the cigar. Now you should check the draw. If there is free air flow then your draw is good. If the air flow is not free, then you may want to cut the cigar again, at most an eighth of an inch. Take care not to cut too far into the cigar as you can crack the wrapper and losing the wrapper leaf can negatively impact the flavor of the cigar.

In movies cigars are often lit with Zippo lighters. This may look cool but it is not ideal because of the flavor the Zippo fuel imparts on the cigar. I don’t know about you but when I smoke a fine cigar, I do not want it to taste like I dipped it in a gas tank. There are two types of lighters, torches and soft flames, one can also use matches or cedar sticks to light a cigar as well. Torches are good for quickly lighting a cigar and are wind proof. These lighters are very useful and can be used to touch up the cigar while smoking. The soft flame lighter is preferred by some cigar smokers because the initial light yields a cooler smoke and the proponents of this lighter prefer the taste from the first puff. This is left to personal preference; I will use both but prefer soft flames.

Now that we have established that Zippos are not good, light the cigar. Ready your flame but do not ignite your lighter or matches where it can contact the cigar immediately. If you are using matches, let the sulfur burn off first. Move your cigar over the flame so that the foot is approximately three inches above the top of the flame if you are using a torch. You can lower the cigar to the heat if need be, not all flames are created equally. Slowly rotate the cigar so that it is being burned evenly across the foot. You can also puff on the cigar as you rotate above the flame to complete the light. There should be no part of the foot that is unlit and it should burn evenly.

Smoking a fine cigar is also different than smoking a cigarette or a small cigar. Firstly, a fine cigar is not meant to be inhaled but rather tasted. The smoke should stay in the mouth and then expelled. Some people expel the smoke through their nose and this can give one a better idea of the flavor but it can also be painful if you are not used to it or have sinus problems. Take the time to enjoy the smoke before expulsion let the smoke roll to all parts of your palate. Do not smoke a fine cigar too quickly. Smoking a cigar too quickly can make it heat up and adversely affect the flavor. Smoking too fast can also lead to burn problems. Ideally one should puff on a cigar once a minute taking long and slow draws. Granted, this does not always happen as enjoyment, socializing, and sometimes even lack of time make things go quickly.

Now that you’re smoking along you may want a snack or a drink. I do not recommend pungent foods or drinks. Onions, garlic, fish, pepper, spicy foods, these can all detract from the flavor of your cigar. Some cigar connoisseurs will only drink water while smoking to gain the most accurate representation to their palate of the flavors in the smoke. Although, pairing your cigar with fine alcohol is a joy in itself and can lead to a very satisfying experience. I personally prefer dark liquors like rums, bourbon, and Scotch. Others may not prefer these liquors and it is a matter of inclination. Soft drinks can also pair well with cigars, I recommend a cola or root beer over a citrus or sports drink as colas and such have complementary flavors. Coffee and tea pair very well with cigars and they have their own nuances in flavor as well.

Finally the proper disposal of your cigar is critical. Like cigarettes in a waste bin, cigars can cause fires. Putting a cigar out is rather messy and can leave your fingers smelling even worse. You can set the cigar in the ash tray and wait for a few minutes. Normally after five minutes your cigar will extinguish itself and be perfectly safe to throw away.

I hope this article proves informative for those of you just starting to smoke cigars. I’m sure some of this seems like common sense but sometimes that sense is not so common. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.

Matt Parsons, TexCigars, Inc.