Beginner or Aficionado

Cigar Smoking Questions answered

If you're just starting down the road of cigar smoking, you may want to familiarize yourself with certain cigar smoking fundamentals that will help you to enjoy your cigar smoking. These notes will help you to in gain insight into the world of cigar smoking just that little bit more and act as an easy to understand beginners guide

Where first? Well how about how to light a cigar?

Everyone should learn how to light a cigar properly. Those who are cigarette smokers may not realize that even the lighter you use may spoil your cigar experience if it's not the right one. Of course cigar aficionado's know this and some may think this is a little bit pedantic but it all helps you understand why cigar smoking has been the preserve of the few who really know how to savour good tobacco. So on to lighting a cigar:

First get yourself a good sharp cigar cutter, one designed to clip the end of the cigar that you will put in your mouth, Next you want to find yourself some matches (wood) or if no matches then a butane lighter. Why matches? Well regular cigarette lighters produce a terrible odor that can ruin a good cigar. matches or a butane lighter will keep this to a minimum so use these to avoid taint.

When lighting up, don't hold the flame directly to the cigar, simply light the flame and hold the edge of the cigar over the flame, but avoid touching it, drawing until it is lit.

Where Next? should you burn your cigar to the nub?

Short answer, No. Most experts on cigars recommend that you leave at least two inches or five centimeters of your cigar. Reason being that no matter the quality, all cigars will eventually get bitter the closer you come to the end.

You should never rush a cigar, cigar smoking is an experience to be enjoyed in the company of other smokers or on your own. Of course with all smoking experiences you should be mindful of the health implications of smoking whether cigarettes or cigars. All carry a potential risk. With Cigars, you don't have to inhale deeply in order to enjoy the flavor, however even without inhaling there are still health risks.