As do I. If I didn't have my faith, I would probably go off the deep end, especially with the ignorant people that I run into on a day-to-day basis. Just to keep this on topic though, here's a question. When you guys smoke, do you remove the bands first? I've never really been sure about this. What's the etiquette on this?

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"If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?"-- Dogen Zenji

Yeah, back on topic...It's really more of a preferance. I keep mine on till I get to that point of the smoke. If I go past the the band then its a really good one. I did last night with a La Gloria Cubana.

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Andy

'Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.' R. Reagan

That's basically what I've been doing. I leave it on as to signal a cut off point. I feel like if I go too much longer after that, and it gets pretty harsh, it's put a damper on my smoke.

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"If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?"-- Dogen Zenji

Yeah, there's no etiquette on this. Just whatever you prefer. I like to remove the bands ASAP. For me, that's usually after smoking for a few minutes, when the heat and moisture has had time to loosen the glue a bit.

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Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Well I have smoked a few down to my fingertips. They were that good. They need some kind cigar 'roach clip'. If you are stopping at the band you maybe missing out on some good smoke.

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Andy

'Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.' R. Reagan

Bad Andy:

Yeah, back on topic...It's really more of a preferance. I keep mine on till I get to that point of the smoke. If I go past the the band then its a really good one. I did last night with a La Gloria Cubana.

Usually I take the band off before I start smoking.. That is if it slides off. If I have to peel it than I risk tearing the wrapper so I'll wait till the cigar heats up enough and there is no chance of the cigar and band being bound.. The heat usually loosens up that band. and it peels away nicely..I almost always smoke past the band so it does have to go..I've seen cigars with bands so big you must take them off to start, (Gurkha) and some with multiple band.( Patels). I read somewhere that it could be an insult to smoke a banded cigar if yours is thought to be a better cigar, sort of braggartism. Unless of course you share and all can do as they see fit.

Matt Marvel:

That's basically what I've been doing. I leave it on as to signal a cut off point. I feel like if I go too much longer after that, and it gets pretty harsh, it's put a damper on my smoke.

Hey Matt , the cut off point is when the ashes fall behind your teeth, that is when I stop.. (jk)

Thanks for the tips guys. I really appreciate it.

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"If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?"-- Dogen Zenji

kaspera79:

Matt Marvel:

That's basically what I've been doing. I leave it on as to signal a cut off point. I feel like if I go too much longer after that, and it gets pretty harsh, it's put a damper on my smoke.

Hey Matt , the cut off point is when the ashes fall behind your teeth, that is when I stop.. (jk)

Kas, I like the decription on that one...I've been there a few times. Last nite I just burned my fingertips.

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Andy

'Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.' R. Reagan

Sometimes kas smokes 'em down to where the ashes fall behind where his teeth used to be.

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Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

nice...I'm sure it enhances the flavor.

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Andy

'Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.' R. Reagan

urbino:

Yeah, there's no etiquette on this. Just whatever you prefer. I like to remove the bands ASAP. For me, that's usually after smoking for a few minutes, when the heat and moisture has had time to loosen the glue a bit.

I dont agree that there is no etiquite on this. but ill get back to that...

I always remove tha bands. i usually smoke past the band and when the cigar is hot near the band it is easy to tear the wrapper. I either remove the band before i light or after the first inch orso into the cigar. the latter option is if the band is onthere good. after an inch the "glue" heats up a tiny bit and the band comes off easily.

back to the ettiquite...
when i smoke in a shop (even if i didnt usually) i ALWYS remove the band. some people cannot afford (or will not buy) expensive cigars. to some of these people you are being a show off by leaving the band on. You are in the shop to be with friends and share a smoke. Not to show off how good the cigars you are smoking are.

on a side note:
bands were originally placed on a cigar so that gentlemen with white gloves on would not stain their gloves while smoking a cigar. the brand name on the band was soon to follow.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

I usually leave the band until I get down near it. And of course there are those sticks that have the band nearer to the foot! It doesn't bother me in the least if someone leaves the band on. To me people who get offended by the band are in the same group with those that would get offended by a cartoon.

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Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be a convenience store - not a government agency.

Kuzi, I never looked at it like that. I also don't look at cigars as a status symbol nor which cigar anyone smokes. I will however ask some why they would ever smoke a Philly/Backwoods/Swisher...LOL. But I agree with Zoom on this also, if you are offended by the band then you are missing the meaning of smoking a cigar. Thats just my opinion...

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Andy

'Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.' R. Reagan

I agree. I mean, I guess I can understand feeling bad or whatever because you can't afford that specific brand, but you're going to deal with that regardless. There's always something that someone can get that you can't, so it really doesn't bother me. I don't understand being offended by it though.

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"If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?"-- Dogen Zenji