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How To Smoke A Cigar content main image

How To Smoke A Cigar

Back To Learning/How-To

There’s something luxurious and refined about cigar smoking. Its allure draws more people to it every day. Perhaps you’ve thought about it for years and are ready for your first stick or just want to try something new, either way, how you smoke your first cigar can make or break the experience.

A cigar isn’t a cigarette and there are many nuances to smoking it correctly. If you don’t know how to smoke a cigar properly, then it can ruin the experience and be embarrassing. Have no fear, CIGAR.com is here to show you the right way to smoke your premium cigar.

Choosing a Cigar

If you’re buying your first cigar online, then you’ll notice a massive selection to choose from. It’s intimidating to see so many choices and price ranges, but it’s important to choose the right cigar for your first experience.

Many times, you’re tempted to buy the most expensive cigar available because it must be the best…and it is, but for someone new to cigar smoking, it might be too much to handle. Premium cigars are meant for experienced cigar smokers who are used to the natural flavor of tobacco. 

You also don’t want to choose the cheapest because it likely uses inferior tobacco and doesn’t have a great taste or smoke. You want something in the middle that provides an easy smoking experience and leaves you wanting more.

The Romeo and Julieta brand is a mildly robust cigar made with Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. There are hints of sweet cream, caramel, and leather. It’s easy on the pallet and won’t break the bank.

If you want something a little different, then start with an Acid Cigar by Drew Estate. Its tobacco is infused with various flavors that help mute the natural flavor of tobacco. You can try a flavored cigar but choose a higher-end one as cheaper flavored cigars use the flavoring to cover up cheap tobacco.

How to Cut a Cigar

Every premium cigar has two or three caps that make up the foot of the cigar. They close the tobacco leaves during the rolling process. As a beginner, we suggest using a straight cutter and slicing off the first cap. 

You can cut deeper, but too far and you end up with an open wrapper leaf and a mouth full of tobacco bits. That’s one way to ruin your first cigar experience. Using the cutter, make one hard squeeze and cut straight through in one cut. If the blade jams because you didn’t squeeze hard enough, then it damages the leaves.

How to Light a Cigar

Ideally, you have a torch lighter. Don’t hold the cigar directly in the flame or you can create an uneven burn or burn the tobacco, which tastes awful.

Hold the cigar at an angle and draw it near the torch flame, but not too close. Once you see the end begin to burn, rotate the cigar so it gets an even burn all around. When it’s lit, it’s time for your first smoke.

How to Smoke a Cigar

You’ll likely want to draw in the smoke right away, but it’s important to blow out the first bit of smoke first. Chemicals used in making the cigar tend to accumulate in the end, so gently blowing out the smoke eliminates it so you can have an enjoyable experience.

• Your First Draw – Gently draw the smoke into your mouth so you can fully appreciate all the notes from the cigar.

• Don’t Inhale – Cigars are not cigarettes and are not meant to be inhaled into your lungs. If you do, you’ll hack and cough and never pick up a cigar again. It’s a rookie mistake, and one we don’t want you to make.

• Enjoy the Flavor – Draw the smoke into your mouth and let it sit for a few seconds. Enjoy the aroma and the flavors that come with it. Blow it out.

• It Takes Time – When you first start, you won’t taste all the small nuances of the flavor. It takes a little time to appreciate the notes to where you can differentiate them.

• Take Your Time – Cigars are meant to be enjoyed slowly. Beginners should make one draw per minute so you can enjoy the flavors and it keeps you from becoming nauseous. Many beginners make the mistake of hurrying and end up with cigar nausea, which gives you chills and a headache. If you start feeling that way, slow down and drink some water.

• Smoke As Much as You Want – Don’t think you have to smoke the entire cigar. Only smoke if it is pleasurable. If it stops feeling good, then set the cigar on the ashtray and walk away.

Cigar Smoking Etiquette

Congratulations, you smoked your first cigar. If everything went according to plan, it was a great experience you’ll want to do over and over again. Here are a few points of etiquette to help you if you smoke in a cigar lounge or other public arena.

• Don’t Tap the Ash – Cigarette smokers flick their ash everywhere. Cigar smoking is more refined. The ash keeps the cigar from getting too hot and creating a bitter taste. When you’re not smoking, place it in the ashtray and let the ash fall naturally. Yes, there will be times it falls on you, but you can shake it off easily.

• Don’t Stub Out Your Cigar – Once again, cigarette smokers smash their cigarettes when they're done. Cigar smokers don’t do that because it’s messy and creates a bad smell. Instead, we leave the cigar in the ashtray and let it burn its way out.

Enjoy Your Cigar Smoking Experience

Ultimately, the goal of every cigar smoking experience is it is enjoyable. You’ll discover through experience the types and brands of cigars you like best. You’ll go from the newbie to the cigar expert everyone asks for pointers and what to do.

You know how to smoke a cigar and it’s something you’ll enjoy for many years. If you want to learn more or find some great cigars for beginners, then contact us today. 


How To Smoke A Cigar content main image

How To Smoke A Cigar

Back To Learning/How-To

There’s something luxurious and refined about cigar smoking. Its allure draws more people to it every day. Perhaps you’ve thought about it for years and are ready for your first stick or just want to try something new, either way, how you smoke your first cigar can make or break the experience.

A cigar isn’t a cigarette and there are many nuances to smoking it correctly. If you don’t know how to smoke a cigar properly, then it can ruin the experience and be embarrassing. Have no fear, CIGAR.com is here to show you the right way to smoke your premium cigar.

Choosing a Cigar

If you’re buying your first cigar online, then you’ll notice a massive selection to choose from. It’s intimidating to see so many choices and price ranges, but it’s important to choose the right cigar for your first experience.

Many times, you’re tempted to buy the most expensive cigar available because it must be the best…and it is, but for someone new to cigar smoking, it might be too much to handle. Premium cigars are meant for experienced cigar smokers who are used to the natural flavor of tobacco. 

You also don’t want to choose the cheapest because it likely uses inferior tobacco and doesn’t have a great taste or smoke. You want something in the middle that provides an easy smoking experience and leaves you wanting more.

The Romeo and Julieta brand is a mildly robust cigar made with Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. There are hints of sweet cream, caramel, and leather. It’s easy on the pallet and won’t break the bank.

If you want something a little different, then start with an Acid Cigar by Drew Estate. Its tobacco is infused with various flavors that help mute the natural flavor of tobacco. You can try a flavored cigar but choose a higher-end one as cheaper flavored cigars use the flavoring to cover up cheap tobacco.

How to Cut a Cigar

Every premium cigar has two or three caps that make up the foot of the cigar. They close the tobacco leaves during the rolling process. As a beginner, we suggest using a straight cutter and slicing off the first cap. 

You can cut deeper, but too far and you end up with an open wrapper leaf and a mouth full of tobacco bits. That’s one way to ruin your first cigar experience. Using the cutter, make one hard squeeze and cut straight through in one cut. If the blade jams because you didn’t squeeze hard enough, then it damages the leaves.

How to Light a Cigar

Ideally, you have a torch lighter. Don’t hold the cigar directly in the flame or you can create an uneven burn or burn the tobacco, which tastes awful.

Hold the cigar at an angle and draw it near the torch flame, but not too close. Once you see the end begin to burn, rotate the cigar so it gets an even burn all around. When it’s lit, it’s time for your first smoke.

How to Smoke a Cigar

You’ll likely want to draw in the smoke right away, but it’s important to blow out the first bit of smoke first. Chemicals used in making the cigar tend to accumulate in the end, so gently blowing out the smoke eliminates it so you can have an enjoyable experience.

• Your First Draw – Gently draw the smoke into your mouth so you can fully appreciate all the notes from the cigar.

• Don’t Inhale – Cigars are not cigarettes and are not meant to be inhaled into your lungs. If you do, you’ll hack and cough and never pick up a cigar again. It’s a rookie mistake, and one we don’t want you to make.

• Enjoy the Flavor – Draw the smoke into your mouth and let it sit for a few seconds. Enjoy the aroma and the flavors that come with it. Blow it out.

• It Takes Time – When you first start, you won’t taste all the small nuances of the flavor. It takes a little time to appreciate the notes to where you can differentiate them.

• Take Your Time – Cigars are meant to be enjoyed slowly. Beginners should make one draw per minute so you can enjoy the flavors and it keeps you from becoming nauseous. Many beginners make the mistake of hurrying and end up with cigar nausea, which gives you chills and a headache. If you start feeling that way, slow down and drink some water.

• Smoke As Much as You Want – Don’t think you have to smoke the entire cigar. Only smoke if it is pleasurable. If it stops feeling good, then set the cigar on the ashtray and walk away.

Cigar Smoking Etiquette

Congratulations, you smoked your first cigar. If everything went according to plan, it was a great experience you’ll want to do over and over again. Here are a few points of etiquette to help you if you smoke in a cigar lounge or other public arena.

• Don’t Tap the Ash – Cigarette smokers flick their ash everywhere. Cigar smoking is more refined. The ash keeps the cigar from getting too hot and creating a bitter taste. When you’re not smoking, place it in the ashtray and let the ash fall naturally. Yes, there will be times it falls on you, but you can shake it off easily.

• Don’t Stub Out Your Cigar – Once again, cigarette smokers smash their cigarettes when they're done. Cigar smokers don’t do that because it’s messy and creates a bad smell. Instead, we leave the cigar in the ashtray and let it burn its way out.

Enjoy Your Cigar Smoking Experience

Ultimately, the goal of every cigar smoking experience is it is enjoyable. You’ll discover through experience the types and brands of cigars you like best. You’ll go from the newbie to the cigar expert everyone asks for pointers and what to do.

You know how to smoke a cigar and it’s something you’ll enjoy for many years. If you want to learn more or find some great cigars for beginners, then contact us today.