Cigar smoking has long been a popular pastime for many people around the world. It is an activity that offers relaxation, camaraderie, and a unique experience. From the beginner cigar smoker to the connoisseur, cigar smoking can be enjoyed by all who take part in it.
For those new to smoking cigars, there are some important things to consider before you light up your first cigar, so here’s how to smoke a cigar.
The type of cigars available varies greatly in size, flavor, strength, and price range so it’s important to do some research beforehand and find one that best suits your individual preferences.
Additionally, having the right accessories on hand such as cutters or lighters will make your experience more enjoyable while helping you get the most out of each puff.
Patience, young one.
The key to enjoying any good smoke is patience – taking time with each draw from the cigar while savoring its aromas and flavors helps bring out its complexities and nuances that set apart different varieties of cigars from one another.
With practice comes perfection; learning how much airflow is needed when drawing for optimal flavor takes practice but eventually becomes second nature with enough dedication over time.
The anatomy of a cigar
Understanding the anatomy of a cigar is essential for anyone who wants to become an expert in cigar smoking. A cigar consists of three main parts: the wrapper, binder and filler. The wrapper is the outermost layer of a cigar and provides some flavor as well as aesthetically pleasing qualities.
It also helps hold all components together while providing added protection from outside elements. The binder lies beneath the wrapper and binds all filler tobaccos together with its strong elasticity.
Finally, fillers are what give cigars their flavor profile; they come in various shapes, sizes, and strengths depending on how it was blended by the manufacturer. All these components come together to create a unique experience that can be enjoyed by both novice smokers or experienced connoisseurs alike!
How to smoke a cigar the proper way
Find a comfortable grip on the cigar and take a slow and steady puff of smoke. Knowing how much airflow is needed when drawing from your cigar as well as savoring each puff will help bring out all its complexities while giving you a truly enjoyable experience every time
Just remember that the goal is to not inhale the cigar, but to taste and enjoy the various elements of smoke for each cigar. Most cigar smokers do not inhale cigar smoke. Cigar smoke is heavier than other types of smoke and you’d find the flavor to be far too intense to enjoy a cigar by inhaling the smoke.
How to cut a cigar
Cutting a cigar correctly can be the difference between an enjoyable smoking experience and one that leaves you feeling disappointed. Knowing how to cut a cigar properly will ensure that your smoke does not unravel or become too tight to draw through. With the right tools and technique, cutting your cigar to perfection should be easy!
Cutting a cigar with a straight cutter is one of the simplest and most precise ways to prepare your smoke. Straight cutters are designed to make clean, straight cuts that will provide an even draw throughout the length of your cigar.
To use this type of cutter, simply place it at the head of your cigar where you want to make the cut, press down firmly and rotate in either direction until you have made a full circle.
This motion should create a nice clean cut on both sides ensuring an even draw when smoking. Additionally, using this method allows for more control over how much wrapper you remove from the head which can affect how open or tight the draw is on different cigars.
The punch is an alternative option to the straight cutter for those who want a more subtle cut. It creates a small hole in the head of your cigar, allowing you to draw through without removing any wrapper from the head. This can be especially beneficial for cigars with delicate wrappers or when you don’t want to alter the shape or size of your smoke too much.
To use this method, start by finding a punch that fits comfortably in your hand and has enough width to make a clean cut on your cigar. Then insert it into the head of your cigar at an angle and twist clockwise until it makes a clean cut. Finally, remove the punch from the cigar and enjoy!
The V-cut is an excellent choice for those who want to create a deep, open draw on their cigar without removing too much wrapper from the head. This method creates a v-shaped cut at the top of your cigar that allows smoke to travel through easily while still maintaining its shape and flavor profile.
To use this technique, you will need a sturdy V-cutter with sharp blades. Start by aligning the cutter with the head of your cigar and pressing down firmly until it cuts through both sides of the wrapper creating a perfect “V” shape.
Once complete, remove the cutter from your cigar and enjoy! The V-cut provides an even draw throughout your smoke as well as allowing you to appreciate all its nuances without any harshness or bitterness due to overcutting.
With practice and dedication, mastering any of these cutting techniques can become second nature in no time!
How to light a cigar
Lighting a cigar can be intimidating for first-time smokers, but with the right tools and knowledge, it’s an easy process that will have you puffing away in no time.
Whether you choose to light your cigar with a match or use one of the many types of lighters available, there are some key steps to follow in order to ensure that your smoke is lit properly and evenly. Here is how to light a cigar like a pro!
Before lighting your cigar, it’s important to properly toast the foot of the cigar. This helps ensure that all parts of the tobacco are evenly lit and prevent any bitter or harsh flavors from developing. Toasting is a simple process that only takes a few moments but can make a big difference in how your smoke tastes.
Here’s how to do it: First, hold your cigar at an angle over a flame such as those found on matches or lighters. Gently rotate the foot of your cigar above the flame until you see an even orange glow across its surface; this should take about 10-15 seconds depending on how hot the flame is and how close you hold it to it.
Once complete, blow gently on the glowing foot in order to extinguish any remaining embers before moving onto actually lighting your smoke.
Develop your taste
Developing your taste for cigars is a journey that requires patience and practice. Whether you’re just starting out or have been smoking for years, there are always new cigars to explore and discover. To help you on your quest of discovering the best cigars, here are some tips on how to develop your taste for various cigars.
1. Start with a milder cigar and work your way up to ones with more complex flavor profiles. A mild cigar will help you get used to the smoke and give you an understanding of the different flavor notes that are present in a cigar. From here, you can gradually increase the strength of the cigars you try until you find one that is right for your palate and to smoke more high quality cigars. Remember – more expensive does not always mean the best cigars. Many more affordable choices can offer a better smoke than expensive premium cigars.
2. Experiment with different shapes, sizes, and origins. Cigars come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and countries of origin, all with their own unique flavors and aromas. Try experimenting with different types to get a feel for what kind of flavor profile you prefer. You may be surprised at how much difference just one shape or size can make! We generally advise avoiding specifically flavored cigars as these will hinder the true flavor of the cigar and lower-grade tobacco are typically used.
3. Pay attention to the fillers, binders, and wrappers when trying new cigars. Understanding the components that make up each cigar can help you better appreciate what makes each smoke truly unique. The various tobaccos used in a blend can have drastically different effects on the overall flavor profile so it’s important to pay attention when sampling different brands and blends.
4. Learn about smoking techniques from experienced smokers. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to experienced smokers who are knowledgeable about cigar smoking techniques, take advantage of their wisdom! Learning about proper draw techniques as well as pairing methods can greatly enhance your appreciation for cigars as well as helping you understand why certain tobaccos are blended together in certain ways.
5. Take notes while trying new cigars and record your impressions of them afterwards so that you can look back on them later and compare them to other smokes that you’ve tried over time. Keeping track of what cigars worked well for you and which didn’t helps build up your knowledge base so that when it comes time to choose another smoke, you know exactly what kind of flavor profile or strength level best suits your tastes!
Keep your cigars fresh and ready to enjoy
Every cigar requires proper care to ensure the best experience possible. Cigars are delicate and susceptible to damage from a variety of sources, so it’s important to take measures to make sure your cigars stay fresh and ready for you when it’s time to enjoy them.
Proper storage is one of the most important steps in keeping your cigars fresh; if done correctly, they can last up to years!
Here are some tips on how to store your cigars properly in order keep them at their peak flavor.
1. Invest in a quality humidor: A humidor is the best way to store cigars, as it maintains the ideal temperature and humidity levels necessary for optimal preservation and aging of cigars. Be sure to buy one that is designed specifically for cigars, rather than a general-purpose storage container. If you’re only storing a few cigars at once, look into smaller containers designed to hold just a few sticks; these are often lighter, more compact, and easier to store than large-scale humidors.
2. Make sure the humidity level is between 68-75%: Humidity levels that are too low or too high can cause damage to your cigars by stripping away flavor or making them too dry/soggy. Investing in an electronic hygrometer will help ensure that the humidity level remains constant over time. When using a humidor, be sure to use distilled water in the tray and check the hygrometer every few weeks to make sure that it is calibrated correctly.
3. Avoid temperature fluctuations: Extreme temperatures can cause damage to your cigars by affecting the wrapper and binder components of the cigar and changing its flavor profile. To avoid this, keep your humidor away from direct sunlight or any other sources of heat or cold, such as vents or windowsills. If possible, keep your humidor in an area with moderate temperatures – ideally between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit (20-22 degrees Celsius).
4. Let your cigars rest: Once you have placed your cigars in a properly calibrated humidor, let them rest undisturbed for 2-3 weeks before you smoke them so they can absorb moisture evenly throughout their wrappers, binders, and fillers. This will help ensure that each cigar is optimally preserved and aged according to its desired flavor profile before being smoked. Additionally, when removing a cigar from the humdior for smoking , make sure that you take it out slowly – abrupt movements could cause unwanted shifts in structure inside of the cigar which can negatively affect taste!
Best cigars for beginners
When choosing good cigars for beginners, there are a few important things to consider: strength, flavor, and size.
Generally speaking, milder cigars tend to be more appealing to new cigar smokers as they feature a more approachable flavor profile and lower nicotine content than stronger varieties.
In terms of size, longer cigars with larger ring gauges will offer a richer and fuller-bodied smoking experience than smaller ones; however, it’s generally recommended that beginner smokers opt for something a bit shorter as this allows for an easier draw and gentler smoke.
When choosing your first cigar, it is important to think about the strength, flavor and size. Mild cigars with a more approachable flavor and less nicotine are better for beginners.
Choose beginner cigars that are shorter with a smaller ring gauge for an easier draw and gentler smoke.
Some good examples of great cigars for beginners are Macanudo Café line (mild), Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill (medium-bodied), Montecristo White Series Churchill (mild-medium), Cohiba Dominican Robusto (medium-full bodied), Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic (mild-medium body) , La Gloria Cubana Wavell Natural Robusto (medium body). Other popular cigars include Partagas Black Label Clasico Robusto, Ashton VSG Wizard, Punch Gran Puro Santa Rita Corona Gorda, H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Toro Grande.
Now you are ready for one of life’s greatest pleasures! Go pick up a cigar, and enjoy.