The Art of Cigar Smoking: A Guide for Beginners
Since its introduction back in the 16th century in Spain, cigars have shown a rich history in different cultures. It quickly became a symbol of luxury and wealth. Cigar smoking is a bit intimidating. Whether you’re a cigar connoisseur or someone trying cigars for the first time, there are some common cigar basics that you might be missing and so you need a guide for cigar smoking.
Moreover, there are certain obscure etiquette that cigar smokers must follow otherwise it is considered unpleasant in some circles. In this blog you will learn the art of cigar smoking especially if you are a beginner, this cigar smoking guide is for you! Read to know how you can comfortably smoke a cigar without any pretense.
1. Choose a Cigar
The cigar comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavors. Their country of origin is different too. As a beginner, the variety of options can be intimidating for you. For your first cigar, ask for recommendations from your friends who already smoke them.
If you don’t have a cigar-smoking friend around, there’s another more professional way to get started. Find a professional cigar specialist retailer, seek their experience, and choose a cigar to enjoy your first smoke.
It would be great if you start with a mild handmade cigar. Also, don’t choose a cigar that’s either too full-bodied or less filled.
Types of Cigars
Cigars come in different sizes. Following are some of the types of cigars:
• Robusto- It is the best for beginners because of its thin diameter and availability in different flavors such as mild, nutty, and well-seasoned.
• Corona- a 6-inch diameter cigar with a rounded head and an open foot. You can enjoy smoking fairly quickly due to its thinner body. Its rich caramel flavor is intense.
• Perfecto- this type has a bulge in the middle of its body with both ends closed and a small stature. It is perfect for a quick smoke break.
• Pyramid- it has both its ends pointed and closed. The cigar offers diverse and complex flavors. Also, it stays in the mouth for a longer period.
• Culebra- It is a thick rope-like cigar with rich and earthy flavors.
• Toro- it is a wide cigar that allows long smoking sessions especially preferable during a movie or a poker game.
• Panatela- it is a thin cigar adaptable to any type of tobacco you want to add. The flavor is usually sweet, bold, and peppery.
Check the Quality of the Cigar
While buying a cigar check for the following aspects to assess the quality:
• A dull-colored cigar is due to improper cultivation or dry storage.
• A cigar with blemishes and spots in due to fungus or faulty curing.
• High humidity storage can cause molds on the cigar.
• If you see a cigar with holes, it is probably due to beetle invasion.
• Check for soft spots, It can cause uneven burning.
• The cigar must not be too hard as it indicates that it is rolled tight.
• Ridges on a cigar represent too much tobacco filling in the roll.
Before buying, always inspect the cigar by touching it to see the presence of any possible defect.
2. Cigar Cutting
So now as you are ready with a cigar, you have to cut the cap to draw through it. The cap is a small piece wrapped around the head to avoid contents moving out of the roll. The best way to cut a cigar is as follows:
Find a sharp-cutting device
The ideal device to cut a cigar is the guillotine- a single-blade cutter (You may consider it one of the smoking accessories). However, you can use a sharp blade or a knife too. Avoid using blunt scissors, butter knife, or teeth to tear the cigar cap.
Blade placement
Another crucial aspect in the guide for cigar smoking is the process of cutting it. To cut the cigar, you have to slice the cigar cap. To slice it correctly, place the cigar cutter in a position where the cigar head meets the wrapper.
Hold the guillotine with one hand and the cigar with the other. Now slice the cigar head with one quick chop. Don’t be too slow, otherwise the cigar wrapper will tear down.
3. First Draw
Before you light your cigar, the first raw, dry puff that you take helps you get an idea of the taste you will get once you light it. It assists you in detecting the level of draw you can get from that cigar. Of course, you won’t give the exact taste but you can definitely enjoy the tempting prelude of the flavours.
4. Cigar Lighting
The type of tool you choose will affect your smoking experience. Avoid candles, cardboard matches, and fluid-filled lighters as they may affect the taste of your cigar. The preferable tool to light your cigar is a wooden match.
Wait till the sulfur burns and then expose your cigar to the flame. In this regard, long matches are a good option since cigar lighting can burn through some matches. Butane lighter, a luxury smoking tool, is a perfect choice among cigar smokers for the same reason.
5. Draw a Cigar without Inhaling it
Cigars, unlike cigarettes, are not meant to be inhaled. In fact, it is injurious to health and provokes coughing if inhaled. Isn’t it surprising for you? Well, Cigars are supposed to be sipped like a beverage.
A cigar must be drawn by creating pressure at the mid-section of the tongue. This is similar to blowing a kiss or sucking from a straw. Just like you enjoy the wine, taste the taste by letting it stay on your palate.
Be mindful of not swirling it violently like mouthwash. Once you’re done savoring, blow the smoke out of your mouth. Avoid puffing a cigar too regularly. Instead, take a few sips and let it rest.
Similarly, drawing too hard will make a cigar hot and may cause uneven burning. Let the cigar cool down so as not to compromise on its flavor.
Retro-haling is a common practice among cigar experts where the smoke is pushed at the back of the mouth and up to the sinus to be exhaled out of the nose. Retro-haling allows you to uncover the full spectrum of flavors where you can enjoy the subtle characteristics of the cigar.
6. Holding Cigar, the Right Way
You should have a comfortable grip on your cigar to hold it securely while enjoying it. The traditional way is to hold a cigar between the index finger and your thumb. You may use your other fingertips to rest on the cigar body if it is too long.
Avoid holding the cigar between your middle and index fingers as it may cause you to lose your grip. Try to keep your hand relatively parallel to the ground while holding the cigar.
How to Deal with Cigar Ash?
The process of dealing with the ash is another important topic while discussing the guide for cigar smoking. Do not tap your cigar’s ash the way you do with cigarettes. This will otherwise expose the residue and may cause the cigar to burn too hot.
The length of the cigar ash will be long if it is well-rolled. Similarly, a loosely rolled cigar will lose the ashes too easily.
The ideal length of cigar ash is approx. 2.5cm. For an ash where cracks are formed, remove it earlier for safety purposes.
As per the cigar etiquette, one should smoke it till its half the length. However, others say that cigars should be smoked until three fingers are left. Well, it's better to smoke till you feel satisfied.
Takeaway
Cigar smoking is a rich tradition with deep cultural roots, and understanding its nuances can greatly enhance your experience. The guide for cigar smoking discussed everything from selecting the right cigar to mastering the art of cutting, lighting, and savoring it.
Following these steps will ensure that your cigar-smoking journey is enjoyable and satisfying. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned enthusiast, this guide for cigar smoking offers valuable insights to help you appreciate the complexities and pleasures of a well-crafted cigar.
