The Cigar Guide: DO’s & DON’Ts
Continuing with the third installment of our initial primer on cigar smoking, we will begin here by focusing on some of the specific guidelines for etiquette before moving into a few troubleshooting problems and finishing with some recommended online reading. While this may serve as the conclusion to our three-part guide on the basics, it is only the beginning as we venture forth into the exciting world of cigars focusing on everything from quite literally A-Z.
By now you’ve probably read part one and two, and are fairly well versed in selecting, smoking and enjoying your cigar.
In the year 1967 a man by the name of Zino Davidoff, the proprietor of the company with the same name, in an effort to educate the mass population, published an essay called Zino Davidoff’s Guide to Cigar Etiquette. One of the first of its kind, this well regarded primer still rings true today.
Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it. This doesn’t necessarily mean toasting it under a flame, but can simply involve rolling it gently in your fingers allowing your hands natural body heat to slowly warm the foot.
Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar. It should only take a minute for the gum on the cigar band to be sufficiently warm to remove the band with ease. While this is a rather archaic rule, it is no longer steadfast and is now optional in most circles. When smoking with a group of people, my first inclination is to recommend following suit of your host.
Take your time smoking your cigar, a puff a minute is about right. Smoking a cigar is an experience, not a chore. There is no need to wildly puff your cigar as allowing it to cool for a moment won’t be long enough for it to self extinguish.
Hold the cigar between your index finger and your thumb, not between your index finger and middle finger. This is one of those rules that differentiates the aficionado from the novice. There really is no reason for the rule, but it is one that most cigar enthusiasts learn early on and still obey to this very day. It is far more elegant and separates you from the pack of nicotine addicts we so often get compared to.
Allow the cigar to die a dignified death; after it’s smoked halfway, it will go out on its own. Today most men will continue to smoke it until there is about 1/4 left. A cigar is not meant to be smoked down to the foot and the shorter you allow it to go the harsher the smoke will become. I myself will generally allow it to go out about half way.
Dispose of a dead cigar discreetly and quickly. Just as a cigarette butt is one of the most distasteful sights one can see, there is truly no reason to keep a cigar once it’s extinguished. Discreetly dispose of it and carry on.
Wait at least 15 minutes between cigars as anything less indicates obsessive behavior. I myself have never smoked often enough for this rule to apply, however, there have been days where I enjoy a cigar with each meal as well as one in the late afternoon before dinner and again in the later part of the evening before bed. As I’ve said before, cigar smoking is a passion and with such a diverse flavor profile available, there is no reason a cigar cannot be paired beautifully with each meal, a dessert or even an after dinner drink.
Use a penknife to cut or pierce the end of the cigar. This comes down to class. It just looks bad and there’s no reason to do it. If you’re going to enjoy a cigar, enjoy it properly. Don’t mutilate it.
Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar, simply rotate it around the edge instead, until it begins to burn, and then puff on it lightly. The goal isn’t to light the cigar on fire. It’s to toast it just enough that it shows its beauty in a breath of silver smoke.
Lighting a cigar should be a personal experience; never ask someone else for a light. This doesn’t mean you can’t borrow a friends lighter or matches. It simply means that you should undertake the responsibility of lighting the cigar yourself. This is very personal and asking a friend to light the cigar is akin to asking them to undress your wife before making love.
Light your cigar too slowly or too quickly. Again, this is an experience. Take time to enjoy the lighting process but don’t stall or pause throughout the process. It should be a continual toast but with caution and your full attention.
Indulge in exhibitionism, whether you are lighting or smoking your cigar. This is one of the most personal and gratifying experiences that one can have. This is your moment in the day to relish in the tranquility of the cigar. Let the cigar be your focus and relish the time you have with it.
Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf. This really comes down to quality of the smoke. If your cigar keeps going out then chances are you should leave it out. Continually relighting it only strengthens its harshness.
Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Again, this is just poor manners. Hold the cigar in your finger tips gently rotating it as your lightly toast the end with your heat source.
Clench your cigar between your teeth. Unless your goal is to replicate the brute actions of Tony Montana from Scarface, this is not a behavior a gentleman should exhibit. Smoking a cigar should be an elegant display, not brash or unsophisticated. And for the love of God, please never talk with the cigar in your mouth. Remove it first and then speak. Your listeners will thank you for giving them that respect.
Wet the end of your cigar. Don’t chew it, or slobber on it either. You’re not a dog and the cigar is not your bone. There is no need to wet the cigar unless it’s burning unevenly and if that’s the case, you can simply moisten your finger tip and then dab the area to slow the burn. And if you ever visit my home and rip off the cap with your teeth it’s a distinct possibility that I’ll ask you to leave and never invite you to return again.
Smoke too quickly. This isn’t a sprint or a race, it’s a casual stroll through the park. Enjoy it. There’s no rush and if there is then you shouldn’t be smoking a cigar in the first place.
Ever use a cigar holder. This isn’t a cigarette and you’re not Cruella DeVille. Smoking a cigar is about relying on all of your senses, including touch. You want to feel the cigar in your hand. You can often feel if it’s beginning to burn too hot or if the leaves are fragmenting at all should it be an improperly filled cigar.
Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth. A cigar isn’t meant to stay in your mouth. Hold it between your fingers at all times. Even when you’re taking a draw.
Dip your cigar in port or brandy. This is a habit attributed to Winston Churchill but you good sir are not Winston Churchill. Just because he made this faux pas doesn’t mean you should too. Cigar makers spend years perfecting the flavor profile they want you to experience. If you cannot handle the taste of a cigar or don’t enjoy it then don’t smoke it. Stick to the bargain bin cigarillos you can buy at the gas station. I’m told they even come in chocolate flavor.
Smoke whilst working. Work is stressful and while a cigar can be stress relieving, it’s intended to be enjoyed in a relaxed state of mind. Despite how difficult your day at the office was, wait until you get home, pour yourself a drink and sit back to enjoy your cigar. The experience will be much more meaningful.
By now you’ve probably read part one and two, and are fairly well versed in selecting, smoking and enjoying your cigar.
“Cigar smoking knows no politics. It’s about the pursuit of pleasure, taste, and aroma.”
– Anonymous
Etiquette
In the year 1967 a man by the name of Zino Davidoff, the proprietor of the company with the same name, in an effort to educate the mass population, published an essay called Zino Davidoff’s Guide to Cigar Etiquette. One of the first of its kind, this well regarded primer still rings true today.
Cigar DOs:
Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it. This doesn’t necessarily mean toasting it under a flame, but can simply involve rolling it gently in your fingers allowing your hands natural body heat to slowly warm the foot.
Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar. It should only take a minute for the gum on the cigar band to be sufficiently warm to remove the band with ease. While this is a rather archaic rule, it is no longer steadfast and is now optional in most circles. When smoking with a group of people, my first inclination is to recommend following suit of your host.
Take your time smoking your cigar, a puff a minute is about right. Smoking a cigar is an experience, not a chore. There is no need to wildly puff your cigar as allowing it to cool for a moment won’t be long enough for it to self extinguish.
Hold the cigar between your index finger and your thumb, not between your index finger and middle finger. This is one of those rules that differentiates the aficionado from the novice. There really is no reason for the rule, but it is one that most cigar enthusiasts learn early on and still obey to this very day. It is far more elegant and separates you from the pack of nicotine addicts we so often get compared to.
Allow the cigar to die a dignified death; after it’s smoked halfway, it will go out on its own. Today most men will continue to smoke it until there is about 1/4 left. A cigar is not meant to be smoked down to the foot and the shorter you allow it to go the harsher the smoke will become. I myself will generally allow it to go out about half way.
Dispose of a dead cigar discreetly and quickly. Just as a cigarette butt is one of the most distasteful sights one can see, there is truly no reason to keep a cigar once it’s extinguished. Discreetly dispose of it and carry on.
Wait at least 15 minutes between cigars as anything less indicates obsessive behavior. I myself have never smoked often enough for this rule to apply, however, there have been days where I enjoy a cigar with each meal as well as one in the late afternoon before dinner and again in the later part of the evening before bed. As I’ve said before, cigar smoking is a passion and with such a diverse flavor profile available, there is no reason a cigar cannot be paired beautifully with each meal, a dessert or even an after dinner drink.
DON’Ts:
Use a penknife to cut or pierce the end of the cigar. This comes down to class. It just looks bad and there’s no reason to do it. If you’re going to enjoy a cigar, enjoy it properly. Don’t mutilate it.
Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar, simply rotate it around the edge instead, until it begins to burn, and then puff on it lightly. The goal isn’t to light the cigar on fire. It’s to toast it just enough that it shows its beauty in a breath of silver smoke.
Lighting a cigar should be a personal experience; never ask someone else for a light. This doesn’t mean you can’t borrow a friends lighter or matches. It simply means that you should undertake the responsibility of lighting the cigar yourself. This is very personal and asking a friend to light the cigar is akin to asking them to undress your wife before making love.
Light your cigar too slowly or too quickly. Again, this is an experience. Take time to enjoy the lighting process but don’t stall or pause throughout the process. It should be a continual toast but with caution and your full attention.
Indulge in exhibitionism, whether you are lighting or smoking your cigar. This is one of the most personal and gratifying experiences that one can have. This is your moment in the day to relish in the tranquility of the cigar. Let the cigar be your focus and relish the time you have with it.
Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf. This really comes down to quality of the smoke. If your cigar keeps going out then chances are you should leave it out. Continually relighting it only strengthens its harshness.
Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Again, this is just poor manners. Hold the cigar in your finger tips gently rotating it as your lightly toast the end with your heat source.
Clench your cigar between your teeth. Unless your goal is to replicate the brute actions of Tony Montana from Scarface, this is not a behavior a gentleman should exhibit. Smoking a cigar should be an elegant display, not brash or unsophisticated. And for the love of God, please never talk with the cigar in your mouth. Remove it first and then speak. Your listeners will thank you for giving them that respect.
Wet the end of your cigar. Don’t chew it, or slobber on it either. You’re not a dog and the cigar is not your bone. There is no need to wet the cigar unless it’s burning unevenly and if that’s the case, you can simply moisten your finger tip and then dab the area to slow the burn. And if you ever visit my home and rip off the cap with your teeth it’s a distinct possibility that I’ll ask you to leave and never invite you to return again.
Smoke too quickly. This isn’t a sprint or a race, it’s a casual stroll through the park. Enjoy it. There’s no rush and if there is then you shouldn’t be smoking a cigar in the first place.
Ever use a cigar holder. This isn’t a cigarette and you’re not Cruella DeVille. Smoking a cigar is about relying on all of your senses, including touch. You want to feel the cigar in your hand. You can often feel if it’s beginning to burn too hot or if the leaves are fragmenting at all should it be an improperly filled cigar.
Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth. A cigar isn’t meant to stay in your mouth. Hold it between your fingers at all times. Even when you’re taking a draw.
Dip your cigar in port or brandy. This is a habit attributed to Winston Churchill but you good sir are not Winston Churchill. Just because he made this faux pas doesn’t mean you should too. Cigar makers spend years perfecting the flavor profile they want you to experience. If you cannot handle the taste of a cigar or don’t enjoy it then don’t smoke it. Stick to the bargain bin cigarillos you can buy at the gas station. I’m told they even come in chocolate flavor.
Smoke whilst working. Work is stressful and while a cigar can be stress relieving, it’s intended to be enjoyed in a relaxed state of mind. Despite how difficult your day at the office was, wait until you get home, pour yourself a drink and sit back to enjoy your cigar. The experience will be much more meaningful.
