How To Smoke a Cigar

Cigars are more natural alternative to cigarettes. Cigarette smoking as an addiction is not fun, but having an occasional cigar to celebrate or for fun can really be a delicacy.

Step 1  

Prepare the cigar. Make sure the cigar is properly cut, a cigar cutter would work best, but to save money or if you don't have one, use any other kind of blade. Make sure that the cut is sharp; you do not want jagged edges as these can lead to uneven burning of the tobacco. Double guillotine cutters are most frequently used because they almost always yield a perfect cut. One way to cut a cigar is simply to bite the tip off. However this often only really works in films (some smokers can consistently, correctly bite).

Step 2  

Remove the ring wrapper (not always necessary; many smokers prefer to leave the wrapper on until the heat from the smoking cigar melts the glue, causing the wrapper to veritably fall off of its own accord). [Note: It is considered rude to show off the brand of the cigar you are smoking by leaving the label on.]

Step 3  

Light the cigar. Wooden matches or butane lighters are preferable as they impart no taste on the cigar. If you're using a wooden match, wait for the sulfur to burn off the end. Hold the flame up to the end and suck lightly with your mouth to draw the flame to the tip (not necessary if you're using a butane lighter). Don't inhale the smoke. An even light is one of the most important aspects of smoking a cigar; if necessary rotate the cigar around to ensure that the entire tip is lit. To check if the cigar is fully lit, turn the lit end towards your mouth and gently blow on it; the lit portions will light up orange.

Step 4  

Smoke it. Hold the cigar up to your mouth and draw in smoke, hold it in your mouth for a few seconds to taste it, and then let it go. It's usually not a good idea to inhale cigar smoke.

Step 5  

Repeat step 4 1-2 times a minute until you are done smoking it. Cigars can last really long (sometimes 2-3 hours). Rotate the cigar periodically to maintain an even burn on all sides.

Step 6  

Extinguish it when done. Simply set it aside in the ashtray. The cigar will extinguish itself after a minute or two without you puffing on it. Before you set it down, gently blow through the cigar to expel any smoke that will go stale. After about half an hour, a cigar will give off a strong odor due to chemical buildup inside the stick. Relighting a cigar after this period has passed generally results in a strong, bitter taste; as a result, most aficionados prefer to throw out a smoked cigar.

Tips

• Rolling your own cigars allows you to see exactly what is added and maybe add your own ingredients, and can also be fun and cheaper than buying the cigars.
• Buy a humidor if you will be storing the cigars for a long time.
• If your cigar keeps going out, it is either not a quality cigar or you are not puffing frequently enough.
• Every brand is different. Some stay lit better than others, some have bolder flavor. If you are starting out, get a mild stick (usually a lighter wrapper, such as a Cameroon, is a good first cigar).
• Having a drink with your cigar can enhance your experience.
• Be a polite smoker. Do not litter (real cigars are 100% biodegradable, unlike cigarettes, but wrappers sometimes aren't).
• Extinguishing and relighting a cigar after a varied amount of time (nicer cigars generally hold out longer) can take a toll on the flavor.
• Try 2-3 of a particular cigar before deciding that you don't like that line; individual sticks, even in the same box, can vary in flavor and satisfaction.
• Learn how to pair cigars as a dessert or accompaniment to a meal.
• Beware smoking in windy conditions; the wind can cause an uneven or fast burn, as well as blowing ash into your eyes.
• You don't need to constantly ash your cigar: the trademark of a well-rolled cigar is that the ash will remain on the end of it for quite a while (many cigars will have 1 to 1.5 inch ashes); just make sure your ash doesn't fall all over yourself.

Warnings

• By no means are cigars healthy. Cigars contain 10-40 times the amount of nicotine that a cigarette has. Actual absorbtion varies based on frequency of puffing, inhalation, etc, and is not well known.
• Your health risk is proportional to your exposure.
• Do not inhale the cigar! Especially if you are very conscious of the health effects, you will know that they can be minimized, (but never eliminated) if you don't inhale. Cigarettes were meant to be inhaled because they have filters. Some Cigarettes don't have filters though.
• Even just puffing will have nicotine and other ingredients absorbed by the lining of your mouth.
• Don't just think about the long-term health effects of smoking - there are also many temporary, short-term effects as well. Any kind of smoke contains carbon monoxide, a gas that depletes your body of oxygen, and affects your physical ability until it leaves about 6 hours later.
• Consider making your own cigars (see related articles) and stuffing it with something less harmful than tobacco if you really have the urge to light and smoke something.
• Despite some minimal risks, many physicians actually encourage cigar (and pipe) smokers to continue smoking up to three times a week because the psychological benefits far outweigh any sort of health risks.