4. SMOKE THE CIGAR

Many people think that the proper way to smoke a cigar is to set one end on fire and just suck like crazy on the other end. It's a tad bit more complicated than that.

Before we teach you how to actually smoke the cigar, consider that many people like a nice drink to accompany the cigar's taste. In fact, you might want to consult some of our other SYWs about exactly what drink might be right for you. The most traditional drinks when smoking are port, cognac, bourbon or scotch, and complementary wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The key here is that the drink will stand up to the powerful flavor of the cigar without diminishing it.

Cutting

Cigars are made with a cap over the head. Most good cigars, therefore, have only one open end. This is NOT the end that you put in your mouth - that open end is where the smoke comes out. So you need to cut the cigar at the head.

Cutters come in different styles, but the most common is the guillotine. The double-bladed guillotine has a hole in the middle, two blades, and two notches where your fingers can grip it. You should absolutely buy a guillotine as your cutter - they're easy, small, and they make a clean cut with less of a tendency to tear the tobacco than other styles. You can also use a knife or your teeth, but cutters are really cheap, and a knife may ruin the cigar.

Here's how to actually make the cut (it's really simple):

  1. Cut the cigar on the tapered part (the cap).

  2. Try to leave about 1/8th of an inch of the cap.

  3. Never cut on or past the cap line - you'll be cutting the wrapper leaf. All hell will ensue.

Lighting

This can be tricky for a newbie, but our tips will get you through it:

  1. It's best to light a cigar yourself - lighting a cigar takes longer than lighting a cigarette, and it's best not to feel rushed by having a friend reach over with a lit match.

  2. Matches or butane lighters are fine, but if you use a match, make sure the sulfur is burned out first so it doesn't impair the taste of the cigar.

  3. Never use a candle - the wax particles will enter the cigar and taint its flavor.

  4. Hold the cigar in your hand, not your mouth, and rotate it near the flame.

  5. Do not actually touch the flame with your cigar.

  6. When the entire surface is charred and embers appear, place the cigar between your lips.

  7. Gently puff to blow out any foreign particles or odors that may have come from the lighter or match. Check to see that the cigar is lit evenly.

  8. This probably goes without saying, but just in case you happen to have a pompadour with a lot of hairspray: remember to not set your hair on fire.

Smoking

Now that the cigar is lit, you should be able to draw smoke gently through it.

  1. Draw slowly by pulling in your cheeks. Do not suck or inhale.

  2. Do not smoke the cigar too forcefully or quickly - it will make it taste harsh and burnt. Just puff occasionally, making sure the cigar stays lit.

  3. After a few minutes, you may want to remove the cigar band (label). Some people think it is obnoxious to keep the band on while you smoke, and it's not really necessary to keep your fingers from getting stained. Make sure that you've smoked the cigar for a bit, though. If you remove the band too early, the glue will not have softened and you will risk tearing the wrapper.

Ashing

People smoking good cigars like to keep the ash on for as long as possible. Indeed, a solid tower of ash is a sign of a well-made cigar. But don't let the ashy end grow too long - this is both pretentious and an invitation for a mess on the floor. Every once in a while, just gently press the ash against an ashtray - the ash should fall off easily without you having to tap the cigar. If your cigar goes out, it's okay. This does not mean you are a bad smoker - just remove the ash and re-light it.

Smoke the cigar for as long as you want - the only time you should stop smoking is when it stops being enjoyable for you. When that becomes the case, just set the cigar down in an ashtray and it will go out on its own. Do not grind it out, as that will produce excess smoke. Just take one last draw, set it down, take a sip of your drink, and revel in your smoothness.