Go to Home Page

 

Cigar Tips
Cigar Strength
Cigar Friquently asked questions
Cigar Sizes
Cigar Color
Cigar Shapes
How to Select Cigar
Smoking Cigar
Judge Cigar
Cigar Reviving
Factory codes

 

Smoking your Cigar

igar can provide a great deal of enjoyment, and it should not be rushed. Allow
yourself time to appreciate the whole experience, from choosing and cutting to
lighting and smoking.
The pleasurable ritual of smoking a cigar begins with cutting it. Most modern experts
agree that the best way to cut the head of your cigar is with a guillotine-type cutter.
Never use your teeth, a knife, or your fingernail. The cut should be careful, clean, and
crisp, without any damage to the cap.
When your light a cigar you can use a butane lighter or a wood match. There are
also special long slow-burning matches designed for cigar smokers available. A
properly lit cigar is always more enjoyable than one that isn't, so take it easy when
you light one.
Older well-matured cigars burn more easily than younger ones. To get the best of
them, cigars should be smoked slowly. They should not to be dragged on or
puffed too frequently. This will lead to overheating and spoil the flavor.
If your cigar goes out, don't worry: this is quite normal, particularly if you have
already smoked half of it. Tap the cigar to remove any clinging ash. Then blow
through the cigar to clear any stale smoke. Re-light as you would a new cigar.
There are two things that should not be done: first, don't roll a cigar near your ear.
It tells you nothing at all about a cigar; second, you should never warm the length
of the cigar before smoking it.

Smoking tips

Pick the color wrapper you prefer, dark or light. Pinch the cigar to see if it's too moist or too dry. Inspect the wrapper for a minimum amount of leaf veins and them make sure there are no cracks in the wrapper. While some people advocate smelling the cigar, others find it distasteful when they see someone in the local tobacco shop sniff a cigar and then put it back in the box.
Many feel that using a guillotine type cigar cutter or cigar scissors is the most effective way to cut a premium cigar. Be careful to not cut past the cap of the cigar. While some smokers use a "V" cutter or circular blade to cut the head, larger cigars will taste harsh because the smaller hole will concentrate the smoke of the draw.
The foot, or the tip, of the cigar should be started by using a wooden match or a quality butane lighter. Avoid candles, paper matches and lighters that use lighter fluid (naphtha) because the chemicals and odors in each can affect the taste of the tobacco. When using a match, wait till the sulfur burns off before lighting the cigar. Start lighting the cigar by holding it at a 45-degree angle over the flame while not drawing in, toasting the foot of the cigar.
Try not to allow the flame to touch the cigar. After the cigar has started to burn, slowly draw from the head and rotate the cigar to get an even burn on the foot, again never letting the flame actually touch the cigar. Slowly spinning the cigar will help establish an even burn. Take a look at the foot and make sure the cigar is burning evenly. If the burn is really uneven, toast the appropriate side to even the burn.
If it is a bit uneven, gently blow on the end in the appropriate place to intensify the heat there, and wait a minute before continuing to puff. The short delay will allow the cigar a chance to stabilize and correct the burn.
Most premium cigars using premium fillers will hold a very long ash before it falls off. The foot will come to a point when the ash is gently tapped off. Better tobacco will have a whiter ash than the gray ash of lower grade tobacco.

Copyright © 2002 Online Havana Cigars. All Rights Reserved.
The purchase of tobacco by persons under the age of 18 may be a violation of your federal or state law. By ordering Cuban cigars from OnlineHavanaCigars, you are certifying that you are of legal age to purchase Cuban Cigars in the state or province in which you reside.