Smoking a Cigar - A Quick How To

Remembering how much crap my buddies gave me when I first started smoking cigars - because I didn't know what I was doing - was one of the inspirations for getting this little guide together. While it doesn't address the etiquette involved, you can start with this and work your way up to smoking with the big dogs! Enjoy that smoke.


A) Prepare your cigar. Make sure the cigar is properly cut, a cigar cutter is always the best option, but to save money or if you don't have one, use any other kind of sharp 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 consistently produce a perfect cut. Although some manly-men may choose to bite the end off, it only really works in the movies. See how manly you look when you're spitting out bits of leaf for the next 3 days.

B) Remove the ring wrapper.

C) Properly 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.

D) Smoke it. Hold the cigar up to your mouth and draw in smoke, hold it in your mouth for a few seconds to cool it, and then let it go. Do not inhale cigar smoke.

E) Repeat step C 2-3 times a minute until you are done smoking it. Cigars can last really long, so don't be afraid to extinguish it to have another time when you are done.

F) 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. You can relight your cigar at a later time and enjoy it all over again.