Cigars 101.2 - Etiquette

   Welcome to the second installment of Cigars 101. In this "Etiquette" topic, I will cover the in's and out's of cigar do's and don'ts. Feel free to ask questions and leave comments!

   It's far too often you hear questions on the correct techniques for cigar smoking. The truth is, most of the traditions that still linger are far out dated and only apply for the most formal situations (which are few and far between). However when it comes to smoking cigars "the right way," there are some techniques to remember.

     When searching for a cigar, it is always important to respect the shop owners rules (if any) and merchandise. For instance, some shop owners will let you take a lit cigar in the humidor. Others may not allow it. Always ask before doing so. But when you are just shopping for a stogie or two and aren't sure how to go in and handle them, ask the shop owner for assistance in picking one out. They will typically walk you in the humidor and pull some cigars from the shelves. Observe how they handle them with care. Now if you just want to go in and look around, just remember to be respectful and not overly manhandle the cigars. Try to pick them up from by bands (if they are not wrapped in cellophane), do not over squeeze them, and don't blatantly put them too your nose to smell them.

     There are two basic types of cigar lounges. Open lounges and members lounges/clubs. These are typically an extension of the cigar shop itself. Open lounges are exactly that, open to paying customers. However it is always safer to ask before sitting down. Members lounges or clubs are restricted to those who have a monthly/annual membership to the cigar shop. Despite the differences, it is wise to obey the owners rules. Many that I have visited limit electronic use such as laptops, cell phones, and tablets. There are usually signs to indicate what you can and cannot have, so keep an eye out. Members lounges are beneficial as they commonly come with shop perks as well as your very own humidified locker so you don't have to worry about keeping a humidor at home. Because of these perks, members lounges can be better than open lounges, however the cheapest members lounge I've seen was about $50 a month. It just depends on what you want to spend.

    Now as cigar bars go, they are most commonly part of a wet bar and sometimes intermingled with cigarette and even hookah smoking. But the popularity of the cigar bar is slowly shrinking so you may not find many in your area unless you live in New York City. If your thinking of going to a cigar bar, just keep in mind they price their cigars like they price their booze. About 20 - 50% mark up. I saw a Rocky Patel in a cigar bar, typically $9.00 at the shop, that cost $15.00. If you are thinking of bringing your own however, be sure to ask the bar clerks if it's OK which it usually is as long as they are aware. 

  

    

    Believe it or not, there is more to smoking a cigar than you may think. Mind you, many of these examples are rarely noticed or used but it's good to know if you want to do it right.

Band On or Off - There used to be an old etiquette faux pas that you must remove the band before smoking the cigar. Today, do what ever you want but I strongly recommend testing the band before removing it. To test it, try gently sliding the band down the length of the cigar. If it slides easily, go head and remove it. But if it stays put, DO NOT try to take it off. It's stuck because the vegetable glue holding the band on is stuck to the wrapper. If you try to remove the band, it will most certainly tare the outer tobacco wrapper. 

Cutting - There really isn't an etiquette on cutting cigars. However, it is appreciated that you do it over the ash tray and not the lounges carpet or chair. Another thing to pay attention to is making sure you are not cutting too low or you will end up with a cigar that falls apart. On all cigars, there is a cap. You can see a distinct line that appears about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch from the top. This is the very edge of the cap so be sure not to cut below that line. 

Lighting - When you light a cigar, try not to mimic the techniques of a cigarette smoker. However, it is perfectly acceptable now-a-days to put the stogie in your mouth and draw on it while holding a flame to the foot. But to do it the way it was meant to be done, (Before you clip the head) take your lighter of choice, in this case a torch, click it on and hold it to the foot of the cigar keeping the tip of the blue flame about a 1/4 inch away while rotating the cigar slowly. You want to slowly get the foot lit. Pull the flame away and blow on the foot checking to see if it's completely lit. (when the entire foot is glowing orange, ie. the cherry) Once you reach that point, get your cutter, clip the end and puff away.

Drawing - After you are lit and enjoying your cigar, it's important to understand (and you probably know this by now) NEVER to inhale! I know some guys that inhale A LITTLE of their cigar but it's not recommended. The lack of filtering and high level of tobacco could make you temporarily I'll feeling. But if you've got the puffing down, you are good to go. Now to draw on a cigar the way it was meant to be, remember LONG and SLOW. Don't take several little puffs when you draw, rather take a long continuous puff, like you would a drinking straw, and fill your cheeks with smoke. Some prefer to blow it all out at ounce but try to let it out gently. You might be ready to try it again but fight the urge and wait about 30 seconds to 2 minutes between puffs. This allows the tobacco to cool back down, rather if you puff too frequently, you may notice the flavors getting intense, even unpleasant. 

[NOTE: If you plan on putting your cigar down for a little while, be sure to purge it of stagnate smoke. After every puff you take, some of the smoke lingers inside the cigar, saturating the un-burnt tobacco. Leaving it there for too long can effect the flavors very much. Purging is simply blowing the smoke out, as opposed to drawing it in. This clears out the stagnate smoke which will keep the inner layers of tobacco fresh for when you return.]

De-Ashing - While you are smoking, you may notice the ash of your cigar is getting quite long. Some say it's customary to leave as much ash as possible on the foot. However, you don't want it to end up in your lap. A good rule of thumb is, when the ash grows to about 3/4 of an inch or so, tap it on the ashtray. If it doesn't fall easily, let it stay for a few more puffs. Also, you may notice a difference in flavor when you remove the ash. This is because the cool air is now reacting directly with the cherry. I much prefer it over the draw through ash.

Distinguishing - Again, try to refrain from the actions of a cigarette smoker when putting out your cigar. It's perfectly acceptable today to grind the foot into the ashtray. BUT to do it properly, just take your cigar and lay it in bowl of the ash tray. That's it! With out drawing on the cigar, the burn will soon go out on it's own. Also, try not to put your finished cigar in the cigar stirrup on the edge of the ashtray. That is for those that are still smoking but want to set their cigar down for a bit.

    I hope these etiquette tips have helped you in your cigar venture. On my next entry will make the various sizes, shapes, and shades much less intimidating. 

Take care!

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