How to Smoke a Cigar

Even seasoned enthusiasts sometimes catch their cigar manners slipping, so it’s good for everyone to brush up on etiquette from time to time. Whether you’ve never smoked a cigar before, just picked up a cigar for the first time, or have been enjoying them for years, here’s a simple step-by-step guide.

In most social cigar situations, you will notice experts inspecting their cigars before smoking them. Roll the cigar between your fingers first. You should hear a faint crackling sound. If it’s too faint or too loud, the cigar has been improperly stored. 

There are three main ways to cut a cigar: Straight cuts, hole punches, and V-cuts. Straight cuts using a guillotine or scissors are the most common, as they expose the whole end of the cigar for even burning. Straight cuts should be done as close to the end of the cigar as possible, between the first and second seam from the end of the cap.

Lighting a cigar isn’t as simple as lighting a cigarette or a candle. Many newbies are put off cigars because they light it incorrectly, creating lots of bitter and harsh smoke. A cigar can also easily go out.  

Puffing a cigar requires a little practice, but you’ll be able to do it naturally in no time. Gently pull smoke into your mouth, similarly to how you would suck on a straw. You should be able to taste some of the smoke and enjoy its flavors and aromas.

Then slowly and lightly blow out the smoke through either your nose or your mouth. 

Blowing it out through your nose takes some practice and shouldn’t be done with full-bodied cigars anyway, so start with your mouth at first. Once you have some practice, you can try techniques like retrohaling, which uses your nose to help you appreciate all the flavors of the cigar.

Do You Inhale Cigars?

Cigars are not meant to be inhaled in the same way as cigarettes and will almost certainly set off a coughing fit. The taste of a cigar is what matters, so let the smoke stay in your mouth for a second or two. Savor it the same way wine or a fine meal is savored, then gently exhale it. Learn more about how to inhale cigars correctly.

The question of how to hold a cigar is open to a little debate. Most people agree that cigars are held between the thumb and forefinger, with the burning end supported by the remaining fingers. As the cigar burns, fewer fingers are necessary to support it. Avoid waving or pointing the cigar, as this can be rude and cause the ash to drop off. 

Most cigar aficionados also discourage holding a cigar between the pointer and middle finger like a cigarette. Despite what you may see in movies, holding a cigar with just your mouth is not recommended. Holding it with your teeth can damage the wrapper, which gets bits of the wrapper stuck in your mouth.

Since dropping a cigar can cause burns to yourself and your property, holding a cigar correctly is important. You can also rest it on the ashtray if you need to have both hands free, but keep in mind that cigars can go out quickly Check out more tips on how to hold a cigar.

Should I Knock the Ash Off?

Cigarettes burn quickly, requiring the user to tap them frequently to remove ash. However, keeping a small amount of ash on the end helps cigars burn more slowly. Tapping a cigar frequently to remove ash is considered poor form.

A good cigar can last up to an hour if you are careful to savor it. Cheaper cigars could last as short as 30 minutes, so it’s best to invest in good cigars. Remember that a cigar is an experience to be savored and enjoyed, especially if you pair it with a drink. Try to leave plenty of time to enjoy your cigar without being rushed.

Taking puffs about once per minute will help the cigar last longer, and also looks more refined than puffing constantly. 

Since wind and low humidity will make a cigar burn faster, try to avoid windy conditions and smoke indoors if needed. Make sure your humidor is set at the correct settings, too, otherwise your cigar could burn much faster.

If you’re no longer excited about the flavor of the cigar, it’s okay to stop smoking it before the end. In fact, some cigar enthusiasts recommend stopping about a third of the way from the end. Learn more about how long cigars last and how to make them last longer.

Unlike cigarettes, cigars are designed to extinguish on their own. It’s very easy for cigars to go out on their own if you wait too long between puffs.

The politest way to put out a cigar is to set it in an ashtray and let it go out on its own. Stubbing it out can generate more smoke and generally looks rude.

Cigars have wonderfully complex flavors and feelings, so they’re perfect to enjoy on their own. But flavor profiles and social settings can further enhance how to smoke a cigar. 

Can I Drink While Smoking?

Cognac, bourbon, single malt whiskey, and other drinks with strong flavors pair well with cigars. Except for tequila, light spirits like gin and vodka are usually overpowered by the taste of the cigar. 

Beer also pairs well with cigars, partly because the carbonation allows it to stay light on the tongue. Try light beers like lagers and ales with mild cigars, and stouts and other dark beers with strong cigars. The color of cigar wrapper often corresponds to how mild it is, so look for darker wrappers to pair with dark beers.

Since smoking cigars can dehydrate your mouth, try to drink something non-alcoholic during or after smoking. A glass of water, lemonade, or a non-alcoholic cocktail all work fine for rehydrating.

Cigars can leave a variety of savory and slightly sweet flavors in your mouth after smoking. Drinks make excellent palate-cleansers after or between cigars. Cigars and tobacco smoke are very alkaline, so an acidic drink like coffee or a whiskey sour cleanses the palate well.

How Long Should I Wait Between Cigars?

In order to properly enjoy the flavor of your next cigar, wait at least 15 minutes before starting it. Even if you use a palate-cleansing snack or drink, your mouth and sinuses need time to clear out the flavors of the previous cigar.

Avoid smoking mild cigars immediately after smoking strong ones. If you didn’t plan well and want to try a mild cigar after a stronger one, wait at least an hour to give your senses a chance to reset.

Should I Share Cigars with Friends?

Gifting and trading cigars with friends is perfectly acceptable and encouraged. However, sharing a cigar once you’ve started smoking it is not commonly done, and is frowned upon in most social settings.

It’s fine to share a lighter or matches with friends, but it is considered poor manners to ask someone else to light your cigar for you. Although it is often done in a social context, lighting, ashing, and enjoying your cigar is ultimately a solo activity.

When and Where Is It Acceptable to Smoke Cigars?

Cigars are generally acceptable anywhere cigarettes are. Whether by law or by practice, many homes and businesses don’t allow smoking, so always ask before partaking indoors.

Outdoor patios may be okay, especially if there are ashtrays set out. When in doubt, double-check, as some restaurants and bars only allow outdoor smoking during certain times or are restricted by state law. Try not to smoke in very dry or windy places, as the cigar could end up burning very quickly or unevenly. 

Avoid asking to light up during a meal, as the smoke may be bothersome to non-smokers’ sense of smell and taste. If other people are smoking cigars, it is likely acceptable.

Cigar stores and other specialty shops often allow cigars to be smoked in lounges. However, they generally require that you smoke cigars purchased on-site, and sneaking in other cigars is seen as rude. Take care to only smoke in posted areas, and don’t try to wander around the humidor with a cigar in hand.

Smoking cigars opens up a whole new world of flavors and sensory experiences that are only brought about with tobacco. It’s a hobby that isn’t reserved for the wealthy or elite and can be enjoyed by anyone in a wide range of settings.

There is a learning curve for both the practical how-tos and the etiquette.