How to smoke a cigar exactly? If you’ve never smoked a cigar before, it can seem intimidating. Maybe you’ve seen cigar smokers when passing a cigar shop, club, or even on TV or in movies.

If your only experience is secondhand, you’ll notice cigars are often associated with people of wealth, class, and sophistication. 

Don’t let the atmosphere of cigar smoking scare you off. Anyone can enjoy a good cigar. We’ll help you get started on your cigar journey with this in-depth guide that covers:

• Choosing a cigar
• Cutting the cigar
• Lighting a cigar
• Holding a cigar
• Smoking the cigar

Choosing a Cigar

People have very definite preferences about what makes a good cigar. If you’re new to cigar smoking, all cigars probably look the same to you. We’ll break down the basics of cigar differences so you can easily choose your first cigar.

Here’s what people care about when they tell you they have favorite cigars:

• Size and shape
• Strength (the type of tobacco used)
• The cigar’s wrapper

Size and Shape

Size and shape may also be a factor in someone’s choice of a cigar. There are two basic cigar shapes, Parejo and Figurado. Each of these two styles can be further divided into sizes.

Parejo is the more common and popular of the two shapes. You’re most likely to see this anywhere you can get a cigar. Parejo cigars have a flat end, with the other end rounded and capped.

Figurado cigars have a pointed cap and a bulging opposite end. The shape is much more distinctive than the basic cylinder of the Parejo.

Strength

For many people, especially beginners, choosing the right cigar strength will be extremely important. You don’t want to try your first cigar and cough and splutter in front of your smoking buddies.

A common misconception is that size influences strength, but this isn’t the case. Instead, a cigar’s strength depends on the amount of tobacco used.

When you buy a cigar, you’ll see that they’re categorized by mild, medium, and bold. Mild is the weakest strength and has the lowest tobacco content, while bold is the strongest and has the most tobacco.

The Wrapper

Cigar leaves aren’t just for show. They influence the cigar’s flavor. A general rule of thumb is that the darker the leaves wrapped around the cigar, the sweeter the cigar’s taste. Lighter leaves usually mean a richer flavor.

There’s a lot more to it, and different brands will have many different flavor nuances. However, these things are meant to familiarize you with what makes a cigar different from other cigars.

All of these things can influence the overall smoking experience. However, it might take some time to decide which factors will be necessary for you.

To figure out your favorite cigar, it’s a good idea to try a few.

Best Cigars To Smoke

Need some help picking out the best cigars to smoke? We’ve got you covered! Here are some of the best cigars to smoke that are being consumed around the world right now:

• Davidoff White Label Short Perfecto
• Illusione Epernay
• Nat Sherman Sterling Series
• Foundation Highclere Castle
• Tatuaje Tattoo Series
• Camacho BG Meyer Gigantes
• Padron 1926 Series
• Ashton Estate Sun Grown
• Arturo Fuente Anejo
• Padron Series 3000 Maduro

How To Prepare a Cigar

After picking out a cigar, you need to know how to prepare a cigar for your enjoyment. You’ll need a cigar cutter and know where to cut your cigar.

How To Cut a Cigar

Cutting a cigar the right way is vital to enjoying the cigar. If you do it wrong, you may not be able to smoke it. A bad cut can make the cigar unravel entirely or make it challenging to draw smoke.

First up, let’s go over cigar construction. Here are the parts of a cigar:

• Filler
• Binder
• Wrapper
• Foot
• Cap
• Shoulder

The filler refers to the tobacco blend. The ratio of tobacco will change the overall taste and strength of the cigar.

The binder is the cigar wrapping. It goes around the filler and is made of tobacco leaves. As we mentioned earlier, the shade of the leaves will alter the flavor of the cigar and its burn and smoothness.

The wrapper is another tobacco leaf, and it covers the whole cigar.

The foot and cap are the ends of the cigar. The foot is the end you will light, and the cap is the part you will need to cut.

The cigar shoulder is where the cap meets the rest of the cigar’s body. You’ll notice a slight curve. You need to be able to identify the shoulder because you should not cut the cigar below the shoulder.

Cigar Cutters

There are various cigar cutters to buy. The one you use will depend on personal preference, so pick whichever one feels the most comfortable. Here are the options:

• Guillotine cutter - Used to make straight cuts. Guillotines are available in a single or double blade. The double blade is more efficient for making a cleaner cut.
• Cigar scissors - These are not normal scissors. The blades are specially shaped for cutting cigars.
• Wedge or “V” cutter - The cut made looks like a wedge or “V.”
• Punch cutter - These are also called hole punches or bullet cutters. They make a hole in the cigar cap rather than removing the cap. 
• Shuriken cutter - This cutter makes six tiny slits to the cigar cap rather than cutting it off or putting a hole in it.

Whichever cutter you pick, just remember to keep it sharpened.

Cutting the Cigar

Whatever cutter you use, you’re going to cut the cigar cap above the shoulder. You’ll be able to determine where to cut because there’s a very faint line where the cigar cap meets the body.

When you’re sure you know where to cut, use your cigar cutter to make a 1/8th-1/16th of an inch or 2-4 mm cut to the cap. Too small of a cut may make it difficult to smoke the cigar, but too large could mean you inhale tobacco or cause the cigar to unravel.

Personal preference will dictate future cuts. Some people prefer deeper drags so they can make a deeper cut. Others will want to keep it on the smaller side.

How To Light a Cigar

Lighting a cigar should be done with some care and patience. It’s not the same as lighting a cigarette. You don’t want to put the foot directly into the flame of your lighter.

Don’t worry. It’s not complicated. Put the foot of the cigar over your flame as if you were toasting the sides of a marshmallow. You don’t want to set it on fire. Instead, you want all of the components in the tip to be heated and warmed evenly.

Rotate the foot over the flame like a marshmallow. Keep going until there’s a noticeable glow. You want embers, not fire. The edges should be slightly blackened around the glowing portion.

If you do happen to get it too close to the flame, it’s okay. Just move it away and start over.

For the lighter, it’s best to use something like a cedar spill or a long wooden match. You can use a regular lighter if you must. Keep in mind that fuel-based lighters can impact your cigar’s carefully constructed flavor profile. If you’re using one, let it burn for a bit before using it on your cigar.

How To Hold a Cigar

If you want to know how to hold a cigar, the process is pretty straightforward. Other than hardcore enthusiasts, most people won’t say anything about your finger stance. Holding a cigar like a cigarette will let longtime smokers know you’re new to the hobby.

If you don’t want to give yourself away as a newbie, here are alternatives to the cigarette hold:

• Between forefinger and thumb
• Three fingers - Put your forefinger and middle finger on the cigar band, and have your thumb support it from below
• All fingers - All four fingers on the top of the cigar with your thumb below

Don’t squeeze your cigar. Hold it tight enough so it won’t fall out of your hands. You don’t want to squeeze the filling out! That’s crucial when it comes to knowing how to hold a cigar.

Smoking a Cigar

Your cigar is all ready to go. You’ve picked a nice flavor, the tobacco content you’re comfortable with, and cut and lit it. We’ll now tell you the best way to smoke a cigar to get the ultimate enjoyment out of it.

Do You Inhale Cigars?

The answer is no – you’re not supposed to. This is a significant difference between cigars and cigarettes. You hold the smoke in your mouth, enjoy the flavor, and then expel it.

Smoking a cigar should be more like a wine tasting. You let it sit on your tongue, stimulate your palate, and then let it go.

How Long Does It Take To Smoke a Cigar?

Smoking a cigar is about the experience. You should enjoy it slowly. If you’ve purchased premium, well-crafted cigars, why rush the experience?

Regardless of how fast you go, the amount of time a cigar will take to burn down will depend on its size. So, your cigar can last between 30 minutes to 2 hours.

FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding cigars. 

Do cigars give you a buzz?

Since nicotine triggers a dopamine response, you will experience some sense of well-being and happiness. This is the buzz a cigar can give you.

How to smoke a cigar without coughing?

Don’t inhale. Take slow drags about once a minute instead of every few seconds. This is how to enjoy a cigar best.

Do you inhale cigars?

No. You hold the smoke in your mouth and then release it.

How far down should you smoke a cigar?

This is about personal preference. Some hardcore cigar fans think you should only smoke a cigar halfway. Others believe that the ideal smoking time is up to the band or until a width of three fingers is left.

Lit it up

Smoking a cigar can be a pleasant and rich experience. It’s easy to try your first cigar and look like you know what you’re doing with all the information. Pick a cigar and get started.