By Richard Greco
Cigar smokers are not a rambunctious bunch, more a respectable group of enthusiasts who have an elegant taste for tightly rolled tobacco. But being one of these enthusiasts does not come easy, cigar smoking is accompanied with some unwritten rules that if not abided by, can be accountable for giving all cigar smokers a bad name.
To start from the beginning when holding a cigar, the proper grasp is between the thumb and index finger. Most people try to put the cigar between their index and middle finger, like a cigarette, but that right off the bat will be the telltale sign of a cigarette smoker, not a cigar enthusiast.
Picture yourself in your favorite local cigar store. You’ve selected the brand and type of cigar you want to smoke, but now there is a full box of single cigars for you to choose from. Don’t fool yourself into believing that just because two cigars are the same brand and come from the same box that they will yield the exact same smoking experience, because they won’t.
Lighting a cigar is not rocket science, but there are a few things to remember to make sure that it is done right.
First, you must choose the method for lighting your cigar. This is a choice between matches and lighters. Either method is acceptable, but be careful because not all matches are equal, and not all lighters will yield the same results.
Properly cutting a cigar is crucial to the enjoyment of your smoking experience. The head (the end of the cigar that you put in your mouth) needs to be opened to allow proper air to flow through the cigar. There are many ways to achieve a cut, but there are really only three that are still popular and effective.
They are as follows:
