The Basics Of Smoking

First of all, you have to understand that we are talking about quality cigars, not cigarettes – that”s a different thing. Now, the first thing you must learn is how to light a cigar properly. Take a cigar clipper and use it cut off the section of the cigar you put to your mouth.
After cutting, you may then take a cedar match and hold the edge of the cigar to the flame. Avoid using sulfur matches as they leave a bad taste in the mouth. Also, do not allow the cigar to be in direct contact with the fire. Just hold it over the heat and draw in deeply until the cigar is well lit.
“What about lighters?” you ask. Well, as much as possible, use a wooden match to light your quality cigars. But if you must use a lighter, choose a butane lighter. Regular cigarette lighters produce a nasty odor that ruins a good cigar.
Another point to remember is to light your own quality cigars. Do not offer to light another”s or to have someone else light you cigar for you. Offer your match or your lighter instead.
Here comes the main part of cigar smoking – and that is smoking your quality cigars! But you can”t do it any way you please. There are certain points a good smoker must follow. First, lightly hold the cigar between your thumb and your index thumb. Anything else is considered in bad taste.

A Couple of Do”s and Don”ts Every Quality Cigars Lover Must Know

Do not rush the process of smoking. Keep a slow burn and allow yourself time to savor the taste and the aroma of your quality cigars. Smoking good quality cigars usually takes half an hour. Bigger sized quality cigars take at least an hour.
Don”t knock off the ashes of your quality cigars. Rest the cigar in an ashtray every few minutes – don”t huff and puff like a little madman! Place it in an ashtray when not being smoked, and allow the ashes to fall off naturally from the cigar. But be sure you have the right ashtray size.
Never burn your quality cigars down to a nub. Leave at least and inch or two to your cigar. Otherwise, you”ll get a bitter taste in your mouth. So how do you extinguish and discard your cigar? Allow the cigar to sit on the ashtray and it will go out by itself.

And remember, a good smoker is considerate of the people around him. So when you want to light up your quality cigars in public, make sure to ask the person beside you if he minds you lighting up one.

But if you had to extract the essentials, it would look something like this:

DO…

• Neatly trim the end of your cigar with an appropriate device.

• Hold your cigar between the thumb and index finger.

• Take time to warm the foot of the cigar slightly prior to lighting it

• Rotate the flame around the edge of the foot until it starts to burn, then puff lightly.

• Cigar smoking is a LEISURE activity, not a race — a puff a minute is about right.

• Let a cigar go out on its own, without excessive grinding in an ashtray

• Let it go out if there’s less than one quarter of its leaf remaining

• Re-light a viable cigar by scraping the ash and turning it in the flame for a moment or two until it catches again

Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.

DON’T …

• Use a penknife to cut, a lance to pierce, or your teeth to chew off the end of the cigar

• Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar:

• Ask someone else for a light

• Be a show off – no one wants to see a narcissistic cigar-smoker calling attention to himself/herself with an elaborate display of cigar smoking technique or accoutrements like cigar holders.

• Put a dead cigar into your mouth and puff furiously while lighting to re-ignite it

• Don’t chew on your cigar, slobber on it, gesture with it or clench it between your teeth (unless you’re a 1930’s homicide detective)

Chain smoke.  Cigars are to be savored.

OPTIONAL

• Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar

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