How To Smoke Cigars

In order to enjoy it fully, it’s important to know how to smoke a cigar properly. Though many people smoke cigars regularly, few have the knowledge to get the most out of their smoke. It is, in fact, a sort of art that takes time, patience, and practice. Like many other hobbies, there are many resources and places where novices can get their start with cigar smoking. Take advantage of the following tips to understand the basics of cigar smoking.

1. Light your cigar less aggressively than you would a cigarette. Many smokers get in the habit of holding the flame from a match or lighter directly on the tip of their cigar. This, though not necessarily terrible, can cause the tobacco to burn too hot immediately -- which ruins the flavor. Most experienced smokers hold their lighters a small distance away from their cigar while simultaneously taking slow, steady puffs. It lights just as well with a little time, and keeps the body and flavor of the cigar intact.
2. Remember to hold your cigar properly. Unlike some other forms of tobacco, a cigar is usually held between the index finger and thumb. It provides more stability than if the cigar were held between the middle and index fingers.
3. There is a unique technique to taking a hit from a cigar. Taking a draw the right way is pretty simple. First, bring the cigar to your lips, and purse them around the end. To draw smoke into your mouth, suck as if you were drinking from a straw. Some cigar smokers prefer to perform this puffing action several times in a row, and others do it just once. Either way, you can then blow the smoke out by simply exhaling as if it were a regular breath.
4. With a cigar, the key to puffing properly is to savor every hit. One very common mistake that novice cigar smokers make is puffing too often. This can lead to an uneven burn, called a "run", along one side of the cigar. That "run" is a telltale sign that you’re smoking too fast. The general rule of thumb is to take just one puff every minute or so.
5. Try not to inhale the cigar’s smoke. Though it may be tobacco, its nicotine content is lower, and its chemical structure is different. So, instead of getting a buzz from inhaling cigar smoke, you will just get a cough and a strong burning sensation.
6. Know when and how to put your cigar out. Experienced cigar smokers generally agree that a cigar is finished when there’s about two inches left. From that point on, the smoke’s flavor and body will change because of the heat’s close vicinity to your mouth. When your cigar has reached this point, simply leave it burning in an ashtray instead of smashing it out like a cigarette. A well made cigar will burn itself out relatively quickly.