Experienced aficionados remember all too well the first time they smoked a cigar. Whether they were offered a few tokes from a friend or went all out by lighting up their own stick, every cigar smoker started somewhere.
As a novice, it’s understandable that you might not know how to properly smoke a cigar. Those who have smoked a cigarette will be used to inhaling the smoke. This isn’t the case for cigars, however, as the tobacco is much too strong. As such, there’s a trick to smoking a cigar and indulging in its layers of developing flavors without spluttering.
Ready to give it a try? Let’s explore some of the best cigars for entry-level smokers and get you set up with all the necessary accessories for cigar preparation and smoking.
Choosing your cigar
Your first time smoking a cigar is a momentous occasion. Start with a beginner’s cigar suited to your palate so you can look back fondly at this moment when you reach aficionado status.
As a beginner, you need to consider the cigar’s size and strength. Don’t be enticed by large sticks that boast high strength and a long smoking time. You’ll have a better first-time smoke if you choose something mellow and something that won’t keep burning for hours.
There’s a vast array of cigar shapes and sizes to choose from, but we’d recommend going no bigger than a six-inch Toro for your first smoke. This way, you’ll ease into the cigar world, learning how to smoke a cigar and detect its nuanced notes before leveling up to stronger sticks when you become more experienced.
Mellow smokes are often misunderstood. Terms like “mellow,” “mild,” and “full” are used to describe a cigar’s strength — not its flavor. In fact, some of the most delicious stogies with a colorful array of notes are classed as mellow. Choose a cigar with flavors that entice your palate, and you can enjoy your first time smoking without being overwhelmed by its power.
Popular cigars choices for beginners
The Montecristo No.1 is a popular smoke for beginners thanks to its mellow-medium strength. It’s a respectful 6.62 inches in length and has a 44-ring gauge, so you can learn how to smoke your cigar over 45 minutes. Aside from its ideal size and strength, this stick from Montecristo Cigars boasts a rich tapestry of flavors. A silky Connecticut wrapper combines with hearty Dominican fillers to deliver smooth notes of cocoa, coffee, and nuts with additional layers of nuts, leather, and cedar.
While the Davidoff Grand Cru No.5 is a short 4 x 41 stick, it offers an incredible first-time smoking experience. Its binder and filler tobaccos hail from the Dominican Republic, but it features a slightly spicy Ecuador Connecticut wrapper. Crisp notes of white pepper and dark roast coffee are mellowed by creamy coffee and sweet caramel, while a touch of cedar brings in a wonderful wooden element. It’s a gorgeous Petit Corona that can be smoked within 25 minutes, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
What you need
No matter what cigar you have chosen as your first, you need to prepare it before you light up. Making a mistake in this stage could ruin the whole cigar.
To prepare your first cigar, you will need:
- a cigar cutter
- a torch lighter, and
- an ashtray.
Cutting your cigar
Most cigars come with a cap at the head, which is a piece of tobacco leaf that holds the cigar in place. This cap needs to be cut off to smoke the cigar. While a pair of scissors could get you out of a tight spot, a sharp cigar cutter will give you the smooth cut you need. The better the cut, the better the smoke.
It’s recommended to gently moisten the cap in your mouth to ensure a clean cut. Doing so hydrates the leaf and prevents cracking from drying during the slice.
The most common and easiest way to cut a cigar is with a straight cut. Used with a guillotine cutter, this is a sharp, fast cut to remove part of the cap. Be brave, but be careful. An anxious or overeager cut could lead to your cigar unraveling.
Lighting your cigar
If you know how to light your cigar, you’re just one step away from your first few puffs.
However, you can’t just use any old lighter. A torch lighter burns a strong jet flame that is especially hot. If used correctly, they’re perfect for lighting up your first cigar.
Lighting up properly is all about how you hold the cigar.
- Place the stick between your thumb and index finger and keep it pointing down at a 45-degree angle.
- Carefully bring the lighter close to the cigar foot without actually touching the two together to avoid burning.
- Now, gently toast the cigar by rotating over the flame to get the perfect smolder. The foot will begin to glow red.
- This is when you get the joy of taking short puffs into your mouth, being careful not to inhale.
- Your cigar should now be burning nicely and ready to smoke.
Smoking your first cigar
The moment you’ve been waiting for is here.
Before we go any further, we must reiterate the importance of not inhaling your cigar. Those who have smoked cigarettes before might find this tricky, but cigars are much stronger. Inhale the smoke, and you’ll likely end up with a spluttering coughing fit. Instead, cigar smoke should be sucked into the mouth slowly to dance along the palate so you can indulge in the texture and flavors.
Draw the smoke only into your mouth with a gentle puff. Hold it for a few seconds to savor the flavor, then exhale through the mouth, noticing the creaminess of the smoke as you release. Every smoke is different, so revel in this moment while it lasts.
Rotate your cigar and take a puff every 40 seconds or so, keeping an eye on the burn to ensure it’s consistent. If you need a break, simply place the cigar safely in an ashtray and pick it up again when you’re ready.
Ashing your cigar
Cigar smoking can be a messy affair if you don’t ash your cigar. You’ll more than likely recognize when the cigar is ready to be ashed, but it all depends on the burn type. Most will go flakey, while others will continue to produce long ash tips until they eventually fall off.
Get ahead of things by keeping note of your ash length and shape. All you have to do is gently roll the ash off into the ashtray by rotating it inside. You could gently tap it off, but be gentle to avoid damaging the outside of the cigar and potentially ruining the rest of your smoke.
We know that those first smokes are what set the tone of your cigar-smoking adventures. Let us lead you down the path to a successful cigar journey with our expert advice for beginner smokers.