In 2022, it feels like more and more American adults are using cigars on a regular basis. For most, smoking a cigar is something that helps to relax and forget about the daily stresses that life can bring. When starting your journey into the cigar world, you will need to conduct some research. As you do this, you can work out what kinds of cigars match your taste buds.
If you’re not sure where to start, we have some expert tips that can help you get the most out of your experience and enjoy your cigar to the max. Even seasoned cigar enthusiasts are constantly looking at ways to elevate their smoking experience. Read on to find out more.
Take Your Time
Those who have smoked cigarettes for many years or are new to the scene, you may get in a hurry the first time you try a cigar. However, rushing through the process will only result in disappointment. What’s more, not being patient can compromise the cigar’s flavor. The faster you smoke a cigar, the higher the ember temperature will become. This hot born will normally lead to less than stellar flavor profiles. Unfortunately, this can hide the enjoyable nuances found in the cigar.
It’s best to take a hit of a cigar every 30 seconds. When you do this, the flame will be kept at the right temperature and bring out the hidden flavors in the cigar. Having patience will truly pay off and elevate your cigar smoking experience.
Know How to Properly Cut Your Cigar
Before firing up your first cigar, you’ll need to cut a piece of its cap off first. When you cut the right amount of cap, this helps you get the most out of your cigar. One rookie error many new cigar smokers make is to cut off too much of the cap. Make sure not to do this. Instead, only clip off as much of the cap as necessary to get the right draw.
Should you cut too much off, this may result in the cigar starting to unravel. You don’t want to waste a perfectly good cigar. Therefore, making a shallow cut of the stogie is key. If you haven’t got an adequate draw, snip off a little more. Smoke smokers like to use a punch cutter that can put a neat hole in the cap. Take time to experiment with different kinds of cuts to find a method that works for you. Check out TobaccoPipes.com, a site that sells a wide range of high-quality cigars. They also have guides on cigars so you can find one that’s easy to cut.
How to Light Your Cigar
Lighting up a cigar correctly is a bit trickier than it looks. However, try not to let this put you off – it’s early learned! To properly light your cigar, you’ll need to rotate the flame around the end of it. Once you rotate your lighter, have a gentle puff on it. Most cigar smokers like to toast their smokes first. This is done with an indirect flame to ignite the foot, which allows for a cooler ember to begin with. Once you follow these actions, you shouldn’t have any issues getting your cigar lit.
A lighter that burns lighter fluid rather than butane should be avoided at all costs. This is because it will impart that horrible petroleum smell. For those who like to use a match, make sure your match burns long enough to dispel the sulfur aroma. To put your cigar, let it die a natural death instead of stubbing it out like you would with a cigarette. If you mash out your cigar, this will only cause a stinky atmosphere that won’t be pleasing. Leaving a cigar in an ashtray is the best method to take as it will normally self-extinguish in a couple of minutes.
How to Store Your Cigar
If you don’t know how to store your cigars correctly, this can cause them to become brittle. You may have difficulty keeping them lit and there may be a compromise on taste. Your best bet is to invest in a humidor. There are plenty of quality desktop humidors you can buy. When on the hunt for one, make sure to consider what kind of wood its interior is made from.
Most cigar smokers like humidors made from Spanish cedar wood. This is because they trap in moisture, while adding a nice woody fragrance. There are other woods like Honduran Mahogany that you can try out too.
For those who have recently made the switch to cigars, it can take a bit of time to get used to it. Of course, you’ll want to have the ultimate cigar smoking experience possible to reap the benefits. In order for this to happen, using our tips above should get you off to the best start.
Whatever flavor or kind of cigar catches your eye, we’re confident when you put the tips above into practice, this should transform the way you smoke and potentially keep you on the cigar bandwagon forever.