Points for discussion

[ChrisMClark]

Many of us will be familiar with Zino Davidoffs essay on cigar smoking etiquette. Part of this essay outlined Dos and Don'ts for cigar smoking, and I'm curious to seee what people agree with, and what they don't. The essay was written in 1967; the world was a very different place!


DO
warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.
Take your time smoking it; a puff a minute is about right.
Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb.
Let the cigar die a dignified death; after it's smoked halfway, it will go out on its own.
Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.
Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behaviour.
The important thing to remember is that we cigar aficionados should present ourselves as considerate and understanding individuals. Changing people's preconceived notions and giving the growing numbers of aficionados a good name is well worth that little extra effort.

DON'T
Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar.
Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly.
Ask someone else for a light ('The lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair').
Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly.
Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking.
Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf.
Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights.
Clench it between your teeth.
Get the end of the cigar wet, chew It, slobber on it.
Smoke too quickly.
Use a cigar holder.
Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth.
Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill.
Smoke while working.
Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
Smoke when you're walking.
Smoke more than half the cigar.
Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.
Chain-smoke cigars.

Discuss!
I'm guilty of smoking and walking; I very often have a smoke whilst I walk Dogbert. Being a cigarette smoker I also tend to hold the cigar between my index and middle fingers. But apart from that I think I'm along the right lines! :smoke:

[daverave999]

I think those relating to the mechanics of smoking are still sound advice ie. there is a reason for those. The etiquette ones are more personal taste I think.

[Kdot]

you would never ever see me throw away a Cohiba Esplendido after half way!
Firstly due to the cost and secondly I find many cigars evolve to their best beyond this point.

My "do" list based on the items above would be:

warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
Smoke while working.
Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
Smoke when you're walking.

the rest is meh.

[eggopp]

I cant afford to smoke half a cigar and waste the rest, i smoke it all; as far as i possibly can :smoke:

[ChrisMClark]

Sorry, forgot the one about only smoking half way. That just seems wasteful...look after mother Earth and all that :D It's interesting for me as a commentary on social attitudes back then. Doesn't matter how you smoke these days, you still end up being treated like a social pariah. I was born too late :lol:

[misterbulgarin]

I remember reading this when I first lookd into smoking cigars.

I do:

-Try not to put the cigar in the flame, Ive converted to turbo flame now, and I still do not put it in the flame, but i DO toast the end.

-Hold the cigar with my thumb and index finger

-Let the cigar die a dignified death (unless its damn nice I smoke it all the way til my fingers hurt)

- Puff a minute


I don't

-Smoke and walk, I like to stand, take it in, and watch the smok around me. Smoking while walking just feels like im chuggin on a stick and havin smoke zoom past me head

-Stub the cigars when done

-Flick ash off, unless I know its a shortfiller cigar/ not greatly constructed , to prevent ash falling on me

[Simon-JG-hr]

"Take your time smoking it; a puff a minute is about right." All well and good, but I've come across quite a few cigars which, if left 'un-puffed' for a minute or so on multiple occassions, would make like a woman and stop working out of spite...

Generally I agree with pretty much all of the 'essay'. That said, I can't say that my agreement extends to the 'half a stick maximum' suggestion (some are just so good that you just can't help nubbing them... ;) )

[jdawg]

Under the Do's, I follow most except remove band after lighting. I find that if you remove the band to soon, it generally tears the wrapper. The band comes off more easily after it is warmed up.

Under the don'ts, What is wrong with smoking a cigar while working? If you have the freedom to do so, then why not?

I walk and smoke cigars often! I like to take a nice walk during the spring time with a stogie in my mouth. In fact, I may do so today!!! :biggrin1:

[Simon-JG-hr]

I walk and smoke cigars often! I like to take a nice walk during the spring time with a stogie in my mouth. In fact, I may do so today!!! :biggrin1:If any of the dos/don'ts fall under a 'personal preference' category it is this one. I cannot stand walking with a cigar. But that's me - once I light up, I'd prefer to be peeled or prized out of my smoking spot following deep concentration on the cigar, nature and (if with company) conversation.

[ChrisMClark]

I know what you guys are talking about (Re. walking and smoking). My first 2 or 3 Chinchaleros were enjoyed in my own little sanctuary (spare bedroom cum office) but having fully contemplated them I'm now happy having a smoke whilst walking the dog. Would never go out with a 'new' treat though.

[Robusto]

I really like a bit of 'cigar exhibitionism' when I'm in the mood. That might just be enjoying a massive one when walking round London. Or behaving Mafioso when I'm at the driving wheel.

I love quiet times with a cigar in deep thought.
I like showing off with a cigar - enjoying the acting - just as much.

[whisky77]

you would never ever see me throw away a Cohiba Esplendido after half way!
Firstly due to the cost and secondly I find many cigars evolve to their best beyond this point.

My "do" list based on the items above would be:

warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
Smoke while working.
Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
Smoke when you're walking.

the rest is meh.

Agree with Kdot on this point. Who do you know that smokes a perfectly good cigar and throws half of it away?
Index and middle finger for me. Apart from that I would say some of the rules still apply today.

[ChrisMClark]

Times have changed since '67! :lol:

One thing that does interest me right now is etiquette for smoking cigars on a golf course..last time I played was '07! And I wasn't a brother by this point!

[JoeyC]

I have to agree with most of you that the half way thing is a bit wasteful. Also I don't remove the band until I have just about reached it or about to lay it to rest, I've tried to pull it off early and tore a wrapper. Also if I'm paying $10 and up for a cigar, people around me are going to know what I'm smoking. To me that’s like buying a Rolex and taking the crown off the face. :hmmmm2:

[ChrisMClark]

Also if I'm paying $10 and up for a cigar, people around me are going to know what I'm smoking. To me that’s like buying a Rolex and taking the crown off the face. :hmmmm2:

That's a fair one. I'm no brand-whore, but if I'm going to fire up a Cohiba or similar, I want people to know about it :lol:

[Simon-JG-hr]

I'm sure the band-thing is of British background. Possibly a modesty thing, more likely a clubland thing.

You can just imagine the situation... Think of yourself in the Carlton Club (or some such establishment)...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1045000/images/_1048081_carltonclub300.jpg

Old Farquharson, club President (and owner of half of Bedfordshire) is relaxing in his wing-back chair. He's quite pleased that he's just wandered up from JJ Fox, where he bought a splendid Monte 2.

Shortly after Farq's lit up his wonderfully expensive smoke, a young upstart ambles in. The young upstart goes by the name of Richardson (his farther's a mechanic made good - sent his son to Winchester with the money made from selling carburetors). Clearly not of the same class, I mean, heavens above, he's wearing brown in town!? No culture these upper-middle-class twits...

Anyway, Richards sits down opposite Farq. Pulls out a cigar and, whilst positioning his feet on the coffee table (:eek:) lights up. The wonderful aroma of a Por Larranaga Magnificos floats around the room.

"The cheek of the blighter," Thinks old Farq, "to come in here and upstage me in such a manner - all that flashy gold, the extra band, everyone will know his cost more than mine. And I own half of Bedfordshire! Or is it Staffordshire? I can never remember... :hmmmm2: Bastard didn't even go to Harrow..."

And so it was... in order that old Farq (and his real tennis partner, Ponsonby-Smythe) were no longer concerned with being upstaged in their own back-yard, convention was that one would take in the airs without a band... Richardson could enjoy splashing daddy's ill-gotten cash, and Farq could enjoy his favoured Monte 2, with no-one any the wiser as to his (relative) thriftyness.

Here endeth today's lesson. :849:

[satch]

Anyone who throws half a perfectly good cigar away has got more money than sense and wants shagging with a cactus.
Er, just my personal opinion.

[tippexx]

Pretty much to the letter. Except the band comes off when IT's ready. I prefer to stand smoking, so WALKING becomes a natural part of that. I consign cigars to their final maker when I'VE decided their finished, a decision which length remaining has nothing to do with.

[daverave999]

I consign cigars to their final maker when I'VE decided their finished, a decision which length remaining has nothing to do with.
Totally agree! You can tell when it's starting to turn for the worse.

[Stevieboy]

"Take your time smoking it; a puff a minute is about right." All well and good, but I've come across quite a few cigars which, if left 'un-puffed' for a minute or so on multiple occassions

Agreed Simon esp. with skinny smokes...Monte especial #2 always gives me that problem. Cracking smoke :hail: but needs nursing a lot

[Stevieboy]

I really like a bit of 'cigar exhibitionism' when I'm in the mood.
I like showing off with a cigar - enjoying the acting - just as much.

You don't say :p

[Simon Bolivar]

Churchill is supposed to have discarded his cigars at the halfway point, saying 'the second half of a Cuban is as bad as a NC' (as close as I can recall). His large stubs were used by the gardener to mulch the plants. This possibly started as a Flash Harry type idea, ie I can afford to throw half my stick away & to the elite, their cigars were probably cheaper for them in relation to their incomes than they are today for ours.
Saw a Sheik smoking a Cohiba on the TV yesterday, don't know but suspect he discarded more of it than I would.
The rule of thumb I follow is to discard when the flav becomes bitter, preferably a puff or two before (& there's the trick:smoke:) on avge 1 1/2" stub but on extra delcious smokes have been know to go down to the width of the band, pushed to the clipped end.:41:

I try & leave half an hr between smokes although on Herf's that's generally shorter!

[68TriShield]

I smoke at my desk all day long.It makes the day much more bearable :41:

[tippexx]

[QUOTE=King of the World;72054]

Saw a Sheik smoking a Cohiba on the TV yesterday, don't know but suspect he discarded more of it than I would.

I saw that too. On a TV report from Iraq. I don't think he was a Sheik, he was some sort of religious leader. But it was the Siglo VI which stood out, and give him his due he was onto the last third and still toking!