Cuban Cigars - Naked or with the band on?

[nicwing]

The lady wife has just pointed out a quote from a Sherlock Holmes episode where Holmes berates a foul foreign baddie with the phrase:

"If you want to take your place in British society I advise that you remove the band of your Havana Cigar or one might reasonably be considered a bounder"

So are you bounder or gentleman?

Comments please...

Nic
Cuban Cigar Walk London (http://www.citiesinsound.com/shopWebSite/php/showProducts.php?plu=13)

[Drewmidorn]

Band comes off once the cigars has warmed up, you don't need to advertise what you are smoking, but you don't want to ruin the wrapper!

D

[Alex]

I second that.

[Pantomimehorse]

When it was legal to smoke indoors, I allways took the band off once loose from the warmth, now as I only smoke when out walking I dont tend to bother

[Robusto]

I love keeping the band on whenever possible. I must be foreign!

I have ruined a few cigars when the band has 'caught' when being removed, though, so I like it to be slide-y for ease of removal.

[Stogiedog]

I tend to keep the band on indoors or out however, if I am enjoying the last third and do not want the cigar to end I remove the band.
The band always removes easily at this point of the smoke anyway.:41:

[johnnycashsboots]

i just take it off when it gets like its gonna burn
and i kinda like the thought of being a 'bounder'
remember the scene in scarface when tony's being exited from the restaurant
'look at the bad guy'

[Robusto]

I think cigar bands can be very attractive, and that's why I don't take them off immediately.

I love the vibrant red and simple gold lettering of a D4. I love the yellow and black band and tube colours of Cohibas. I love the tacky boxing champion's belt look of Punch cigar bands. (These last ones are very 'showy', I think. That's not really me at all!).

And yet I also love the look of a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No2 which comes with no band at all. It's because its colour is so sultry, I think.

I've started to keep all my cigar bands because they are attractive souvenirs, and because I've smoked some different sticks recently. Cigar bands are very varied indeed.

So if I keep it on for most of the smoke, I now look after a band when I remove it from the cigar.


I like to think of myself as a bit of a bounder, even though I'm really a very good boy. A good cigar makes me feel much more at ease with myself, and I feel a liitle bit more self-assured when I stroll along our promenade in my silken breeches and top hat.

[larrysputnik]

I think cigar bands can be very attractive, and that's why I don't take them off immediately.

I love the vibrant red and simple gold lettering of a D4. I love the yellow and black band and tube colours of Cohibas. I love the tacky boxing champion's belt look of Punch cigar bands. (These last ones are very 'showy', I think. That's not really me at all!).

And yet I also love the look of a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No2 which comes with no band at all. It's because its colour is so sultry, I think.

I've started to keep all my cigar bands because they are attractive souvenirs, and because I've smoked some different sticks recently. Cigar bands are very varied indeed.

So if I keep it on for most of the smoke, I now look after a band when I remove it from the cigar.


I like to think of myself as a bit of a bounder, even though I'm really a very good boy. A good cigar makes me feel much more at ease with myself, and I feel a liitle bit more self-assured when I stroll along our promenade in my silken breeches and top hat.

I agree with this line of thinking. If I like the look of the band I enjoy keeping it on there until the last quarter or so. But, if the band is not very appealing I'll take it off right away. Like the Montecristo; I think that maroon color is ugly against the cigar wrapper so I remove it almost immediately. It's not that I want to advertise the cigar, but I catch myself looking at my cigar a lot while I smoke it and the band sometimes adds to the aesthetic value of the experience. Bounder.:41:

[nicwing]

Looks like Sherlock's foreign chum was in the right after all and I have it on very good authority...

I was sharing a great cigar with Edward, proprietor of Davidoff in Jermyn street today and I asked him.

He was very clear on the matter and I trust him totally:

The bands are put on by hand, it's easy for a tiny bit of glue to stick the band to the Cigar. Take it off too early and you risk spoiling the cigar.

Let the cigar warm up, after a while check to see if the band moves freely and if it does then it's safe to remove it if you want to. I watched and he only removed the band when he got to the last 2" of his cigar.

Sorted?

[Deano]

Love the feel of the band so keep it on until the nub.

Noone I'd smoke around would know the difference between an expensive band, cheap band, or B&H wrapper, so it's not me attempting to look cool.

Just prefer the band on!

[Scottish_Cuban]

Insome news piece i read recently, the brits are known for removing their tabs so they dont seem to be showing off. I dont take mine off till the heat gets to mine, i guess its personal preference nowadays. In cuba its frowned upon if you remove the tab before its about to catch fire! Plus its advertising over there so the spotters can see whos doing best lol.

[Robusto]

More on the topic just in my email...

http://www.cigarinspector.com/other/should-we-remove-the-band-while-smoking

[cohibaIV]

Always on??? They make and are part of the cigar...:confused::41::rock:

[cj121]

Interesting debate to watch unfurl for newb. Personally, I keep mine on probably moving down according to whether the schmoking is good, and then off :41:

[Lou3]

I once read that leaving the band on was considered to be pretentious, but I think it's pretentious to dictate band etiquette either way. Do what you want. I agree that some bands are beautiful and shouldn't be hidden. A band can start a good conversation.

[Olls]

I had a look at the Zino Davidoff cigar etiquette guide which, I think, is where the idea of removing the band comes from. It's got a lot of good stuff in it, I particularly like:

"It is important to remember that cigar smokers should always present themselves as considerate, understanding people. Altering non-cigar smokers? preconceived opinions about cigar smokers, whilst improving the good name of enthusiasts, is well worth that little extra effort to be courteous."

But a lot of rubbish too, such as:

"Don't Smoke more than half the cigar"

Christ, the things are expensive enough to begin with without letting a good one die out at half way!

Personally I usually take the band off whenever it's loose enough to do so without damaging the wrapper - this could be before I start or not until right at the end.

I kind of feel that a massive cigar ain't exactly inconspicuous with or without the band on...

[Robusto]

Lou

Re conversations. I agree.

I've had so many good conversations with people about cigars in public places prompted initially by the aroma - and then by the knowledge of the bands.

[G-man]

I've always been kinda an outlaw so maybe thats why I leave the band on.:hail:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I usually take the band off my cigars when I get about half way done. I don't like to take them off too soon because of possible damage. I like to take them off when about half way done because it's easy to remove at that point and the risk of damage has been minimized. I must admit I do like the way some of them look, so I guess I'm a bounder.:nerd:

[TJCoro]

:bandit:Puros always smoke better with the band on.

[nicwing]

Herfin with Robusto on Tuesday, illustrates exactly why not to take the band off.

I left the band on until the cigar was warmed through and well past half way. No movement on the band so I left it a little longer and then started to remove it.

I was very cautious and just as well, the band was well stuck to the wrapper and I left it until I got to the last possible minute and then removed it.

No question I would have made a real mess of the cigar if I had taken the band off at the start.