New Cigar Smokers Guide

[Simon Bolivar]

Excellent idea & respect for putting your thoughts & techniques down on paper Marc. Luckily on here we don' t. Over react picking up tiny details that we do differently but accept what you have written so far is a pretty fair representation of the way we enjoy our smoking experience. Let us know when you have added all you except to at this time & then perhaps others can add their own experiences.

[MattKernow]

VTG,

Printed out and put in a moving box labelled "Little Havana"

Thanks again

MK

[Johnny Thunder]

Thank you.

[ValeTudoGuy]

http://www.cigaraffection.com/images/Cigar_Sizes_Shapes_Colours_High_Res.jpg

here you go

[Johnny Thunder]

Brilliant this VTG. This will be a reference for me when I start my journey.
Just one question for now. Do you have a link to a larger version of the image.
My eyesight is not strong enough for the one attached.

[ValeTudoGuy]

It's exactly the same on my iPad (as everything else)

Edit: I made it nice and big for you

[Wigan]

You have your guide in a tiny font size

[ValeTudoGuy]

For what?

[Wigan]

I`m sorry VTG but my eyesight isn't good enough for that

[ValeTudoGuy]

I tap mine off, almost exclusively. I think it brings around a welcome flavour change in almost all circumstances. Some people say the ash buffers temperature and keeps things as they should be.

By rolling I think he means touch the corner/ edge of the ash against the ashtray and gently roll the cigar around. This will remove some ash but leave some in place to still buffer the cherry.

Completly personal opinion I think in this one. Try it out and see what you think.

[parnaby]

Good effort VTG, I'm sure some users will find this useful.
There is one question I have if anyone can shed some light on it. I was smoking yesterday with a friend and when my ash started getting a bit too long, I gave it a gentle tap to break it off. My friend said I should not do this and let it fall naturally or 'roll' it. So what difference does this make? I don't like letting it get too long then dropping it down myself.


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[MattKernow]

I would be absolutely honoured if you thought it was good enough to do that! Enjoy

In my humble opinion, yes it is.

I'm new on terminology and my pallet is still very green too. (Why I'm asking so many questions on here trying to take it all in.)

I intend to keep it in my man shed when we get our first house and read it as and when I need it.

Top work VTG!!

[ValeTudoGuy]

VTG,

Thank you for posting this, its very useful to me. As someone who has smoked maybe 25 or so puros in his time (a newbie if ever there was one) its incredibly helpful.

Do you have any issues with me printing these out to keep and read at leisure?

MK

I would be absolutely honoured if you thought it was good enough to do that! Enjoy

[MattKernow]

VTG,

Thank you for posting this, its very useful to me. As someone who has smoked maybe 25 or so puros in his time (a newbie if ever there was one) its incredibly helpful.

Do you have any issues with me printing these out to keep and read at leisure?

MK

[ValeTudoGuy]

Smoking the cigar:
There's many ways to do this but I will go trough the process as I tend to do it.

Cutting:

Your going to need something to cut your cigar..... No don't bite it.
In general cutters are Guillotine, Punch or V-Cut. I tend to use Guillotine and Punches.
Always wet the (Sealed) end of the cigar lightly with your mouth before cutting.
Notice that the Cigars tapers at the end, this is called the shoulder and your going to want to cut somewhere in this region. Determine the line of the Cap and cut as little of the end of the cigar as you feel comfortable with, you can always cut more. Don't cut the whole cap off (Flush Cut) because this can cause the Wrapper to unravel which is hugely annoying. When cutting be decisive and cut in one swift movement.

Punching is even easier you literally lightly twist the punch into the closed cap end of the cigar, Once you have a hole, lightly suck through it to determine the (Draw) now draw is a personal thing but you neither want a wind tunnel or a Golfball in a hosepipe. Somewhere in between is ideal, a slight resistance but certainly not hard work.

Lighting:

Now I'm going to walk you through using a jet flame lighter as this is what I normally use.
With the cigar in one hand and the lighter in the other, ignite the lighter and start to offer it up to the (Foot) end of the cigar that isn't going in your mouth. The flame does not need to be touching the tobacco. Roll the cigar lightly and you will see the cigar foot start to darken (Char) and smoulder. Once this starts to happen bring the flame slightly closer as you continue to roll the cigar. You will start to see the end smoulder orange/red (Cherry), you want this to be as even as possible and it might require a gentle blow to help it on its way.

Once it's going your done with your lighter unless you let the cigar go out.

Smoking:

Now it's time to put the end (Unlit) in your mouth and gently suck, be sure not to inhale or take the smoke too far back. Keep the smoke in your mouth and feel free to gently roll it around the inside of your mouth for a moment before gently exhaling it. You don't want to over smoke the cigar as this will cause it to heat up and turn the flavour bad. I tend to take between 2 and 4 draws every minute, but you will find your own rhythm with different cigars. Continue this way until, the experience stops being pleasurable. If you cigar goes out, repeat the relighting process within a couple minutes of it going out to keep it at it's best. If the cigar is starting to seem like it's going out, try lightly blowing through it momentarily (Sometimes called purging.)

Ash: Some people like to leave the Ash intact, personally I like to knock it off. Try both ways and come to your own conclusions.

Putting the Cigar out.

In films you often see the cigar smoker crushing his cigar out by twisting it firmly into a hard surface. I would personally never do this. I find it gives Off a bad smell.
Instead I simply set my cigar down and allow it to peacefully die out.

Cigar Band,
You May read etiquette about leaving a Band On or taking it off, please do whatever suits you! I find if the Band is loose I take it off prior to smoking. If the Band is firmly in place I smoke it to near the Band and try to remove it then by sliding it off, if it won't slide off I lightly pinch the glued section apart and the Band Will unravel.