Introduction
If you're like me, you might have been introduced to cigars by an older relative or father figure who took the time to show you how to properly smoke one. Maybe he taught you how to cut and light it, or maybe he even showed you the proper way for disposing of the ash once it falls off. If that's not your situation, don't worry! I'm here today to teach you all about how best to prepare a cigar for smoking. It's not as simple as just lighting up and puffing away—you'll need some basic knowledge about how cigars are made first before we can get started on any of that fancy stuff like picking out which ones suit your tastes best or putting them out after enjoying every last drop of smoke they can offer us mortals here on earth.
Picking out a cigar.
Cigar selection can be a daunting task for anyone who’s new to smoking cigars. There are so many to choose from and it can be hard to know where to start.
That said, there are a few things you should keep in mind when picking out your first cigar:
· Choose one that you like. Don’t worry about what other people think or the hype surrounding certain brands—find the ones with an aroma and flavor profile that appeals most strongly to your individual palette.
· Make sure it’s the right size for you! If you feel like taking on an entire box of cigars at once, great! But if not, make sure each cigar is smaller than your forearm (not everyone has large forearms). You don't want something too big or small because this could affect how easily it burns and tastes while smoking it later on down the road once we get into technique tips later on down below!
Make sure your cigar is stored properly.
You can't smoke a cigar without first preparing it. The first step is to make sure your cigar is stored properly. You want to store the cigars in a humidor at 70-72 degrees and 70% humidity. This means that the humidor must be cleaned and seasoned regularly, which will help maintain the ideal conditions for storing cigars (and keeping them from getting moldy). Humidors are available in many different shapes and sizes, as well as materials such as wood or glass. They're also fairly easy to purchase online or at any fine cigar shop where they'll have everything you need to keep your sticks safe from harm's way
Cut the cigar.
· Cut the cigar.
· Use a cutter to cut off the cap.
Make sure you don't cut too much off.
Make sure you don't cut too little off.
Make sure you don't cut it straight across, like a slice of bread or some other non-cigar foodstuff, because that would be weird and unsanitary and could lead to all sorts of unpleasantness such as getting sick or dying from cancer or radiation poisoning from all those chemicals in your smoke being released into your body through its mouth hole in an uncontrolled fashion when they're not supposed to be there at all!
Light your cigar.
Lighting a cigar is the most important step in smoking it. If you take care to light your cigar correctly, it will taste better and last longer. There are many ways to do this, but here are some of my favorites:
· A torch is my preferred method because it's fast and easy to use, but keep in mind that these can get expensive over time.
· Matches work well too—just be sure not to use wooden ones (they'll give off an unpleasant flavor).
· Cedar spills are another option which provide a natural-looking flame while also serving as an aromatic aid by adding extra aroma while burning away any unwanted odors that might mar the taste of your smoke!
· Butane lighters can also be used with cedar spills; just remember not to go overboard when lighting up because they can create quite a bit more heat than regular matches! If using one for this purpose, make sure that you don't burn yourself on either its heating element or your lit spill before taking care of business as usual—that would really put a damper on things!
Check the burn.
It's important to check the burn of your cigar before you take a pull. If it's uneven, rotate the cigar 90 degrees and see if it evens out. If it doesn't, rotate again.
The ash is the result of your tobacco being properly lit and cured within the cigar making process. The only purpose the ash serves is to keep the tobacco in place within the cigar and to help dissipate heat. There is no need to ash your cigar as you smoke it; let it fall off naturally. If you want to preserve a long ash for bragging rights, try not to rotate the cigar or hold it horizontally as you smoke it, since this will cause it to fall off sooner. If your ash does fall off too soon, don't worry about it—just enjoy your smoke! Takeaway: Not only does smoking a cigar require some finesse and skill, but there's also a proper way to put one out so that it's ready for future enjoyment.
You may be wondering how to properly dispose of an ash. Don't worry—there's no need to ash your cigar at all! As a matter of fact, it's actually detrimental to do so. The only purpose the ash serves is to keep the tobacco in place within the cigar and help dissipate heat. There is no need to ash your cigar as you smoke it; let it fall off naturally. If you want to preserve a long ash for bragging rights, try not to rotate the cigar or hold it horizontally as you smoke it, since this will cause it to fall off sooner. If your ash does fall off too soon, don't worry about it—just enjoy your smoke!
Conclusion
If you have any questions or comments, please share them. I'd love to hear from you!
Nakia K. Black, President of Operations & Marketing
(513) 601-9877
Social. Smoke. Moment.
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