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A Beginner’s Guide to Cigars, Part 1

Now that you have chosen and purchased your cigars, here’s what you need to know about cutting, lighting, and enjoying them.

4. Cutting a Cigar
The closed end of a cigar is called the head, and the open end is called the foot. . The head of a cigar is capped to keep the cigar fresh and to hold it together. This is the end you will put in your mouth. When you are ready to smoke a cigar, hold a cigar cutter (the guillotine models provide the cleanest, smoothest cut) in one hand and your cigar in the other. Then cut into the cigar head’s cap. If you do not have a cigar cutter, use a knife whose blade is sharp enough to avoid pressing down on the cigar; too much pressure crushes the cigar and dilutes its flavor. An improper cut can also cause the cigar to unravel.

5. Lighting a Cigar
Holding your cigar in one hand, place it in your mouth and light it with your opposite hand. Once lit, puff on the cigar then slowly rotate it, which increases the cigar’s draw. Make sure to put your lighter or matchbook away somewhere safe once you have finished with it. The best way to light a cigar is with a wooden match, not a paper one, or with a butane lighter. Paper matches or traditional lighters can introduce chemicals that will ruin the flavor of your cigar.

6. Enjoying Your Cigar
Like a vintage beverage, a cigar is meant to be enjoyed at a slow, relaxing pace. Puff from and rotate your cigar every minute or so, savoring its flavor. Experiment and find a puffing pace that works for you. For reference, puffing too fast burns the cigar out and ruins its flavor, while puffing too slowly may cause the cigar to become unlit.