Cigar Smoking Etiquette

In 1969, Zino Davidoff penned The Connoisseur's Book of the Cigar as the authority on cigar smoking. Below are a few guidelines:

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.


• Remember 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 until 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.

A number of cigar smokers find this list arrogant or elitist. Looking at the "do" list, I can see where that opinion could be derived. Although most of the "don't" list is very sound advice.

In my opinion, it just boils down to the experience. Whether or not you follow Davidoff's counsel is not the point; it is enjoying the time from the cut to the last draw.

Ghost Town Blog

Moving along at the speed of one entry per month. ::tumbleweed rolling by:: How can you stay away from this content? I'm hoping that September will be a revival month for the still. Stay tuned.