If you’re new to the cigar smoking scene, you may want to ease into the lifestyle before taking the plunge. While, sitting in a red leather chair sipping cognac and puffing on a Churchill may look delightful (and it is), there are some things for the novice to consider.
First, an obvious point: cigars are not fat cigarettes. Most people know they’re not designed to be inhaled. But even beyond that, most cigars are still much stronger than the novice may find comfortable.
So, start slow. Go with a thinner, milder cigar. A mild panatela or a lonsdale might go down easier until you’ve had a little more experience. The first have a ring gauge from 34 to 38 (34/64ths-38/64ths of an inch in diameter), the latter from 42 to 44.
You can work your way up to a corona (42 to 45) through a torpedo (46 to 52) and then to a robusto (48 to 50) if you’re inclined.
Of course, ring gauge isn’t the only measure of strength. The main factor is the actual tobacco used as filler and binder, and to a lesser degree the wrapper. Some are milder, like those made from Sumatran-seed tobaccos. Others are closer to the full-bodied Cubans.
As you begin the experiment, save yourself some money and buy a sample pack with different types. Don’t start too cheaply, though. There are a lot of very inexpensive cigars on the market and most of them are cheap for a reason: bad quality. Better to buy fewer, but of higher quality.
Rather than invest in a humidor immediately – unless you find a good one that is part of a promotional offer – get a couple of glass tubes for storage. When you start out, you probably won’t want to smoke all of a six-inch cigar at one time. Some experts will suggest you throw away any unsmoked portion unless you plan to finish it within an hour.
But you should experiment, trying the second half of one you liked on the next day. Don’t be too critical, since it can never be as fresh or tasteful as a fully fresh cigar. But many hold their flavor well, provided they are extinguished and stored correctly.
Never crush the cigar out to stop it from burning. Even good cigars will go out spontaneously within a few minutes. Just lay it horizontally into an ashtray such that it won’t fall in or out. Put the ashtray someplace away from rapid air flow. A little bit of ash will collect, but soon smoke will stop rising and the cigar will cool naturally.
Store the remainder in a glass tube with the foot (the burnt end) at the bottom. Take care when you remove it later to avoid getting ash on the head (the part you put in your mouth).
Never leave either a half-smoked, or a fresh cigar out in the open. Don’t put them in the refrigerator, either, thinking they’ll be kept fresh. Cigars are an agricultural product, but that will dry them out quickly and drying is the most damaging effect making a cigar unworthy of being smoked.
Prepare to embark on a great adventure. Buy a few fine cigars and enjoy your journey.
