When you pick out a cigar, make sure to learn the proper cutting and lighting techniques. But, as with any new experience, you may make some mistakes at first. Minimize your losses by starting with some milder cigars - they tend to be less expensive.

When you move up to the stellar coronas and more robust robustos, buy two and put one away for a few months. That will help you compare the effects of aging against a brand new cigar. Of course, if you buy your cigars at a first-rate tobacconist - as you should - they may well be already aged.

Most store their product in quality humidor-like displays with good temperature and humidity control. Often, they will buy a large stock from a distributor and, as a result, the ones near the bottom of the box may have been ‘on the shelf’ for months. In this case, though, being on the shelf can actually be an advantage unlike food or beer that can go bad within a year or less.

Also, there are merchants who will stock cigars that have been aged for several years. These specialty items make for a fine smoke.

Check the cigar for hard spots that may indicate the presence of what is called a ‘plug’. That is a small, dense volume of tobacco that can reduce the draw - the free flow of air - through the cigar as it’s smoked. Some can be worked out by rolling the cigar between the thumb and forefinger. But, in general, it’s best to avoid purchasing potentially troubled cigars in the first place.

Look for a quality brand and try to find a tobacconist who is helpful and patient. Price is not the foremost criteria when shopping for a fine cigar. Just as you would with a fine wine, you’re looking for the best quality you can afford. Once the price drops below a certain point, you can be almost guaranteed of getting a poor smoke. Though there are some notable exceptions.

Inspect the wrapper for dryness and cracking. Improperly stored cigars will dry out within a few days, causing small cracks in the wrapper. That leads to a bad draw, poor flavor and misspent money.

Also look for any discoloration. An even shade of color along the length of the wrapper is best. A blue tinge may indicate the presence of blue mold. In the rare cases you find it, you have found a cigar you do NOT want to smoke.

If there is a small bit of what looks like white dust, on the other hand, you probably have nothing to worry about. That’s a substance that results from the aging process and it can be brushed off without any ill-effect on the taste or quality.

If you don’t have a humidor yet, store any cigars in glass tubes until you smoke them. If they came with cellophane wrapper, they probably aren’t the highest quality, but you should nonetheless leave them wrapped until you’re ready to smoke them. In a pinch, you can use a small, plastic container but never put them in the refrigerator.

Don’t be afraid of looking foolish at the tobacconist. Ask lots of questions. They’re typically happy to answer them, since they know a satisfied and knowledgeable customer will return time and time again. Plus, most of them are cigar aficionados themselves and happy to share their experience with enthusiastic newcomers.

Embark on a new adventure!

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.

The tobacco used in a cigar, and how it’s prepared and packed, is the most essential element in smoking. But, smoking is a physical experience as well as one of taste, and that aspect shouldn’t be entirely neglected.

Here’s a table of lengths and diameters that will help you start your selection process.

Name   Length   Ring Gauge
Panatela 5½ to 6½ 34 to 38
Lonsdale 6 to 6½  42 to 44
Corona   5½ to 6  42 to 45
Churchill 6½ to 7  46 to 48
Torpedo  5½ to 6½  46 to 52
Robusto  4½ to 5  48 to 50
Toro   6 to 6½  48 to 50

Note that length is listed in inches (mostly in the U.S.) or centimeters (used everywhere else). The ring gauge (to use the common term for diameter) is measured in 64ths of an inch (in the U.S.).

You’ll notice that the table is in order by ring gauge, rather than length or by name. There’s a reason for that. Though cigar selection is an individual matter, many prefer slimmer cigars. A fat cigar looks and feels like, well, a fat cigar. Some find that uncomfortable and difficult to smoke. For others, it just evokes an image of sweaty politicians in back rooms.

Length isn’t irrelevant, of course. But if the cigar is too long for comfort you could always chop off a section from the end. Very few aficionados would want to decrease the value of their cigar simply by eliminating an inch or so of weight. But, if you only plan to smoke a certain amount and not save the remainder, there’s no reason not to start with a shorter cigar.

Many smokers actually prefer the longer heft and substantial diameter of a Churchill. After all, Churchill - for whom the cigar is named - certainly did. Others prefer a short, fat Robusto. Still others find a slim, relatively short Panatela suits them best. To each his own (or her own, women smoke cigars, too).

For those who want something a little less traditional in shape, there is the whole class of figurados. Those are cigars that do not have straight sides. Most are tapered, but increasingly the Torpedo - with a tapered end at both the head and foot - is becoming popular.

The truly daring can try a Culebras. These are truly fat cigars, produced by taking three Panatelas and spiraling them around one another. The result is bound and smoked as a single cigar. It’s a mystery why anyone but a serious addict would want to take the trouble with these monsters but, again, to each his own.

Smoking a cigar should be a complete experience of taste, feel and frame of mind. Complete the experience with a fine Cabernet or a wonderful cognac. Then sit back in your red leather chair and enjoy a good conversation about the state of the world. Just stay away from discussions of politics. Smoking is supposed to be relaxing.

It isn’t difficult to pay $50 for a cigar. Even $25 will often net you a very fine smoke, but at that price you aren’t going to be having one every day. If you love a good cigar, after dinner with a glass of wine, you’ll want something you can enjoy and not feel guilty splurging on. There are a whole range of medium-priced, but stellar smoking, cigars that fit the bill.

Romeo y Julieta has a line that incorporates a number of choices for those looking for a great smoke at medium cost. The Exhibicion No. 4 is spicy and medium-bodied with a great aftertaste. The Excepcionales Cello in a Corona Grande size is full-bodied with hints of nutmeg and pepper.

Montecristo, too, offers a range of cigars. Their medium-priced offerings are often better than fine cigars from other companies. The Especiales No. 1 in a lonsdale is smooth, with floral scents. But the No. 4 in a petit corona is also delicious, with herbal aromas and a spicy, full-bodied flavor.

Davidoff is another popular brand, and for very good reason. With blends from the Dominican Republic and Honduras, these cigars smoke like higher-priced, elite cigars.

The No. 4000 from the Dominican Republic has an easy draw, with a nutty flavor and a woody aroma that will go perfectly with that after-dinner glass of Cabernet. If you prefer port, try the Special R in a robusto. Lots of spice without lots of price.

Don’t bypass the Davidoff brand without trying at least one of the Grand Gru line. Despite the name, these are medium-priced cigars, but with a high-priced flavor. The petit corona No. 3 is outstanding. Good draw, spicy tasting and very easy on the wallet.

H. Upmann, of course, is one of the outstanding names in cigar making. Descendants from Cuban tobacco growers and cigar makers for generations, these cigars are amazingly low priced for what they offer in a smoke.

The Connoisseur No. 1 has hints of coffee and spice, but is all cigar. The corona is the perfect size for that relaxing smoke in the study or at the club. The Coronas Major is medium-bodied with sweet spices. For those who like a cigar with dessert, this is an excellent choice.

For those with a literary bent, there is the Shakespeare Vintage line. Made with 100% long filler, these medium-priced cigars are at the pinnacle of smoking pleasure. Mild and well-aged, they’re perfect for settling down with a glass of cognac and a good book.

The robusto maduro is especially fine. Medium-bodied and medium-dark, they even smell great. For those looking for something lighter, to go with a spy novel, there is the Vintage Natural instead. Lighter, and available in a range from Churchill to petit corona, these make for a perfect aperitif.

Don’t let your budget spoil your pleasure. Look into the medium-priced range that offers the smoker a lot of choices for an outstanding cigar.