How to · Smoke
How to smoke
Cigar smoke is held in the mouth and nose. It is not meant for the lungs. That is custom, not a health certificate. Mouth tissue still takes in nicotine and other harm.
Many people draw every 30 to 60 seconds. Too often and the cigar overheats. Too seldom and it dies. Relights are allowed; a string of them tastes of char. Let the ash build an inch or so; it is insulation, not a mess you must flick every minute.
The first third often introduces the wrapper. The middle carries the blend. The last third runs hotter and more bitter. When pleasure stops, stop. The last inch is a boundary, not a duty.
Let the cigar die in the ashtray. Crushing it smears a burnt smell. Wait until it is cold to throw it away.
Related chapters
How to light
Toast the foot, avoid petrol lighters, and when a torch is useful.
Drink pairings
Coffee, tea, whisky, rum, port, and alcohol-free options with mild or full cigars. No shops.
Strength: mild to full
How strength, body, and flavor intensity differ, and how to choose a first cigar without getting sick.
Etiquette
Where to smoke, how to treat other people’s air, bands, gifts, and sharing.