The Art of Smoking

Make a clear and even cut at the cap to prevent that rests of tobacco are left behind. The cut must be made slowly. It must also have a proper diameter to ensure a good draw.

The cut must be even to not damaging the body of the cigar. If the cut is made into the shoulder (area of a cigar where the cap meets the body),the cigar will begin to unravel.

Cutting the cap

The cut must always be made between the shoulder and head. The diameter of the cut is as important as the size of the cigar, because both influence tast, draw and burning. A cut too big can make the cigar smoke too hot. It can also leave a bitter taste in the mouth and the cigar burns out quickly.

Cutter with two sheets

On the other side, a too small cut provokes a bad draw, a small amount of smoke to inhale and the taste is destroyed by a high concentration of tar and nicotine. The perfect cut must have a diameter a little smaller then the diameter of the cigar.

Pincer-cutter

There are several types of cuts and cutters:

• The Guillotine-Cut is circular and nice cut around the head of the cigar. Pocket-size cutters, with one or two sheets, pincers or scissors make a clear cut at the head of the cigar and are very recommended.

• Wedge or V-shaped cut: This cut should make the draw easier, because it has a bigger area. However the cut can be too big and the smoke too hot.
  It is also not an recommended cut for those who used to bite their cigars, because the horizontal opening can be obstructed easily, making the draw impossible.

Wedge Cutter

Piercing: Piercing a small hole in the closed end of a cigar with a piercer is not very recommended for the following reasons: A channel can be made and the heart of the cigar can get too hot if the hole is too deep. The draw can be irregular so that the flavours of the different layers can not mix and form one unique taste. Tar and nicotine usually concentrate at the tight opening which channels the smoke. These substances can directly reach the smoker's tongue and nose.

Scissor-cutter

Do not use a fuel-lighter to light the cigar. Cedar matches are better, because they give a neutral flame.
The flame may never touch the cigar.

Never put the foot of the cigar into the flame, because if you do the tobacco would carbonize and the taste of coal reamins from the first to the last draw.

Piercers

Do not hold the cigar with the mouth while you light it. Keep it at a distance of half a centimeter over the flame and in an angle of 45 degrees. Turn the cigar slowly until the edge of the foot begins to burn and form a even ring of hot coal.

It is optional to remove the ring of ash, but the wrapper must not been damaged. Take the burning cigar to your lips. Before taking the first draw, blow through the cigar to eliminate all flavours that could have been produced during the lighting.

Lighting the cigar

If the cigar goes out, the first thing you have to do is to take off the ash and blow through the cigar to see if it is totally extinguished. If no smoke comes out, heat the cigar's foot by spinning it over a flame. This will remove the tar. Now you can light the cigar again. It is possible that if you just light the edge of the wrapper that the cigar is lighted.

First draw

Fill your mouth with the cold smoke, keep it and do not inhale it. Remove the cigar from your mouth and release the smoke slowly. Wait a moment before you take the next draw.

Do not smoke hasitated. Wait approximately one minute until the next draw just so that the cigar does not go out.

Pleasant smoking

The head of the cigar must be as dry as possible. Do not keep it in your mouth for too long, because a wet cigar begins to lose his flavour when tar and nicotine mixes with saliva. Do not keep the cigar in your mouth longer then three minutes during the smoking.

Avoid a wet cigar

Hold the cigar smoothly, but tight in your hand. Do not flatten it to ensure a good draw.

To remove the accumulated ash, take a draw to heat the foot of the cigar and then hit the ashtray slightly with it.

Extinguishing the cigar

The best way to extinguish a cigar is to put it into a ashtray. The cigar will go out fast and it will generate a minimum smell. If you press the cigar into the ashtray, you will spread more rests of tobacco and unpleasant smells can emerge.