| g your first cigar is like going to the candy store for | | | | and slowly rotate it as you barely touch the tip of |
| the first time with a pocket full of change. With so | | | | the cigar to the flame. Take slow easy puffs over a |
| many different shapes, color and sizes it can be | | | | few seconds. Turn the cigar around and check that |
| tricky to choose the right cigar. My first experience | | | | the entire surface if glowing red. If there are parts |
| was a good one because I had an experienced cigar | | | | not glowing red, repeat the process. |
| smoker to guide me. He kindly pointed out the | | | | Once the cigar is lit find a comfy chair and relax. Do |
| different cigar brands and the similarities and | | | | not hold the cigar between your teeth but place it to |
| differences between them. And just like he guided | | | | you lips and gently sip on it as you would a glass of |
| me, I too, will guide you in choosing the right | | | | red wine. Take slow long draws and let the smoke |
| cigar-staying right by your side as you smoke it. | | | | excite your taste buds before exhaling. Please do not |
| When people try something new and have a bad | | | | inhale the smoke. |
| experience they tend to write it off for good. That is | | | | The reason we take at least 45 second between |
| why it's imperative to not buy your cigars online until | | | | each puff is because smoking a cigar is not a race. It |
| you know what you like. My first suggestion is to | | | | is a relaxing time that should never be rushed. Also, |
| find a proper tobacco shop that only sells cigars, pipe | | | | by letting the cigar rest between puffs keeps the |
| tobacco and Briar and Meerschaum pipes. It also helps | | | | smoke cool and smooth in your mouth. If you notice |
| to have a couple friends to enjoy the experience | | | | the cigar heating up around you fingers then let it |
| with. | | | | settle for a couple minutes. |
| Cigars can be mild to full bodied. For your first cigar | | | | A cigar will stay lit 3 to 5 minutes if left alone. Never |
| stick with a mild hand-rolled cigar. Romeo y Julieta, | | | | light a cigar after it has gone out for more then 25 |
| Royal Jamaica and Macanudo are brands that make | | | | to 45 minutes. Relighting a cigar after a long period of |
| wonderful mild cigars. A fair price for a good cigar is | | | | time will cause a bitter taste from tar covering the |
| $8 to $11 dollars, which is right where you want to | | | | end of the cigar. |
| be. | | | | Ashing a cigar is very different than cigarette |
| One of the first things you may notice when looking | | | | smokers ash cigarettes. Cigar smokers let the ash |
| at a selection of cigars is the many different shapes | | | | build up to half-an-inch before they gently tap it on |
| and sizes they come in. Corona is a thin mid-sized | | | | the ashtray. If the ash does not fall off when you |
| cigar about 5 inches in length, double corona is about | | | | tap it, then it is not ready to be ashed. |
| double the size of a corona and robusto is a short | | | | By following this guide you are increasing the chance |
| thick cigar. There are more categories, but these are | | | | that your cigar will burn evenly and smoothly from |
| the most popular. Purchase a corona for your first | | | | start to finish. Purchase a few more cigars as you |
| cigar. Have the shop attendant cut the cigar for you, | | | | leave the shop. Try different sizes (Robusto, corona |
| or purchase a $2 dollar guillotine cutter. | | | | and double corona) and compare the differences in |
| Lighting a cigar can be tricky if you don't know what | | | | strength, draw and flavor. If you do not have a |
| you are doing, however, I am here to show you that | | | | humidor to keep them moist, you can keep them in a |
| it's a snap. Use a butane torch or wooden match | | | | zip-lock bag, but for no longer than a week. Happy |
| stick to light your cigar. Place the cigar in your mouth | | | | cigar smoking! |