How to Start Your Cigar Journey

The number of cigar enthusiasts seems to grow annual as more people discover the joys of the leisurely experience of smoking stogie. While cigarette smokers are in it for the nicotine, cigar smokers focus more on the camaraderie of the smoke and the flavor of the cigar. There are literally thousands of brands out there from which to choose, and it can be a little overwhelming for new initiates into the world of cigars. Let’s take a look at some of the basics that can help make the path a little smoother. If you might be interested in cigars for sale online, visit CoronaCigar.com for more information.

General Rules

In general, the lighter a cigar is in color on the outside, the milder it is inside. This is a good place for a beginner to start. In addition to this basic fact, there are some other fundamentals a newbie will want to know. First of all, do not inhale the cigar. You are meant to blow the smoke away while enjoying the flavor of that particular tobacco. Also, don’t smoke the stogie all the way down to the ring. The last two inches of a cigar aren’t meant to be burned, and you may get a very unpleasant taste if you don’t follow this rule.

Cigar Sizes

Cigars for sale online and in stores are described by their length in inches and their ring size. The ring size is how big the cigar is in circumference. Remember, there are 64 rings to an inch, so a cigar labeled as a 64 in ring size is an inch in diameter. A 32 ring size is a half-inch in diameter. Stogies come in lengths ranging from about 4 inches to more than 9 inches. The vast majority are somewhere in the middle, such as the 5-6 inch range. Of course, part of the cigar is meant to be cut on the end you put in your mouth. The size of the hole will affect the amount of smoke that comes out and the flavor you experience.

Cigar Shapes

Cigars comes in seven different shapes in two categories. Parejo cigars have straight sides and are the same width for the entire length outside of the rounded ends. The Figurado category comprises shapes such as torpedo (tapered on both ends), chisel (highly tapered on one end), pyramid (just like it sounds), presidente (mostly straight sides but large overall size), perfecto (torpedo shaped but with one very large end) and culebra (three small cigars braided together). Parejo is the most common option, though there is a lot of variation.

Smoking Etiquette

As a social activity, cigar smoking has some intrinsic rules followed by people who buy cigars for sale online. First, warm the end or "foot" of the cigar before you start puffing. Don’t smoke too fast, either. Figure about one puff per minute. Don’t hold your stogie like a cigarette. Hold it between your thumb and forefinger for maximum effect. Finally, always light your own cigar rather than having someone else do it for you. Cigar smoking is a personal experience.

If you are new to the world of cigar smoking, don’t be intimidated. The sentiment behind the activity is one of relaxation and inclusion.

Ames Anderson has only one mission: to help inform people. When he first started writing, he was fascinated with his ability to help people understand things.