Why to Smoke a Cigar

Don’t worry, we’re not going to preach the benefits of tobacco to instil the need in you to smoke a cigar. Here, we are casually looking at various reasons that compel a person to light up a cigar.

Commonly answered by cigar smokers when asked why they smoke cigars varies from;

1. “I feel relaxed whenever I smoke a cigar.”
2. “I feel elevated; I feel like I’ve arrived in life when I light a cigar’’.
3. “I look and feel cool with a cigar in my hand!” 
4. “My peers take me seriously when I’m smoking a cigar.”
5. “I love fine things in life and cigars are one of the finest things out there.”
6. “I love the taste and aroma of tobacco in a cigar.”
7. “I love how different cigars complement different beverages that I pair it with, be it coffee, wine, whisky, cognac or rum.”
8. “A cigar makes a conversation or your company or even a round of Golf more fun.”
9. “I see cigar as art with different tobacco blends going to make one stick and smoking it is the best way to appreciate this intoxicating art form.”

You can have any of the above reasons or all of them to smoke a cigar, but one thing is clear that a cigar can be enjoyed by anyone and anytime.

Introduction to Cigars

Now that you have picked your reason to smoke a cigar let’s find out what is a cigar.

A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. It comprises three layers of tobacco leaves – Filler, Binder and Wrapper.

A 100% natural product that’s been cured, fermented and aged to bring out the best flavour and aromas of tobacco.

Blends of tobacco from different regions and origins contribute to bouquets of flavours and aromas catering to different palates and pockets.

How to choose a Cigar

Know what’s a Cigar? Now it’s time to pick the right cigar for yourself. Cigars come in many shapes and sizes with various flavour profiles. It can get a little demanding if you’re unaware of where to begin. To help you with that we have classified it into three different groups;

• First-time smokers or Beginners

We suggest you start with small sizes like Perla, Coronita, Corona, etc. The smaller the size of the cigar the lesser the commitment to the cigar in time and money. Always remember, to smoke a cigar at least three to four times before concluding your verdict on the same. Also, a simple hack to choose a cigar is to go by the colour of the cigar wrapper, sometimes lighter the wrapper, the lighter the flavour profile of the cigar and vice versa, the darker the wrapper, the stronger the flavour profile. The best way to choose the right cigar for you is to speak to your local cigar expert at Cigar Conexion who will guide you to your perfect cigar based on the occasion, the food or beverage you’re pairing your cigars with or even the budget you have for your newfound hobby.

• Occasional smoker
  You already know what your occasional cigars taste like, so we suggest trying different lines of cigars that you come across at your cigar shop. You have an array of options when it comes to seed origin (Habano, Connecticut, Cameroon, Sumatran, etc.) and also the wrapper (Claro, Colorado, Maduro, Oscuro, Corojo, etc.), the same line could taste different in different sizes as well (Perla, Corona, Robusto, Toro, Double Toro, Churchill, etc.) While you try different shapes, sizes and shades of cigars, we suggest you try cigars with different pairings as well. It’s always nice to follow an expert’s advice but the best way to experiment with cigars is to do it yourself. Since no two palates are alike, it’s always better to try your own As the old adage goes, one man’s food is another man’s poison.
• Cigar Aficionado
  This is where the limited editions, small batches and experimental series come into the picture. Since your palate is used to different cigars and their flavour profiles, there is a constant need to try something different and unique apart from the ones you’re comfortable with. To know about such cigars and their releases in your local market it’s best advised to be on the speed dial of Cigar Conexion.
  

How to Smoke a Cigar

The pertinent question of how to smoke a cigar. You have selected your cigar and decided where you will be smoking it, it’s time to see how a cigar is meant to be Smoked.

• Once you’ve got the cigar out of the plastic wrapper, touch and feel the cigar. Check the texture of it to see if it is soft and supple or hard and dry.
• Smell the aromas of the cigar while taking a whiff of it.
• Cut the cap of the cigar, and snip the end by 1-2mm within the mark of the cap to ensure you get a smooth draw. There are multiple styles of cutters to suit your smoking preference (Punch cutter, Guillotine cutter, V-Cutter)
• Do a dry draw (before you light the cigar) to see if the air flow is smooth
• Toast the cigar. Use Butane lighters, wooden matchsticks or cedar spills to toast the cigar evenly. Ensure that the flame doesn’t touch the foot of the cigar directly.
• Light the cigar. Hold the cigar in your mouth and roll the cigar while you puff it with the flame barely touching the foot of the cigar
• As you draw the smoke into your mouth, roll it on your palate and exhale. RULE # 1: NEVER INHALE
•   Try to roll the smoke on your palate for as long as you can and look for how it tastes on your palate.
•  There are numerous things to look for when you smoke a cigar; the draw of the cigar, the strength of the cigar, the body of the cigar, the flavour profile of the cigar, in short smoke a cigar until you enjoy them.
•  Always have a gap of 60 – 120 seconds between puffs to ensure you are not only enjoying the cigar but also not puffing too soon which could make you feel nauseous.
• You can remove the band of the cigar before you light it or after you do before the band is burnt, always remove the band halfway through the cigar. Nobody has ever spoken about the brilliant aroma of the band ever!
•  You never tap the ash of the cigar but let the cigar do it for you. If you’re smoking in a public place it is not decent to let the ash fall over, in such cases, leave the cigar on the ashtray and a gentle stroke will take care of the ash.
•  If the cigar goes out, do not worry, you can always relight it and resume your smoking experience.
•  Remember, cigars are meant to enhance your experience regardless of what you’re doing, drink an expensive glass of single malt, sipping on civet cat poop coffee or even reading a book. Cigars are meant to enhance any of the sensorial experience that you’re engaged in.

How to Pair a Cigar

Most cigar smokers point towards a bottle of single malt whisky or cognac or aged rum when asked for the best pairing with cigar. Though aged spirits do go well with cigars because of the nature of how cigars and these spirits are made, we suggest you to pair your cigars with other beverages as well such as coffee, mezcal, wines, cocktails, etc. There are two principles that one must follow to go about cigar pairings;

• Complementary : This method is where you pair the strength and the body of the cigar with the aromas and the body of the beverage. E.g., A full-bodied Maduro wrapper cigar with a full-bodied dark roast coffee or a heavy red wine. A light bodied cigar with a light bodied Speyside whisky. A medium bodied cigar with a 4-5-year-old medium bodied Caribbean rum or a VSOP Cognac. The tasting notes of the beverage and the flavour profile of the cigars are usually matched and paired in this style of pairing. Sweet cigars with sweet beverages or oaky whiskies with musty cigars.
• Contradictory : In this method you contradict the body and flavour profile of cigars and beverages where you try to heighten the nuances of the cigar and the beverage through individual experiences. For e.g., you pair a sweeter and mellower cigar with a rich and heavy whisky or a full bodied wine or a decadent Cognac XO. Similarly, a rich, heavily bodied complex cigar can be paired with floral gins or whiskies or sweet white wines.

To conclude the pairings, it is safe to say that every palate is unique and there is no set pairing for every palate out there. In the end, it’s your personal preference and what you love or detest that plays an important role in heightening your smoking and drinking experience. We suggest that you try pairing whatever you can think of, some pairings might end up a dud but some could be a super hit that you can boast about at your next herf.

For a detailed, guided journey into the world of indulgence contact us at +91 88844 11660