Cigar 101 and Reddit Cigar Suggestions
Updated October 31st, 2019
If you are on the outside looking in, you may think that a cigar is just a cigar. However, you could not be any more wrong. We’ve foraged through reddit’s /r/cigars to find the best lighters, cigars and cutters as well as everything you need to know when starting off.
Cigars vary in shape, size, and flavor, and you may be surprised to find that high-quality cigars can be identified simply by their flavor! They can carry distinct notes of flavor, much like wine or coffee, and can even be paired with ideal beverages that complement those flavor notes. Simply put, cigars can be a worthwhile flavor journey, especially to those that are uninitiated!
Of course, as soon as you seriously start looking into cigars, you will quickly see that those aforementioned distinctions can make your shopping experience an overwhelming one. Fret not, however, for you are in luck! This article will take you through a crash course on smoking cigars, covering not only how to smoke them, but also general cigar etiquette, proper storing, and more! Then, we will throw up a few options of cigar brands you may want to try, as well as comments from Reddit to give you a pretty objective view of how those cigars are received.
With that, let’s get started on our Cigar Education!
Anatomy of a Cigar
Despite their differences, nearly all cigars are comprised of similar parts.
- Wrapper: The wrapper of a cigar is what you see on the outside of the cigar. It gives it its traditional look and is also responsible for a bulk of the flavor you taste when smoking the cigar (roughly half of what you taste comes from the wrapper). Though there are all kinds of tobacco used for wrappers, you will typically find two that are used in the vast majority of cigars. They are:
- Connecticut Shade: As the name implies, this is tobacco that is grown in the shade! Because of this, it is usually brighter in color, and the flavor it produces is lighter and milder.
- Maduro: As the name implies (mature or seasoned in Spanish), Maduro wrappers are dark in color, have a bold, strong flavor, and are a little more oil than Connecticut Shade. If you are looking for a strong, bold flavor in a cigar, you will want to be looking for those with Maduro wrappings.
- Binder: Right underneath the wrapper, you will find the binder. It looks like another layer of paper and helps hold the filler together (we will get to that in a second). The binder is also a big contributor to how your cigar taste and how evenly it burns.
- Filler: Filler is the loose-leaf tobacco that is inside the body of the cigar. The filler is responsible for the largest portion of the flavor you taste (right next to the wrapper). Within the category of the filler, you will find two predominant methods of filling:
- Filler Length, Long: When shopping for premium cigars, you will see that the majority of them are filled with long style filler. This means that the tobacco leaves are whole, extend the entire length of the cigar, and are generally hand-rolled. These cigars will be pretty pricey, but you can expect that they will offer superior flavor.
- Filler Length, Short: Short-filled cigars are going to be most of the mass-produced cigars that you may be more familiar with or have seen. Though these cigars will be far less expensive, you can expect their taste to generally be sub-par.
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Length and Size: The most obvious difference you will see in cigars is their length and diameter (what is usually called the ring size).The ring size is measured by 64th of an inch. For example, when you have a cigar with a ring size of 50, that means it is 50/64ths of an inch thick. They can be as short as 4.5in and as long as 9.25in with all different kinds of ring sizes in-between. The length does not usually affect the flavor, but it will affect how long of a smoke session you want. If you do not want to worry about trying to resuscitate your large cigar for a later smoke session, shoot for a length that will last the time frame you want.
How to Choose a Cigar
Now you have a decent idea of how to tell cigars apart, but how do you choose the cigar that is right for you? You may be relieved to know that once you know the characteristics of a cigar, it becomes far easier to pick one that is going to fit your tastes the best. Here are a couple of factors to consider when choosing a cigar that is right for you:
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Cigar Length: We mentioned this factor earlier, but it is worth mentioning again. The longer the cigar, the longer your smoke session will be. Some cigars can last for several hours, depending on their length.
- Cigar Flavor: The general rule for cigar flavors are the lighter they are, the lighter their flavor, and the darker they are, the stronger and more complex their flavor will be. You will usually see flavors described as full, medium, and mild, with full being the strongest and mild being the weakest. Mild cigars are great stand-alone flavors. You will not have to worry about needing a palate cleanser (like alcohol) to help keep the flavor fresh. On the other hand, if you want to experience a more potent flavor, full-flavored cigars are a fantastic evening treat. They pair well with a number of liquors.
Cutting a Cigar
Cutting a cigar is the first step in smoking a cigar, and it is an absolutely crucial one. If you do not cut enough off, then you will have a hard time taking proper draws, but if you cut too much, you may end up completely overwhelming yourself with huge, smokey draws.
Generally, the cap (the part of the cigar where you take draws from) will have rings indicating how deeply you can cut the cigar. Going beyond the rings can cause the aforementioned problems. If you are curious about what kinds of cuts you can make, consider the following:
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Straight Cut: A straight cut is exactly what it sounds like; a simple straight cut down on the cigar. This is the most straightforward way to cut the cigar, and it will give you large draws. You can use a guillotine type cigar cutter for this method.
- V Cut: A V cut is simply cutting a wedge into the cap of the cigar instead of lopping off the entire end of it. What results is a V-shaped cut that allows for controlled, steady draws. There are specialty cutters that can make V cuts for you.
- Punch: Using a “punch” means using a tool that punches a hole at the end of the cigar cap. What results is a tiny draw hole and a largely untouched cap. This is great for making sure you have small, controlled draws, especially if you are smoking a full-flavored Maduro-styled cigar. You can buy specialty punches for this exact purpose.
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Lighting Cigars
Lighting a cigar is a more perilous process than you may imagine. Not only do you need to make sure you are using the right kind of lighter for the best taste, but you also need to be sure that the cigar burns evenly from the start so that it will burn evenly through its finish. The last thing you want is a janky, uneven burn because you were unable to light it properly!
What kind of lighter should you use? Well, you definitely should NOT use the typical lighter you would use for a cigarette. The fumes from the fuel found in those lighters have a distinct taste and can taint the entirety of your cigar. Traditional wooden matches or a butane torch are generally your best bet for lighting a cigar without ruining its flavor. If you are brand new to smoking cigars, butane lighters are going to provide the easiest lighting experience.
The following are the steps you should take when lighting your cigar:
- The foot of the cigar (or the part furthest away from your mouth) should be above the flame but not in direct contact with it.
- Begin rotating the cigar. You should see the edges of the foot start to blacken. Remember, you still should not have the cigar directly on the flame.
- Take a puff on the cigar. This should bring the flame into the foot, allowing embers to form. If done correctly, you should see that the end of the foot is evenly burning. If not, now is the time to place the foot in direct contact with the flame and make sure that any place that has not begun to burn now is.
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Smoking a Cigar
Here are a few tips when smoking a cigar to make sure you get the best experience possible:
- DO NOT INHALE: Cigars are not made for their smoke to be inhaled like cigarettes. Especially with full-flavored cigars, inhaling their smoke is a great way to ruin your palate and make yourself sick. Just draw the smoke into your mouth and enjoy the flavor!
- Do not smoke too quickly: Cigars are not made to be shotgunned. They are meant to be savored. If you smoke the cigar really quickly, you are going to cause the cigar to heat up. This means you will be smoking hot smoke, which can be quite an unpleasant experience. If you do not like the idea of smoking a cigar for a really long period of time, consider getting a smaller one!
- Do not smoke too slowly: You have to try and find that sweet spot of smoking speed. If you smoke your cigar too slowly, it will burn out and you will need to repeat the process of lighting the cigar.
- Do not tap the ash off: Ash will naturally build on the foot of the cigar, and you may be tempted to tap it off. However, there is no need to do this. In fact, knocking off too much ash of the cigar can cause it to prematurely burn out. Instead, let the ash naturally fall off of the cigar for the best experience.
Cigar Etiquette
For those that plan on smoking in groups of veteran smokers or in smoke clubs, there is a lot of cigar etiquette to consider. Though there are a lot of rules that you may find, we have distilled some down into what we consider to be the most important to follow when smoking with others:
- When you exhale smoke from the cigar, blow it in a direction that is clear from others.
- There are many acceptable ways to hold a cigar. However, you want to be sure that you do not hold it as one would traditionally with a cigarette.
- Pair liquor with your cigar or at least have some kind of drink. The point of smoking cigars is to experience the breadth of their flavor. If you have dry mouth, you are going to be missing so much of the flavor, which defeats the purpose of smoking the cigar.
- If the ash on the cigar foot is becoming uncomfortable long, rolling the foot on the edge of an ashtray is the proper method of allowing the ash to drop.
- When you are done smoking a cigar, do not smash it out like a cigarette. Cigars will naturally burn out on their own in an ashtray.
Humidor
The purpose of a humidor is to keep your cigars from drying out. A cigar that has dried out is going to be overly brittle and will lose a lot of the pleasant taste the tobacco can provide. The last thing you want to do is spend $10-$15 on a cigar only to ruin it because of poor storage. If you plan on becoming an avid cigar smoker, consider getting a humidor that can hold at least 20-30 cigars.
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Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
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Padron 3000 Natural
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Drew Estate Undercrown Shade
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Foundry Chillin’ Moose
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Tatuaje Tattoo
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CAO Brazilia
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Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Black
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Padron 2000
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Brick House
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Reddit Cigar Recommendation Recap
Smoking cigars can be a wonderful hobby, but there are a lot of nuances to address if you really want to get the fullest satisfaction possible. There are so many different flavors to research and try, it may be some time before you land on a specific kind of cigar that becomes your regular. Before that happens, heed the last few steps of advice as you begin your cigar smoking journey!
- Avoid buying cigars in bulk...for now: The discount may seem tempting, but buying a box of cigars as soon as you try one is unwise. You may have loved it when you tried it, but you may come across others that you actually like far more. Take your time and be sure you have tried several different kinds of cigars before committing to bulk purchases.
- Visit smoke shops or cigar lounges: This is the easiest way to get personal, quality customer service and advice when searching for new cigars. Veteran smokers can help point you in the right direction of popular cigars and can even help perfect your smoking technique. If you become a regular, they may even be able to suggest new inventory to you based on what you usually smoke.
We wish you the best of luck in your cigar smoking journey!