The Art of Smoking a Fine Cigar

Source from:  Live Trading News 09/12/2016

The Art of cigar smoking is a veritable skill; a languid luxury if you will, reserved for the posh confines of lounges and upscale bars patronized by gentlemen trading secrets and great conversation.

A cigar, as any true connoisseur will tell you, is a world away from the cigarette. A lot like fine wine, a cigar ages gracefully with time as it develops into complex, flavorful bursts you can savor thoughtfully. You would not really call someone a cigarette connoisseur now, would you? That's because the Art of smoking cigar is not a habit, and certainly not a smoky string of 6-minute sticks.

Now, to indulge or at least embark on its excellent beginnings, calls for some careful guiding:

LET YOUR PALATE DEVELOP

If you are new to the scene, stick to moderately priced cigars until your palate settles and you really start to appreciate the good stuff. It also helps to start on the mild side, since going straight for the full-bodied ones might engulf you, and potentially put you off. It gets pretty straightforward when you buy cigars. Like a lot of things in life, you usually get what you pay for, and save the extravagant smokes for more discerning taste buds.

LEAVE IT TO THE FINE TOBACCONISTS

When buying a cigar, it is a good idea to drop by a fine tobacconist. You could get a cigar from any standard tobacco shop, but a specialized tobacconist is best. Given their wealth of knowledge, these tobacco gurus are the people you want to buy your cigars from, especially if you need guidance and recommendation. From theory to form and texture to taste, there is always something to learn from these knowledgeable people.

CUT LIKE A PRO

You have now got a good cigar, now invest in a good cigar cutter. If you do not have one, a sharp knife or scissor will do the trick, but never use your teeth. A good cut allows for a sophisticated, ample opening without unraveling the body, which might happen from cutting too deep. It is easy to think of getting creative with the endless styles of cigar cutting, but a fuss-free, beginner-friendly way would be to go straight-cut with a guillotine cutter.

IGNITE AND TAKE FLIGHT

Light up with a wooden match. Wooden matches are a favorite among cigar fiends, and even come in a variety specially made for cigars. You could also choose an old-fashioned cedar spill which leaves a little cedar-flavored imprint to the cigar, or the odorless, colorless butane-filled lighter for its clean burn and subtle, if non-existent, flavor.

DO NOT INHALE

A cigar is not a cigarette, and you do not smoke a cigar in the same way. While the filtered cigarette makes for a quick fix, where 1 stick lasts a fleeting couple of minutes, the unfiltered cigar contains over 10-20X the amount of nicotine, and calls for a contemplative half hour to an hour's worth of savoring. Unlike a cigarette, whose smoke you inhale directly to your lungs, a cigar is meant to be relished gradually with its smoke confined only to your mouth as you unravel its wealth of flavors.

ENJOY IT

The true Art of cigar smoking lies in having a good time. Do not get too into crafting a vibrant vocabulary to describe a particularly good smoke if you do not want to.

If a "good smoke is a good smoke" and you do not care about its subtle hint of cocoa or slightly woodsy notes, then that is all that should matter. Enditem