Smoking cigars is a highly celebrated experience shared by colleagues, friends, and loved ones. This ritual of how to smoke a cigarillo can be enjoyed by anyone interested in celebrating the calming flavors and aromas. According to research cigars have over 118 unique variants and layers of flavors with their corresponding aromas.
Many people think cigars are just strong cigarettes, but they offer a completely unique experience. Cigars are special because they are not to be enjoyed in a rush. Knowing how to smoke a cigarillo takes time because you need to appreciate a blend of rich flavors and aromas. If not well acquainted with how to smoke a cigarillo, beginners can get intimidated by expert aficionados.
That is why this post gives a deep dive into cigar basics and how to enjoy every process involved. This cigar guide covers what you need to know about how to smoke a cigarillo, from cutting to lighting, to ensure a smooth first cigar experience.
Cigar Knowledge and Nuances to Consider
To fully enjoy how to smoke a cigarillo, it helps to have basic cigar knowledge. This knowledge covers the basic features of cigars and what differentiates them from cigarettes. Understanding these terms will help assimilate this cigar guide and make cigar smoking for beginners easier. In addition, it will help you identify cigar qualities and choose the perfect one.
Wrapper
The wrapper is the outermost layer or leaf of the cigar like Connecticut, Maduro, and Habano, among others. It is carefully selected because it contributes significantly to the cigar’s flavor and appearance. For instance, a Maduro wrapper is richer, darker, and has a sweeter note. Connecticut wrappers are a bit different because they are lighter and have a milder flavor.
Ring Gauge
Cigars come in different ring gauges or diameters, which also affects the way beginners get to enjoy their cigars. Thicker cigars, also called robusto, offer slower burn and cooler smoke. The thinner ones provide more consecrated flavor and faster burn.
Cap and foot
The cap is the end of the cigar that is cut off before smoking, while the foot is the lit end of the cigar. For a new smoker, a well-made cap allows for an easy cut. With a smooth cut, you can create an ideal draw for an enjoyable first cigar puff. Similarly, the end lets you see the filler leaves to understand its construction and flavor profile.
Binder
Beneath the wrapper is the binder holding the filler in place. This layer of tobacco adds subtle notes of flavor that complement the wrapper and filler. However, it does not contribute too much flavor to the cigar.
Filler
Inside the cigar is the blend of leaves called the filler, which contributes to most of its flavor. High-quality fillers are made from different types of tobacco.
How to Start Smoking Cigars Properly?
Picking the right size and flavor of the cigar is the first step on how to smoke a cigarillo. Hence, it is important that if you are smoking a cigar for the first time, you look for the best cigars for beginners. Preferably, you should pick a mild cigar option to develop your palate. Afterward, you can follow the processes discussed in this section.
The next processes include the right selection of cigar smoking kits and using the right technique. Some of the accessories are a cigar cutter, lighter, and ashtray. Each of these tools has a unique contribution to the overall experience of how to smoke a cigarillo. Also, taking cognizance of the cigar tips discussed here will help you learn swiftly how to smoke a cigarillo and enjoy safe practices.
Best Cigar Cutter for Cigarillo
The next step after picking the right cigar is to choose one of three types of cigar cutters, namely guillotine, punch, and V-cut. Using the guillotine cutter is the best and most common option to have a straight cut. Unlike the punch, which creates a small hole, and the V-cut, which makes a wedge shape. The cutter a beginner chooses is significant because they have different effects on the draw.
Cutting Techniques for Cigarillo
In addition to the unique charm of the cutter, a seamless cutting technique is another vital part of how to smoke a cigarillo. Hence, hold the cigar steady and use a firm, swift motion to make a good cut. Cut just enough of the cap to reveal the filler without unraveling the wrapper.
A good cut helps maintain a balance of air and smoke. For beginners, cutting the cap off about an eighth of an inch is optimal. When you become very good at smoking cigarillos, the correct technique and the inch to cut off the cap will become intuitive.
Right Lighter for Cigarillo
It is essential to avoid regular lighters when picking a lighter for cigars. Regular lighters can add unwanted flavors, unlike butane lighters or wooden matches. Butane is preferred because it burns cleanly and does not affect the flavor of the cigar. The right lighter combined with proper lighting technique is vital to how to smoke a cigarillo.
Lighting Technique for Cigarillo
Those smoking a cigar for the first time with cigarette experience make the mistake of lighting their cigar. For instance, they light the cigar with flame directly under the cigar. This technique will ruin the flavor and aroma of a quality cigar. Instead, you are to hold the cigar at a forty-five-degree angle without the flame reaching it when learning how to smoke a cigarillo.
With your cigar in your mouth, slowly heat the foot of the cigar while rotating it. Gently puff the cigar without inhaling a few times or lightly blow on the burning end. Continue the process until the entire foot of the premium tobacco is red hot and burning evenly. Once it is lit, take a slow puff or two every minute to enjoy the experience.
Right Ashtray for Cigarillo
Hold the cigar, light it evenly, and take slow puffs without inhaling the smoke. Let it sit in your mouth so you can enjoy the rich flavors. With an even burn and smooth puff, the cigar would be making thicker ash that stays in place longer than on cigarettes. Hence, you need a sturdy ashtray with a stable base.
Technique for Handling Cigar Ash
Let the ash at the foot grow to about an inch or more when it falls naturally. Avoid constantly tapping the cigar on the ashtray to get off the ash, it disrupts the even burning of the cigar. A gentle tap along the edge of the cigar will get off any impending ash that needs to be removed. When you are done with the cigar, simply leave it in the ashtray, and it will extinguish on its own.
Enhance Your Cigar Experience with Proper Storage
As said earlier, anyone learning how to smoke a cigarillo needs the right cigar knowledge and accessories. Given that cigars are sensitive to humidity, proper storage is essential to maintain their quality and freshness. Therefore, investing in a good humidor will keep your cigars fresh and flavorful for a long time. A humidor is a special box designed to keep cigars at an ideal humidity level of 65 to 72 percent.
Mozsly provides the best humidor solutions that prevent cigars from drying out or becoming too moist. Cigar humidors and boxes encourage you to have the right storage practices. In addition to protective features, these humidors offer aesthetic advantages to your house, office, or room. Check out the best option on the official website of Mozsly.
Enjoying How to Smoke a Cigarillo
Knowing how to smoke a cigarillo is about mastering cigar tips for relaxation and savoring soothing flavors. By choosing the right cigar for beginners you can make each smoking session striking. Furthermore, do not forget how to smoke a cigarillo slowly and enjoy the experience one puff at a time. Also, do not chew on the cigar to prevent unraveling the wrapper.
Getting a quality lighter, cutter, ashtray, and humidor can significantly lift the level of your experience. Hence, beginners learning how to smoke a cigarillo can make their experience smooth and enjoyable from the start with the right tools. However, avoid relighting excessively when learning how to smoke a cigarillo. Relighting multiple times can make the cigar taste bitter.
FAQs on How to Smoke a Cigarillo
Here are some common questions about how to smoke a cigarillo.
- Why Do You Put a Toothpick on a Cigar?
Putting a toothpick in the cigar is not a popular practice, and it is not for anyone just learning how to smoke a cigarillo. Some people use it as a cigarette safety to hold the cigar near the end. It allows them to enjoy the cigar until the last inch without burning their fingers.
- How Do You Breathe When Smoking a Cigar?
When learning how to smoke a cigarillo, you hold the smoke in your mouth rather than breathe it into your lungs. Let the smoke linger in your mouth for a moment to enjoy the flavor, then exhale. Take normal breaths of fresh air in between puffs.
- How to Keep Cigar Smoke in Your Mouth?
Take a gentle puff into your mouth by creating a slight vacuum like you are sipping from a straw. Then, hold the smoke in your mouth without inhaling. Keep your mouth closed, allowing the flavors to spread, and then release the smoke slowly.
- How to Tell If It Is a Good Cigar or Not?
You can test out the construction of a quality cigar by rolling it in between your index finger and thumb. No lumps should be found when you do the roll test. Also, the body should not feel too soft or not have enough filling. It should be firm but not too hard.
- How to Store Your Cigars for Optimal Flavor?
You can store your cigars for optimal flavor in a humidor set at 65-70% humidity and 65-70°F temperature. Ensure that the cigar avoids direct sunlight or fluctuating conditions when in storage. Also, rotate them occasionally for even aging.
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