As part of our weekly blog posts we would like to speak about smoking practices when smoking your favorite cigar. While it may be customary for men to break out the cigars after the birth of their child or upon celebrating their nuptials, not all men are necessarily accustomed to proper etiquette when it comes to lighting, holding and smoking a fine cigar. In fact, the act of cigar smoking is a fine art, and only those who are well-versed in the realm of this activity truly understand the art form involved.
That said, those who are new to the world of cigar smoking can still learn the tricks of the trade when it comes to proper etiquette to follow in order to be a distinguished cigar-smoking gentleman.
History of Cigar Etiquette
Where exactly did cigar smoking etiquette come from, and who is responsible for establishing these rules?
That role was taken up by Zino Davidoff, who was one of the first to publish an etiquette guide in 1967 entitled, “Zino Davidoff’s Guide to Cigar Etiquette.” Nearly five decades later, the rules he penned in his essay still ring true today.
Zino Davidoff displays the proper way to hold a cigar.
While rules might often be made to be broken, the entire goal of this unique etiquette is to make cigar smoking as pleasurable as possible both for smokers, as well as those around them.
Cigar Smoking Rules of Etiquette
In our modern day and age, we now have the responsibility to adhere to smoking laws and rules that have been recently established. For this reason, before even pulling out a cigar and lighting it, it’s important to first determine whether or not the location you plan on toking on your cigar permits such activity in the first place.
Even if there are no specific laws or rules governing whether or not cigar smoking is permitted, it’s still common courtesy to ask those around you if lighting a cigar would be bothersome or not.
Once you’ve found a spot where cigar smoking is legal and even welcomed, the following rules apply to ensure you’re smoking like a true cigar gentleman.
The cigar anatomy displays its brand, and should be carefully removed at some point after lighting.
Some argue that leaving the band on for too long means the smoker is showing off, particularly if the brand is an expensive one. Others argue that leaving the band on helps to protect the delicate wrapper leaf.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to simply wait until the glue on the band has warmed up enough to loosen it, after which it will fall off much more easily. Or else, it’s customary to follow your host’s actions.
Smoking a cigar truly is a luxury, and should be enjoyed as such. Be sure to brush up on proper cigar smoking etiquette before you light up with your gentlemen friends so you can make a great impression.
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