Welcome to the world of cigars, one steeped in tradition, craftsmanship, and passion. Whether you’re new to cigars or you’re a seasoned connoisseur looking for a helpful resource to share with friends, Escobar Cigars is here to guide you through the essentials. In this guide you will learn everything from cutting your cigar all the way to smoking, the right way!
Choosing Your First Cigar
Before anything else, it's important to pick the perfect stick that suits your taste and experience level. For beginners, a milder cigar that's smaller in size is ideal. Escobar Cigars offers a curated selection, including our Maduro, Habano and Connecticut blends. All are known for their exceptional balance and quality at a reasonable price, perfect for connoisseurs of all experience levels!
Cutting Your Cigar
Proper cutting ensures a smooth draw and can degrade your smoking experience if done incorrectly. Although this may seem daunting there are plenty of methods and helpful tools to get your cigar ready to smoke.
- Use a Proper Cigar Cutter: Specially made cigar cutters such as a guillotine, punch, or V cutter, can help ensure your cigar is properly cut every time. Avoid scissors or biting the cigar to cut it.
- Identify the Cap: The cap is the rounded end of the cigar that you’ll want to cut.
- Make a Quick Confident Cut: A cut about ⅛ to 1/16 of an inch from the end is plenty. Don’t make your cut too deep as this can lead to unraveling of the wrapper.
Lighting Your Cigar
Lighting a cigar is different from lighting a cigarette. It's all about patience and precision.
- Use a butane torch lighter or wooden matches for the perfect light. Never use something like a gasoline lighter or candle which can negatively affect the flavor.
- Toast the foot (the open end of the cigar) first, holding the flame close but not touching the tobacco.
- Rotate the cigar slowly allowing the foot to evenly char.
- Then put the cigar to your mouth and draw gently while holding the flame to the foot to fully ignite the cigar and finish your light.
Proper Storage
Of course you want to keep your cigars in perfect condition for the next time you want to savor the moment meaning storage is key. Cigars are like fine wine where they need the right environment to age properly while maintaining quality.
- Store cigars in a humidor at about 65-70% humidity and 65-70 degree Fahrenheit.
- Without proper storage, cigars can dry out or become too moist, ruining their flavor and structure.
- If you’re new to cigars or in a pinch, a simple travel humidor or a sealed container with a humidity pack can be a good temporary fix.
The Proper Way To Smoke A Cigar
Cigar smoking is all about savoring not inhaling.
- Take slow steady draws about every 30-60 seconds. Rushing can overheat the cigar and distort flavors.
- Allow the smoke to sit in your mouth to enjoy the taste then exhale. Never inhale the smoke into your lungs.
- A good cigar can last awhile so relax and cherish the moment.
- Allow the ash to build up naturally. Tap it off gently when it is about an inch long.
Enjoy Your Cigar Experience!
Cigar smoking is all about taking time, slowing down, and appreciating craftsmanship. Starting your journey is all about understanding the basics and respecting the process. From cutting and lighting to storage and cigar selection the more care you take, the more rewarding your experience will be. At Escobar Cigars we are proud to provide the finest blends to smokers from novices to true aficionados. Explore our collection and start your cigar journey today!