Cigar Etiquette – Dos and Don’ts for enjoying your smoke

I am going to highlight the most popular etiquette opinions and hopefully all the Do’s and Don’ts will become less intimidating, and you can move on to the enjoyment of cigars instead of worrying about if you’re doing something right or wrong.

1. Do Bring a Cutter and Lighter

Always have your own cutter and lighter instead of asking others to borrow theirs. One important do’s of smoking a cigar is to use a cigar cutter. Not only does it make for a cleaner cut, but it also prevents the wrapper from unravelling or tearing. Plus, a cutter will help you enjoy your cigar more fully as it allows for an even draw.

• Lighting the cigar!

Make sure to light your cigar properly. This involves using a butane lighter since lighters with an exposed flame can damage the wrapper or alter the flavour of the cigar. It’s also important to light the cigar evenly. This requires rotating it until the entire foot of the cigar has an even glow. Doing so will help ensure that you get the full flavour and aroma from your cigar. You can light a cigar with a soft flame lighter, a torch lighter or a match as long as you aren’t scorching the cigar and lighting too quickly there is nothing wrong with ANY preferred method of lighting cigars. Another important aspect of cigar smoking is keeping your cigar lit. This can be done by gently puffing on the cigar. Then check every few minutes to see if it is still lit as a good burn requires consistent lighting. If the cigar has gone out, hold it at an angle over the flame and rotate it until evenly lit again. This should prevent the cigar from becoming too hot or going out again quickly.

• Band on or off?

Honestly band on or off is one of the oldest arguments but for the sake of not arguing I will confirm that however you like to enjoy your cigars is totally up to you. I personally keep the band on until I am forced to take it off once the cigar is smoked to that point. The reason why many of the old school cigar publications say it’s bad etiquette to leave the band on, is because it can be seen as bragging if it’s a more expensive cigar. In this new age of social media, we can all see what people are smoking and even get turned on to new brands by smoking with the band on. As long as you aren’t being a snob about it, I always say smoke it how you like as long as you enjoy!

• Hold Your Cigar Correctly

One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a rookie and a veteran is to watch how they hold their cigar.

Most newbies don’t know that you should hold your cigar between your index finger and your thumb. The natural inclination is to hold the cigar between your index finger and your middle finger like a cigarette.

There’s no real reason for this piece of etiquette. But make sure you hold your cigar correctly if you want to look like a pro.

• Do Watch the Ash

Tap off ash frequently so it doesn’t fall on those around you. Also avoid waving around a cigar with a long ash—it could accidentally fall off.

• Don’t Stub Out Your Cigar

It’s always best to let your cigar die a natural death.

You’re never supposed to stub out your cigar when you finish. Stubbing out your cigar can result in a huge wave of bad smells. Instead, you should leave your cigar on an ashtray to slowly die out.

• Don’t Wet Your Cigar

Many cigar smokers enjoy a drink (or two) while they smoke their cigar. But you should never wet your cigar.

You should also take care not to bite or lick your cigar. Keep it as dry and compact as possible for an optimal smoking experience.

• How far you smoke a cigar until you are finished.

There’s people who believe that you should only smoke until you reach the band. I personally enjoy smoking until the cigar is too hot or it stops becoming enjoyable. Sometimes there is a little bit left of the cigar and sometimes I smoke it until I burn my lips or fingers. It all depends on the cigar.

Cigar etiquette is not merely a set of rules; it is a code of conduct that fosters camaraderie, respect, and appreciation for the art of cigar smoking. By mastering the dos and don’ts outlined in this guide, you can elevate your cigar-smoking experience while honouring the rich traditions of this time-honoured pastime.

We are excited to announce our first Cigar Taster Event for 2025 will be held at the Red Lion Pub in Amblecote, Stourbridge, West Midlands on Friday 31st January 2025 from 7pm to 11pm Tickets are £50.00 Each and will include two hand rolled cigars. Book your tickets now through our website now

The role of cigars in literature and film

Renowned for their quality and long associated with power and money, cigars have been a strong part of popular culture for many years. From plot devices in films to being spotted between the lips of the elite, cigars have long had a place in the cultural spotlight.

While other methods of smoking, such as cigarettes, have taken a turn in popularity in recent years, with it often associated as a negative habit, cigars have retained their status on screen, and are commonly used to denote power.

We look at the role of the cigar in popular culture, and a few of the places you may have spotted these beloved smokes!

Power and Class

Cigars are often considered a high-class item. While cigarettes can be picked up at your local supermarket, to get a quality cigar you’ll be looking at visiting a dedicated cigar vendor, such as Cigar Nights. This feeling of exclusivity adds to the allure of the cigar.

With this comes a connection to power. Cigars are typically more expensive than other forms of smoking, and so in the past quality Cuban cigars would be associated with rich and powerful people.

As such, cigars have come to be used to signify power and wealth in films – which is why they are so often smoked by the likes of political figures, villains and crime bosses in the movies (and in real life!)

Cigars on Screen

From being commonplace on screen in older films to being used as a symbol of celebration or power in more modern movies, there are many great examples of cigars being shown on screen: 

• A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
• A Few Dollars More (1965)
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
• Scarface (1983)
• Predator (1987)
• Independence Day (1996)
• Die Another Day (2002)
• Hellboy (2004)
• The Wolverine (2013)
• Darkest Hour (2017)

Cigars in Literature

Cigars offer characters moments of contemplation, self-assurance, or silent rebellion. In American crime novels, cigars frequently appear in the hands of characters who wield power or inspire fear. Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1969) uses cigars as props for mafia dons, figures who command authority and respect. Through cigars, Puzo heightens the image of his characters, cementing them as symbols of influence, power, and the dark allure of organised crime.

Many of the writers who made cigars iconic in literature had a personal passion for them. Mark Twain was perhaps the most famous literary cigar smoker. Known to smoke up to 20 cigars daily, Twain once joked, “I smoke in moderation—only one cigar at a time.” His characters often reflect his fondness for cigars, associating them with a sense of freedom, independence, and a bit of mischief. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, cigars symbolise a playful defiance of norms, tying Twain’s rebellious spirit to his storytelling.

Ernest Hemingway, a lifelong devotee of Cuban cigars, frequently depicted characters with cigar habits that mirrored his rugged lifestyle. For Hemingway, cigars symbolised life’s richness, resilience, and even simplicity. In The Old Man and the Sea, the old fisherman Santiago enjoys cigars as a rare pleasure amid hardship, illustrating Hemingway’s belief in savouring life’s simple pleasures, even in adversity.

Arthur Conan Doyle also enjoyed cigars, particularly after achieving financial success with Sherlock Holmes. For Doyle, cigars signified intellectual leisure and were likely an inspiration for Holmes’s smoking habits. Although Holmes is known for his pipe, Doyle’s inclusion of cigars symbolised the cultivated taste of London’s elite, giving readers a window into Holmes’s upper-class lifestyle.

Cigars in Music Videos

Cigars have also been seen in many music videos, particularly those in the rap genre. For example, real-life cigar smoker JAY-Z is seen smoking a cigar in several of his videos, including ‘Show Me What You Got’ and ‘Big Pimpin’’. Likewise, Nas smokes a cigar throughout his video for ‘Can’t Forget About You’.

While often associated with men, there are many female cigar smokers too, including Shakira and Rihanna, who each enjoy a cigar in the music video for ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’.

As a great example of cigars being used in popular culture to signify power, Taylor Swift ‘smokes’ a cigar while dressed as a businessman to establish dominance in her video for “The Man”.

There are plenty more examples of cigars being spotted in film, television and other forms of popular culture – is there a moment that springs to mind for you?

Cigar Nights will be hosting another event at the Green Duck Beer Company in Stourbridge on Friday 29th November 2024 from 7pm to 11pm Tickets are £45.00 each and we will be joined by George Frakes from 1573 Cigars and smoking two fabulous Cigars the Olmec Robusto and Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto book tickets now www.cigarnights.co.uk