 Set Aside The Time To Enjoy Your Cigar
A cigar can provide a great deal of enjoyment, and it should not be rushed. Allow yourself time to appreciate the whole experience, from choosing and cutting to lighting and smoking. REMEMBER a panatela will take about 10-15 minutes to smoke, a Petit Corona about 30-35 minutes and a Robusto or Churchill up to an hour, so choose the cigar for the time available.
Cutting Your Cigar
The pleasurable ritual of smoking a cigar begins with cutting. Most modern experts agree that the best way to cut the head of your cigar is with a guillotine-type cutter. Never use your teeth, a knife, your fingernail or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar. The cut should be careful, clean, and crisp, without any damage to the cap.
Lighting Your Cigar
When your light a cigar you can use a butane lighter or a wood match. There are also special long slow-burning matches designed for cigar smokers available. A properly lit cigar is always more enjoyable than one that isn't, so take it easy when you light one. Older well-matured cigars burn more easily than younger ones. To get the best of them, cigars should be smoked slowly. They should not to be dragged on or puffed too frequently. This will lead to overheating and spoil the flavour. Rotate the end of the cigar in the flame to scorch the wrapper until it starts to burn, then puff lightly, don't touch the flame to the foot of the cigar - there is no need.
Smoking Your Cigar
You can remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar if you wish however many people leave them on in case the cigar is damaged during the removal. Take your time smoking your cigar- enjoy it - a puff every 30 seconds is about right. Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb. Let the aromatic smoke dance on your taste-buds, roll it around your mouth, but NEVER inhale. When you have finished, let the cigar die a dignified death, it will go out on its own, NEVER stubb it out in an ashtray!
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