Some people also suggest doing the old flash burn, where you try to “heat-up” the part that is uneven – I do not recommend it. First, I do not think it works and even if it did, I would not want to risk over-heating the stick.

I have personally seen this happen many times. Some guy swaggles into a cigar shop (that’s my own word people), lifts a smoke up right against his nose like a mustache and takes a deep sniff. Then he plops it back down.

This is bad etiquette for the obvious reason. Who the hell wants some idiot’s nose (and contents therein) all over their cigar?

Smelling a cigar is only going to tell you a little about it – so first off, do not use this as your only test. The way a cigar smells before being lit is different than it smells and tastes when it is lit anyway. If you have to smell it, do the courteous thing: place your face about a foot and a half to two and a half feet above the box and inhale.

Tip #4: How Do I Remove the Band

This is one of those questions that is part etiquette, part science. Some people say removing the band before smoking is wrong, others like to leave the band on to show off a fancy cigar. My thought is: who cares? If you want to leave it on, leave it on – if not, take it off.

From a structural stand-point, your only concern is that you can rip the wrapper sometimes when you remove the band. Remember that it is held in place by a type of glue (not Elmer’s paste you fool!). This glue adheres (haha pun!) to the same rules that other adhesives do: heat liquefies it. Therefore, the best method to remove your band is to light your cigar, smoke it for about ten minutes, then remove it.