a little cigar 101

[docruger]

Zino Davidoff's guide to cigar etiquette
In 1967, a man called Zino Davidoff published a now-famous essay for cigar connoisseurs. It includes a charter and code for cigar smokers everywhere, telling them how they should behave when smoking or preparing to smoke their cigars. As to his reasons for publishing what is effectively a guide to cigar etiquette, Davidoff has this to say:

“The important thing to remember is that we cigar aficionados should present ourselves as considerate and understanding individuals. Changing people’s preconceived notions and giving the growing numbers of aficionados a good name is well worth that little extra effort.”

Davidoff featured the following Dos and Don'ts for smoking cigars in public.
Do:

• Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
• Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.
• Take your time in smoking it; a puff a minute is about right.
• Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb.
• Let the cigar die a dignified death. After it's smoked half way, it will go out on its own.
• Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.
• Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behavior.

Don't:

• Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar.
• Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead, simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly.
• Ask someone else for a light (the lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair).
• Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly.
• Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking.
• Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf.
• Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights.
• Clench it between your teeth. Likewise do not get the end of the cigar wet, chew it, or slobber on it.
• Smoke too quickly.
• Use a cigar holder, or worse, stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth.
• Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill.
• Smoke while working.
• Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
• Smoke when you're walking.
• Smoke more than half the cigar.
• Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.
• Chain-smoke cigars.

As you can see, there are a lot more Don'ts than Dos! However, most of Davidoff's directives are things most people already do naturally, and you will soon get used to the others as you build up more smoking experience. Practice at home, where you can relax and learn to enjoy every aspect of the ritual of cigar smoking, and only then, when you are confident, should you have a go at smoking in public. It’s not a difficult thing to do, but there are a number of things to think about the first time you do it. Keep practicing however, and they'll soon become second nature.

[Jack Straw]

There's a few that I don't really agree with:

Don't smoke more than half the cigar.
Don't hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.

[Hemingway in Havana]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

There's a few that I don't really agree with:

Don't smoke more than half the cigar.

This makes absolutely no sense when you consider that the middle to last third of a cigar is usually the tastiest!!!

[ashmaster]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

There's a few that I don't really agree with:

Don't smoke more than half the cigar.

Yea, thats the one I really don't/can't agree with. Doesn't make sense.

[GlockG23]

Remember this was probably Zino back a ways, among upper class I believe and
this was with smoking cigars in only in public.

Were did you find this Doc?

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by GlockG23

Remember this was Zino back a ways, among upper class I believe and
this was with smoking cigars in only in public.

Ah I see. Sort of like using a pair of socks once and then throwing them out?

[popNsmoke]

i nub almost every cigar i smoke......i have heard that before though i dont get it?

[Bermac]

heh heh heh, I read that as "Smoke more than half of the cigar" as in don't light up if you are not going to commit.

[docruger]

Originally Posted by GlockG23

Remember this was probably Zino back a ways, among upper class I believe and
this was with smoking cigars in only in public.

Were did you find this Doc?

I found this on cigartrends.com

[zackly]

Originally Posted by ashmaster

Yea, thats the one I really don't/can't agree with. Doesn't make sense.

...If you're selling cigars.
I have a Davidoff book in my collection somewhere. He is definately opionated. It's the classic cases of "having a horse in the race."

[mistabman]

DON'T Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.

I wish all of my friends would learn this one. Most of the rest of the stuff on the don't list doesn't really bother me, but this one is like fingernails on a chalkboard sometimes. They just grind and grind and grind that cigar into my ashtray. It'll go out on its own in like 30 seconds!!!

[docruger]

Originally Posted by mistabman

I wish all of my friends would learn this one. Most of the rest of the stuff on the don't list doesn't really bother me, but this one is like fingernails on a chalkboard sometimes. They just grind and grind and grind that cigar into my ashtray. It'll go out on its own in like 30 seconds!!!

we all have our little quarks as you can tell from some other post my equivalents is chewing a good smoke.

[tx_tuff]

Yeah the "Dont Smoke more than half the cigar" seems kind of crazy, but he is selling cigars after all

For the most part its a good read for newer smokers. Thanks for the post.

[karmaz00]

very nice thanks for sharing

[MrMusicMan1]

Don't smoke it more than half way, yeah right. I get mad if I can't nub it or if the flavors get harsh after half way. Thanks for the list I hadn't seen this before.