And those people might just include you...
1. Not allowing enough time to enjoy your cigar
Simply put, pick the right cigar for the amount of time you have to enjoy one. Cigars are far from cheap in New Zealand and you don't want to try to rush a fine $80 stogie when you are short on time.
2. Smoking a cigar on an empty stomach
Don't kid yourself, ever cigars strength varies and your ability to handle the Vitamin N within that cigar greatly changes if you have or haven't had food and even hydration during the day.
Empty stomach smoking probably isn't going to end well.
TCM-TIP: Stop, have a can of sugary soda and a bit of food; you'll thank me later
3. Using a blunt cigar cutter
Nothing ruins a $20 or $100 equally than a blunt cigar cutter; those $9.95 basic cutters you get with your first order are just that; a basic cutter to get you started.
After 10 or so cigars, you really need to up your game and invest in your passion. Crushing a cigar during cutting will lead to horrific burn issues and potentially just waste a $20 or $100 cigar. A blunt cigar cutter doesn't take any prisoners.
4. Roasting your cigar and not toasting it
We've all seen the YouTube clips of a cigar reviewer lighting a cigar with enough butane heat to melt steel! Don't do this!
A soft-flame lighter is really the best and most ideal way to light your cigar; or use your butane torch lighter to light a Cedar Spill and use it to gently toast your cigar like a gentleman.
Personally I use my Xikar Meridian everyday and it is the finest invention for cigars since the guilotine cutter. But a basic BIC lighter will product just the same sort of flame.
Soft-flame, lower heat; more flavour! Butane lighters are great for "tidying-up" or "touching-up" a cigar; they still have their place and uses (soft-flame sucks for these roles).
5. Not pinching a cigar to stop that tunnelling problem soon enough
Honestly I only discovered this wee gem a few years ago and that is quite shocking considering I've been smoking cigars for some 3+ decades now.
Gently pinch (press) your cigar just behind the soft-spot that can sometimes occur when a tunnel occurs and this will close off the run-away burn and save the cigar.
TCM-TIP: Check out the BLOG Cigar Basics - Cigar Burn Issues & What To Do
6. Removing the band too soon
Over my 3+ decades of cigar enjoyment I've met people whom leave the band on till the last moment (me); people that remove the band before lighting the cigar and people inbetween.
Thankfully I've not met anyone who deliberately smokes through the band (but they do exist).
Anyway, the problem here is that removing the band too soon can potentially rip the cigars wrapper; most of the time this isn't your fault but the fault of a little too much glue being applied to the band.
Try to play it safe, wait a while, let the cigar band warm up because you generally naturally hold the cigar around the band and then hopefully the warmer band does less damage to your cigar... unless its a bloody RoMa Craft of course!
TCM-TIP: Have a bottle of Swamp Goo on hand for any breakages or wrapper damage
7. Rushing a cigar and not savouring it
Some habits are hard to change; former cigarette smokers who take up the cigar hobby have trouble not rushing a cigar. You should be comfortable leaving your cigar to rest for upto 5 to even 8 minutes between puffs.
Most cigars will handle this. Just relax. Sit back and slowly enjoy that cigar. They're not cheap remember!
8. Stubbing out a cigar
This is a biggie - a cigar should be simply placed in the ashtray and left alone; it will soon snuff itself out. Crushing a cigar in an ashtray on the other hand, will burn and burn and also produce a less than enjoyable smokey aroma.
9. Not heeding the advice of your tobacconist
This one is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but hey. The amount of consumers that we get to speak to who just ignore the basic advice of blunt cutters, empty stomachs, benefits of sugar etc. is quite alarming; or ultimately funny for their friends.
Remember, we've been enjoying cigars for decades; some of us enjoying them daily for decades - we've learnt a few things; we've screwed up more times than we care to admit to also.
10. Using the time enjoying a cigar to spend time with friends
This for me personally is a big one; I am lucky to have a good group of friends to enjoy cigars with. But its a lot more than that.
If anyone is having a crap week or a good week we all talk it through and honestly its the biggest and best side-affect of cigar enjoyment that I can think of.
Going to watch a movie? Going to have a BBQ? Going to enjoy a cigar? Invite a friend over to join you - I guarantee you'll both benefit from it!
11. Respecting yourself and your cigars
This is about time, cigar costs and your enjoyment. Ultimately cigars are not a cheap hobby in New Zealand - I've said it before but you should think of investing in a cigar as investing in a couple of hours of entertainment.
What would a movie outing cost you? What would going to the pub cost you?
With everything I've outlined above, you can make some basic changes to maximise your enjoyment.
- Right cigar for the time you have
- A decent cutter that won't crush the head of your cigar and ruin it
- Have a meal / have something sugary on hand just in case
- Take your time
- Enjoy it with a friend or friends
All pretty basic, but they do play a huge part in the ultimate outcome of your cigar enjoyment my friends.
12. Storing cigars with too much humidity
Another topic I've covered, the old school of thinking of 70/70 (70% humidity / 70F storage temp (21C) is just that, old.
These days we are suggesting storing cigars around 65% humidity and still 70F (21C). The temp can be lowered, as it has an effect on the RH (relative humidity).
If you smoke and store darker cigars, then lower (62% to 65%) is a good idea; darker wrapper tobacco is generally thicker and hold more moisture. Lighter cigars (Habano or Connecticut Shade) 65% or a bit higher is okay.
They are thinner by nature.
13. Playing it safe and not exploring the vast world of cigar possibilities
This isn't just for cigars, over my many years on earth I have met wine people who only drink one style or wine; rum drinkers who only drink one brand of wine; you get the idea.
This has always been bizarre to me personally; I obviously subscribe to the variety is the spice of life mantra...
But as humans are ultimately creatures of habit, we get stuck in our ways and stick to what we enjoy. But I encourage everyone to always be exploring.
New world cigars sure do vary in blends and sizes - there are pretty much endless options out there if you really want to be adventerous.
While the heart of cigars is a somewhat limited range of tobaccos, the Master Blenders have created 10s of thousands of variations and they all do taste different.
More over, different cigars fit your mood perfectly and also follow-up what you've just enjoyed for a meal and then also complement what libation you may wish to enjoy.
Yes, I do very much change my cigar selections based on what I had for dinner and yes, it does have a positive outcome... that I feel is the start of yet another unwritten BLOG...