FAQs
How do you hold the cigar, I assume not like a cigarette, but I’m kind of clueless as it is.
Do not hold a cigar between your index and middle finger like a cigarette. Instead, hold it between your index finger and thumb.
Should I remove the band from the cigar before lighting it?
It is a personal choice to remove the band of the cigar, but be aware that in certain places it is considered rude to advertise the brand you’re smoking. If you decide to take off the band, wait until you have smoked the cigar for a few minutes. The heat will make the gum on the band less adhesive and easier to remove without tearing the delicate wrapper. Whatever you decide to do, do not let the band burn as you smoke the cigar.
Anything I should know before lighting?
If the cigar comes wrapped in cellophane, paper, or a cedar sleeve, remove these before you light it. You will also need to cut the closed end of the cigar with a cigar cutter. This is the end that you will put in your mouth. If the cigar has a foot band or a very large band, remove it as well. After you cut the cigar, test the draw by putting the cigar in your mouth and inhaling. If you cannot get air, try cutting the cigar a bit more to get a better draw.
What is the proper way to light a cigar?
You can light a cigar with a butane gas lighter or matches, but a gasoline lighter will affect its taste. You can find special cigar matches, which light up slowly, but an ordinary match will do. The most important thing is to take your time to light your cigar. Hold the cigar horizontally in contact with the flame. Rotate the flame around the foot of the cigar (the open end) until it starts to burn, then puff lightly. Make sure the burn is regular to avoid one side from burning faster than the other. Exhale gently over the foot of the cigar to assure regular combustion. Some like to use a piece of cedar to light their cigars. Next time you buy a box of cigars, break off a piece of the cedar between the layers of cigars and try lighting your cigar with it.
While smoking a cigar… do I have to inhale all the smoke?
How about…none at all! You should not inhale the cigar smoke. The high alkalinity and amount of nicotine will make you cough and besides, you can enjoy a cigar’s flavor and body without inhaling.
How long should it take me to smoke a cigar?
To really appreciate your cigar, smoke slowly and not draw too frequently, which will heat it and spoil the taste. You should take about a puff a minute. Smoking too fast can also cause burn issues. To smoke a corona should take about one half hour, and the bigger cigars such as a Churchill or a Double Corona can take more than an hour.
What should I do if my cigar stops burning?
Do not worry, this is normal, especially if you have smoked more than half of it. Make the ash fall and light it up while burning the end of the wrapper. Next, exhale through the cigar to chase out the cold smoke (this is called purging the cigar) and light up your cigar as you would a new one. By doing this, you can smoke a cigar until two hours after you put it off; after two hours the whole cigar will have acquired the taste of the cold smoke. The longer sizes can be smoked the day after if less than half of it has been smoked.
I have been told it is bad form to shake the ash of a cigar, why?
That is because the better the cigar has been made the longer the ash. However, it is not necessary to shake the cigars to make the ash fall prematurely, nor is there need to try to keep it as long as possible: too long, it obstructs the airflow and irregular combustion develops. I will admit that I have been guilty of this because it is fun to see how long you can keep the ash!
How do I know when I should put down a cigar?
I read that you should never smoke more than half. When a cigar begins to let off too much heat and leaves an aftertaste in your mouth (generally during the last 2 inches), it is time to put it off. You don’t have to put off a cigar like a cigarette by crushing it on an ashtray; in fact, this is frowned upon because it stinks up the room. Just let it stop burning by itself inside the ashtray. Do throw it away as soon as it is no longer lit.
1. Place a teaspoon of salt in a bottle cap or small cup and dampen it with a few drops of water (without dissolving it).
2. Carefully place the wet salt and the hygrometer inside a see-through container and close tightly. You can use a zip lock bag provided it seals well and you leave some air inside as well.
3. Let it sit for at least 6 hours and note the reading on the hygrometer without opening the container. The hygrometer should read 75%. The difference is how much your hygrometer is off. For example, if your hygrometer reads 70% during the salt method test, this means that to obtain the real humidity level you should add 5 points.
4. If you have an analog hygrometer, you can correct the reading. You will need to adjust the needle to the 75% mark by turning the screw on the back using a small screwdriver. Your hygrometer is now ready to be placed inside your humidor.
All our lighters are shipped empty for security reasons. To refill your lighter, please read and use the following instructions carefully:
1. Do not refill your lighter immediately after using it. You should allow enough time for the lighter to cool off.
2. The flame height adjuster on the bottom of the lighter should be set to minimum by turning it clockwise with a small screwdriver. The smaller, usually Phillips head screw is for dismantling the lighter and should not be touched. The adjusting screw is a larger brass screw with a standard (slot) head. Some lighters come with a key to turn the adjusting screw. Some models have an adjusting wheel that requires no screwdriver. Please do not force the adjusting screw. If it is hard to turn in one direction, this most likely means that the adjustment screw is already at the (-) or (+) limit. Try turning in the other direction.
3. Push the refilling valve with a screwdriver to let out the air inside until no hissing sound is heard. Hold the lighter away from your face. Air inside the fuel tank prevents butane gas from being injected into the tank and causes the lighter to malfunction.
4. Always refill the lighter in an upside-down position to avoid injecting air into the lighter.
5. Shake the butane gas refill can, press the stem of the refill can directly onto the refill valve on the bottom of the lighter. Keep them in a straight position and let the gas go into the lighter for about 5 seconds. Repeat for a shorter period if needed.
6. Allow 3-4 minutes to let the gas and lighter components reach room temperature.
7. Turn the flame adjuster counterclockwise to reach the desired flame height.
8. Hold the lighter away from your face and body and ignite it carefully. If there is no flame, repeat the refilling process.
9. If you experience gas leakage with a hissing sound while refilling the lighter, either you are not holding the lighter and gas can in a straight position, or the stem of the gas can is not suitable for the lighter. In this case, you need to use an adaptor which is usually supplied with the gas can.
10. Premium butane is required to ensure optimum performance of your lighter. Lighters require the cleanest butane available at a pressure of 45 psi. Recommended premium butane brands (Colibri, Nibo, Prometheus, any triple refined butane) are packaged in 10-13 oz. cans with a metal fill tip nozzle. Non-premium butane (Clipper, Ronson, Sun) and brands with plastic fill tip nozzles are not recommended as they may cause inconsistent ignition and performance. Impurity of the gas can cause clogging of the burner valve or malfunctioning. Refill cans are available online, at your local tobacco shop, or grocery store.