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All my friends keep offering my full bodied cigars, but I don’t like full bodied cigars what should I do?

Limit your smoke intake, your cut will effect your cigar body. Use a hole punch on a full bodied smoke and it wont smoke as potent.

Cigars by themselves are a very fine treat. Why not enhance the experience with a nice beverage? Explore. Everyone’s tastes are different. Find the best pairing for you.

I believe that the first thing before starting smoking a cigar is to know how to take care of them in order to achieve the best possible condition.
If you don’t have a humidifier(and believe it, there are many who don’t) u can use a wooden small container with lid .Place in a little piece of sponge with Distilled or deionized water(it’s really cheap and can be found in the store next door) on a plate so it doesn’t touch our precious cigars .Store it in a cupboard away of the sun rays and check it on a regular basis.
NEVER IN THE FRIDGE :cigars will take the smell of the near by items. Imagine a Partagas SD 4 with a blue cheese-cranberry flavor…

Actually the never in the fridge is a bad statement.. If you have tobacco beetles the best way to neutralize them is to place your cigars in the freezer for a couple of days and then slowly bring them back by slowly raising the humidity and temperature.

Have you ever bought a box of cigars because the description sounded so good you started drooling on the spot? When you received those cigars were they less than described? Maybe even unsmokable to you? Don’t fret. Most retailers have a return policy that will allow you to return the goods. If you are going to make a sizable purchase online, make sure you check the company’s return policy. You may get lucky and find a place who offers a full refund (minus shipping). Call any customer service number provided. They will usually help any way they can.

Don’t give up on a cigar after one bad experience. Many factors contribute to the flavors you get in a smoke. The time of day, what you’ve had to eat that day… I like to give a cigar at least 2 go rounds before writing it off. Also…If you are a new smoker, don’t be afraid to try a stogie you didn’t like initially, a month or so later… your tastes will change, and that one cigar that was too strong and peppery may hit the spot later!

Only use butane or wooden matches to light your cigar, as other gases/paper matches will leave an acrid taste in your mouth.

My humidor has 2 layers in it, and I make sure I keep the more “in need” cigars on the lower level where they are kept closer to the humidification solution. Plus since my humidor has a glass top, the light can diminish the humidity ever so slightly.

There are already many great tips posted. The best I can come up with is smoke with a friend!

Find what you like, and smoke them! It doesn’t matter what the magazine reviews, cigar blogs, or your friends think about the cigar. You need to find what you enjoy, and relish the experience.

In the beginning some smokers have a case of “belly ache” with full body smokes, actually some of the best cigars are known for this. There is nothing wrong, just your bodys reaction to a rich cigar. One way to stop this (belive it or not) is to eat a small package of sugar just pour it in and eat. Some people carry some in their pockets just in case. I also have the habit of drinking a cola during smoking, I find it helps.
Experiment with different drinks, to go along with you fav. smokes, you will be surprized the difference the same cigar has with different drinks.
A really good rum and cola is my drink, know go and find yours.

Most people have been told to never use a lighter that uses lighter fluid, but you should also not use a candle, the wax and oils of the candle will affect you cigar.

before buying a cigar make sure to look up some good reviews at the inspector

Keep up a good relationship with your local cigar vendor so he/she can give good advice.

Write down the flavors you experience while smoking a suggested cigar and give this as feedback to the vendor for further recommendations.

Some cigars smoke better with age, even the much adored Fuente Opus X. Since you can only acquire them in small batches, but want to mark them with the time you put them in the humidor, do what I do. Take the ribbon that comes in a lot of cigar boxes, write the date on it, and wrap the ribbon around your small batch of cigars and put them to rest for a while. No problem remembering when you bought them!

The key to knowing what you will like in a cigar is to smoke as many different cigars as you can. If you like CAO then try a Gurkah as well. Talk to the staff at your local tobacco shop and find out what they like. Expand your palette and keep out of the smoking rut, try brands you have never seen. Variety is the spice of life!

Most inexperienced smokers confuse thickness of the cigar with power and strength and harshness. However, the thicker ring gauge can help you get a smoother, easier smoke. Smaller ring gauge cigars concentrate the heat, and produce more carbon which leads to harshness and the feeling that your tongue is coated in fiberglass the next morning. The larger ring gauge smoke spread out the heat, and don’t burn so hot. Don’t be afraid to reach for that robusto instead of your usual corona.

Use all of your senses when smoking a cigar, not just smell and taste. Before you light it, use your eyes to inspect the wrapper. Is the color uniform? Are there large seams or veins in it? Is the cap evenly applied? Next, use your hands to feel up and down the cigar? Is it smooth and oily or dry and leathery? Gently squeeze up and down the cigar. Are there any hard spots or soft spots?
Hold the cigar next to your ear, and gently squeeze. Does it crackle a little bit? It might a little dry.

Doing these extra little things let you know if there might be construction problems with the cigar, or if you need to let it get some more humidity in it. Don’t just leave it up to your taste buds and nose.

If you are a first time cigar smoker don’t just start with a mild cigar. Try one of each-mild, medium and strong. This will let YOU determine what you can handle, and enjoy. Be adverterous. You may never know what you are missing.

Only use distilled water in your humidification device (no mater what it is). Using tap water or spring water can lead to mold and other unwanted things in your humidifier.

When ordering cigars vial mail order or the internet, you’ll be very tempted to smoke one as soon as it’s off the truck. Try and avoid that temptation! They have been in less than ideal (to put it lightly) conditions during their travel, and won’t smoke as well as they could. Put them in your humidor, and let them return to optimal conditions before enjoying. How long depends on low long they were in transit, and their condition when they arrive.

Only put the unlit end in your mouth.

Try not to use a V-Cut, oldschool, but way too much tobacco ends up in the mouth unlit.

also, when toasting the foot, ensure you have about 1mm of burn around the ring and then give it a good couple of puffs. This will do the best to ensure even burn!

Cigars are like a fine wine. Put them in your humidor and let them age. I age mine a year or more before I smoke them especially bargain bundle cigars. I mix them with other cigars and let the aromas marry. Enjoy! Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf.

Getting an uneven burn?

Try rotating your cigar while smoking