Smoking cigars are as storied a pastime in America as baseball and apple pie. Since Christopher Columbus popularized the joys of the cigar, Americans from Babe Ruth to John F. Kennedy have publicly enjoyed a stogie from time to time. Men who are new to the world of cigars should know a few things about this artful tobacco product to make the most of the experience.
Every baseball player has his favorite type of equipment. Some prefer metal baseball bats while others enjoy the sound of the ball hitting the sweet spot on a wooden Louisville Slugger. Cigars, like baseball bats, come in two types. Hand-rolled cigars are the Louisville Sluggers of the tobacco world. These are usually 100% pure and each one is crafted with the dedication and care of a talented craftsmen who takes pride in every quality cigar that he produces. Cigars rolled by machines are also available in nearly every tobacco store. These products are more likely to contain some chemicals and additives that are not found in the hand-rolled variety. The cigar’s wrap is often made of paper or cardboard rather than the tobacco wrapping of the hand-rolled form and they occasionally come with a fruit flavoring. Take a few practice hits of each type and decide which one is most enjoyable for you.
If you’re just starting to smoke cigars, resist the urge to jump into the Major Leagues too early. It’s highly recommended that you start with a mild, less expensive cigar rather than puffing on a stronger, bolder product. Just as you wouldn’t learn to hit a ball with Justin Verlander as the pitcher, you shouldn’t start smoking cigars by choosing a Major League tobacco. Start slow and easy and work your way up. It will be more enjoyable and more cost effective.
There’s also a great deal of skill and technique that must be mastered to truly be considered a cigar aficionado. Learning to use a cigar cutter to slice a perfect 1/16 inch off of the end is a skill that takes time. Some people prefer to bite the end or to make the cut by hand and other prefer to use one of a variety of cutters. Also, humidors are another device that a true cigar expert will want to own to protect their investment and to keep the cigars at the highest level of quality for a longer period of time.
Cigar smoking can be an enjoyable and relaxing activity for many Americans. However, if you don’t start slow and take time to learn about the craft and to master the associated skills and techniques, you may miss out on the aspects of a good cigar that make it so appealing to so many.