Any aficionado will tell you that smoking cigars is as enjoyable as indulging in a fine wine. However, as with drinking wine, cigar smoking has special etiquettes to enhance the experience. In this article, we'll share the dos and don'ts of enjoying a good stogie.

Once you've selected a well crafted, perhaps hand rolled cigar, the next step is to light it. The tip of it should be lit using a wooden match or a lighter. Try not to use candles, paper matches or lighters that use lighter fluid because the chemicals and odors can affect the taste of the tobacco. The best tool for lighting one is a butane lighter.

If you're using a match, wait until the sulfur burns off before lighting up. Start the lighting procedure by holding it at a 45 degree angle over the flame. Without allowing the flame to actually touch the end, gently roll the edges close to the flame until it is lit. While never letting the flame touch the cigar, slowly puff and rotate it around the flame. Take a look at the foot and make sure it is burning evenly.

Now comes the moment that every aficionado waits for: savoring the cigar. Take long draws instead of short puffs and enjoy the flavor. This will help ensure that it burns steadily and evenly. Rolling the cigar in your fingers as you smoke is another way to help ensure a smooth and even burn. Be conscious of the length of the ash at the end. Most premium handmade cigars will hold a very long ash before falling off while cheaper cigars produce ashes that fall off more frequently. To protect your clothing and furniture, gently tap the ash off as necessary.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of smoking cigars is re-igniting one that has gone out. Those that aren't puffed on every few minutes tend to go out, so re-lighting is commonplace. However, try to avoid re-igniting one that hasn't been smoked in more than two hours. When re-lighting, hold the flame in front of the foot and blow out to help expel any old gases or ash that may have become trapped and then follow standard lighting procedures. It's also important to put it out properly. To extinguish, just let it go out by itself in an ashtray. Stubbing one out produces an unpleasant stale odor that can linger in a room.

Smoking cigars, especially fine, hand rolled ones are a luxury that must be treated with respect, so it's best to take your time and enjoy a stogie at your leisure. If you're a true aficionado of cigars, you'll no doubt have all the accessories such as a humidor and special cigar cutters. Make use of these items to enhance your experience. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and shamelessly immerse yourself in the delights. It truly is one of life's little pleasures.

Today's Tip On Cigars For craftsmanship, flavor and bouquet, you can't beat hand rolled cigars. While these items are typically more expensive than their mass produced competitors, you can purchase hand rolled cigars that are affordable enough to smoke every day. In this article, we'll find out why selective cigar smokers gladly spend more money for stogies that are rolled by hand.

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