Let's Talk Cigar Etiquette

When in the company of non-smokers or non-cigar smokers, one aspect of cigar etiquette is most important.

To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question.

In this day and age when it is not unusual to see a cigar smoking woman sitting alongside a cigar smoking man, you would think this would be a sign of some new found acceptance of cigar smoking.

Forget it.

Now let's get back to the real deal, which is.... to some non-smokers, regardless whether a person smokes cigarettes or cigars, they are brutes and Neanderthals.

It gets even better. For both the cigar smoking woman and cigar smoking man, there's an added bonus. We get shunned by both the cigarette smoker and non-smoker.

This isn't always the case. There are people who understand the need to coexist, and as long as a cigar smoker isn't being rude or obnoxious with his or her smoking habits, life goes on merrily. But there are those that are....

Extremely shortsighted and unforgiving to anyone who participates in the exercise of smoking cigars. I mention cigars specifically because even to some cigarette smokers, we are an annoyance.

You got it. Our all natural premium cigars are sometimes offensive to the individual smoking that chemically infused, arsenic laced, wrapped in paper marvel, the cigarette.

As cigar smokers, we all understand that cigars have a robust fragrance in many instances that may offend the senses of some individuals. Most reasonable cigar smokers allow for this and smoke accordingly.

Bottom line is, if you want to be treated with respect, you need to show respect. This may mean moving a few feet away from the complaining party smoking their chemicals. If they still complain, ask them to extinguish their cigarette also!

Use your cigar etiquette with some common sense and you'll be just fine.

Of course you realize there are those that will always look at you as a criminal. There was even an editorial I had read awhile back where a person accused smokers of being terrorists because they were systematically killing the population with their smoking. Ridiculous, but indicative of the radical views of those who have no tolerance of anyone's lifestyle which does not conform to there own.

But I digress. Moving forward....

You are going to come across situations where even though you are being totally respectful and practicing your cigar etiquette flawlessly, it will never be enough.

Now you have a decision to make. Do you make a stand and smoke your cigar anyway? If you want to ruin a perfectly good smoke, go right ahead. I personally don't and won't.

I enjoy smoking a fine cigar too much to do it when being harassed.

Bottom line.... ask ask the people around you if they mind you smoking your cigar. If they do, don't.

Now, if you're in the middle of a cigar smoker's convention or cigar tasting event and someone comes up to you and asks you to put your cigar out, look for the guys with the butterfly nets, because this person isn't residing in the same universe as you.

Ever wonder when you should take the cigar band off? You wouldn't believe the amount of attention this subject gets.

Some cigar aficionados feel it's pretentious to keep the band on. They feel it's showing off.

I say chill out. Don't get so stuffy about it. There is actually a good reason to keep it on for awhile.

Some cigar bands come off easily, but many can be difficult. This is because the glue used to hold the band together sometimes seeps onto the cigar wrapper. In cases such as this, when you attempt to remove the cigar, the wrapper comes with it. Not a good move!

I find the best approach is to keep the cigar band on until you've almost smoked down to it. At this point the glue has warmed up and is more apt to allow the band to release itself from the cigar wrapper without tearing it. So, as far as I'm concerned, good cigar etiquette in this case is to keep your wrapper from being ruined.

If you are ever at a gathering where the host comes over and offers you a cigar from his or her humidor, cigar etiquette dictates you be gracious and take only one. Not only will you be acting in a dignified manner, but you can be assured of being invited back!

Light-em up ladies and gents!

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