Knowing how to smoke a cigar is mostly about slowing down. You choose a cigar, cut it, light it, then puff gently for the best part of an hour while the flavour changes. There is no secret skill. However, a few simple habits make the difference between a smooth, pleasant smoke and a hot, bitter one. This guide walks through each stage in order.
Before you start: choose and prepare
First, pick a cigar that fits your experience and your time. A mild to medium cigar suits most people, and a robusto or corona takes about 45 to 60 minutes. If you are new to all this, our pillar guide to cigars for beginners explains how to choose.
Next, check its condition. A healthy cigar feels firm but has a slight give, like a ripe fruit. It should not crackle or feel spongy. In Malaysia, a cigar carried around all day in the heat can soak up moisture. So if it feels soft, let it rest in a cool room for a little while first.
Then eat a proper meal and pour a glass of water. Smoking on an empty stomach is the most common cause of nicotine sickness. Finally, find a spot where smoking is legal and nobody minds. Our guide to where to smoke cigars explains the rules.
How to smoke a cigar step by step
These are the core steps. The sections that follow explain each one in more detail.
- Cut the cap. Remove about 1.5 to 2 mm with a sharp cutter, staying above the cap line. Then test the draw.
- Toast the foot. Hold the foot just above the flame and rotate it until the edge chars evenly.
- Light it. Put the cigar to your lips and draw gently while turning it, until the whole foot glows.
- Puff slowly. Draw smoke into your mouth about once a minute. Taste it, then let it go.
- Rest it between puffs. Lay it in the ashtray or hold it lightly away from your face.
- Manage the ash. Let it build to about 2 to 3 cm, then roll it off gently.
- Follow the thirds. Notice how the flavour shifts, and slow down if it heats up.
- Put it down. When it turns harsh, rest it in the ashtray and let it go out by itself.
For cutting, see our detailed guide on how to cut a cigar. For flames, toasting and fixing burn problems, see how to light a cigar.
The puff: rate, depth and why you don’t inhale
A puff is a gentle sip, not a drag. Draw the smoke into your mouth for a second or two, let it roll over your tongue, and then breathe it out. Do not take it into your lungs. Cigar smoke is meant to be tasted, and inhaling it is harsh and harmful. Our article on whether you inhale cigars explains why in detail.
How often to puff
Aim for about one puff a minute. If you go much faster, the burning tip gets too hot. As a result, the smoke turns sharp, bitter and acrid. If you go much slower, the cigar may go out. That is not a disaster, but it is a nuisance.
A useful trick is to take two short puffs in a row, then rest for a minute or so. The first puff stokes the ember. The second, therefore, brings a fuller mouthful of smoke. Watch the foot: a gentle glow means the pace is right.
Retrohaling, later
Once you are comfortable, you may want to try a retrohale. This means letting a little smoke out through your nose, where your sense of smell picks up extra flavour. Start with a tiny amount, because it can sting. Our guide on how to taste a cigar covers it fully.
How to hold a cigar
Hold the cigar lightly between your thumb and your index and middle fingers. Keep your grip near the head, but away from the wet end. A loose hold is best, since squeezing can crack the wrapper or tighten the draw.
Between puffs, rest your hand away from your face, or lay the cigar in an ashtray. Lay it flat in the rest so the lit end hangs clear. Never balance it upright on its foot, because the ash can tumble and the cigar may go out unevenly.
Managing the ash
A firm ash is a good sign of solid construction. It also acts as a little heat shield for the burning tip. So there is no need to tap it after every puff. Instead, let it grow to about 2 to 3 cm.
To remove it, touch the ash against the floor of the ashtray and roll the cigar gently. It should drop away cleanly. Flicking, as you would with a cigarette, can knock off too much and damage the ember. Also, do not let the ash grow so long that it falls into your lap. That said, a falling ash on your shirt is a rite of passage for almost everyone.
The three thirds of a cigar
Most cigars change as they burn. People talk about three stages, or thirds. Some blenders even design them deliberately, while others simply let the tobacco develop.
| Third | What usually happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First third | Lighter, often brighter flavours as the cigar settles in | Puff gently and let it find its rhythm |
| Second third | Flavours deepen and fill out, often the richest stretch | Slow down slightly and pay attention |
| Final third | Stronger and hotter, as smoke passes through more tobacco | Puff less often; stop if it turns harsh |
The reason for the last stage is simple. As the cigar shortens, the smoke travels a shorter path and cools less. Oils and tar also build up near the head. For these reasons, the final third tastes stronger. Many smokers stop once that stage turns bitter.
When to put it down
There is no rule that says you must finish a cigar. Stop when it stops being enjoyable. Common signs are a hot, burning feeling on the lips, a bitter or tarry taste, or the band area getting close to the ember.
Then simply rest the cigar in the ashtray. It will go out by itself within a few minutes. Do not stub it out like a cigarette. Crushing it releases a stale, heavy smell and makes a mess. If you are indoors, take the cigar outside or dispose of it once it has cooled, because a cold cigar butt smells strong.
What about the band?
You can leave the band on throughout. Alternatively, wait until the cigar has warmed for a while, so the glue softens, then peel it off gently. Pulling it off too early can tear the wrapper. Our guide to cigar etiquette covers the band and other manners.
Relighting a cigar that has gone out
Cigars go out. It happens to everyone, especially in a breeze or during a long conversation. To relight, first knock off any loose ash. Then blow gently through the head to push out stale smoke, which is called purging. After that, toast the foot again and draw gently while turning it.
A cigar relit within half an hour usually tastes fine. After an hour or two, however, it tends to taste stale. Our guide on how to light a cigar explains relighting in more detail.
Smoking a cigar in Malaysia’s climate
Heat and humidity change the experience. On a humid evening outdoors, cigars burn a little slower and can go out more easily. On the other hand, a cigar stored in a dry, air-conditioned room may burn fast and hot. Both problems come back to storage. Our guide on how to store cigars explains how to keep them at about 65 to 70 per cent humidity.
Also, keep water close by. Malaysia’s heat dehydrates you faster than you think, and cigar smoke dries the mouth. A cold kopi, a teh tarik or a simple glass of water helps, and our guide to cigar pairings suggests more.
A word on health
Learning how to smoke a cigar well does not make it safe. The US National Cancer Institute notes that cigar smokers expose the mouth, throat and larynx to cancer-causing chemicals, even when they do not inhale. Our guide to cigar health risks sets out the evidence honestly.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to smoke a cigar?
Roughly 30 to 45 minutes for a petit corona, 45 to 60 minutes for a robusto, and 75 minutes or more for a Churchill. The pace matters more than the clock, so aim for about one puff a minute.
How do you hold a cigar?
Hold it lightly between your thumb and first two fingers, near the head but away from the band. Do not grip it tightly or hold it like a cigarette pinched at the very end.
How often should you puff a cigar?
About once a minute, or a little less. That keeps the cigar lit without overheating it. If you puff much faster, the smoke turns hot and bitter.
Can you relight a cigar the next day?
You can, but it rarely tastes as good. Cold smoke turns stale within an hour or two. If you do relight it, purge it first by blowing gently through the head, then toast and light the foot.
How far down should you smoke a cigar?
Most people stop with about a third, or a few centimetres, left. Smoke it as far as it tastes good. Once it turns harsh, hot or bitter, put it down.
