Smoke with Style

Give it a little squeeze. Giving the cigar a gentle squeeze can help you judge whether it is too soft or not. A cigar should give just a little bit. A squeeze can also help you detect lumps or soft spots.

Inspect the wrapper. The wrapper of a cigar should be tightly wrapped around without any cracks or discolorations. A wrapper can tell a lot about a cigar. The darker the color of the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor. This also means that the cigar has a higher sugar and oil content. The wrapper should always have a healthy sheen to it and look neat.

Look into the exposed end. You want the tobacco leaves to be as evenly colored as possible. This means that the leaves were properly laid out and no inferior leaves were used. This will ensure a smooth smoke without off tastes and uneven burns.

Store cigars with care. Cigars are considered to be produce. And just like produce, they should be stored carefully. The ideal environment is 60-70 degrees with a humidity of 65%-70% . Make sure that the container you store it in is kept airtight. Keep it out of sunlight to make sure that it does not dry out.

Properly cut the cap off. The "cap" of the cigar is clipped off right before smoking. Cut the cap right where a bit of tobacco leaf is used to close of the end. You should always check to make sure that you do not cut off too much of the cap, as the cigar will start to unravel.

Smoke Slowly. Never rush when smoking a cigar. Smoking a cigar should relax you. You should never inhale the smoke directly. This might make you cough or gag.

Know when it's over. Cigars are not meant be smoked up all the way. When you sense a hot smoke and strong aftertaste, it is ready to put the cigar down.

Remember, although you may not be Al Pacino, you can still enjoy a cigar the right way.