If you are new to cigar smoking, there are a variety of tips and tricks that can help you along the way. We have in depth guides on the best way to light a cigar, how to smoke a cigar, and where to cut a cigar, but choosing the right cigar is a huge part of the puzzle. Take a look at each of our blogs to better understand cigar smoking 101.
Picture this: It’s Saturday night and your friends are over for Poker Night. It’s the perfect setting for cigars, but you’re a beginner and unsure where to begin. Make it a memorable experience for you and your friends by choosing the best cigars for beginners.
How To Light a Cigar
To properly light a cigar, you’ll want to use a butane lighter or cigar match. Other types of lighters commonly use chemicals that can impact how the cigar tastes. You also want to start lighting the cigar from the outer layers inward to make sure it’s a uniform burn. We recommend keeping the flame 3 to 4 inches away from the cigar.
How To Cut a Cigar
There are variety of different tools you can use to cut a cigar, like scissors, a cigar punch, a v-cut, and a single or double guillotine. You want to make sure you don’t cut the cigar too high, or it can unravel. Once you decide where to cut the cigar, you must execute a strong and confident motion to ensure a precise cut.
How To Smoke a Cigar
When smoking a cigar, it is important to remember not to inhale the smoke. This can cause you to feel lightheaded and sick. Instead, allow the smoke to sit in your mouth so you can taste the flavor, then exhale. This is the best way to smoke and enjoy the cigar.
Choosing a Cigar
When browsing through the best cigars of 2021, there are a few crucial things to keep in mind. There are good cigars for beginners, and there are cigars that may end up making you feel sick if you start off too strong too soon.
Choose Handmade and High-Quality Cigars
Don’t make the mistake of choosing a machine-made cigar as they’re often chemically treated. You won’t get the same experience. Instead, remember the best cigars are premium handmade blends from reputable manufacturers. If you’re shopping online, ask the professional tobacconist to guide you to the top-tier cigars.
Choose Corona or Robust Vitolas
Cigars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, or vitolas. The large cigars can take hours to finish, compared to small cigars that can take less than 20 minutes. We recommend starting off with a smaller one that takes less time to smoke. A larger cigar could make you feel exhausted and unwell.
You also don’t want to choose one that is too small because they may not reach the full potential of the blend, giving you and underwhelming experience. A Robusto cigar size has a wide gauge so you can have a cool smoke and enough time to experience the flavor complexity.
Best Cigars for Beginners
It takes time to master the art of cigar smoking. One of the most common questions we get from beginners is, “do you inhale cigar smoke?” After you pick out your favorite cigar, remember that you do not inhale the cigar smoke. Instead, keep it in your mouth as if you were using a straw and then exhale.
We have created the ultimate guide to help you choose which cigar is best for you to begin with. Once you find a chemical-free lighter, you are ready to pick to best cigar to smoke.
La Historia
E.P. Carrillo makes a beautiful tribute with their La Historia vitola. The founder, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo uses this collection of cigars to pay tribute to his family, the women (his mother, wife, and daughter) and men (father and son).
The intricate and elegant design of these cigars make them stand out. After your first draw, you’re enveloped in sweet-mocha flavors and black cherry notes. As you continue smoking, you’ll pick up on notes of pepper while the mocha is still at the forefront. La Historia is a well-constructed, low-maintenance, tasty, and balanced cigar.
Interlude Maduro
This cigar is perfect due to its smaller size. These cigars come in two styles. One is an Ecuadorian wrapped cigar with Nicaraguan binders and fillers. The other is wrapped in a Mexican San Andreas leaf with Ecuadorian binders. They are both quick smokes that won’t overwhelm you.
Encore Majestic
The Encore Majestic was 2018’s #1 Cigar of the year, so it’s a no brainer to add it to this list. E.P. Carrillo’s handmade blend gifts you a sweet, nutty flavor with a hint of spice. It’s not overbearing, perfect for beginners, and you’ll be won over by the first puff. The notes of wood and almond blend perfectly with the hints of maple, cinnamon, and black pepper.
As the cigar develops, the sweet notes are replaced with spice, until you’re overcome with hints of plum and hickory. Pair this cigar with a cup of black coffee and its smoothness will blow you away.
Selección Oscuro Piramides Royal
E.P. Carrillo’s blend isn’t aggressive despite the cigar’s dark exterior. Perez-Carrillo has produced a creative blend of Mexican wrapper, Ecuadoran binder, and Nicaraguan to produce a unique flavor.
Each puff has the perfect balance between dried-fruit and chocolate-covered raisin, making it a sweet and tasty smoke.
Capa De Sol
Capa de Sol comes in four sizes, ranging in ring gauges from 52 to 54. The blend combines dark Ecuadorian leaf with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The body is medium-full and has first-rate construction much like the rest of E.P Carrillo’s cigars. In each puff, you’ll enjoy a mix of red pepper, chalky earth, sweet cocoa, and a hint of black pepper.
Carrillo Dusk
E.P. Carrillo’s Dusk collection comes in four sizes: Robusto (5 inches by 50), the Stout Toro (6 inches by 52), the Obscure (7 inches by 54), and the Solidos (6 inches by 60). Once you light the cigar, you’ll notice primary notes of brewed coffee, cedar, and natural tobacco. There are also subtle aromas of clay, cocoa powder, cream, and nuts.
Cigars for Beginners
That’s how you find the best cigar! There are so many options on the market that you are bound to find the perfect cigar for your unique preference. We recommend starting with mild cigars to get the taste and avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you smoke too large of a cigar right off the bat, you may end up feeling dizzy or sick.
When you’re ready, graduate to medium-bodied cigars where you can enjoy complex flavors with more variety. Are you excited to start your cigar journey? Browse through our collections to find the perfect cigar for you. Once you’ve found your favorite, you can learn how to cut a cigar and how to properly light a cigar.
Are you excited to start your cigar journey? Browse our collection to find the perfect cigar for you.