There seem to be hundreds of articles on the internet as to how to smoke a cigar.
But I get that part: the question I have is: what am I supposed to be getting out of it? I’ve smoked all of two. I don’t inhale, just puff into the mouth and exhale after a while. And… is there something that is supposed to happen? With cigarettes, the nicotine certainly causes a buzz, the nicotine high. But with the cigar, I puff down the stogie to its finish and experience nothing. People pay hundreds of dollars for really good cigars, but at this point I just don’t get it, other than the fun of blowing smoke. I hear that the taste is the important thing, but I dont’ taste much of anything. The rim on my lips seems to be slightly sugared, which I guess is nice, but the smoke itself only has a faint, mild sweet taste and… I don’t get it.
Am I still doing something wrong? Using old tobacco? I’m not exactly dying to smoke lots of cigars, but given that there are magazines and such devoted to this, I’m a bit confused as to what the fuss is all about when the off chance arises that I do smoke them (for instance, after winning a Govenor’s race :).
So I AM supposed to be getting the same nicotine feeling as smoking? Was I doing something wrong? Are you supposed to savor the smoke in your mouth longer?
My WAG is that you are smoking something like a flavored cigar, perhaps a Swisher Sweet or something along those lines. You described a sweet flavor. This sweet flavor is not part of any cigar that I have ever tried save for those cheaper brands.
Try a nice connecticut wrapper like a Macanudo or something similar since you are a beginner. Anything by Arturo Fuente, Ashton, Macanudo, Punch, etc. should give you what you are looking for.
Pull the smoke in a long draw and hold it momentarily before slowly pushing it back out. If you aren’t getting a similar (actually more enhanced) feeling about halfway through the cigar, you might try holding it in a little longer. It isn’t rocket science, and admittedly cigar smoking isn’t for everyone.
Cigar smoke is more alkaline than cigarette smoke, and is absorbed more easily into the soft tissue in the mouth. So you get the nicotine without inhaling.
I enjoy an occasional cigar. For me a big part of the enjoyment is just that it gives me an excuse for taking an hour out of the day to just sit and relax. Smoking a medium-sized cigar takes a fair bit of time, so it forces you to sit and be contemplative. I occasionally invite a buddy over and we’ll just take a couple of chairs outside, have a cigar, and chat. It’s very enjoyable.
I also enjoy cigars more with a drink of some sort. Not necessarily alcohol. Even just a coke. The mix of tastes is pleasant.
Did you choose to originally because it was enjoyable?
Actually, wait, don’t answer that…I retract it and apoligize for my possible hijack. I’ll start a GD topic about it and hope to see you there, Sam Stone.
To echo the thoughts of other posters, if the wrapper tasted sweet, then you were not smoking what cigar smokers smoke. You were likely smoking what high school kids stuff with pot to create a “blunt” – basically a big, unfiltered cigarette.
Yes, the smoke should taste good, but it should also taste interesting. Part of it is acquiring a taste and, eventually, being able to pick out and appreciate different aspects of a cigar’s character. It’s also a fun hobby. Some people collect baseball cards, others collect, age, and smoke cigars.
I think it is more than just the mix of flavors. You will notice different flavors that you’ve never noticed before in beverages when accompanied by cigar smoke. I know sophisticated individuals make an art and science of pairing cigars with certain wines and liquors. I on the other hand take a more serendipitous approach…“Hey this PBR tastes pretty good with a cigar!”
Iced milk and/or hot coffee are my preferred beverages when smoking a cigar. I never developed a taste for scotch, port, etc., and carbonated drinks form an unpleasant fizz on my tongue if I’ve been smoking.
