Cigar etiquette
Encyclopedia
Cigar etiquette is polite behaviour when smoking
a cigar
. For example, in 19th century Havana
, it was considered an insult to give another smoker a light from your cigar without first knocking off the ash
from the cigar. Another breach of etiquette
was to pass on a cigar to a third-party for them to light up too - loaned cigars should instead be returned with a polite flourish.
in his essay entitled "Zino Davidoff's Guide to Cigar Etiquette." The essay calls for cigar aficionados to do such things as smoke the cigar only halfway, let it burn out on its own, never ask another smoker for a light, refrain from smoking while walking, etc. Davidoff dismisses the elaborate rituals of lighting, says that removing or leaving the band are equally correct, and insists that a gentleman never relights a cigar that is more than two-thirds smoked.
's book Cigar Companion suggests two sets of rules: one when among non-smokers, and another when among cigar smokers. One should never smoke except where smoking is appreciated, and care should be taken to minimize criticism from non-smokers from the smell of smoke in one's home or on one's clothes. Among other cigar smokers, it suggests rules governing sharing, cutting, lighting, humidors, women cigar smokers, and gifts. It concludes with one ironclad rule: never give a prank exploding cigar
, and do not associate with anyone who does.
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
a cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
. For example, in 19th century Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, it was considered an insult to give another smoker a light from your cigar without first knocking off the ash
Cigar ash
-Smoking:Connoisseurs of cigars disagree as to whether the quality of a cigar may be determined from the appearance of its ash.-Uses:Cigar ash may be mixed with chalk to make a dentifrice or tooth powder...
from the cigar. Another breach of etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
was to pass on a cigar to a third-party for them to light up too - loaned cigars should instead be returned with a polite flourish.
Zino Davidoff
Rules of cigar etiquette were published in 1967 by Swiss tobacconist Zino DavidoffDavidoff
Davidoff is a Swiss luxury tobacco goods brand name, which is carried by a range of products including cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobaccos. Its cigarette brand is currently owned by Imperial Tobacco but the company is otherwise independently owned....
in his essay entitled "Zino Davidoff's Guide to Cigar Etiquette." The essay calls for cigar aficionados to do such things as smoke the cigar only halfway, let it burn out on its own, never ask another smoker for a light, refrain from smoking while walking, etc. Davidoff dismisses the elaborate rituals of lighting, says that removing or leaving the band are equally correct, and insists that a gentleman never relights a cigar that is more than two-thirds smoked.
Other rules of etiquette
A number of sets of rules of cigar etiquette besides Davidoff's have been compiled and published from time to time. These include:New York Times
A New York Times 2005 article by Harry Hurt suggested four basic rules of cigar etiquette:- Confine indoor cigar smoking to cigar parlors.
- Don't chain-smoke cigars.
- Don't offend non-smokers with the smell of cigar smoke on your clothes or breath.
- Don't ask, don't tell if it's a Cuban cigar.
Cigar Aficionado
Cigar AficionadoCigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado is an American magazine that is dedicated to the world of cigars. Published since September 1992, the magazine is known for its articles about different brands of cigars worldwide, and for the celebrities that have appeared on its cover. It is also noted for its opposition to the...
's book Cigar Companion suggests two sets of rules: one when among non-smokers, and another when among cigar smokers. One should never smoke except where smoking is appreciated, and care should be taken to minimize criticism from non-smokers from the smell of smoke in one's home or on one's clothes. Among other cigar smokers, it suggests rules governing sharing, cutting, lighting, humidors, women cigar smokers, and gifts. It concludes with one ironclad rule: never give a prank exploding cigar
Exploding cigar
An exploding cigar is a variety of cigar that explodes shortly after being lit. Such cigars are normally packed with a minute chemical explosive charge near the lighting end or with a non-chemical device that ruptures the cigar when exposed to heat...
, and do not associate with anyone who does.