If you live with non-smokers, try to find a well-ventilated area of your residence where you can smoke comfortably.  Although it may be tempting to lock yourself away in an office or bedroom, it’s probably not a good idea to smoke in an enclosed area unless it has a window.  Make sure you have easy access to the window.  Never smoke in a closed area!  You are more likely to inhale the toxic air from your own cigar.  If possible, go outside to smoke.  Pull up a lawn chair; relax on the porch, or any other open area where you can smoke comfortably.  Get as far away as possible to non-smokers, especially children and the elderly.  Remember that cigar smoke contains many carcinogens that can be easily inhaled by non-smokers.

If you must smoke a cigar outside your home, remember that the courteous and respectful smoker will only light up where legally permitted.  Do no light up in a bar, hotel, or restaurant where smoking is clearly prohibited.  The courteous cigar smoker will also make sure to smoke in the company of other smokers.  If you are with someone who does not smoke, ask his or her permission.  If they agree, be considerate about it.  Make sure the smoke isn’t wafting in their direction.  Sit near an open window or space.  Make sure the air conditioner or current is moving the smoke in their direction!  Also, make sure no one around you is eating.  The secondhand smoke from a discourteous smoker is a surefire way to ruin a meal.

A courteous cigar smoker will also be aware of their ashes.  If you must smoke outside your home, make certain to dispose of your ashes in a safe and appropriate container.  Don’t forget that ashes can easily blow away, especially in lower quality cigars.  Don’t litter with ashes, and be careful they don’t blow near anyone around you.

First, note how fast your cigar burns.  A cigar that seems to burn too quickly or disposes ashes that break apart easily is probably a lower quality cigar.  If the ashes seem too messy, and don’t break apart together, this may also indicate a lower quality cigar.  Also, check the color of the ashes.  If the ash color seems to change, the tobacco leaf mix may be of poorer quality.

The highest quality cigars, those that are well packed, will burn very slowly and burn stiff ash.  The ’stiff ash’ can remain intact up to two to three inches long, and remain on the cigar without breaking apart.  A high quality cigar can be burned down to the nub.  Even high quality cigars may vary in taste, especially when they are smoked down to the nub.  Many times, you can usually get ‘burn past’ these bitter spots by letting the cigar burn on its own for a few minutes.

1.  Use cedar matches, if possible.  If you prefer to use a lighter, make sure it’s butane lighter to avoid strong odors.

2.  Warm the open end of the cigar (aka ‘the foot’ of the cigar) slowly over the flame, without touching it to the fire.  Let a black ring form around the end.

3.  Place the cigar in your mouth and draw in slowly.  Hold the cigar over the flame, about half an inch above it, again without touching.  Continue to draw in until the cigar draws the flame.   Turn the cigar slowly, spinning it to establish an even burn.

4.  Once your cigar is lit, take it out of your mouth and observe the burn you have established.  If the burn appears to be uneven, simply blow on the unlit sections to draw the burn, and then take one or two draws from the cigar to reestablish an even burn.

Then there are others who feel there is a certain time or place for cigar smoking and when start smoking cigars and feel there should be punishment for those who start to young.  What if you find cigars in the nightstand of your son or daughter when you have never smoked a cigar with them, and feel they are too young to partake in such a habit?  What do you do then?

A lot of parent’s that have been through this situation, when they found out that when start smoking cigars on behalf of their daughter or son was without their knowledge.  They have simply placed the cigars on the child’s bed, out of their hiding place, while they were out of the house.  Then when the child returned, they would know they were caught and figure out how they were going to fess up to smoking to their parents.  It is best that the parents wait for the child to come to them, instead of saying something and forcing the child…be patient.