1. Choosing a Cigar
Choosing a cigar can be a little intimidating. What is the difference between a Corona and a Figurado? Or, better yet, who is Bolivar or Romeo and Julieta? And why is this cigar better than that cigar? Which cigar is the best? The “best cigar” is the cigar that feels, tastes, and looks the best to you. Just because you have little or no experience doesn’t mean you won’t be able to tell the difference between a good cigar and a bad one.

Keep in mind a few things when shopping for a cigar. There are a few standard “types” in the cigar world: A Corona, Double Corona, Churchill, Torpedo, and Robusto. Each type will differ in length and diameter, and those differences will effect the overall flavor of the cigar. In addition, if you’re new to smoking cigars; a good thing to do is to buy a mild cigar or one that leans more toward a light-medium body. This will help you understand the contrast, in terms (mild and light-medium), and serve as a gauge for your tolerance, in relation to flavor and strength. Remember to buy like-sizes. That way, you will be comparing apples to apples. In other words, if you buy a mild Robusto, buy the light-medium cigar in the same size. If possible, buy from the same manufacturer. As a final point, don’t worry about learning cigar jargon; it will come with time. In the interim, focus on enjoying the cigar, and remember…just because it’s expensive, doesn’t mean it’s better.

2. Cutting Your Cigar
Before cutting your cigar, there are a few things to consider. First, you should not cut below the sap line. Doing so might result in the cigar wrapper detaching from the binder. You can avoid this by simply shaving (cutting) the very top of the capped side of the cigar. Additionally, if you suspect that the cigar might be dry, it’s a good idea to moisten the capped area before cutting the cigar with a little bit of saliva or dampen the tips of your fingers with water and slide your fingers from the top of the cap down about a half-inch while turning the cigar.

What you use to cut is up to you. A guillotine, a pair of scissors, a V-cut, or a punch cutter are all acceptable tools. Just find one that you’re most comfortable with.

3. Lighting and Maintaining a Well-Lit Cigar
I have been a cigar smoker for more than 18 years, and, when it comes to lighting the cigar; I have heard, like many of you, don’t light your cigar with this or that. Personally, I approach the subject in a practical way. By far the most important thing is to make sure that, when you first light the cigar, it has been lit evenly. To accomplish this, toast the area with either a match or lighter. Once you're finished with the toasting, begin by bringing the cigar to your mouth. While keeping the cigar horizontal, apply the flame to the toasted area, and rotate the cigar around the flame at an even pace. To confirm that the cigar has been evenly lit, blow at the lit end of the cigar. If there are any dark areas are areas not completely lit, add a little more flame to those areas. Please note that when doing this, it is dangerous! A safe distance is about 5 to 6 inches from your mouth. Finally, after making sure that your cigar has been properly lit, rotate the cigar while smoking it, from time to time. If, however, the cigar beings to burn at a slightly different pace on one side, take the side that is lagging and face it up. If you catch it early enough, the slower-burning side will even out. If it doesn’t, just add some fire to it. Enjoy your smoke!

4. Breaking in Your Humidor
The wood in your humidor needs time to reabsorb moisture before you use it the first time. To ensure that this happens, break in your humidor according to these instructions:

Take a clean sponge, or an unused piece of cloth, and wipe down the inside of your humidor.

Immerse your humidor in distilled or drinking water and set in place.

Check the humidity daily using the hygrometer. When it a reaches 68-72% range, the wood has been properly saturated. It will take some time for your humidor to reach saturation, depending on the size of the humidor you have purchased.