The Modern Gentleman’s Handbook: The Art of Cigars and Cigar Etiquette - NEW FOUND THREAD

The Modern Gentleman’s Handbook: The Art of Cigars and Cigar Etiquette

Introduction

Welcome to Week 2 of The Modern Gentleman’s Guide by New Found Thread. This week, we’re exploring the world of cigars—a tradition steeped in sophistication and subtlety. Like a well-crafted five-pocket pant from New Found Thread, cigars offer layers of complexity and refinement that deserve both appreciation and understanding. For seasoned aficionados and newcomers alike, this guide will help you refine your knowledge of cigar choices, smoking rituals, pairings, and etiquette.

1. Decoding the Anatomy of a Cigar: Understanding Construction and Flavor

A cigar’s construction significantly impacts its flavor, burn, and overall smoking experience. Here’s a breakdown of the key components:

• Wrapper: The outermost leaf, which contributes up to 60-70% of the cigar’s flavor. Wrappers come in various shades:
  • Claro: Light-colored with a mild flavor, often grown in shade.
  • Maduro: Dark and rich, with flavors like chocolate, espresso, and spice.
  • Oscuro: The darkest wrapper, intense and earthy with robust flavors.
• Binder: Holds the filler leaves together, providing structure to the cigar. The binder’s taste is usually subtle, designed to complement the filler and wrapper.
• Filler: The heart of the cigar, typically made from a blend of different tobacco leaves. Fillers vary in strength, from mild to full-bodied, and determine the complexity of flavors.

Advanced Tip: If you’re interested in exploring flavors, try cigars with different wrapper types to see how they influence the taste profile.

2. Choosing Your First Cigar: Finding Your Flavor and Strength

Cigars range widely in strength and flavor, and choosing the right one depends on your experience and preference.

• Mild Cigars: Ideal for beginners or daytime smoking, mild cigars offer light flavors like cream, cedar, and vanilla. Try options like the Macanudo Cafe or Montecristo White Series.
• Medium Cigars: Balanced and versatile, medium cigars offer nutty, earthy, and sometimes spicy notes. Good options include the Romeo y Julieta 1875 and Arturo Fuente Hemingway.
• Full-Bodied Cigars: Strong, bold flavors such as dark chocolate, leather, and pepper, popular among experienced smokers. Recommended: Padron Serie 1926 or Cohiba Nicaragua.

Flavor Profile Guide: If you enjoy coffee or dark chocolate, you may appreciate a Maduro-wrapped cigar. For wine lovers, try a Connecticut-wrapped cigar with creamy, vanilla-like notes.

3. The Ritual of Smoking: How to Cut, Light, and Savor a Cigar Properly

Smoking a cigar is a sensory ritual, and each step—from cutting to lighting—adds to the experience. Here’s how to elevate the process:

• Cutting the Cigar:
  • Straight Cut: Use a guillotine cutter for an even, smooth draw. Suitable for most cigars, especially robustos.
  • V-Cut: Creates a V-shaped wedge for concentrated smoke flow, intensifying the flavor.
  • Punch Cut: Ideal for smaller gauge cigars, this method maintains the integrity of the wrapper by creating a small hole.
• Lighting the Cigar:
  • Toasting: Hold the cigar just above the flame and rotate it until the foot is evenly heated. This “primes” the cigar for a smooth burn.
  • Lighting: Draw gently while keeping the flame near (but not touching) the cigar’s foot, allowing a slow, even light.
  • Avoiding Overheating: Avoid quick, hard puffs as this can burn the tobacco, creating a bitter taste.
• Savoring the Smoke: Puff leisurely every 30-60 seconds to keep the cigar lit but avoid overheating. Enjoy the flavors as the smoke rolls across your palate.

Advanced Etiquette Tip: Never use a candle or Zippo lighter, as these can alter the cigar’s flavor with unwanted aromas or chemicals.

4. Elevating the Experience with Cigar Pairings

Pairing cigars with drinks enhances the flavors of both. Here are pairings for different cigar profiles:

• For Mild Cigars:
  • Pairing: Champagne, dry white wine, or light coffee (like a macchiato).
  • Why It Works: The light flavors of mild cigars won’t overpower these beverages, allowing for a subtle, balanced experience.
• For Medium Cigars:
  • Pairing: Aged whiskey, rum, or dark beer.
  • Why It Works: Medium cigars with nutty and spicy notes harmonize well with the depth and sweetness of aged spirits.
• For Full-Bodied Cigars:
  • Pairing: Dark rum, cognac, or espresso.
  • Why It Works: Full-bodied cigars have intense flavors, which stand up to rich, bold drinks with caramel and roasted notes.

Pro Tip: Experiment with dark chocolate as an accompaniment to full-bodied cigars. It enhances the richness of both the cigar and the chocolate.

5. The Social Etiquette of Cigar Smoking

Smoking cigars is often a social event, and observing proper etiquette is essential. Here’s a guide to the unspoken rules of cigar culture:

• Respect the Setting: In public or shared spaces, be mindful of non-smokers. If in a private residence, ask for permission before lighting up.
• Ashing Gracefully: Tap the ash off your cigar about once every inch to avoid messy fallout. Many aficionados let the ash grow slightly for show but avoid letting it fall unexpectedly.
• Sharing Cigars: When offering cigars to others, allow each person to select one from the box without suggesting or influencing their choice.
• Handling Cigars in Lounges: Always ask staff if it’s okay to bring your own cigar, as some lounges have policies requiring purchases. Tip generously if you’re using the lounge amenities without buying a cigar.
• Disposing of the Cigar: Allow your cigar to naturally extinguish when finished, as stubbing it out creates an unpleasant odor.

Social Grace Tip: Avoid “retrohaling” (exhaling smoke through the nose) unless in experienced company. This technique enhances taste but can be overwhelming in casual settings.

6. Building a Cigar Collection: A Gentleman’s Starter Guide

Building a cigar collection is both enjoyable and practical. Here’s how to start with essential varieties and proper storage:

• Selecting Your First Cigars: Choose a mix of mild, medium, and full-bodied cigars to explore your preferences. Classic brands like Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, and Montecristo offer high-quality options.
• Humidor Basics: A humidor keeps cigars fresh by maintaining a humidity level of 65-72%. Cedar wood is ideal for lining humidors, as it repels tobacco beetles and enhances aging.
  • Small Humidor: Holds up to 20 cigars; ideal for beginners.
  • Medium Humidor: Holds 50-100 cigars, suitable as your collection grows.
• Aging Cigars: Like wine, some cigars improve with age. Try aging fuller-bodied cigars for six months to a year for enhanced complexity.

Storage Tip: Rotate cigars in the humidor every few weeks to ensure they age evenly and prevent one side from drying out.

7. Advanced Tips for the Aficionado

For those who are ready to take their cigar knowledge to the next level, here are advanced techniques and insights:

• Retrohaling: Exhaling through the nose (without inhaling into the lungs) allows for a fuller tasting experience by engaging more sensory receptors. This can reveal hidden notes, like spice, floral, or mineral flavors.
• Smoking Different Wrapper Types: Try sampling the same cigar blend with different wrappers (e.g., Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro) to understand how the wrapper influences the taste.
• Experimenting with Pairings: Beyond spirits, try pairing cigars with foods like cheese, cured meats, or even savory dishes. The nuances of these pairings reveal more depth in both the cigar and food.

Pro Tip: Keep a cigar journal to track your preferences, noting the cigar brand, size, flavor profile, and any pairing you enjoyed. This helps refine your tastes and identify favorites.

Conclusion

Cigars offer a rich world of flavors, traditions, and social customs. Whether you’re selecting your first cigar, enjoying a well-paired drink, or savoring the ritual, each element adds to the experience. By understanding cigar construction, flavor profiles, and etiquette, you can fully appreciate this time-honored pastime.

Join us next week as we continue our journey with a guide to luxury watches and horology. Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates, exclusive guides, and insider tips from New Found Thread!

Here’s to timeless enjoyment and refined taste.