Common Beginner Cigar Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

The most common beginner cigar mistakes are inhaling the smoke, puffing too fast, choosing a cigar that is too strong, cutting too deep, and using a scented lighter. Each one is easy to fix once you know it, and avoiding them turns a frustrating first cigar into a relaxing one. Here are the mistakes new smokers make most, and how to sidestep them.

1. Inhaling the smoke

Out of cigarette habit, beginners often inhale, which is harsh and causes coughing and a queasy nicotine rush. Fix: draw the smoke into your mouth, taste it, and exhale. Never into the lungs.

2. Puffing too fast

Rapid puffing overheats the cigar and makes the smoke bitter and sharp. Fix: puff about once a minute. If it feels hot, set it down for a moment to cool.

3. Starting with a cigar that is too strong

A full-bodied cigar can overwhelm a new palate and cause nausea. Fix: begin with a mild to mild-medium cigar, ideally a Connecticut-wrapped Robusto.

4. Cutting too deep

Slicing past the cap into the body causes the wrapper to unravel. Fix: cut just above the shoulder, removing only the top of the cap.

5. Using the wrong lighter

A scented or fluid lighter taints the flavor of the first third. Fix: use a butane torch, soft-flame butane lighter, or wooden matches.

6. Rushing the light

Lighting quickly without toasting the foot leads to an uneven burn all the way down. Fix: toast the foot evenly above the flame before you draw.

7. Smoking on an empty stomach

Nicotine hits harder when you have not eaten, which is a common cause of that light-headed, sick feeling. Fix: eat something first and keep water nearby.

8. Fussing with the ash

Flicking the ash constantly like a cigarette removes the ash that helps keep the ember cool. Fix: let it build to about an inch, then gently roll it off.

9. Forcing the bitter nub

Smoking down to the very end just because it is there often means finishing on harsh, hot smoke. Fix: stop when the flavor stops being enjoyable.

10. Storing cigars carelessly

Leaving cigars loose in a drawer dries them out within days. Fix: if you are not smoking them soon, keep them in a humidor or an airtight container with a humidity pack.

Where to go next

Get the fundamentals right with how to cut, how to light, and how to smoke a cigar properly. The full beginner's guide pulls it all together.