01 · What makes a cigar beginner-friendly
What makes a cigar beginner-friendly
Three things make a cigar easy to start on. A mild Connecticut or Cameroon wrapper, so the flavor sits light on the palate and the nicotine stays gentle. Clean construction, so the draw is easy and the burn stays even while you figure out your rhythm. And a forgiving price, so you are not nervous about a fifteen-dollar mistake while you learn what you like.
The mistake almost every first-timer makes is reaching for the darkest, fullest cigar on the wall because it looks serious. Dark wrappers are not stronger in the way people think, but a full-bodied cigar on an empty stomach is the fastest way to end a first smoke feeling green. Start mild. Work up. There is no rush.
02 · Eight to start with
Eight to start with
All eight are mild to medium, all are premium long-filler, and all rotate through the walk-in. Lightest first.
| Cigar | Body | What you taste | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macanudo Cafe | Mild | Cream, cedar, almond | $8 |
| Ashton Classic | Mild | Butter, hay, light cedar | $11 |
| Arturo Fuente Brevas Royale | Mild | Cream, toast, soft wood | $8 |
| Perdomo 10th Anniversary Connecticut | Mild to medium | Cream, almond, cedar | $12 |
| Oliva Connecticut Reserve | Mild to medium | Cashew, cream, light spice | $9 |
| Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story | Mild to medium | Toasted bread, light spice, sweetness | $12 |
| Padron 2000 Natural | Medium | Cocoa, coffee, cedar | $10 |
| Davidoff Signature 2000 | Mild | Cream, grass, white pepper | $16 |
03 · How to smoke your first one
How to smoke your first one
Cut a small amount off the cap, about an eighth of an inch, with a sharp guillotine. Toast the foot with a butane lighter, never a Zippo, until it glows evenly. Then take a slow draw about every thirty to sixty seconds. Let the smoke roll around your mouth and breathe it out. You do not inhale a cigar into your lungs the way you would a cigarette.
Go slow. A robusto should last forty-five minutes to an hour. If the cigar gets hot and harsh, you are puffing too fast. Set it down for a minute and let it cool. Pair it with water, a black coffee, or a light beer for your first one, and save the bourbon for later.
04 · The short version
The short version
If you walk into the shop and say it is your first cigar, this is roughly the conversation we will have, and we will hand you one of the eight above based on whether you want it on the lighter or the slightly fuller end. We sell singles, so you can take just one to start. Nobody is going to rush you or talk down to you. That is the whole point of buying from a counter instead of a gas station.