Some guys are drinkers, some guys are smokers, and some guys are womanizers. But enough about me (insert “ba-dum tss” rimshot sound here)! This article is about my love of cigars, but it won’t make you a connoisseur in any way, shape or form because I don’t know enough about their history and nuances to teach you. There are roughly a million other people out there who are more qualified and have lots of content to guide you.

What I want to do here is share how I came to start smoking them a lot more often and what my go-to bare-bones pieces of kit to support my habit are. Hopefully this inspires you not to feel intimidated by the need to be an expert just to enjoy smoking cigars. Besides, it’s okay to have hobbies that don’t become your entire personality (IPA drinkers, I’m looking at you).

Going From a Once-a-Year to a Weekly Smoker

The year was 2011, and I was spending my “Hot Body Summer” in Eastern Afghanistan. About 3 months into forced sobriety and feeling like every day was Groundhog Day, I was offered a cigar by a buddy. As I lit it up, several things happened at once. First, I recalled how much I enjoyed cigars and thought back to all the weddings and bachelor parties when I would have one. Second, I briefly escaped the reality of being in the middle of a war and relaxed for the first time in a while.

The following Sunday we had another one together. Each week the group grew until we began calling ourselves the “Rocket City Cigar Club”. I came to look forward to that 2-hour get-together not only to relax, but to mark the passing of another week that would otherwise have gone unnoticed as the days blurred together.

When I got home, I realized I could just keep smoking. I didn’t need a major life event or the monotony (punctuated by brief periods of extreme excitement) of a deployment to light one up. I thought about my health, and I’m clearly no doctor, but if George Burns could smoke literally 10 to 15 cigars a day his entire adult life and live to be 100, I think having 1 a week will be okay. (Disclaimer: this is not medical advice or anything.)

Okay, so now you are totally convinced to start smoking cigars (or smoking more of them), so what do you need?

“And a woman is only a woman, but a good Cigar is a smoke.” ~ Rudyard Kipling, The Betrothed

What to Smoke?

Which ones should you start with? Here’s where I’m going to be of little help; like I said, I’m not a cigar expert. However, I have found ones I like: flavorful but not too harsh and a “Robusto” size that doesn’t require me to cancel my evening plans to finish it.

I’m not going to tell you what to buy specifically, but subscribing to a “cigar of the month” club is a great way to experiment. They’ll send you a good mix of flavor profiles and sizes each month, and you can write down what you liked best to take to your local cigar store, have them walk you through how to describe it in cigar-speak, and settle on some safe bets to buy.

Cigar Basics: Humidor (Keeping Things Moist)

You’re far more likely to smoke if you have some sticks on hand, and if you have some on hand you are going to need to keep them conditioned so they don’t go bad.

To keep cigars moist between smokes, you need some form of humidor. I’ve tried a few things and settled on this cheap glass jar with a humidifier in the lid that I don’t use. This will barely hold 20 Robusto-size cigars and perhaps a little Acid cigarillo my wife likes.

Marriage pro tip here, fellas: Find yourself a lady that not only doesn’t mind you coming home smelling like a man (or being at home smoking) but enjoys a good cigar smoke session every now and then herself.

I mentioned I don’t use the built-in unit you have to add water to, but what I do use for a hassle-free, perfect amount of humidity is a Boveda moisture pack. Humidity works best for me at 69% (can you remember that number?). Less and they feel dry as popcorn. Higher, and they won’t stay lit. These packs are only a few bucks and easily last 6+ months.

On the road, I use either the classic mini-Pelican case-looking thing or, lately, this sweet Colonel Stogie cigar magazine humidor. I lucked out and managed to snag one in God’s Plaid. The follower has an insert that accepts custom moisture packets, and the MagPul-like magazine covers keep things airtight.

You are limited to Robusto-sized cigars (up to 5.25″ x 50), but as mentioned above, that is my jam.

“If smoking cigars is not permitted in heaven, I won’t go.” ~ Mark Twain

Adding Another Hole

I don’t know why the world is the way it is in a lot of areas. Cigars come with a hole in the end to light but generally not one to smoke out of. Everyone has a preference; my top three are a straight cut, a V-Cut, and a punch.

I’ll also note most cigar lighters come with a built-in punch to make travel easier (see below). Some even have a fold-out cutter should you choose. Different-shaped cigars often work best with certain cuts, but it usually comes down to personal preference. Try different ways, see what you like, and don’t apologize if the cigar “in crowd” clique tells you you’re not doing it right.

Making Fire

Look, Prometheus didn’t get himself chained to a rock where an eagle eats his liver daily just for you not to make fire. This has to be my favorite part of the whole experience.

There is something about wielding an essentially mini blowtorch that just speaks to the male soul. Unless you routinely make Crème brûlée you probably don’t often have an excuse to use one.

Here, middle-wise is best. Too many burners (more than 4) and you risk destroying your smoke and maybe losing some eyebrows. Less than 2 and you’re going to be playing the “Ring Around the Rosie” game for a while trying to get the whole thing lit evenly.

I buy mine off Amazon for cheap, though they look much nicer than their $14 price tag. People will steal your lighters, so spending $90 every time to replace one isn’t in the cards for me.

Yes, a Bic lighter will work; same with a Zippo, but not if it is windy and in Oklahoma, it is always windy. There can be some taste impacts, too.

And of course, there are other ways to light your stogie.

Drinking While Smoking

Smoking dries out your mouth and is a very social experience (so social that I actually very rarely smoke alone) so you’ll probably have a drink with it. Bourbon is the obvious choice, and it is a good one.

“I must point out that my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.” ~ Winston Churchill, during an 1874 meeting with King Ibn Saud

A classic Old Fashioned might be my number-one go-to when burning a stick, but everyone tells you that. My lesser-known go-to drink is actually Port.

Port is just wine that is made purposely sweet to serve with dessert. If you’ve ever tried it, you may have deemed it near undrinkable. I would agree with you there, except when a good cigar is involved. Something magical happens when you are smoking a cigar. Your taste buds are dampened, and the Port cuts through the smoke to create a rich, smooth flavor that I think is at least worth a try.

Smoke Em If You’ve Got ‘Em

Ok, so there you have it. Smoking cigars is fun, relaxing (add a campfire and friends for maximum results), and something that doesn’t require a life-altering event to initiate.

Now get out there and get smoking.

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