This story originally appeared on the Gents Cafe Newsletter. You can subscribe here.
Picking your first cigar shouldn’t be a chore; it shouldn’t be daunting; it should be like engaging in a new relationship. You shop around, research, and maybe even check out a few before you settle on one that you think could be the one for you.
And just like relationships, it might not always be the one, but it can be a learning curve before trying something different. I have had countless people reach out to me over the years asking for advice about choosing their first cigar, and I’ve even gone as far as to hand-select a few cigars myself. So I am happy to give you a few things to consider before pulling the trigger on your first purchase.
Now, the main thing you must remember when smoking cigars is that this is your choice and your choice alone. Don’t start smoking just because you’ve seen it in a movie, and you think it will make you look cool. Smoke a cigar because it genuinely intrigues you. Maybe you had a relative who smoked, and you want to know what it’s all about. Maybe you are interested in the making process, or maybe you want to know why so many people worldwide love a product that every government is trying to ban. Whatever the reason is, make sure it is your reason.
The first thing you have to consider is the budget. Cigars vary in price (especially depending on the country). You can pick up a decent cigar for as little as £14, and you can go up to thousands per cigar. Now, you can pick up cheap cigars from your local petrol station or supermarket; however, I’m talking about high-end, premium tobacco. Establishing your budget and having a good expectation of how much a cigar will cost is the biggest hurdle when selecting one. I don’t know how many times someone has reached out to me with a budget of £4 per stick and wanting a Cuban cigar in the UK… This just isn’t possible – although in the US market, you can indeed pick up a great cigar for the $4 mark.
The second thing you need to process is how long you want a cigar to last. Cigars come in all shapes and sizes and can last you anywhere from 20 minutes up to three hours. Once you think about the occasion and how long you will give yourself to smoke, you’re ready to start looking through store catalogues to find your first stick. Here are some sizes to consider and the length of time they will last, to give you a helping hand: 20-40 minutes, Corona; 40-65 minutes, Robusto; 65-90 minutes, Toro; 90-120 minutes, Churchill. And a word from the wise: if you don’t know that you like smoking cigars, I wouldn’t jump straight into the huge sizes. Stick to a Corona or a Robusto to see how you get on.
The final thing to take into consideration is your palate: the region of tobacco you should be smoking will depend on that. I would recommend you look out for “Lighter Tobacco” from regions such as Ecuador, Connecticut and some regions of Nicaragua; and if you have never smoked anything in your life, find a cigar with a Connecticut wrapper – these are usually the lightest cigars on the market and can be enjoyed by all.
It would be a big mistake to think that Cuban tobacco is the best in the world because that’s what movies show you. If we were back in the 1990’s then you could be correct; however, so many regions produce tobacco nowadays, and the quality control from these regions usually exceeds the brands producing Cuban cigars. Cuban tobacco is beautiful and full of flavour, but don’t let a brand name or region sway your decision. This needs to be a personal choice and you’ll know when you’ve found the right cigar. You’ll feel it in your blood, you’ll feel it in your soul, and just like relationships… It could be love at first sight.
