Pug and Frenchie Cigar Bands

Aren't these just the cutest? A little companion whilst you enjoy a smoke. You can purchase these in my Etsy shop - soon to be updated with all of the new items.

New Colors Added!

Just wanted to drop a few lines to let you know that new colors have been added to the line of cigar holders I'm creating. Drop by Etsy to purchase one, or send me a note if you have a custom color in mind.

I am absolutely in love with these! I've got more cool colors on their way, and will update here and in the Etsy shop once they're ready for purchase. Good night!

Choosing a Cigar Cutter

Cigar cutters come in many different forms. There are pros and cons to each of them, and Neptune Cigar has illustrated them for ease of understanding, pictured below:

If you're like me, and really love your cigar accessories, you probably own more than one cutter. At home, I use sharp, vintage Donatus Solingen V-Cutter scissors. I own a rare set that I found on ShopGoodwill, that I love more than life itself. These were one of the first accessories I purchased when my love of cigars began to unfold.

I also own a punch, that I purchased from my local smoke shop. It comes on a keyring, so I can carry it with me at all times. Generally though, I keep it in my smoke pack in my purse because I like to keep things organized.

What I like about the scissors is the traditional ritual that ensues. Gazing at your cigar, smelling it, checking that it's rolled nicely, and deciding precisely where to cut (I cut less for a tighter draw.) The punch is great because it allows me to cut less (just a punch, obviously) when I'm on the go, and don't have my scissors on-hand. If I'm out at a lounge, I don't have the time or focus to spend during the cutting process, so the punch does it all for me. Freeing up a bit of time allows me to focus on my friends and get the lighting process started...which (in my next post) brings us to matches and lighters.

The Girly Side of Cigars

Being a researcher by trade, I have to tell you that I have searched HIGH and I have searched LOW, and I have yet to find girly accessories for the female cigar smoker. So, what does a girl do in a situation as such? She rolls up her entrepreneurial sleeves, and makes them herself! *Girl Power*

I've been making genuine Swarovski-encrusted, stainless steel cigar holders. Naturally, these are for the ladies that carry a stick to light up when they feel so inclined. You can find these lovely cigar holders in my Etsy shop here (or by visiting: www.etsy.com/cigarmaiden.)

The holders are solid stainless steel, weighing in at 3.5 oz., and can fit a stick of up to 6 x 48 comfortably - (usually a Corona, Grand Corona, Corona Extra, Toro, Churchill or Robusto in size.)

I'm making these by request, but will keep my inventory stocked if you'd like to by one for yourself (or if the gentleman would like to purchase one for the lady in his life.) Any feedback would be appreciated in the comments below!

Cigar Do's and Don'ts

I've been reading a lot on what you should and shouldn't do (and of course, what the proper cigar etiquette is), and the most comprehensive list I could find was from Gentleman's Gazette.  J.A. Shapira eloquently lays out the perfect points of etiquette - and I've listed them below - for your reading pleasure:

Cigar DO's:

Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it. This doesn’t necessarily mean toasting it under a flame, but can simply involve rolling it gently in your fingers allowing your hands natural body heat to slowly warm the foot.

Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar. It should only take a minute for the gum on the cigar band to be sufficiently warm to remove the band with ease. While this is a rather archaic rule, it is no longer steadfast and is now optional in most circles. When smoking with a group of people, my first inclination is to recommend following suit of your host.

Take your time smoking your cigar, a puff a minute is about right. Smoking a cigar is an experience, not a chore. There is no need to wildly puff your cigar as allowing it to cool for a moment won’t be long enough for it to self extinguish.

Hold the cigar between your index finger and your thumb, not between your index finger and middle finger. This is one of those rules that differentiates the aficionado from the novice. There really is no reason for the rule, but it is one that most cigar enthusiasts learn early on and still obey to this very day. It is far more elegant and separates you from the pack of nicotine addicts we so often get compared to.

Allow the cigar to die a dignified death; after it’s smoked halfway, it will go out on its own. Today most men will continue to smoke it until there is about 1/4 left. A cigar is not meant to be smoked down to the foot and the shorter you allow it to go the harsher the smoke will become. I myself will generally allow it to go out about half way.

Dispose of a dead cigar discreetly and quickly. Just as a cigarette butt is one of the most distasteful sights one can see, there is truly no reason to keep a cigar once it’s extinguished. Discreetly dispose of it and carry on.

Wait at least 15 minutes between cigars as anything less indicates obsessive behavior. I myself have never smoked often enough for this rule to apply, however, there have been days where I enjoy a cigar with each meal as well as one in the late afternoon before dinner and again in the later part of the evening before bed. As I’ve said before, cigar smoking is a passion and with such a diverse flavor profile available, there is no reason a cigar cannot be paired beautifully with each meal, a dessert or even an after dinner drink.

Cigar DON’Ts:

Use a penknife to cut or pierce the end of the cigar. This comes down to class. It just looks bad and there’s no reason to do it. If you’re going to enjoy a cigar, enjoy it properly. Don’t mutilate it.

Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar, simply rotate it around the edge instead, until it begins to burn, and then puff on it lightly. The goal isn’t to light the cigar on fire. It’s to toast it just enough that it shows its beauty in a breath of silver smoke.

Lighting a cigar should be a personal experience; never ask someone else for a light. This doesn’t mean you can’t borrow a friends lighter or matches. It simply means that you should undertake the responsibility of lighting the cigar yourself. This is very personal and asking a friend to light the cigar is akin to asking them to undress your wife before making love.

Light your cigar too slowly or too quickly. Again, this is an experience. Take time to enjoy the lighting process but don’t stall or pause throughout the process. It should be a continual toast but with caution and your full attention.

Indulge in exhibitionism, whether you are lighting or smoking your cigar. This is one of the most personal and gratifying experiences that one can have. This is your moment in the day to relish in the tranquility of the cigar. Let the cigar be your focus and relish the time you have with it.

Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf. This really comes down to quality of the smoke. If your cigar keeps going out then chances are you should leave it out. Continually relighting it only strengthens its harshness.

Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Again, this is just poor manners. Hold the cigar in your finger tips gently rotating it as your lightly toast the end with your heat source.

Clench your cigar between your teeth. Unless your goal is to replicate the brute actions of Tony Montana from Scarface, this is not a behavior a gentleman should exhibit. Smoking a cigar should be an elegant display, not brash or unsophisticated. And for the love of God, please never talk with the cigar in your mouth. Remove it first and then speak. Your listeners will thank you for giving them that respect.

Wet the end of your cigar. Don’t chew it, or slobber on it either. You’re not a dog and the cigar is not your bone. There is no need to wet the cigar unless it’s burning unevenly and if that’s the case, you can simply moisten your finger tip and then dab the area to slow the burn. And if you ever visit my home and rip off the cap with your teeth it’s a distinct possibility that I’ll ask you to leave and never invite you to return again.

Smoke too quickly. This isn’t a sprint or a race, it’s a casual stroll through the park. Enjoy it. There’s no rush and if there is then you shouldn’t be smoking a cigar in the first place.

Ever use a cigar holder. This isn’t a cigarette and you’re not Cruella DeVille. Smoking a cigar is about relying on all of your senses, including touch. You want to feel the cigar in your hand. You can often feel if it’s beginning to burn too hot or if the leaves are fragmenting at all should it be an improperly filled cigar.

Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth. A cigar isn’t meant to stay in your mouth. Hold it between your fingers at all times. Even when you’re taking a draw.

Dip your cigar in port or brandy. This is a habit attributed to Winston Churchill but you good sir are not Winston Churchill. Just because he made this faux pas doesn’t mean you should too. Cigar makers spend years perfecting the flavor profile they want you to experience. If you cannot handle the taste of a cigar or don’t enjoy it then don’t smoke it. Stick to the bargain bin cigarillos you can buy at the gas station. I’m told they even come in chocolate flavor.

Smoke whilst working. Work is stressful and while a cigar can be stress relieving, it’s intended to be enjoyed in a relaxed state of mind. Despite how difficult your day at the office was, wait until you get home, pour yourself a drink and sit back to enjoy your cigar. The experience will be much more meaningful.

Choosing a Humidor

Naturally, there are many humidors to choose from. There are small ones, large ones, pretty ones, functional ones...

I chose a large, pretty, vintage humidor: a Thomas & Co. humidor that holds up to 600 cigars. I got lucky and found this one on Shop Goodwill! Everything arrived in working order...I just had to season the thing to get it going properly.

Seasoning means you have to acclimate the wood to the moisture required to humidify your cigars - ideally at 70%. It's taken a while to get the entire thing seasoned - and there are many ways to do so. One method is to wipe everything down with distilled water (to get the wood used to absorption.) Another, which is the method I used - is to insert Boveda Humidor Seasoning Packs - as many as you need, to reach ideal humidity for your sticks. (Remember, ideal humidity is 70%.) I used these 84% packs because I'm a millennial and I like instant gratification. (It took me about a week to reach my ideal humidity.)

After your humidor is seasoned, you can unpack your cigars, and let them rest comfortably in your humidor. I've had a fun time walking dinner guests over to my humidor to let them choose something to their liking...remember: sharing is caring!

So, so, so good...

Welp, it turns out I'm starting to smoke without my boyfriend: after a long day at work, all I want is to taste the flavor medley of a stogie when I get  home.

Today's choice was an AMAZING one. Obviously, I'm not a sponsored writer for these bad boys,  but I definitely need to promote them. Drew Estate's Tabak Especial Cafe con Leche is to die for. Officially, my new favorite stick; I can't wait to smoke another! I even ventured so far as to smoke indoors, because this flavor was such a beauty. (I have a Girls Scout Meeting in my house in an hour, but I am more-than-proud to share the lingering scent of such an amazing flavor.)

Starting right up - the Cafe con Leche strikes you straight away. The sweetness hits you, and the flavor lingers, and the entire experience is a real treat. I paired this beauty with a glass of Moscato, Dionysos on the speaker, and my legs kicked up. In fact, at some point I found myself singing and dancing because I was enjoying myself so much. If you're into flavored cigars, I absolutely, whole-heartedly, recommend one of these guys.

The day is short, and whilst I am forcing myself to try new flavors, I can't wait to make my way back to one of these immensely pleasurable cigars. I've got four left, and trust me - I'll be raving about them each time.