I have a family member that joins me on the weekends to smoke cigars, watch football, baseball, etc. The problem I have smoking with him is that he finishes a cigar in 45 minutes! The cigar he is smoking should last a good hour an half. I am not a slow smoker, I usually take two hits per min and by the time I am halfway he is ready to go inside. Also, when he cuts his cigar no joke he takes a good half inch off. He just got into cigars about 6 months ago and I really want to say hey bud slow down and stop bleepin cutting your cigar in half. Any advice on how to approach this?
Question on cigar etiquette
- Thread starter zimmy71
- Start date
Tell him "Hey I was reading online that a good puff rate is once a minute, it keeps the bitterness to a minimum", or "I read that punching a cigar is a better alternative to cutting due to the convex sides catching any tar, reducing bitterness"...etc.
hdroadglide
BoM x 2, BoY 2011
some guys like to smoke fast. if he enjoys it, gets a decent burn and doesn't feel like he's inhaling a flame thrower, then there may not be much you can say or do. i would bring up the cutting issue though. besides losing valuable leaf, the chance of the wrapper coming undone are higher imho. i have a friend that likes to smoke with me and holds a torch lighter 2mm away from the end of his stick to light it. i've suggested he be a little less aggressive with it, but he always ends up back the same way.
in short, you are trying to help him, but if you think it will tick him off, then it probably isn't worth the effort. otherwise, mention it once and let him choose if he wants to take the advice or not.
in short, you are trying to help him, but if you think it will tick him off, then it probably isn't worth the effort. otherwise, mention it once and let him choose if he wants to take the advice or not.
LOL Brooks
Just tell him that because of how cigars are constructed cutting off as much as he does can cause problems. I'm not shy when I'm at work and the person is using our counter cutter/finger dismembering device. I'll watch and say "whoa there don't need to cut all the way to the band just nip the cap off". If he's offended dude needs a thicker skin.
Now with the speed issue. No clear answer. Ask him to try slowing down and see if he notices an improvement in flavor. If not and he keeps smoking then let him burn a churchill in 30 minutes.
Just tell him that because of how cigars are constructed cutting off as much as he does can cause problems. I'm not shy when I'm at work and the person is using our counter cutter/finger dismembering device. I'll watch and say "whoa there don't need to cut all the way to the band just nip the cap off". If he's offended dude needs a thicker skin.
Now with the speed issue. No clear answer. Ask him to try slowing down and see if he notices an improvement in flavor. If not and he keeps smoking then let him burn a churchill in 30 minutes.
tell him if he doesnt slow down, this will happen:
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=42032
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=42032
If he is hard-headed like my brother there is really no hope. Just dont hand him anything pricey.
I took the time to teach my younger brother all the etiquette and the little nuances that go with the enjoyment of a cigar. He still sucks on cigars like his life depends on it and cannot light a stick worth a damn :stickbeat
I took the time to teach my younger brother all the etiquette and the little nuances that go with the enjoyment of a cigar. He still sucks on cigars like his life depends on it and cannot light a stick worth a damn :stickbeat
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
My approach with anything in life... if the person is a real friend of yours, family member, or someone you care about, tell the truth and try and help educate. It's up to them if they want to take it or not. If they have issues with what you say, are they really a friend, family member or someone you care about? If they get offended, and stay that way, then maybe not...
Most cigar smokers are not on cigar forums and learning things all the time. Why not try and educate people what you learn? I give "suggestions" to my father-in-law all the time... doesn't mean he does everything I suggest and that's up to him. I hear ya though, cuz he smokes fast too. Sometimes he goes inside with some of my smoke remaining. Sometimes I smoke quicker to finish up, sometimes I cut a cigar short, sometimes I relax by myself and enjoy some alone time and sometimes he relaxes without a smoke while I finish mine.
One thing I always tell people that cut too much off is... see that triple cap, you don't want to cut beyond that cap because the cigar can unravel. If they have any trust in you as a person, they usually listen because it makes sense.
Most cigar smokers are not on cigar forums and learning things all the time. Why not try and educate people what you learn? I give "suggestions" to my father-in-law all the time... doesn't mean he does everything I suggest and that's up to him. I hear ya though, cuz he smokes fast too. Sometimes he goes inside with some of my smoke remaining. Sometimes I smoke quicker to finish up, sometimes I cut a cigar short, sometimes I relax by myself and enjoy some alone time and sometimes he relaxes without a smoke while I finish mine.
One thing I always tell people that cut too much off is... see that triple cap, you don't want to cut beyond that cap because the cigar can unravel. If they have any trust in you as a person, they usually listen because it makes sense.
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This one's tough. Honestly, AS has a good answer above, but it depends on your relationship with whoever you are talking about. My father in law smokes really fast as well. I've made some roundabout comments on it, but really I don't feel comfortable telling him he's "doing it wrong", so I just let him do what he's going to do. He's enjoying himself, so what the hey, right? Now, if we are talking about a friend or acquaintance who is really getting into the hobby then I'm going to offer advice. If it's someone not into the hobby who just likes a cigar now and then and I'm the one providing the cigars...well, let's just say I'm not providing the very best out of my humi.
Cigary43
Just Another Ashhole
I have a dickhead brother who I gave an Opus X to ( Double Corona ) and he lights up and smokes it for 20 minutes then crushes it in the ashtray and only smoked 1/3 of it...I was incredulous!
Thank you everyone for the quick responses. The person I speak of is my brother in law and he can be VERY sensitive at times. He is coming over tomorrow and I know we will be lighting up some cigars. I am going to suggest the slowing down part but as far as the cutting the cigar I will let him learn the hard way.
Haha, well that just summed up my night last night minus the Opus X part it was a DPG Blue Generoso.
People typically won't feel as offended or backed into a corner if you approach them the right way initially. Instead of just blurting out hey you're doing it wrong start the comment by asking him the permission to give advice. It gives him the power which puts most folks at ease.
Hey <insert name here> can I offer you some advice on cutting your cigars and how best to get the full flavor out of them?
By phrasing it that way he won't feel threatened or likely even embarrased.
Same method works with wives, gf and complete strangers. :devil:
well everybody has there own rituals when it comes to cigar smoking. some smoke fast, others slow. as stated before, if he is bringing his own stash then don't push the issue. If your providing smokes find creative ways around the issue. Have you ever tried asking him why he cuts so much. May be the thats how he was shown and thinks it the correct way. As long as you present it as giving advice and not correcting an error you should be fine.
+1 here.
took me a while with a buddy of mine to really get him to cut it properly. For a while I just gave him a punch and called it a day. Now he's able to cut properly, just trying to get him to be more patient with lighting and not trash the foot with a torch 3mm from it when lighting..
Ah well, I say as long as you are both able to enjoy each other's company and a couple of good sticks, I think that's the important part.
Convex sides catching tar...Huh? That's a load of crap!
Stay away from the punch...You can essentially plug your otherwise well made cigar.
Anyway, yeah...Tell him you are just trying to steer him in the right direction and not trying to be a know it all. That your intentions are centered on having him enjoy his cigar.
Good luck...Let us know what happens
SkinsFanLarry
Craft Beer Addict!
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2008
- Messages
- 14,355
Try engaging him in some type of conversation during your smoking time, get his thougth pattern on something other than smoking that cigar and it may help him slooooow down some and he just might find out that he is also enjoying it more.