Recently, we published a blog on the essential cigar accessories that every smoker needs to own and carry. The fact of the matter is that cigar smoking is as much of an art as it is an indulgence, and like all arts, it requires some tools of the trade to do it properly.
Now, we don’t mean to say “to do it properly” in a snobbish sort of way, as if to insinuate there is a “wrong” way to smoke. What we mean is that you, like so many other cigar smokers, probably smoke for the enjoyment of the experience, and if you aren’t using the following tools to the fullest, the experience will not be as enjoyable as it could be.
Here are some of the finer points of cigar accessories for sale that we offer here at Atlantic Cigar, how to use them, what to look for, and why. Check out our pointers, and if you have any questions at all, call us up at 800-887-7877.
Cigar Lighters
A lighter is one of the most important cigar accessories that a cigar smoker can keep on hand, and many who enjoy tobacco have several in their collection, including a favorite or two. Admittedly, it can’t be called the most important accessory if only for the fact that you wouldn’t be able to smoke a cigar at all without a cutter (mentioned below) but it’s pretty far up there.
Additionally, some serious smokers will only smoke a cigar with the aid of a match, and others who are so serious they will only light a cigar with a thin strip of cedar, such as those that are included in most cases of cigars.
At any rate, lighters remain one of the most popular and essential cigar accessories, and for good reason. Generally, there are two types of cigar lights, being those that provide a soft flame and those that provide a torch flame.
Soft Flame vs. Torch Lighters
Some soft flame lighters use liquid fuel, but because these impart a taste to the tobacco, most popular models use butane, just like torch lighters. The difference is in the type of flame that they provide.
As you might expect, a lighter that produces a soft flame produces a soft, yellow flame, such as the flame that you might see coming off of the end of a match, or for that matter, from a BIC cigarette lighter.
On the other hand, torch lighters eject a concentrated stream of butane (or other gaseous fuel) burning with a characteristic blue flame and a bit of a silenced roar. Both of these lighters have their benefits and their fans, for the following reasons.
Benefits of Soft Flame Lighters
While it requires a bit more practice to light a cigar with a soft flame lighter than it does with a torch flame lighter, some argue that soft flame lighters produce a better smoke than torch lighters do. Also, they burn significantly less fuel than torch lighters, tend to be more affordable, and are less likely to scorch the cigar.
Benefits of Torch Flame Lighters
By contrast, torch flame lighters guzzle fuel, but they make it easy to get a very quick and very efficient, even light, often on the first shot. A torch lighter can be used to produce light (albeit not a perfect light) even with the cigar removed from your mouth. You can get your cigar lit in less time than soft flame lighters, and make it possible to do so, even in the wind. It is effectively impossible to light a cigar is with a soft flame lighter if you are smoking outside and there is wind.
Cutters
Equally as important as a lighter, a cigar cutter makes it possible for you to smoke a cigar in the first place. There are many different types of cigar cutters out there, including specialty products like cigar knives, but the majority of cigar cutters take one of two formats, being either a guillotine-style single blade cutter or a double blade cutter that closes via pressure from the sides.
One Blade vs. Two Blade Cutters
Single blade cigar cutters usually close vertically and are sometimes angled, to remove a small amount of tobacco from the cap of the cigar at the head, to open up a way for you to draw through the cigar.
Two blade cutters close either vertically or horizontally and have two blades that meet towards the middle of the device. Some cigar smokers prefer two-blade cutters because if a single blade cutter is not adequately sharpened, it will tear the wrapper at the head of the cigar which will adversely affect the experience of the smoke and can cause the cigar to start expanding or coming apart.
The choice is up to you - both of them are practical and useful. You’ll just have to experiment to see which you like more!
Don’t forget punches!
In addition to cutters, some cigar smokers prefer to use cigar punches, which are a special cigar accessory that performs the same basic function as a cutter but in a different way. Cigar punches take the form of a sharpened ring of metal that is pressed and then twisted to remove a small plug of tobacco from the cap at the head of the cigar.
Some consider cigar punches easier to use than cutters and, when used properly, they certainly do produce a smooth draw that is easy to light and enjoyable to smoke. Ultimately, whether you choose a cutter or a punch is up to you, but you’ll need some way to cut your cigars so that you can enjoy them!
Ashtrays
Ashtrays are another member of essential cigar accessories. Admittedly, you don’t need an ashtray to smoke a cigar, or even to enjoy the smoke, but a quality cigar ashtray will heighten and most certainly improve the experience of the smoke.
If you’re smoking outside, you don’t have to have one, but if you’re smoking inside it’s a basic necessity since you’ll need a place to deposit hot ash that you otherwise wouldn’t have a place to put. It’s not only a matter of safety, but some ashtrays are designed to contain the sour smell of the ash, which even some smokers don’t appreciate.
Deep vs. Shallow
Most cigar ashtrays that you’re going to find are fairly shallow, which makes them easy to clean out, but it also means that they only hold a limited amount of ash, which will build up quickly if you’re hosting friends or other company that also like to smoke.
Deep ashtrays, by contrast, don’t only provide you with more room for ash waste. Some of them are also designed to contain the smell of ash that gets pretty sour when you allow it to remain in a room.
In addition to these features, here are some of the other things you might want to scope out in an ashtray before you make a purchase.
Features to look for:
-Stirrups: Unless you’re looking for an ashtray for nothing more than personal use, stirrups do more than making an ashtray look nice. They give you and the people smoking around you a place to let the cigar rest, which is a real boon. If you hang onto your cigar the whole time you’re smoking you might be tempted to smoke too fast, which can adversely affect the flavors. Giving it a rest is a good thing, and stirrups on an ashtray give you the ability to do just that.
-Space-optimization: Some cigar ashtrays have those stirrups mentioned above placed at odd angles to one another, which might look odd but is a very valuable feature. The stirrups need to be arranged in such a manner that cigars placed in them will not crowd each other, which will affect the rate at which they burn in addition to the heat to which they’re exposed. Both things can affect the quality of smoke, not to mention the fact that it’ll give you more room for company.
Cases
Cigar cases don’t really need an introduction or an explanation, but they’re not just for show and they’re not just for class, either. They serve a real function that is valuable both to you and your cigars - believe it.
Benefits of a cigar case:
-Protecting your cigars from physical damage - The first and most obvious benefit of cigar cases is that they protect your cigars from damage. Every time a cigar gets crushed or pressed, it stresses out the filler and wrapper, which can cause the wrapper to break or the filler or binder to shift. These things will impact not only the draw of the cigar and the evenness with which it burns, but they’ll also impact your enjoyment of the smoke.
-Protecting your cigars from the light - It’s not as important as the following consideration, but your cigars should be protected against overexposure to the light. If that means keeping them in a cigar case while you are out or away from home, so be it.
-Protecting your cigars against loss of moisture - While it might not be as noticeable as the first benefit listed, cigar cases can protect your cigars against loss of moisture. If you remove your cigars from your humidor for even a few hours, they will lose precious moisture which will adversely affect the flavors, the composition, and the burn rate of the cigar. Keeping them in a case when you’re on the go is your first line of defense against this.
-Storage space for other accessories - Some cigar cases even provide you with extra storage space for other accessories like lighters or cutters.
Humidors
One more essential cigar accessory that we’re going to explore here is a humidor, which is an important component of any serious cigar smoker’s repertoire, provided he or she likes to keep a collection of cigars at home or to age them.
Benefits of a humidor:
-Keep your cigars fresh and at the proper moisture level - Most importantly, humidors, when paired with the proper humidification accessories, will keep your cigars maintained at the proper humidity level, which is right around 70%.
-Protect your cigars from the light - Just like cigar cases, cigar humidors will protect your cigars from the light, except a humidor will do it in the long run while maintaining the proper minimum humidity level.
-Enable you to age your cigars - In addition, some cigar smokers like to age their cigars to improve the complexity of the flavors of the tobacco. You can’t do so if your cigars are overexposed to light or not kept properly hydrated, which a humidor will allow.
-Keep everything organized - Finally, a humidor gives you an easy outlet to keep your cigars neatly arranged and organized, and some also give you space for storing some accessories.
Features to look for:
A humidor should be lined with a suitable wood like cedar that will not rot in the humidity and which will also help to season the cigars. It should also afford an airtight fit, which can be checked by opening the lid rapidly to listen for the sound of air rushing into the humidor. To learn more about what to look for in a humidor, read our recent blog on what to look for in a humidor, or contact us at the number below.
As stated, this is only a jumping-off point and by no means a comprehensive guide. Even the most erudite cigar smokers and cigar blenders learn a thing or two with each new cigar they smoke. Like all art forms, enjoying cigar smoking is an ever-evolving process, and there are always new things to learn and try, even when you account for tradition.
Therefore, if you don’t see something listed or pointed out that you would like to see, or you have additional questions while you’re shopping, get in touch with us at the number listed at the top of this article. Alternatively, you can contact us by email at admin@atlanticcigar.net. We look forward to hearing from you!