Cigar FAQs

Short answers, in plain language, to the questions that come up most often in our newsletter and our app’s support channel. The longer treatments live in the blog; if you want the full why, follow the link at the bottom of each answer.

What is the cap on a cigar?

The piece of wrapper at the head you cut, what it does for the cigar, and why cutting too deep into it ruins the smoke.

What is retrohaling?

The technique that separates casual smokers from attentive ones, why the nose tastes more than the mouth, and how to start retrohaling without coughing.

Do you inhale cigars?

The crucial difference between cigar smoking and cigarette smoking, why the technique matters, and how to taste without inhaling.

How long does it take to smoke a cigar?

The time each common vitola takes, what slowing down does for the experience, and why a rushed cigar tastes worse than a patient one.

Where should I keep my humidor in my house?

The four places never to put a humidor, the room conditions that matter, and why winter and summer cause more damage than people expect.

Can I relight a cigar later?

How long a cigar holds before relighting damages the flavour, the right way to relight, and the point at which you should let it go.

How do I light a cigar?

The toast-then-light method, why butane lighters are preferred, and what an uneven first inch tells you about how you lit it.

How do I cut a cigar?

The straight cut, the V-cut, the punch, when each works best, and the one mistake that ruins more cigars than any other.

How do I build a humidor?

The three components every humidor needs, the materials worth paying for, and the easiest path for a first-time owner.

What is the cigarette beetle and how do I prevent it?

Why beetle eggs are already in your cigars, the temperature thresholds that keep them dormant, and what to do if you ever see the early signs.