Walking into a cigar lounge or lighting up around other smokers for the first time comes with a handful of unwritten rules. None of them are complicated, but getting a few basics wrong is the fastest way to look like you have never done this before.
Do: Let It Rest Before Judging It
The first third of a cigar is often not representative of how it smokes overall, especially on a fuller cigar that needs a few minutes to open up. Give it a fair shot before deciding you do not like it.
Do: Ash It Gently, Not by Tapping
Cigar ash holds together far better than cigarette ash and can be left to build for an inch or more without falling. Rest the cigar in an ashtray notch and let gravity do the work, or roll it gently against the ashtray edge, rather than tapping it hard the way you would a cigarette.
Do: Ask Before Lighting Up Near Others
Cigar smoke lingers and carries further than cigarette smoke. In a shared outdoor space, a quick check with anyone nearby is common courtesy, and most cigar lounges have designated seating precisely so this is not an issue indoors.
Don’t: Relight a Cigar That Has Gone Out for Too Long
A cigar that goes out briefly is fine to relight; tap off any built-up ash first and re-toast the foot before drawing again. One that has been out for 20 minutes or more will usually taste stale and acrid when relit, and is better left unfinished than forced back to life.
Don’t: Inhale
Cigars are meant to be drawn into the mouth and released, not inhaled into the lungs the way cigarette smoke is. Inhaling a cigar is uncomfortable for most people and is not how the flavor is meant to be experienced.
Don’t: Grab Someone Else’s Cigar From the Ashtray or Humidor
It sounds obvious, but in a shared lounge setting, treat other people’s cigars and gear as off-limits the same way you would their drink. A lit cigar left in a communal ashtray briefly is still someone’s cigar.
In a Lounge Specifically
- Most lounges will cut and light your cigar for you if you buy it there. Let staff do it if offered, it is part of the service.
- Keep phone calls to a minimum in shared lounge seating. It is treated similarly to a quiet bar.
- Tipping the person who cuts, lights, or helps you pick a cigar is customary, similar to tipping a bartender.
More Ways to Pair Beer and Cigars
Ready to build a rotation? The full beer and cigar pairing guide is the best next stop.
FAQ
Is it rude to tap cigar ash like cigarette ash?
It is not offensive, but it is unnecessary. Cigar ash holds together well and can be rolled gently against an ashtray or left to fall on its own.
Should you inhale a cigar?
No. Cigars are drawn into the mouth for flavor and released, not inhaled into the lungs like cigarette smoke.
Is it okay to relight a cigar that has gone out?
Yes, if it went out recently. Tap off any ash, re-toast the foot, and continue. A cigar that has been out for 20 minutes or longer usually tastes stale when relit.
