Premium cigars are intimidating if you’ve never bought one. The display case is full of unfamiliar brands at unfamiliar prices. Here’s a beginner’s walkthrough — pick, cut, light, smoke, enjoy. The right way, the first time.
Step 1: Pick the Right Cigar
Start mild. A strong cigar will knock your head off your shoulders if you’ve never had one.
- Wrapper: Connecticut Shade (light tan). Mildest, friendliest start.
- Size: Robusto (5″ × 50 ring gauge). Manageable 45-minute smoke. Not so big it intimidates you.
- Price: $8-15. Affordable enough to try a few different ones. Don’t blow $40 on a Cohiba for your first.
- Brand suggestions: Macanudo Cafe, Romeo y Julieta 1875, Ashton Classic. All mild, all reliable.
If you smoke cigarettes already, you can start medium (Maduro wrapper or Honduran bolds like Punch). If you smoke nothing — start mild.
Step 2: Cut It Right
You only cut the CAPPED END (the rounded end with the band near it). The other end is already open.
- Guillotine cut — straight cut across the cap. Most common. Cut just above the cap line (1/16-1/8 inch). Cut too low and the wrapper unravels.
- V-cut — wedge cut. Smaller draw, more concentrated flavor. Good for thicker cigars.
- Punch cut — circular punch. Smaller hole, gentler draw. Easy to mess up if punch is dull.
Don’t use teeth, scissors, or a knife. Cutters cost $5-20 and last forever.
Step 3: Light It Slowly
Premium cigars are NOT lit like cigarettes. Take your time.
- Use a torch lighter (not a Bic, not matches — they imart flavor)
- Toast the foot first — hold the flame 1/2 inch away from the cigar end, rotate slowly for 10-15 seconds
- Put it in your mouth, light again, puff while rotating until the entire foot glows evenly
- Look at the foot — should be a perfect glowing circle. Touch up uneven spots.
Improperly lit cigars burn uneven and taste harsh.
Step 4: Smoke Slow
⏰ Don’t Inhale
Cigar smoke is for the mouth, not the lungs. Draw smoke in, hold it briefly to taste, then exhale. Inhaling cigar smoke will make you cough and feel sick. This is not optional advice — it’s the difference between enjoying it and hating it.
- One draw every 1-2 minutes. Faster than that gets harsh, hotter, harder to taste.
- Let the ash build to about an inch before tapping it off. The ash insulates the burn temperature.
- Don’t relight more than once if it goes out — past one relight, taste deteriorates. Just enjoy what’s left.
- Stop when you want. You don’t have to smoke to the nub. Some folks stop at half. Some smoke to the band. Up to you.
What to Pair It With
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Inhaling — see above
- Buying too strong for first cigar — stick mild
- Smoking too fast — slows enjoyment + tastes worse
- Cutting too deep — wrapper unravels
- Using a Bic lighter — gives off fumes, taints flavor
- Not letting ash build — knocking ash too often increases burn temp
Where to Buy in Wichita
Mr. Mc’s Market stocks premium cigars across brands and price points. Stop in, take your time, ask questions — we’ll help you pick. ID required (21+).
Related
Visit Mr. Mc’s Market
📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214
🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week