How To Enjoy a Cigar
How to Truly Enjoy a Cigar
A Practical Guide to Tasting, Flavor Perception, and Pairing
Smoking a cigar is not about rushing, nor about strength.
It is about attention.
A premium cigar is designed to be experienced slowly—through smell, texture, temperature, and evolving flavors. This guide will teach you how to smoke a cigar properly, how to discern flavors, and how food and drinks before and during the smoke can dramatically affect your experience.
This article also serves as an introduction to the tasting techniques we will explore together during Connoisseur’s Night on January 24th.
1. First Rule: A Cigar Is Savored, Not Inhaled
A cigar is never inhaled into the lungs.
Instead:
- Take a gentle draw
- Let the smoke rest in your mouth
- Exhale slowly
Think of it as tasting wine, not drinking water.
Fast puffing overheats the cigar, kills subtle flavors, and creates bitterness. A good rhythm is:
- One puff every 30–60 seconds
Patience is the foundation of flavor.
2. Swirling the Smoke: How Flavor Is Actually Perceived
Once the smoke is in your mouth:
- Gently move it around with your tongue
- Let it coat the palate: tip, sides, and back of the tongue
Different areas of your mouth perceive sensations differently:
- Sweetness
- Bitterness
- Creaminess
- Pepper
- Dryness
You are not looking for “strong” or “mild.”
You are looking for texture and balance.
3. Retrohaling: Unlocking the Hidden Layer of Flavor
Retrohaling is optional—but powerful.
How it works:
- Take a small puff
- Keep smoke in your mouth
- Gently exhale the first 80% and push the remaining 20% out through your nose
Your nose contains far more aroma receptors than your mouth, which is why retrohaling reveals notes like:
- Toasted bread
- Cocoa
- Nuts
- Cedar
- Spices
⚠️ Tip for beginners:
Start with very small amounts. Retrohaling should never burn.
4. Flavor vs Aroma: Learn to Smell as Much as You Taste
(You can print the tasting card to use in your own cigar degustation, this helping you keeping track of your cigar journey.)
Much of what we call “flavor” is actually aroma.
Before lighting:
- Smell the wrapper
- Smell the foot of the cigar
During the smoke:
- Smell the resting smoke
- Notice how aromas change as the cigar warms
To help identify flavors, associate them with memories and scents, not food labels:
- Fresh wood
- Coffee shop air
- Dark chocolate
- Leather
- Toasted nuts
- Earth after rain
There is no wrong answer—only honest perception.
(We will use our flavor wheel during the event to help guide this process.)
5. What You Eat and Drink Before Smoking Matters More Than You Think
Your palate is a tool—and tools must be prepared.
Before smoking, avoid:
- Very spicy food
- Sugary desserts
- Strong mint or menthol
- Extremely hot drinks
These can:
- Numb your palate
- Mask subtle flavors
- Exaggerate bitterness or pepper
Ideal pre-cigar choices:
- Neutral meals
- Light savory foods
- Water or mild tea
A clean palate allows the cigar to speak clearly.
6. Pairing During the Smoke: Complement, Don’t Compete
Cigar Pairing is matching like with like, strength, quality and flavour;
Strength: Pair Items based on strength, mild with mild, full bodied with full strength to avoid overwhelming one item with another.
Quality: Pair items based on quality. A premium cigar should be paired with an equally luxurious item of food or drink.
Flavour: Match up items based on flavours that are complementary and help to enhance subtleties in each pairing.
Example of pairings = Dark roasted coffee with a full-bodied cigar, Nicaraguan, Mexican San Andres or Costa Rican.
An ultra-premium cigar with a top shelf sipping spirit
A cigar with nutty notes paired with dark chocolate ...
The best pairing does not overpower the cigar.
Good pairings:
- Coffee (especially with natural acidity)
- Unsweetened tea
- Lightly sweet cocktails
- Aged spirits in moderation
Ask yourself:
- Does this drink extend the finish?
- Does it soften or sharpen certain notes?
- Does it add contrast or harmony?
At Connoisseur’s Night, we will explore how coffee and cigars interact, and how pairing changes perception sip by sip.
7. There Is No “Correct” Flavor — Only Awareness
Cigar tasting is not about showing knowledge.
It is about being present.
Two people smoking the same cigar may experience completely different things—and both are valid.
What matters is:
- Slowing down
- Paying attention
- Enjoying the moment
This is exactly the mindset we cultivate in our tastings and events.
Join Us: Experience This in Practice
Reading helps.
Practicing together transforms everything.
On January 24th, during Connoisseur’s Night, we will guide you through:
- Proper smoking rhythm
- Flavor identification using the wheel
- Retrohaling techniques
- Coffee & cigar pairing
- How to articulate what you perceive
📍 Havana 1950 – Tokyo
🕰 14:00–17:00
🎟 Ticketed event (limited seats)
Whether you are new to cigars or looking to deepen your appreciation, this evening is designed to elevate how you smoke—forever.