The best premium cigars will give you an even better smoking experience if you treat them right, from the way you store your cigars to cutting, lighting and ashing them.
Good-quality cigar accessories are key. From designer cigar humidors that keep your sticks in a controlled climate, to blowtorch cigar lighters for an evenly lit cherry, here's our guide to some of the essential cigar tools every aficionado should own.
The must-have cigar accessories for beginners
First-timers can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of cigar accessories out there, and we get it, there are a lot of options. The trick is to try a few, decide what you like and grow your confidence from there.
In fact, there are only a few main types of cigar tools; there's just a lot of choice. Let’s look at each in turn to take some of the mystery away and help you choose your next addition to your set of everyday cigar gadgets.
Cigar cutter
A cigar cutter snips off the covered cap on the end of the cigar. Without doing this, you won't be able to draw air (and smoke) through the stick to actually smoke the stogie.
That makes cigar cutters an important piece of your kit, or you'll be left using household scissors, a pocket knife, or biting the cap off cowboy-style.
Some of the main types of cigar cutters include a straight-edged guillotine, a pointed V-cut or a circular punch cutter. You can also get special cigar scissors, which are designed to snip off the cap without damaging the cross-section of the stick.
For beginners, cigar scissors can be a familiar starting point, and a guillotine cutter is the easiest next step to take. You can move on to the specially shaped cigar cutters later as you get more familiar with how to properly cut a cigar.
Cigar lighter
A correctly lit cherry is crucial for an even burn, which is why purpose-made cigar lighters are next on our list of essential cigar tools for beginners.
The rookie mistake here is to set the cigar on fire. That's not the goal. Instead, you want to toast the foot gently and evenly until the cherry is lit.
Because of this, everyday options like matches and cigarette lighters are not ideal. A blowtorch-style butane cigar lighter will almost certainly give you better results.
Why use a torch lighter? It's all about the intensity of the flame. Butane gives you a hard jet flame which is easier to keep on target, compared with the soft and wispy flame of a typical BIC or Zippo.
Cigar humidor
Storing your cigars correctly will make it easier to light and smoke them. The right humidity allows the filler to burn at the right speed and temperature.
To achieve this, you'll want to invest in a premium cigar humidor. If you plan to buy cigars in bulk to get the best prices, this is really a must-have item even for beginners.
A Spanish cedar humidor is a great starting point. This type of wood naturally resists insects and controls moisture levels, as a good humidor should. It can also enhance the taste of the cedar in your cigars' flavor profile.
There are plenty of alternatives though. Mahogany humidors are another popular choice, and you can even find glass-top designs if you want your cigar collection to be visible through the humidor lid.
Cigar ashtray
Finally, the right cigar ashtray can be a trusted companion anytime you treat yourself to a smoke. You'll want to be able to keep the ash to around an inch in length, without knocking too much off so that the cherry is exposed.
Learning how to ash a cigar is part of the process all aficionados go through, and a good cigar ashtray makes it much easier to get right.
You'll need an ashtray that allows you to gently roll the tip of the cigar, so that the ash comes off evenly, leaving a protective ball or cone over the cherry. Expose too much and the cigar will burn hot and fast.
Portable cigar ashtrays are an excellent option if you like to smoke outdoors. They'll often have a lid to keep the ash inside until you can dispose of it, while allowing you to touch up the cherry for an even burn, no matter where you are.
Final thoughts
The huge range of premium cigar accessories out there means there's so much to explore. Sure, there are some 'best' choices, but it's also about finding something that suits your smoking style and your level of expertise.
Whatever you go for, every new cigar tool you add to your collection is a step in the right direction. As you learn how to use them, you'll get the best out of your smokes, allowing each premium handmade cigar to deliver its flavor profile exactly as the master tobacconist intended.