There are no official rules for cigars. Smoke what you like. Cut it how you like. Enjoy it your way.

Well…that is not entirely true. I say there are no rules. I say smoke what you want…no one is judging, but that is a lie. There are still a few things that make everyone in the lounge slowly look over and think, seriously dude?

Here are a few ways to avoid becoming that person. These are Common Cigar Etiquette Mistakes…

1. Smoking all three cigars in a Culebra at once.

Yes, they are braided together. A Culebra is three cigars twisted for presentation and tradition. Yes, you could smoke them at the same time…No, that is not a challenge.

You untwist them. You smoke one. You share the other two.  You do not try to look like a human campfire and fit them all into your mouth like your marshmallow face-stuffing competition at 8th-grade camp*. If you are ignoring these cigars because they are ugly, you are really missing out.

*Was that too oddly specific? 

2. Lighting a cigar with the cedar sleeve still on it.

The cedar is packaging. It protects the wrapper. It is not part of the blend. Take it off unless you enjoy the flavor of burning wood and bad decisions.

We have all seen a newbie do something like this. Normally, I jump in right before the light and try to help them out. Not going to lie, there was one time that the person was so arrogant ‘educating’ everyone around him I didn’t say a word as he lit up a Fuente, fully cedar clothed, and proceeded to fight it for 20 min. He had it coming and I stand by my decision (now confession).

3. Cutting half the cigar off because “I like a good draw”

There two reasons people cut cigars in half. One, they don’t have time to smoke the whole thing. The cut them in half and think they have twice the smokes. The math makes sense, but this isn’t a pizza, just buy a smaller cigar.

The other reason people cut them in half is they think that helps the draw. My first question is what kind of cigars are you buying to start with. If you need to cut a cigar in half to help the draw, I think you are trying to smoke ACE hardware boating rope, not a cigar.

[Full disclosure: That was a horrible analogy, but all I could come up with. I apologize, they can’t all be winners. Moving on…

4. Constantly relighting your cigar

I  blame some bloggers and reviewers for this. “Had to touch up the cigar…it was 3mm off” Sheesh.

Touch-ups happen. That is normal. Blasting your cigar every two minutes like you are welding playground monkey bars is not.

MOST of the time a good cigar will correct itself. It will ‘catch up’ if you will. Just let the cigar do its job.

5. Loudly announcing the price of every cigar you smoke

Nobody is impressed that you spent $75 on a cigar. Nobody cares that it was hard to get, it’s a unicorn, or it is ‘illegal’ in the United States.

You don’t need to advertise your cigar, making sure you hold it band-side-out so everyone in the area sees what you are smoking.

If you enjoy it, smoke it. If you need applause or attention, get a puppy.

Bonus: Asking if it has plume when it is clearly mold

If it is fuzzy, green, or looks alive, stop trying to convince yourself it is rare cigar magic. You found mold. It happens. Throw it out and save yourself the online debate.

Still not sure? Read our guide on plume vs mold.

Cigar etiquette mistakes happen to everyone when they start. The difference is whether you learn from them. Smoke what you enjoy, pay attention to what works, and try not to become the story everyone tells after you leave the lounge.

How Not To Be “That Guy” At A Cigar Lounge…

Is it OK to smoke all three cigars in a Culebra?
No. A Culebra is meant to be untwisted. Traditionally, they were made so that rollers could share cigars. Smoking all three at once is possible, but not recommended.

Should you remove the cedar sleeve before lighting a cigar?
Yes. The cedar protects the cigar during storage. It is not intended to be smoked as part of the cigar.

How much of a cigar should you cut?
Only cut the cap. Cutting too deep can cause the wrapper to unravel and ruin the cigar.

Is it normal to relight a cigar?
Yes. Occasional touch-ups are normal. Constant relighting usually means you are smoking too fast or overheating the cigar.

Do expensive cigars always smoke better?
No. Price does not guarantee performance. Construction, tobacco, and storage matter more than price.