Christmas is just a few days away and people are still thinking of what presents to give. People who love cigars often get different kinds as gifts, but there are other things that they would also appreciate. Paying attention to details will make choosing easier.

First things first, get to know the recipient of the gift. Find out the brand, line, blend and size of cigar that person would want most. Since cigars often come in boxes of 25, it is a good idea to divide these into five and distribute them among friends. If you are willing to give them a box, that would be awesome.

If you are not sure of what kind of cigar they like, you can get them a sampler pack that contains various cigar blends for them to choose from. Who knows, they might just find their new favorite blend in one of them. Mild to medium cigar variants are always a safe option.

Cigar accessories also make great gifts. Pick an ashtray, lighter, cigar cutter, travel tubes or cases that fits the recipient’s personality. Better yet, have them engraved with their initials. Humidors also make great presents, but they are quite costly. A nice one costs $100 or even more. New cigar smokers would appreciate a 50-count humidor while veteran cigar smokers would probably need a bigger one.

If you are not sure of what to get, gift cards or certificates from cigar shops would be fantastic. Recipients can choose their present and you are sure that they will enjoy it. It is the easiest and surefire option, but nothing beats the thought behind picking something that suits the person you are giving gifts to.

Image from  Jungle Jim’s International Market

Photo Courtesy Of: brehantodd

Cigars are often associated with strong and rich tastes, just like coffee. There are a few though who like milder flavors, while some just want to perk up their cigar smoking experience. I have tried a couple in the past and I must say that I enjoy the sweet and lasting tastes of chocolate and cinnamon. I have heard that there are flavors like appletini, mojito, amaretto, rum, vanilla and even fruity ones such as grapes, mangoes, watermelon and many more.

Just a tip though, experts say that flavored cigars should not be stored or aged, for the reason that its flavor may be lost, which is why humidors only serve as containers so that they are preserved and protected. Like cigarettes, never place flavored cigars with regular ones as they can absorb the flavors even if they are sealed and packaged. So the best thing to do is purchase a few flavored cigars for you to try. If you fancy a flavor and buy a box, then it is time to get another humidor for it.

Making your own flavored cigars is also a no brainer. All you have to do is place unflavored cigars in an air-tight container along with the flavor you want. For example if you want to use Irish cream, simply keep the shot glass there and let the liqueur evaporate until it is gone. Do not pour the shot on the cigars.  It may take a few weeks before the flavor is absorbed, but it is worth the wait. If you roll your own, using flavored wrappers are another option for you to conveniently smoke away.

What do you do about this? Well, there is no need to suffer the smell. There are smoke eaters which can be purchased easily from your local cigar shop. These will do very well for the designated smoking room in the house. You could check out products that are sprayed onto surfaces to “eat” the smell of smoke away. However, this would only work if you spray all the surfaces that smell of smoke. If you have a large smoking area, then it might be a bit too costly.

There are also smoke eaters which function much like an exhaust fan. These are normally used in commercial areas where smoking is allowed in an enclosed place. Of course, they could be quite expensive as well.

My suggestion? Choose a smoking room that has good natural ventilation so that you can get fresh air in more easily. Clean up the room as soon as you can and make use of the cheaper “sprayable” smoke eaters.

Do you have any suggestions of your own?

For the beginning cigar smoker, it would be best to try buying one piece instead of the usual box which would not be light on the pocket of any person. Brands have their say as far as cigars are concerned, but for beginning smokers, this is not yet important.

The essence of what people get from smoke that they have in their mouth is something that no one can really explain. Most people are simply for the acknowledging their curiosity while some are in it because of the things they hear around them.

For one, the tobacco leaves used for some cigars are traced towards medicinal herbs that may be good for the body. This was done in ancient times and has been forgotten ever since.

Cigars are also associated with aid in weight loss. While such may be considered an unorthodox way of putting up with it, some people have found it effective although there may be hitches with regards to health as the inhaled smoke may be bad for the body as smoking has been known for.

Either way, health or health risk, the ultimate decision on passing judgment towards cigars and tobacco leaves will still fall on the hands of the person who smokes them. The final word will always be theirs.

Is this scenario even possible? Definitely! While you may not want to think about cigars going bad, it does happen – and it has happened. And the last thing that you want is to ruin your night with a bad stogie. Before you even light it, take a closer look at your cigar and make sure that it is worth lighting. Here are some tips to help you determine whether to light your cigar or not.

Is it dry beyond hope? If your cigar is drier than the Mojave desert in the middle of the day, I suggest not lighting it. This means that the cigar has lost its essential oils that give it flavor. Of course, you can opt to light it but the chances are that your mood will be ruined beyond repair. Here’s a better tip: avoid getting dry cigars by investing in a good humidor.

Does your cigar smell bad? It does not take a rocket scientist to know that, generally, some thing that smells bad tastes bad! If you do not like the smell of your unlit cigar, then the chances are it will taste just as awful when lit. Spare yourself. Throw it away.

Where did you buy your cigar? Let’s face it folks, buying cigars at 7-11 or grocery stores is not the smartest thing to do. While you can get them for cheap, they are probably of low quality. Worse, they are probably old stock – stale. If you bought those cigars from the local supermarket check out counter out of impulse, I suggest just going to a “real” cigar store or even buying online. Don’t waste your money.

When your mobile phone rings, where do you take the call?
A better question might be, do you take the call at all? Sometimes, the cigar lounge is just like the movie theater. People hate interruptions such as mobile phone sounds. Even worse, people hate it when guys talk on the phone inside the lounge, especially if they can’t keep their voices down. My suggestion is to put your phone on silent mode (just leave the vibrate option on) and take only important calls. When you do take the call, step outside – it won’t kill you and it will do wonders for your reputation.

Where do you get the cigar that you smoke?
The common sense answer would be from the accompanying shop of the cigar lounge you smoke at, right? You might be surprised at how many people bring their own cigars (purchased elsewhere) to cigar lounges. Courtesy and respect requires that you buy the cigars where you smoke. That’s pretty much self-explanatory.

How long do you keep the shop employees busy?
What I mean is, let’s say you are unsure as to which cigar to buy for the day. How long do you engage the staff to find the cigar that you want? It is not really a problem, especially if there aren’t too many people waiting their turn. But if you are not sure as to what you want to buy and there is a long line behind you, you might want to step aside and browse through their selection first. There is no point in holding other people up, is there?

Have fun the next time you go to the cigar lounge. Remember, that’s what matters!

If a conversation is going on when you enter the lounge, what do you do?
Some people would probably sit down and observe for a while, maybe join in when they feel like it. Others might immediately jump into the fray and make an unrelated remark about some other topic he is interested in. Obviously, the first one is acceptable, the second one rude.

Do you compare your cigar to other people’s cigar?
There is nothing wrong in comparing right? True; that is, unless you keep insisting that yours is better. Think about it though, what cigar you smoke is a matter of preference. Just because yours is “better” does not mean that the other person would like your cigar as well.

If you see someone smoking a cigar the “wrong” way, what do you do?
Would you plow right ahead and tell that person he is going it wrong or would you keep quiet? Again, keep your opinions to yourself. Some people like to smoke cigars a certain way. Who are you to tell them how to smoke THEIR cigar?

These are only some questions that can help you check your lounge etiquette. Let’s look at some more next time.

First, why do you need to season your humidor? This is because the cedar that is the material used for the humidor also absorbs moisture. Brand new humidors and old humidors that have not been used in a while need to be seasoned because the cedar does not have sufficient moisture itself. What will happen is that the wood will actually GET moisture from your cigars if you use the humidor without seasoning it.

In order to season your humidor, you have to get distilled water. Remember, it should be distilled and not tap water. Get a sponge and wet it with the distilled water. Then you should wipe down the whole inside of the humidor. After this, put the sponge – which should not be too saturated – on top of a piece of plastic inside the humidor. Then follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to how to fill your humidifying device. Wait for 24 hours, repeat the sponging process, and then wait another 24 hours.

It should then be fine to use your humidor. Just make sure that the insides are not damp.

What do you do about this? Well, there is no need to suffer the smell. There are smoke eaters which can be purchased easily from your local cigar shop. These will do very well for the designated smoking room in the house. You could check out products that are sprayed onto surfaces to “eat” the smell of smoke away. However, this would only work if you spray all the surfaces that smell of smoke. If you have a large smoking area, then it might be a bit too costly.

There are also smoke eaters which function much like an exhaust fan. These are normally used in commercial areas where smoking is allowed in an enclosed place. Of course, they could be quite expensive as well.

My suggestion? Choose a smoking room that has good natural ventilation so that you can get fresh air in more easily. Clean up the room as soon as you can and make use of the cheaper “sprayable” smoke eaters.

Do you have any suggestions of your own?