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Many of us will be familiar with Zino Davidoffs essay on cigar smoking etiquette. Part of this essay outlined Dos and Don'ts for cigar smoking, and I'm curious to seee what people agree with, and what they don't. The essay was written in 1967; the world was a very different place!
Discuss!
I'm guilty of smoking and walking; I very often have a smoke whilst I walk Dogbert. Being a cigarette smoker I also tend to hold the cigar between my index and middle fingers. But apart from that I think I'm along the right lines!
DO
warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.
Take your time smoking it; a puff a minute is about right.
Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb.
Let the cigar die a dignified death; after it's smoked halfway, it will go out on its own.
Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.
Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behaviour.
The important thing to remember is that we cigar aficionados should present ourselves as considerate and understanding individuals. Changing people's preconceived notions and giving the growing numbers of aficionados a good name is well worth that little extra effort.
DON'T
Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar.
Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly.
Ask someone else for a light ('The lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair').
Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly.
Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking.
Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf.
Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights.
Clench it between your teeth.
Get the end of the cigar wet, chew It, slobber on it.
Smoke too quickly.
Use a cigar holder.
Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth.
Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill.
Smoke while working.
Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
Smoke when you're walking.
Smoke more than half the cigar.
Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.
Chain-smoke cigars.
warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.
Take your time smoking it; a puff a minute is about right.
Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb.
Let the cigar die a dignified death; after it's smoked halfway, it will go out on its own.
Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.
Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behaviour.
The important thing to remember is that we cigar aficionados should present ourselves as considerate and understanding individuals. Changing people's preconceived notions and giving the growing numbers of aficionados a good name is well worth that little extra effort.
DON'T
Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar.
Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly.
Ask someone else for a light ('The lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair').
Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly.
Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking.
Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf.
Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights.
Clench it between your teeth.
Get the end of the cigar wet, chew It, slobber on it.
Smoke too quickly.
Use a cigar holder.
Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth.
Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill.
Smoke while working.
Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
Smoke when you're walking.
Smoke more than half the cigar.
Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.
Chain-smoke cigars.
I'm guilty of smoking and walking; I very often have a smoke whilst I walk Dogbert. Being a cigarette smoker I also tend to hold the cigar between my index and middle fingers. But apart from that I think I'm along the right lines!
It's interesting for me as a commentary on social attitudes back then. Doesn't matter how you smoke these days, you still end up being treated like a social pariah. I was born too late 
)
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