I recently met a new friend that asked me to explain when a cigar is finished. It has always struck me as an odd question, but I think it runs through most people’s minds when they pick up their first handful of cigars.

Cigars Should Be Enjoyable

I asked him, “are you enjoying that cigar?” He replied in the affirmative. The answer has always been clear in my mind, “When you stop enjoying it, whether you’re an inch in or have an inch left, you’re done.”

And it really is as simple as that! Cigars aren’t a simple product like a bottle of dishwashing soap or a t-shirt that gets discarded once it’s well and truly used up. Cigars are a luxury that should be enjoyed until they aren’t.

But Dave, what if you really are an inch in and you’re just not feeling it? I would ask, what if you made a batch of cookies and they tasted bad, would you feel obligated to finish the whole batch? Or would you toss them in the trash and write off the loss? Now, the problem might be that your cigar is improperly humidified or was lit with too much heat. Click the images throughout this post to view those articles for more information.

Let's All Get On the Same Page

I also encourage our cigar veterans to gift cigars in the same spirit to newcomers in our esteemed hobby. If someone finishes a cigar, but didn’t enjoy it, what is truly gained? A cigar should be ignited with the hope of a grand experience but should never be suffered through once lit. Exceptions being made to those smoking cigars for academic or industrial purposes, of course. And I’ll admit that I, too, have patiently worked with an irreplaceable cigar until it became too much.

Likewise, our Small Batch team will smoke some cigars that are damaged and can’t be sold. I’m not suggesting that you go through your humidors and throw away every cigar with a crack in the foot or cap, sometimes the experience can be salvaged. But I am suggesting that it’s better to recognize when you’re no longer having fun and grab a different cigar.

Have a question that you want an answer to? Email me at [email protected]!