Never inhale the smoke.
Cigars are meant to be savored for their taste and aroma on the palate, not inhaled into the lungs. The tobacco is much stronger than in cigarettes and inhaling can lead to unpleasant coughing, lightheadedness, or tobacco sickness.
Never stub out a cigar.
Do not grind or "smoosh" a cigar into an ashtray like a cigarette. Stubbing it out releases a pungent, stale aroma. Instead, simply set the cigar down — because they are humidified, handmade cigars will go out naturally in a few minutes.
Never light with "dirty" fuel.
Avoid Zippos, standard petrol lighters, candles, or sulfur matches. These fuel sources can infuse the cigar with a chemical or waxy taste that ruins the tobacco's natural flavor. Always use a butane torch, wooden matches, or cedar spills.
Never cut off too much of the cap.
Cutting past the "shoulders" of the cigar's head removes the vegetable-based adhesive that holds the wrapper together. If too much is removed, the cigar will begin to unravel while you smoke it.
Never puff too frequently.
Pacing is critical — smoking too fast causes the cigar to overheat, leading to a bitter, harsh taste. A general rule of thumb is to take one puff every 30 to 90 seconds.
Never sniff a cigar you do not own.
When shopping in a retail store, avoid running your nose across cigars on the shelf. It is considered unsanitary to put something in your mouth that has been near someone else's nose.
Never lick the cigar before using a shared cutter.
Moistening the cap with your mouth before using a community cutter at a lounge is considered disrespectful to other patrons. We provide individual cutters at Smoky Justice for exactly this reason.
Never store a half-smoked cigar in a humidor.
Putting a partially smoked cigar back into a humidor will cause the entire space and all other cigars to smell like charred ash. If you want to save it, use a separate airtight container away from your collection.
Never criticize another person's cigar choice.
Cigar preference is highly personal. Avoid offering unsolicited judgments or negative comments about what someone else is smoking. The lounge is a place to enjoy, not to judge.
Never ask to try someone else's cigar.
Unless you are extremely close with the person, asking for a "hit" of their cigar is a major social faux pas due to the exchange of saliva. If you want to try a cigar, our staff are happy to help you find the right one.