Is there a right or wrong way to hold your cigar? The short answer is no. This is another situation you may find yourself in that is highly subjective.
We all don’t smoke the same-sized cigars, so each of us will hold them differently. For example, you wouldn’t typically hold a cigarillo the same way you would hold a Toro or a Churchill. Each smoking experience is different, even down to how you position the cigar in your hands.
Let’s dive in and talk about the different techniques, positions, and proper etiquette when it comes to holding a cigar properly.
What are the different ways to hold a cigar?
There are four common ways the average cigar aficionado holds their favorite stogies.
The most common one is “The Pinch”. “The Pinch” is where you place the cigar between your index finger and thumb while squeezing and securing the cigar in your hand. Make sure not to squeeze the cigar too hard to prevent any unnecessary damage to the cigar.
Another way to hold your cigar is by wrapping your index finger around the cigar while using your thumb for support. It’s not as secure as “The Pinch,” but for some people, it looks more sophisticated. This position comes in handy when smoking larger ring-gauged cigars.
The third common way to hold a cigar is known as “The Respect.” This position utilizes all four fingers to support the cigar from the top, while the thumb supports the cigar from the bottom. This method is to display the utmost respect for the craftsmanship of the cigar you’re smoking.
Lastly, the most common way to hold the cigar is known as the “Triple Support.” For this method, you would place your index finger and middle finger in the middle of the cigar, while your thumb is on the bottom. This is the most common way cigar smokers hold their cigars, regardless of the size.
What is the correct way to hold a cigar?
Although we just suggested the four common ways to hold a cigar, there are over half a dozen ways you can hold your cigar.
It all depends on you, the cigar smoker. You may find it more comfortable holding the cigar in other ways than other cigar smokers.
Holding techniques to avoid
As subjective as cigar smoking can be, there are a few ways of holding the cigar you should completely avoid.
Under no circumstances should you grip the cigar. That would crush the cigar and essentially make it non-smokable.
Holding a cigar in between your index and middle finger is not ideal. A cigar needs more support than a cigarette, so that’s where the different positions on holding a cigar come into play.
Another thing to avoid while holding a cigar is waving it around in your hands. You could spill ash or drop it while moving your hands around very fast.
Lastly, holding a cigar near your food or drinks should be avoided. It’s okay to place your cigar down in an ashtray if you want to spend time eating your food or sipping on your cocktail.
How to hold a cigar in your mouth
If you aren’t drawing from the cigar, then holding a cigar in your mouth instead of your hands isn’t universally popular or the first option for some.
But if you have your hands full and there’s no other option, then holding a cigar in your mouth isn’t the worst possible scenario for you to come across.
If you’re ever faced with having to hold a cigar in your mouth, you need to gently press your lips around your cigar. This goes for when you’re drawing the cigar, or just letting the cigar rest in your mouth.
Don’t fully bite down with your teeth or press your lips too tightly around the cigar. The latter tactics can do some irreversible damage to your cigar.
If held in your mouth for too long, the cigar cap can get drenched in saliva, and drawing from your cigar may be an issue over time.
Is it okay to hold a cigar with your teeth?
Holding a cigar with your teeth is not a situation we would recommend to any novice or aficionado cigar smoker.
Whether you see a cigar smoker doing it at a lounge, or movie characters doing it in Hollywood, it’s not a trend we should get used to.
Besides it looking crass and unprofessional, you’re disrespecting the cigar and the creator of these beautiful gems.
Biting down or using your teeth to hold a cigar can easily damage a fragile wrapper, get tobacco stuck in your teeth, and make a bigger mess than you intend to make.
What does the way you hold a cigar say about your personality?
Whether we realize it or not, the way we smoke, hold, and ash a cigar are dead giveaways on your experience smoking cigars or what your cigar personality may be.
If you’re new to smoking a cigar and are more cautious about holding onto your cigar, then you may use the “Triple Threat.”
If you’ve smoked for a while and love cigars, you’ll most likely be a little more relaxed when holding it. “The Pinch” or “The Respect” would most likely be your style. This shows you are cautious enough to respect the cigar you’re smoking.
Whether you do it subconsciously or not, the way you hold a cigar in your hand, and even in your mouth at times, shows the world how you think or feel about this hand-crafted piece of art.