Weird Persisting Cigar "Tricks"

[ElAbogado]

Recently I've seen a couple of these have reared their ugly heads again across social media. I'm talking about tips from cigar "experts" and pseudo-aficionados. They are almost like cigar urban legends. The two I see pop up every couple of months are:

- It is proper etiquette to lick the entire cigar before lighting up for a slower burn

- Aficionados dip the cut end of their cigar in brandy, cognac, or port for a sweeter experience

I've never known a serious cigar smoker that did either of those things. My guess is they are holdover tips from an earlier time when proper cigar storage was more difficult? Or that dipping the tip of a cigar maybe helped provide flavor to cheap flavorless cigars?

Any other crazy suggestions you guys see people promote as expert tips?

[Fuzz]

Remove the wrapper and smoke the binder/filler. After all, it is called a "wrapper"!

[Colt45]

Link

[Fosgate]

I heard once that Churchill used to dip his in brandy or conjiak. I've seen guys lick cigars thinking it slows the burn or holds the wrapper together better.

Overall this conversation reminds me of this bit by Hal Sparks when it comes to adding sweet etc.

[Elvis]

...

- It is proper etiquette to lick the entire cigar before lighting up for a slower burn

I'm not aware of any rules or conventions against this, I see it as more of a personal preference. I remember seeing this done many years ago by cigar smokers, however, their regular smoke was a machine made, wrapped in cello and purchased from the drug store. Who knows how long these had been sitting on the shelf, so perhaps that was why. I don't know if they would have done this with a hand rolled cigar.

The concept of wetting a cigar has been discussed here before and lightheartedly referred to as "rinsing". I believe there are several threads in FOH archives that discuss this, here are two:

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=98982&hl=Soak

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=101303&hl=rinsing#entry163941

[bugman78629]

YOU CAN LICK THE WRAPPER IF YOU WANT......JUST DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES WHILE DOING IT jk

[CaptainQuintero]

Back in the day... Very far back cigar gum used to cover the cigar (from the rolling process) and the type used had a nasty smell/taste so was removed by licking/wiping.

It's not been necessary for decades.

Watering/rinsing is different but I can't imagine licking a cigar for 5 min would achieve the same thing as a split second of tap water, it would get soggy?

[garbandz]

Churchill used to dip his cigar in brandy.

His reason was to overcome the tenderness his lips developed from endless cigars.

Licking is the same as wetting a wrapper.In cold weather it will help to keep a wrapper from splitting,and the process wakes the wrapper up and enhances the flavor.

I use the principle 90% of the time.

If you want to test this,wet the lower (foot ) end only.

If done properly,the cigar does not get soggy,try it...........

[wolfain]

Licking the cigar in its entirety. Very interesting. Hmmmmm.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wabashcr]

I learned about the rinsing technique on here, I think maybe from Wilkey. I have tried it several times, and while it may be 100% placebo effect, I do find that it adds a little bit of freshness and brings out flavors just a tad. Just a light stream for a couple seconds, and use a paper towel to wipe off. Maybe wrap the cigar snugly in a dry paper towel for a few minutes. I don't do it every time, but I've been happy with the results.

[ElAbogado]

I live in the deep south of the USA where it is always super humid, so I am never worried about cigars cracking from dryness. I am usually fighting to keep them at a low enough RH to avoid burn issues. I keep my long term storage at 65% and my sticks to smoke soon at 62%.

[cigarbreak]

YOU CAN LICK THE WRAPPER IF YOU WANT......JUST DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES WHILE DOING IT jk

HAHAHAHa