Cigar Etiquette Discussion: You are in a Cigar lounge.

[El Presidente]

You are in a beautiful cigar lounge. It could be No 6 Cavendish, JJFox St James, LCDH HK....anywhere. You may be on vacation or you may be on a great night out with partner or mate...but either way you are treating yourself to a special experience. 

You are in the walk in humidor and see a box of the latest country Regional and request a single to smoke in the lounge over a tipple or a cup of coffee. It is brought to you. All is good in the world. 

They offer to cut it but you say you will do it yourself. They walk away. You snip the cap and...it's firm. 

Let's say...uncomfortably firm...not plugged....just uncomfortable. You know another snip isn't going to improve it . Smoke still comes through but it takes more work than you would normally feel comfortable with. 

Alternatively, it is a veritable wind tunnel. 

What would you do in such situations? Poll 

[GVan]

We've all had wind tunnels - luck of the draw.  I'd just try and smoke it very slowly and tiny puffs usually helps. Uncomfortably tight, I'd first try the Cuban squeeze and then ask if anyone has a perfect draw. If not, I'd just go get another cigar. Life's too short to smoke a bad cigar and $15 to $20 is not enough to make a scene.  

Actually had this happen to me in a cigar lounge in Rockville, MD. Was trying to smoke a Caldwell that was a tent peg. After asking for a perfect draw (which no one had), three guys in the Cigar Lounge offered me one of their cigars -- it doesn't get any better than that!!! Love cigar smokers - most of us are still "old school" generous.

[BrightonCorgi]

I would for sure mention the tight draw and maybe the wind tunnel. I wouldn't make any demands on a new one but would expect something (hopefully a replacement cigar).

 

 

 

[cnov]

I'd say something but not with a view to being given another cigar. I think anyone in the shops would be interested to know and you would hope that they might resolve it.

The stock at No.6 is incredible but you have to pay through the nose for it. I've only been the once but when I chose a cigar the chap went through the box and selected one for me, the draw was perfect. I would have thought that they'd be keen to right any wrong in there, plenty of margin and good customer service is something that always gets me going back.

[Islandboy]

I prefer a snug draw, so given that it’s not plugged, I’m good for the next 3 hours. But a wind tunnel is my worst nightmare, it completely ruins the cigar, there’s no way to regulate the heat, and flavor always goes south quickly.

[99call]

Cuba's inability to provide QC, has absolutely nothing to do with the cigar divan's QC and service. I think it's massively unfair if a customer wants to make the host of an establishment eat the cost of another cigar. If establishments want to offer this service, it should be communicated up front to avoid unnecessary awkwardness. i.e.  "Please let us know if you feel your cigar to be unsmokable due to under-filling or over-filling, and we will do our best to help"

I don't think the same policy that is attached to corked wine can be attached to difficult draws on cigars. As some smokers like more and less restrictive drawing cigars...nobody likes corked wine. 

[Çnote]

In the NC world, so long as the lounge is a direct account, there's no issue for the establishment to balk on a replacement as the manufacturer will almost always do a credit of somesort on next order. That being said, I'm not so gauche as to ask for it, but perhaps in passing if I'm selecting another from the humidor, I'll mention the issue. As an attendant, I didn't like it when guests would smoke the entire cigar and then notify me as to an issue and request a refund, that always seemed tacky.

I remember one occasion I was asked if I wanted a replacement for a very crooked canoe burn that was noticed by an attentive assistant. Great place, has been for years.

[Chas.Alpha]

While purchasing another cigar, I would certainly mention that the 3/4 stick left in the ashtray was plugged/hot wind tunnel, but if the host just smiled and led me to my next selection, that would be the end of it.

If they offered me a freebie, so much the better.

CAH

[Chibearsv]

If they asked, I’d tell them. I might ask if they had a perfecdraw I could use. A more subtle method of telling them I suppose. 

[chasy]

It would ultimately be abused, unfortunately.

[La_Tigre]

Rob, a good bit of disclaimer question:

Would the divan eat the cost or be able to be refunded from the source?

[El Presidente]

Just now, La_Tigre said:

Rob, a good bit of disclaimer question:

Would the divan eat the cost or be able to be refunded from the source?

The divan always eats the cost. 

[MickVanWinkle]

Initially I was going to vote “talk to staff” for the plugged cigar and suck it up on the wind tunnel. However, given the scenario that I cut it, I’d feel I had the opportunity to send back prior to cutting if I had done it myself - I can typically tell the roll quality pre cut (despite my inability to guess flavor profiles in the blind tasting contest).

[Boxer31]

I would eat it and buy another to enjoy. Only exception would be my home lounge. I've been going to for 15+ yrs and a certain employee was working that I know that longed to let him know maybe the issue was with that box.

[Duxnutz]

I’d ask for a replacement. Customer service is on the way out, it needs some exercise every now and then so we don’t forget it exists. 

[Çnote]

4 hours ago, El Presidente said:

The divan always eats the cost. 

Yeah I'd just suck it up then. CC are roulette anyway. Great when you win, still fun when you lose.

[ha_banos]

AJ's  🤣 

For sure ask them to replace. I like a firm draw, but too firm - quality fail, replace my uber expensive cigar please.

I've done this at Cgars St James St. and Boisdales (CW). They were happy to replace. I don't buy Uber premium anyways. I think the last one was a RASS actually a good few years ago.

I will try for a bit and give it a squeeze and a roll and cut, but once they see fish face, they been happy to swap.

[BrightonCorgi]

Let the shop select the cigar so it's less of an issue of them saying "you picked it".

[Ruggerpgh99]

I have never had the pleasure of smoking in a lounge where this type of interaction would even make sense. Now, I feel like I need this experience. 

[Arabian]

22 hours ago, 99call said:

Cuba's inability to provide QC, has absolutely nothing to do with the cigar divan's QC and service. I think it's massively unfair if a customer wants to make the host of an establishment eat the cost of another cigar. If establishments want to offer this service, it should be communicated up front to avoid unnecessary awkwardness. i.e.  "Please let us know if you feel your cigar to be unsmokable due to under-filling or over-filling, and we will do our best to help"

I don't think the same policy that is attached to corked wine can be attached to difficult draws on cigars. As some smokers like more and less restrictive drawing cigars...nobody likes corked wine. 

Sign should be posted "Cubans, smoke at your own risk". My local tobacco shop stopped selling Cuban sticks because of this issue, too many complaints from customers. 

[Fugu]

Yeah, not at all unfair. The lounge/divan or the shop-owner is the link between consumer and producer. That is the place for claims and customer feedback. Not some funny forum on the internet 😂

If you’re not happy with a product or service - communicate it! (a friendly approach will set the tune, as always). It doesn’t need an express invitation for it.

Free-replacement in the end or not - a straightforward feedback will be given!

[Fugu]

19 hours ago, El Presidente said:

The divan always eats the cost. 

… And will have to eat the cost in any case! Refuse to replace freely and have an unhappy customer that may never return and even tell his friends. Replace it, create an unforgettable experience for the visitor, make him feel happy and treated fairly, and he will return and spread the word.

[MrBirdman]

I love the snug Cuban draw, but if a Cuban is uncomfortably firm it’s not just a question of comfort. Unless it’s a skinny, it often portends construction issues that will leave you with a poor experience. I’m not sure I’ve ever smoked an uncomfortably firm cigar at 46+ RG that went well. Thinner cigars, particularly skinnies, are another matter.

And let’s point out something else here: Cuban cigars have gotten so expensive that expecting any smoker to “suck it up” and endure a subpar experience is pretty rich, if you ask me, especially in light of the (understandable) markup often seen in CC lounges. Now, I did give that answer for wind tunnels because they often end up fine if you are careful about overheating. 

[Ford2112]

It is what it is. Hope you brought your Perfecdraw.

[El Presidente]

Hmmmm........✍️

 

 

Ford             ✅

Birdman       ❌

Fugu            ✅

Arabian        ✅

DuxNutz       ❌

ha_banos     🤔

 

...................sorry......just putting together my private client list for 2026