There are many dos and don’ts when it comes to holding a cigar. By heeding these tips, you can elevate your cigar-smoking experience.

In some social settings, you’re expected to follow particular traditions or etiquette. Knowing how to hold a cigar properly can also prevent damage to the cigar. So, without further ado…

The Importance of Holding a Cigar Correctly

There are many different ways to hold a cigar. So, which of them should you opt for? First and foremost, ask what you’re most comfortable with. Learning how to hold a cigar well is partly about comfort and partly about what your grip says about your personal style. Here’s why it’s important:

Cigar etiquette: It is frowned upon to hold a cigar like a cigarette, perched between the middle and index finger. This holds the cigar too loosely.
Avoiding damage: Holding too tightly can risk cracking the wrapper. The cigar can also start burning unevenly.
Preventing drooping: It’s important to hold a cigar in the right place to avoid it drooping. Otherwise, it could too easily fall on the floor.

4 Different Ways to Hold a Cigar

The Classic Pinch

The pinch is very much as it sounds – you hold the cigar between just your index finger and thumb. You slightly squeeze the cigar to keep it securely in position.

This is one of the most common ways to hold a cigar, and conveys an air of strong sensibility. However, to prevent the cigar from drooping, you need to grip its center of gravity.

The Connoisseur's Hold

You’re a true connoisseur when holding a cigar this way. You do it by wrapping your forefinger around the top of the cigar, with the bottom resting on your thumb.

This hold makes you look highly sociable and approachable. It’s also a good choice for handling a thicker ring gauge, as you can easily adjust your grip for a more secure fit.

The Three-Finger Hold

Once you’ve mastered the connoisseur’s hold, you can easily switch to the three-finger hold. That’s because your thumb still supports the cigar from below. Now, though, you place not one but two fingers – your forefinger and middle finger – on the cigar’s opposite side.

Place all three digits on the cigar’s band to begin with. Naturally, you need to shift your fingers further down the cigar as it slowly burns down.

The Respect

Wrap four fingers around the top of the cigar, with the thumb supporting it from underneath. As this pose uses all fingers of the hand, it conveys maximum respect for the craftsmanship of the stogie.

Adjusting Your Grip Over Time

Whichever cigar hold you choose, remember that a cigar is not a fixed object.

As it burns, tobacco turns to ash, and the lit end grows lighter, so the balance point creeps back toward your hand, and a grip that felt secure on the first third can let the cigar dip by the final third.

The fix is simple: every few minutes, walk your fingers a little further down toward the band and re-settle your hold.

Smokers who do this without thinking rarely drop a cigar; those who set their grip once and forget it are the ones chasing a falling stogie.

Matching Your Hold to the Cigar

Not every cigar sits in the hand the same way. The vitola you are smoking, its ring gauge, and even the wrapper all influence which hold feels right.

A slender vitola like a Lonsdale or a Panatela has a thin shaft and little weight, so it balances easily in the classic pinch. The trade-off is that thin cigars droop more readily, so keep your grip close to the balance point. A broad 56 to 60 ring gauge, by contrast, is too wide to pinch comfortably for long. These reward the connoisseur's hold or the three-finger hold, where more of the hand carries the weight.

Shape matters too. A torpedo or belicoso tapers toward the head, which shifts the balance forward, so you may find your fingers naturally sitting further back than they would on a straight-sided parejo.

The wrapper deserves a mention of its own. A delicate, light claro wrapper marks more easily under pressure than a thicker, oilier maduro, so the more fragile the leaf, the lighter your touch should be. This is one reason a well-made Cuban cigar is worth handling with a little extra care: the wrapper is part of what you are paying for.

Cigar Handling Tips and Etiquette

The whole matter of how to hold a cigar depends on various factors. These include the size of the cigar you use, as well as your experience as a cigar smoker. However, the following tips work well in a wide range of situations.

Holding a Cigar While Smoking

If you want to come across as assured and professional, don’t hold a cigar like a cigarette. Doing this among other cigar smokers is bound to mark you out as a novice.

Don’t hold the cigar too near the lit end, or you could accidentally burn your fingers. It’s only the cigar itself you want to burn – and evenly at that! So, don’t forget to also rotate the cigar from time to time.

Holding Large Cigars

Some of the most popular cigars on the market are up to 60-ring gauge, or nearly 1” in diameter. While they are lightweight, they can be tricky to prop comfortably on your fingers. As such, the largest cigars may also be awkward to hold for long periods.

It’s okay to set a cigar down on an ashtray when your fingers get stiff from being in the same position for too long. As long as you pick the cigar back up within a minute or so, you should be able to resume smoking it without relighting it.

Following the Cues of Your Host

If you’re a guest in someone’s home or being hosted at a small social event, it’s wise to take cues from the host. Your host may not worry much about how closely you follow established etiquette. They may even display some bad habits themselves.

Most of the time, your host is trying to make a good impression on everyone. Even if you disagree with some of your host’s manners, it is bad form to criticize them. At the same time, you do not usually have to emulate them.

Resting Your Cigar Properly

What if you need a hand free for drinking or shaking hands? You can hold the cigar in your mouth, but it’s tricky to do without damaging the wrapper with your saliva or teeth.

As a first resort, either switch the cigar to your free hand or rest it in an ashtray. With either method, you can preserve the cigar’s condition and flavor. Just don’t leave the cigar resting for more than a few minutes if you don’t want it to go out.

Removing Ash from the Cigar

Be selective about when you ash the cigar. Ashing it more often than necessary can put it out prematurely, requiring you to relight it.

So, wait until ash has visibly built up at the end of the cigar. Then, lightly tap the cigar on the rim of an ashtray so that the ash falls into the tray.

What to Avoid When Holding a Cigar

What’s the proper way to hold a cigar? You can get a better idea when you know improper ways to hold a cigar. Here are several of them:

Holding a cigar too close to drinks or food: Accidentally getting ash on someone else’s food is a major faux pas, but the smoke alone can be enough to disrupt a meal.
Pointing or gesturing with a cigar: This may be seen as rude, especially around strangers. Be mindful of your gestures and handle a cigar the same way you would a pencil or a sharp object.
Walking around a lot with a cigar: Cigars produce both smoke and ash. It can be too easy to drop ash on the carpet, leaving the host having to set aside time to clean it.

FAQs on How to Hold a Cigar

Which Fingers Should I Use to Hold a Cigar?

There is some debate over how to hold a cigar. The most common way to hold a cigar is between the thumb and forefinger on your dominant hand. That way, you maintain full control of the cigar, minimizing the chance of it slipping out and falling.

Use your other fingers to support the end of the cigar, especially while it is still long. Hold the cigar loosely, as pinching it tightly can damage it. There is no rule about which hand, but most smokers favor their dominant hand for control and switch to the other when they need a free hand for a drink or a handshake.

Can I Hold a Cigar in My Teeth?

Many movie characters hold a cigar between their teeth, but this is not recommended. It looks rude and menacing, and your teeth can damage the fragile wrapper of the cigar. As a result, bits of the wrapper may flake off into your mouth. Cigar wrapper bits do not taste good, so a damaged cigar can ruin the experience.

Should I Remove the Cigar Band?

Some connoisseurs recommend you remove the band after lighting up the cigar. However, others consider showing the band to be a sign of respect for the manufacturer.

The band is a good indicator of where to hold a cigar, so it may be useful for novices to leave it in place. Whichever you decide, don’t try to remove it before lighting the cigar. Otherwise, you risk tearing the wrapping and making it much more challenging to hold. Wait until you’ve cut the cigar, taken a puff, and the gum securing the band starts to melt.

Do you Hold a Cigar with your Teeth or Lips?

It is not recommended to hold a cigar with your teeth. However, it can still pay to know how to hold a cigar in your mouth. You can’t be certain when you might find yourself without any other option!

The key is to hold the cigar with your lips – not your teeth – and avoid biting on the cigar. Instead, just let it rest between your lips as you use them to gently grip the stogie. This tactic will prevent you from drenching the cigar in saliva which hampers the flavor.

How to Hold a Premium Cuban Cigar

You can’t hold a premium Cuban cigar without buying one first. It’s ultimately up to you which one you go for. Perhaps you’re tempted by the oak-infused tones of a Montecristo or the powerful punch of a Bolivar?

Just don’t hold a fake cigar. That will lose you all etiquette points. Even if you hold and light the cigar perfectly, people can tell it is fake by the smell.

So, get your hands on a premium cigar from Swiss Cuban Cigars. Find the perfect Cuban cigar for your next social gathering.

How to Hold a Cigar Properly: Full Guide