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As someone who used to smoke an average of one pack of cigarettes a day, for five years before quitting, I am curious: what's the appeal of smoking cigars? I on

As someone who used to smoke an average of one pack of cigarettes a day, for five years before quitting, I am curious: what's the appeal of smoking cigars? I only smoked one once and even then I missed out on the authentic experience, because nobody told me you're not supposed to inhale the smoke...

dageshi 10y ago
I've never smoked a cigarette so I really don't know how to compare them, but I personally find them a great way to relax and wind down, even though you're not inhaling you will absorb nicotine through your mouth. And then there's the flavour, the best comparison there I can give is it's a bit like single malt scotch, if you give someone who has no experience of spirits a 20 year old speyside Single malt chances are they're just going to think it's fire water initially, someone with more experience is going to really appreciate what they're drinking, their palette is more tuned to Scotch and they'll pick out flavours the newbie can't.
pc86 10y ago
I have a few friends who I regular smoke a cigar with, sometimes as often as once a week when the weather is really nice but usually at least once every 4-6 weeks even in the winter. 1) The taste is objectively better. Sure some aren't great but even when I smoked a pack of day many years ago I always smoke menthol because I thought regular cigarettes tastes like ashes (imagine that). 2) No noticeable effect on breathing. I often could feel it in my chest after having multiple cigarettes back-to-back or at the end of a day of heavy smoking. Never had that problem with a cigar, even after having two back-to-back. 3) Social. Very few people smoke a cigar by themselves. For me it's a social event. I sit around a table with friends and beer and we talk about whatever we want for the 60-90 minutes we're there.
fapjacks 10y ago
The thing about smoking cigars is that you smoke them however the hell you want to smoke them. It's your cigar, you inhale if you want. Do you like ice in your scotch? Have ice in your scotch. Do you like to chew on your cigars and never light them? Have at it. You're supposed to enjoy them, and nobody can tell you how to enjoy something.
- CodeMage 10y ago
  Even if I hadn't quit smoking, I would definitely not inhale cigar smoke ever again. That one time I did it, I couldn't speak the next day. My voice just didn't work.
  - dageshi 10y ago
    For what its worth, I literally know no one who inhales cigar smoke. A strong cigar is quite capable of making you feel very ill just from absorption via the mouth (too much nicotine), inhaling would quite likely have you throwing up.
    - fapjacks 10y ago
      I have inhaled every cigar I've ever smoked, and I smoke them pretty regularly and have for years.
elorant 10y ago
Bear in mind that cigars are considered a positional good. Quite a few people smoke them to show off. Other than that it’s a way to relax and chill down since it takes a while to smoke the whole thing. You pair it with a good scotch and/or a chocolate and you get the whole experience. This is especially true with pipes which also last longer and have milder and more aromatic flavors. Take for example Lord of the Rings. Every time someone wants to contemplate on an issue they smoke a pipe, especially Gandalf. It’s all over the movie although few people take notice.
- joshontheweb 10y ago
  Dont disagree with your point but I think Gandalf was smoking hobbit weed, not tobacco. Which would probably help with contemplation as well ;)
  - dTal 10y ago
    It's tobacco. The prologue to Lord of the Rings calls it "a variety probably of Nicotiana", the narrator refers to it directly as tobacco in "The Two Towers", and in The Hobbit it's exclusively referred to as tobacco.
zzalpha 10y ago
what's the appeal of smoking cigars? Same basic reason people smoke cigarettes: The taste and the nicotine buzz.

dageshi 10y ago

I've never smoked a cigarette so I really don't know how to compare them, but I personally find them a great way to relax and wind down, even though you're not inhaling you will absorb nicotine through your mouth. And then there's the flavour, the best comparison there I can give is it's a bit like single malt scotch, if you give someone who has no experience of spirits a 20 year old speyside Single malt chances are they're just going to think it's fire water initially, someone with more experience is going to really appreciate what they're drinking, their palette is more tuned to Scotch and they'll pick out flavours the newbie can't.

pc86 10y ago

I have a few friends who I regular smoke a cigar with, sometimes as often as once a week when the weather is really nice but usually at least once every 4-6 weeks even in the winter. 1) The taste is objectively better. Sure some aren't great but even when I smoked a pack of day many years ago I always smoke menthol because I thought regular cigarettes tastes like ashes (imagine that). 2) No noticeable effect on breathing. I often could feel it in my chest after having multiple cigarettes back-to-back or at the end of a day of heavy smoking. Never had that problem with a cigar, even after having two back-to-back. 3) Social. Very few people smoke a cigar by themselves. For me it's a social event. I sit around a table with friends and beer and we talk about whatever we want for the 60-90 minutes we're there.

fapjacks 10y ago

The thing about smoking cigars is that you smoke them however the hell you want to smoke them. It's your cigar, you inhale if you want. Do you like ice in your scotch? Have ice in your scotch. Do you like to chew on your cigars and never light them? Have at it. You're supposed to enjoy them, and nobody can tell you how to enjoy something.

CodeMage 10y ago
Even if I hadn't quit smoking, I would definitely not inhale cigar smoke ever again. That one time I did it, I couldn't speak the next day. My voice just didn't work.
- dageshi 10y ago
  For what its worth, I literally know no one who inhales cigar smoke. A strong cigar is quite capable of making you feel very ill just from absorption via the mouth (too much nicotine), inhaling would quite likely have you throwing up.
  - fapjacks 10y ago
    I have inhaled every cigar I've ever smoked, and I smoke them pretty regularly and have for years.

elorant 10y ago

Bear in mind that cigars are considered a positional good. Quite a few people smoke them to show off. Other than that it’s a way to relax and chill down since it takes a while to smoke the whole thing. You pair it with a good scotch and/or a chocolate and you get the whole experience. This is especially true with pipes which also last longer and have milder and more aromatic flavors. Take for example Lord of the Rings. Every time someone wants to contemplate on an issue they smoke a pipe, especially Gandalf. It’s all over the movie although few people take notice.

joshontheweb 10y ago
Dont disagree with your point but I think Gandalf was smoking hobbit weed, not tobacco. Which would probably help with contemplation as well ;)
- dTal 10y ago
  It's tobacco. The prologue to Lord of the Rings calls it "a variety probably of Nicotiana", the narrator refers to it directly as tobacco in "The Two Towers", and in The Hobbit it's exclusively referred to as tobacco.

zzalpha 10y ago

what's the appeal of smoking cigars? Same basic reason people smoke cigarettes: The taste and the nicotine buzz.