#8: When you finish, you want another.
As a cigar burns, tastes change and body and strength increase or recede. The melody of this emerging experience is a song the smoker listens to as the progression of the smoke emerges. Smoking is a process that takes a while and the smoker is encouraged to set time aside and be engaged with the sensations it evokes.

Sometimes the best way to tell how enjoyable a cigar has been is whether you immediately want to enjoy a second as your finally finishing the last few puffs on the first. A great cigar should be something that you thoroughly enjoy; something that you look forward to enjoying again in the near future!

#7: That it does not tire you out or make you dizzy.

Strength is the next criteria of the fine cigar. This refers to the amount of nicotine that is delivered. Preferences in this regard are purely personal. This is not to be confused with body, which is a measurement of the amount of taste provided with each puff and the impact it has within the mouth. I prefer a medium to full body cigar, but love a light cigar if it contains nuance and subtle complexity.

A good cigar typically is will be one that doesn’t make you tired or dizzy after smoking it, like some cigars do. Nothing ruins a great evening like smoking a cigar after a wonderful dinner and starting to feel sick because of it.

#6: Rich, Voluminous Taste

The tongue is sensitive to four tastes; sweet, bitter, acidic and salt. The balance of these elements is the cigar maker’s most important task. A truly fine cigar has these tastes in a harmonious blend.

The nose picks out the other flavors, which can be described in various ways. Words like leather, wood, earth, pepper and fruity are used, but I tend to think that these qualities are subjective whether the smoke is pleasing or not is the final question.

#5: Rich, Voluminous Smoke
The foot of the cigar having been “toasted” a while over a flame, is then ignited when the mouth is applied to the head of the cigar and the first smoke is drawn through.

After the cigar is well lit one takes a puff and, rolling the smoke around the tongue, is met with the complex sensations and tastes that a fine cigar offers. A good cigar produces rich, voluminous smoke; this can be one of the most enjoyable aspects about a great cigar.

The smoke may also be gently expelled through the nose for the “retro-hale” to allow the aromas to hit the olfactory receptors there.

#4: Perfect Size & Shape
The cigar is then place between the lips and one performs what is called a “dry draw” when cool air is brought through and tasted. These are the first flavors the tongue is exposed to, and provide a taste of what is to come.

Although cigars differ dramatically in terms of taste because of wrappers, binders and filler from different regions, many people like cigars purely because of the shape.

Find the shape that’s right for you! Do you prefer an oily wrapper? A larger or smaller ring gauge? Do you prefer shorter cigars or longer churchill sizes? Finding the cigar size that you like the best is an important aspect of cigar appreciation, but don’t limit yourself; try new sizes and shapes on a regular basis to discover new favorites.