Short answer: there is no single correct way to hold a cigar. Holt's and Boveda both say to hold it however feels comfortable, and Boveda's advice for every grip is to hold it lightly. Northwoods Humidors says cigars are typically held between the thumb and index finger, with the middle finger for support, near the band; keep it away from the lit end. Wait at least 30 seconds between puffs, don't inhale, tap the ash off at about an inch, and when you are done, leave the cigar in the ashtray to go out on its own.
How to hold a cigar
Ask five cigar smokers and you may see five grips. Holt's describes seven poses of its own and says there isn't one right method; Boveda describes several and says the one rule for all of them is a light touch. Northwoods Humidors is the exception: its etiquette guide calls the thumb-and-index-finger grip the proper one.
| Grip | How you hold it | Who describes it |
|---|---|---|
| The pinch | Thumb underneath, index finger on top. With only two points of contact, finding the cigar's balance point matters. | Boveda. Holt's "Pensive Ponderer" is a version that rolls the cigar gently back and forth. |
| Three fingers | Between the thumb and index finger, with the middle finger adding support, close to the band. | Northwoods Humidors |
| The pen | Forefinger and thumb form an O around the cigar, which rests on the middle finger, the way you hold a pen. | Boveda |
| Over the top | Fingers over the top of the cigar, thumb underneath. | Holt's ("The Conspirator") and Boveda ("the flute") |
| The scissor | Between the index and middle fingers, like a cigarette. | Boveda, which notes that some cigar enthusiasts consider it bad form |
Tips for every grip
- Hold it lightly. Boveda calls a light pinch blanket advice for every method.
- Hold it near the band, away from the lit end. Northwoods says the cigar is sturdiest near the band and warns that holding it too close to the lit end can burn your fingers.
- Don't clamp it in your teeth. Northwoods suggests resting the cigar gently in your lips without biting down, and Holt's advises against becoming a "chomper." Boveda says holding a cigar in your mouth now and then is perfectly acceptable.
- Set it down between puffs. For longer breaks, Northwoods suggests a cigar rest. At a table, the stirrup of a cigar ashtray does the job; on a golf cart or a boat rail, the Get a Grip cigar clip holds a lit cigar.
How often should you puff a cigar?
| Source | Time between puffs |
|---|---|
| Cigar Aficionado (2016) | At least 30 seconds |
| Famous Smoke Shop, Cigar Advisor | Every 30 to 60 seconds |
| Holt's (2025) | Every 45 seconds to a minute and a half |
Puffing too often makes a cigar burn hotter, Famous Smoke Shop says, and Cigar Aficionado says the overheating turns it bitter. Holt's calls smoking too fast one of the easiest ways to ruin an otherwise perfect cigar. Don't inhale: draw the smoke into your mouth, taste it and let it go. Our guide Do you inhale cigar smoke? explains why.
How to retrohale a cigar
Retrohaling means letting some of the smoke out through your nose instead of your mouth. Holt's explains why it adds flavor: your sense of smell has as much to do with taste as your taste buds do. Famous Smoke Shop says retrohaling can bring out flavors you may not notice by simply puffing and letting the smoke go.
- Take a normal puff and let the smoke fill your mouth. Don't inhale.
- Push some of it up into your nose. JR Cigars describes using the air in your lungs to push part of the smoke into your nasal passage; Tobacconist University describes a subtle "gulping" action while you exhale gently through the nose.
- Let the rest out through your mouth. Cigar Dojo says there is no set ratio between nose and mouth.
- Start small. JR Cigars recommends that only more seasoned smokers retrohale full-bodied cigars. Our suggestion: practice on a mild or medium cigar and send only a little smoke through your nose at first.
Retrohaling is not inhaling; JR Cigars notes that no smoke goes to the lungs. Reviewers often note what they taste on the retrohale: halfwheel's 2012 redux review of the 2011 release of the Hemingway Short Story Maduro, for example, found slight black pepper there. Our cigar glossary defines retrohaling and other terms.
How to ash a cigar
Cigar Aficionado says there is no need to tap or flick a cigar's ash repeatedly, the way you would a cigarette. Wait until the ash is about an inch long, or until you see a crack, then do one of two things:
- Tap: rest the cigar against the side of the ashtray and gently tap the end.
- Roll: gently press the edge of the cigar against the side of the ashtray while turning it.
Too much force can break off the ember and leave you relighting; wait too long and the ash ends up on your shirt or the floor. Holt's lets the ash grow an inch or two, saying it insulates the cigar and keeps it from burning too hot. Our cigar ashtray guide covers what to look for in an ashtray.
How to put out a cigar
Don't stub it out. Set the cigar in the ashtray's rest and leave it; it goes out on its own once you stop puffing, which Boveda says takes a few minutes. Cigar Aficionado and Famous Smoke Shop advise against stubbing a cigar out like a cigarette, and Gentleman's Gazette says never to butt one out.
Why not stub it? Boveda says stamping a cigar out can crack the wrapper, dislodge filler and create off-flavors, and JR Cigars says stubbing can leave a foul, stale odor in the room. Once the cigar is cold, throw it away; JR Cigars lists leaving half-smoked cigars on tables or benches among the things to avoid. Our full guide covers how to put out a cigar, from water to snuffers, and how to relight one.
Can you save a cigar and relight it later?
The sooner the better, and the sources differ on how long is too long. Cigar Aficionado says relighting is fine if done soon after the cigar goes out, but not the next day or even several hours later. Boveda's two articles differ: one says you can relight after a few hours but shouldn't after a few days, the other says not to after several hours or a day. Before relighting, Boveda and Cigars International both say to blow through the cigar to clear out stale smoke. Famous Smoke Shop cautions that some cigars don't take a relight well, and Boveda says not to put a once-lit cigar back in a humidor. Our lighting guide covers the light itself.
Cigar etiquette
- Ask first. Northwoods suggests asking the people around you before you light up.
- Blow smoke away from people. JR Cigars lists it among its lounge manners.
- In a shop's lounge, buy from the shop. JR Cigars calls it proper etiquette to buy at least one or two cigars from a shop whose lounge you use.
- Bring your own cutter if you lick the cap. Gentleman's Gazette's advice: if you are going to taste the wrapper, use your own cutter, not the shared one.
- The band is your call. Wikipedia cites Davidoff as saying that leaving the band on and taking it off are equally correct. If you remove it, Cigar Aficionado suggests smoking a few minutes first so the glue softens, then peeling it slowly so the wrapper doesn't tear. Northwoods suggests following the room.
- Light your own cigar. Northwoods says it isn't good manners to light someone else's cigar or to ask someone to light yours.
- Keep the ash in the ashtray. Holt's says to hold a cigar however you like, as long as you aren't spraying ash around the room.
- Let others smoke their way. Cigar Aficionado: "Let people smoke the way they want to."
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Frequently asked questions
How do you hold a cigar?
There is no single correct grip. Northwoods Humidors says cigars are typically held between the thumb and index finger, with the middle finger for support, near the band and away from the lit end. Holt's and Boveda both say to use whatever grip is comfortable, and Boveda says to hold it lightly.
Is it wrong to hold a cigar like a cigarette?
It isn't wrong, but Boveda notes that some cigar enthusiasts consider the cigarette-style scissor grip, between the index and middle fingers, bad form.
Should you keep a cigar in your mouth?
Boveda says holding it in your mouth now and then is perfectly acceptable. Holt's advises against becoming a chomper, and Northwoods suggests resting the cigar gently in your lips rather than biting down.
How do you retrohale a cigar?
Take a normal puff without inhaling, then push some of the smoke up and out through your nose while letting the rest out through your mouth. Our suggestion: start with a small amount, on a mild or medium cigar.
Is retrohaling the same as inhaling?
No. Retrohaled smoke goes from the mouth out through the nose; JR Cigars notes that none of it goes to the lungs.
How long should cigar ash get before you tap it off?
About an inch, or until it cracks, says Cigar Aficionado. Holt's lets it grow an inch or two.
How do you put out a cigar?
Leave it in the ashtray's rest and let it go out on its own, which Boveda says takes a few minutes. Don't stub it out.
Can you relight a cigar the next day?
Cigar Aficionado says no, and advises against relighting even several hours later. Boveda's two articles differ: one says you can relight after a few hours but shouldn't after a few days, the other says not to after several hours or a day.
Should you take the band off a cigar?
Either way is acceptable. If you remove it, Cigar Aficionado suggests smoking the cigar for a few minutes first so the glue softens, then peeling it slowly.
What is basic cigar etiquette?
Ask before lighting up near others, blow smoke away from people, buy from the shop whose lounge you use, keep the ash in the ashtray, let a cigar go out on its own rather than stubbing it, and let others smoke the way they like.
Sources: Holt's Clubhouse, "How to Hold a Cigar" (updated August 2026) and "How to Taste the Most Flavor in a Cigar" (August 2025); Boveda, "Are You Holding a Cigar Wrong?" (August 2023), "Can You Save a Cigar for Later & How?" (May 2024) and "How to Put Out a Cigar" (April 2024); Northwoods Humidors, "How to Properly Hold a Cigar Like a Pro" (May 2024) and "The Cigar Smoking Etiquette Guide" (November 2015); Cigar Aficionado, "Cutting and Lighting" (January/February 2001), "10 Things You Should Never Do As a Cigar Smoker" (May 2016), "Should I Remove the Band on My Cigar While Smoking?" (June 2017) and "How to Ash a Cigar" (August 2017); Famous Smoke Shop's Cigar Advisor, "How to Smoke a Cigar" (updated January 2021) and "Inhaling Cigars"; JR Cigars Blending Room (July 2018, November 2018 and September 2019); Cigar Dojo, "How to Retrohale a Cigar" (April 2014); Tobacconist University glossary; Cigars International, "How to Relight a Cigar"; Gentleman's Gazette, "Cigar Etiquette 101" (March 2015); Wikipedia, "Cigar etiquette"; halfwheel, "Redux: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story Maduro (2011)" (August 2012).
