10. Sucking it up and smoking while you’re sick – Seriously, why are you going to waste a good cigar when you can’t taste it? Not to mention torture yourself further. Just wait it out, take care of yourself. I promise that first cigar when you feel better will taste amazing! FYI Ny-Quil and cigars are definitely NOT a good pairing, I have scars to prove it!

9. Relighting and relighting and relighting and relighting and relighting your cigar – There comes a point where you need to just shut up and smoke your cigar or let it die a graceful death and pick another. If you are talking THAT much, I feel bad for your company. (I often feel bad for mine, I’m constantly talking out my cigars. My YouTube channel is proof.) If it is a draw or construction issue, try cutting further down or invest in a draw tool, but there comes a point where relighting is just going to make your cigar taste like burning crap, so put it down and pick another. And remember, these are hand made. They won’t be perfect every time. Burn and draw issues happen. Don’t discount a cigar because of one time with a draw issue.

8. Sharing Smoke – I’ll keep it simple. Ready? The “Puff, Puff, Pass” does not apply to cigars under any circumstances! Done!

7. Neglecting your cigar accessories – Make sure to purge your lighter of air and remnants of butane before refilling and clean it as necessary. Also be sure to properly clean your cutters of residue so the blades stay sharp. If you aren’t sure what you need to do, check the manufacturer’s website for instructions. There’s nothing worse that clicking your lighter over and over and not even getting a spark because you failed to take care of it.

6. Smoking a cigar you left in your car, on your desk, in your briefcase etc. for a week without proper humidification – A general rule to live by is 70/70, that’s 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees humidity for storing your cigars. Much hotter or colder will effect the burn of your stick and could cause irreparable damage to the wrapper. If you can’t get it to a humidor, pop in a Boveda pack with it in a ziploc back. Easy solution.

5. Storing flavored cigars, traditional cigars and pipe tobacco in the same humidor – Yeah, I did this once. I wound up with about 20 cigars that smelled and tasted like pipe tobacco and incense. Not a good experience.

4. Trying to out-smoke someone – Yes, I know you are a badass, but no need to try to be a hero. You may think you can taste that 17th cigar, but come on… It’s like a contest sometimes. Who can smoke the most cigars at a herf or event or in a week? I’ll let you in on a little secret… There is no prize, no trophy, nada for killing your palate.

3. Being a brand snob – I’ve heard it all… “I only smoke Cubans” “I don’t like Honduran tobacco” “Connecticut wrappers are mild cigars” “Big ring gauges have no flavor”. Get your head out of your ass and experience the cigar industry. There’s nothing worse than a cigar rut and there are so many wonderful cigars to smoke. Ok, so you may not like 7 out of 10 cigars a company makes but give their new cigar a fair shot, you may find a new favorite.

2. Smoke with a bunch of assholes – There’s at least one in every group, the Know It All God of the Leaf. I know at least one name popped in your head, don’t try to deny it! But listening to someone boast about their stash of Cubans or their superior knowledge on using a specific worm to fertilize tobacco crops can be enough to have anyone sucking smoke like they have 5 minutes to live. If you are going to light up, do it in an atmosphere where you can enjoy it, in good company. Don’t let the assholes bring you down. Oh, and don’t BE that asshole.

1. Ask a woman smoking a cigar if she ever has or will “Lewinsky” a cigar – It’s just down-right disrespectful and a sure fire way to get sucker punched. I really don’t think it would be fun to smoke a cigar with a fat lip and a bloody nose…