Would YOU say something??

[Sporadic Metonomy]

A question for you guys/gals to ponder:

I was at our local cigar bar the other night, enjoying a few drinks and cigars with friends. I notice a gentleman at the end of the bar sitting alone with a cocktail and an unlit CAO Soprano giant cigar...is that The Boss?...anyway, it was big. To my horror, he begins lighting this thing with the "foot band" still attached. He's just puffing away, flames are shooting in the air; it's a true sight to behold. At one point, he's casually smoking this thing while the foot is on fire. He is obviously not enjoying the flavor either. I mean, it's paper.

My question to you guys is: Do you say something?

I didn't want to embarrass the guy, but at the same time he spent probably $15 on a cigar. Is it my responsibility to teach this guy how to properly light a cigar or is it the retailer (of which there are many floating around the bar) to let him know? Was it the guy's responsibility to know how to smoke a cigar before he lit it? If I did intervene, how do you do so without coming off sounding like a complete cigar snob?

I see this kind of thing all the time, though not to that extreme, at this particular bar; people just smoking cigars because they're offered at the establishment. I've seen bic lighters used on Hemingways, people lighting the wrong end of a Davidoff & young guys raising hell because they've sold out of ACID cigars...it's ridiculous.

What do you guys/gals think?

[nhcigarfan]

snip

My question to you guys is: Do you say something?

I would, but quietly so no one else hears you.

snip Is it my responsibility to teach this guy how to properly light a cigar or is it the retailer (of which there are many floating around the bar) to let him know?

Retailer

Was it the guy's responsibility to know how to smoke a cigar before he lit it?

No - everyone lights a cigar for the first time at some point.

If I did intervene, how do you do so without coming off sounding like a complete cigar snob?

Just be respectful, think about how you would want someone to speak to you in this situtation.

I've seen bic lighters used on Hemingways ...snip .. it's ridiculous.

I use a bix probably 98% of the time. I have 3 tourches and I prefer the softer flame. I get a much better, cooler, more even light.

What do you guys/gals think?

see above.

[chefchris]

I've been put in this spot before too. I tend to not to give cigar advice to most, ecspecially older people, usually because I don't want to seem like a cigar snob as you said.

I was at a cigar shop a couple of weeks ago and this guy had just got a humidor for Christmas. He was probably in his late 40's. He had no idea what to do with it. The clerk was trying to sell him all these jars of goo and I pulled him aside and wrote down Heartfelt's website on a piece of paper and explained the concept. You could tell he was uncomfortable taking cigar advice from some young punk kid. The clerk got pissed and said, "Yeah but you have to buy those buy the ounce". I replied, "Yeah, you have to buy that gel by the jar".

Same trip different shop I heard a retailer say that the Fonseca Limitada was the best cigar they had in the humidor as I was stocking up on some Fuente Sungrowns. This guy was a cigar snob and it's what I aim not to be.

In your situation, I probably wouldn't have said anything. Not saying that you shouldn't have, but just being me I would not for fear of embarassing the dude. Although I'm sure it could be handled delicately. Just put yourself in his shoes and talk the way you would want to be talked to.

Common sense would tell you not to smoke paper. Did he smoke the band, too?

[nhcigarfan]

Who was it around here who posted a pic of the band they smoked?

[chefchris]

Who was it around here who posted a pic of the band they smoked?

[bigwhiteash]

I honestly can't think of a way to point out that mistake without causing some embarassment.

I might have asked "Does that paper band add anything to your enjoyment of such a beautiful cigar?" Maybe I'll try that technique next time.


anyway, I use a bic to light nearly every cigar I smoke, rarely I'll use wooden matches when my neighbor supplies the smokes, since he always brings the matches.

[DeeDubya]

Maybe he remembered that someone had told him that it's cool to smoke an expensive cigar with the band still on (not the foot band you dumb ass).

Maybe he was on his 4th Calahan's and just didn't notice the foot band. At least he lit the correct end, unlike many cigarette smokers I've seen.

Maybe it was the blonde down at the end of the bar.

Maybe the 3 guys over at the corner table (about to bust a gut) had told him that was an
"igniter band" that creates an even burn every time.

[cigar no baka]

I would make up my mind based on how I felt about the situation. I I felt in any way uncomfortable about giving advice to a total stranger, I would avoid doing so.

[Smoked!]

Maybe the 3 guys over at the corner table (about to bust a gut) had told him that was an "igniter band" that creates an even burn every time.

LOL! That's priceless.


Seriously, please help out when you see something like this. If he is a reasonable person, he will appreciate it. If he's blind drunk, he won't remember it anyway.