When embarking on your first cigar journey, you may wonder what happens when you reach the final quarter of your cigar and what to do when it’s time to put it out.
After a few minutes, a cigar naturally stops burning once you stop puffing air through it. The best way to put out a cigar is to let it rest alone in an ashtray and go out on its own.
We’ve already covered the essentials, including how to smoke a cigar and how to care for your cigars, but haven’t yet explained how to put a cigar out. This is an equally important step in smoking a cigar and is helpful to know before you begin.
When you get to the end of your smoke, there are some things you can do to ensure it’s entirely out or, if possible, save your cigar for later.
Don’t stub it out
Reaching the end of your cigar is a satisfying achievement. The biggest temptation you face is not stubbing the cigar like a cigarette in an ashtray.
Avoid doing this — it’s the worst thing you can do to a cigar, especially if you want to pick it back up in the future.
When a cigar is stubbed out, it releases an unpleasant aroma. This smell lingers on your clothing and the area you’ve smoked, which can be off-putting when smoking with buddies.
Here’s what to do to ensure your smoke is safe and stink-free.
Remove the band
Removing the band is recommended if you haven’t already taken it off your cigar. You don’t want the band to burn in the ashtray when you’re finished smoking.
If the band starts to burn, it can emit a nasty scent in the room. You’ll want to avoid this if you’re in a cigar lounge or smoking with others.
Not removing the band can ruin the aroma for everyone nearby and pose a huge fire risk as the paper continues to burn in the ashtray.
Ensure your cigar is out
After you finish your cigar, you must check it’s out entirely. Make sure it isn’t resting on the edge of an ashtray where it could be a fire hazard. Put it out in the middle instead.
A cigar can burn for a few minutes after you set it down, so you’ll need to perform some quick safety checks. Before leaving your cigar unattended, ensure it has cooled down, and see that all cigars are out before you toss them into the trash.
Don’t toss your cigar butt
When smoking outside, it’s important to remember not to toss your cigar butt. This applies even if you’re completely confident your cigar is out.
Be aware there may also be a portion of the binder or filler still lit on the inside of the cigar, which you can’t see.
Always consider your surroundings and the possibility your cigar may cause a problem if you’re not careful.
Dip your cigar in water
If you’re in a rush when smoking a cigar, you may find yourself in a situation where you need a quick and easy way to extinguish your cigar.
Dipping your cigar into a glass of water can be an effective solution. Simply dip the lit end of your cigar into the glass, then put it out immediately.
The cigar burns out as soon as it hits the water, so you can be confident you won’t accidentally set the place on fire.
Cigars you may want to save for later
Some smoking occasions may feature a stogie, which you don’t typically want to be a one-time thing. In this case, you’ll want to know how to put out a cigar for later use.
If you’re going to save a cigar for later and put it out half-smoked, make sure you smoke it within the next few days.
Once you smoke a cigar, the remaining tobacco begins to spoil and eventually becomes unsafe to consume. With that in mind, you should aim to light it back up as soon as possible, to ensure you get the best smoking experience.