Etiquette 101: At A Cigar Lounge

A cigar lounge can be a great place of respite to enjoy a relaxing cigar in the company of other Lovers Of The Leaf.

Or maybe just all by yourself.

Regardless of whether you’re enjoying cigars with others or solo, there are a few key Cigar Lounge Etiquette rules to abide by – some spoken and some unspoken – that can help create a more congenial cigar lounge experience for everyone.

Here’s a few to keep in mind:

1. Keep Conversation Light Hearted; This Is A Judgement-Free Zone

Now more than ever does this ring true.

It’s no secret that people come to cigar lounges to escape the daily grind, relax and unwind, and in this increasingly complex and politically diverse world of ours, ‘politics’ (also see: religion) and personal opinion can easily rear an ugly head and quickly serve as a fly in the ointment if attitudes and opinions are not checked at the door. The great thing about cigars (among many other great things about cigars), is that it’s a wonderful equalizer; it smashes through notions of race, class, gender, politics, religion, etc., and unites people over a common the thread for the love of a good cigar.

Also be sure to refrain from espousing elitist attitudes towards cigars. Hold off on correcting other patrons on how they smoke their cigar or what they choose to smoke.

“Politics and religion are a definite no no, but stuff like sports, movies and cars are all fair game” says The Gentleman’s Flavor Cigar Guru Taylor Matthew, as debates over what starting quarterback the local NFL football team should use are just fine and dandy within the walls of cigar lounge.

The bottom line? Put those hefty, heated personal opinions of your away and choose to contribute some light hearted banter to the fun conversation that can easily ensue within a cigar lounge.

Buzzkill topics like politics have no place in a cigar lounge

2. BYOC (Bring Your Own Cigars) Generally Doesn’t Apply Here

Just like a bar or a restaurant (some of which have smoking lounges within them), cigar lounges make money by providing you with a place to purchase a great cigar and then smoke it. You wouldn’t bring a meal to a restaurant would you? Well neither should you bring a cigar to a cigar lounge that sells cigars.

Though it seems like common sense, you’d be amazed how many fail to observe this rule. Yes, cigars can be found cheaper online than in a brick and mortar shop, just like food can be found cheaper in a grocery store than in a restaurant. However one of the main reasons for this is because you’re paying for an experience – so please don’t bring sand to the beach, if you know what we mean.

Also to keep in mind is that lounges typically provide certain ancillary items that cost them money and detract from profit (table cutters, lighters, butane for lighter fuel, ashtrays, complimentary water and/or soda, complimentary snacks, washroom mouthwash, etc.) As a result, the profit from purchasing a cigar that costs as little as ten bucks really doesn’t go all that far considering that it can take well over an hour to smoke it and occupy space within the lounge.

Yes, yes, there are some exceptions…

Some lounges permit patrons to bring cigars that were purchased there prior, maybe by the box. Some lounges charge member fees, thus often permitting paying members to bring their cigars from elsewhere if they so wish. Some lounges offer humidor lockers that members can rent at a cost and store cigars in. Some lounges don’t necessarily mind if a second cigar to smoke comes from your own supply – provided that your first was purchased from the establishment (however this is somewhat rare, and chances are they would likely still prefer that your second stick come from them as well).

Not all lounges are the same. Check lounge policy beforehand. Some lounges have a dress code, though most do not. Some lounges are licenced for alcohol and some have a ‘pouring fee’, which enables you to bring your own bottle of, say, whiskey, cognac, or wine to enjoy with your cigar.

Nice.

Though there are some exceptions here and there, your safest bet is to always purchase a cigar from the place you plan to smoke it in –  it’s as simple as that.

The great thing about cigars (among many other great things about cigars), is that it’s a wonderful equalizer; it smashes through notions of race, class, gender, politics, religion, etc., and unites people over a common the thread for the love of a good cigar.”

3. Be Considerate Of Where You Blow Smoke

This is pretty straight forward so we’ll keep it simple. Especially when smoking in an indoor lounge be sure to blow your cigar smoke upward so that the ventilators can carry the smoke out of the room and it doesn’t hang low and become a heavy cloud.

At the very least, be sure not to exhale your smoke in someone’s face. Again, though it sounds pretty straightforward, you’d be surprised at how many times people fail to put this one into practice.

4. Never Ask To Try Someone Else’s Cigar

We’re not even going to expend the energy explaining this one. Just don’t.

5. Kindly Do Not Sniff The Cigars

If you’ve already bought your cigar and choose to take a whiff of its essence after purchase, well that’s perfectly fine. However if you’re contemplating on what cigar to choose, and in the process are employing sniffing cigars as a decision method – well that’s entirely offside.

You wouldn’t want to put a cigar in your mouth that grazed someone else’s nostrils, would you? No? Well, neither would they, so again, just don’t.

You needn’t use sniffing cigars as a method of cigar selection

6. Refrain From Smoking Cigarettes

Remember – it’s a ‘cigar lounge’ which is typically full of cigar enthusiasts, all of whom have come to expect to smell cigar smoke. Not cigarette smoke.

Hey I get it: it’s been a long day. You’re in a relaxed state as you’ve just smoked your cigar down to the nub and now you’ve got a hankering for something that provides and ever faster delivery of nicotine. Well, I hate to break it to you, but unfortunately there are likely people present who don’t wan’t to smell your cigarette smoke. Or vape smoke. Or weed smoke. You get the picture. Take it outside.

7. Keep A Clean Area And Tidy Up Afterwards

Yes, an ash will sometimes fall off of a cigar and onto the floor or even on some upholstery. Though the upholstery within cigar lounges are typically made of leather which can clean relatively easily, it is still not someone else’s responsibility to clean up after you if your ash gets all over the place, so do be mindful of that.

Tidying up after yourself is mostly common sense. Put used food or drink containers in the recycling or garbage, as well as cigar wrappers or any other waste you generate. Your ash and cigar butt can be left in an ashtray, but refrain from putting chewing chewing gum in one.

And never spit in one.

“Spitting in ashtrays is uncool and always discouraged” says Village Cigar Company owner Ryan Baker. Though cigar lounges are populated by predominantly men, it’s uncouth to ever let manners and behavior get even the slightest bit ‘apeish’ – regardless if a woman is present or not.

“Cigar smokers make up a good community, so people are typically very respectful of our lounge and of each other” says Baker.

The takeaway: be a gentleman. Have manners and tidy up after yourself.

8. Relax And Have Fun

As we wouldn’t want this Etiquette 101 piece to simply be a list of cigar lounge ‘don’ts’, it must be emphasized that cigar lounges are typically fun, easy-going environments that are populated by great people who love to relax and enjoy a good cigar or two in the company of other like-minded people.

Though the aforementioned tips certainly aren’t to be seen as carved-in-stone guidelines, they will generally contribute in making for a more pleasurable cigar smoking experience for you and all those other happy Lovers Of The Leaf out there.

-Kurt Bradley