Looking to treat yourself to something nice, or to give something special to a cigar lover in your life?
You can’t go wrong with any of these 6 cigar accessories, all of which are essentials when it comes to slowing down and properly enjoying fine cigars.
1. Cigar tools: a cutter, punch, or cigar knife
Before a cigar can be lit, a small cap or plug must be removed from the head of the cigar so that a draw can be established.
Most cigar smokers use either a cigar cutter or a punch. Cutters consist of one or two blades that either slide or pivot shut, enabling a cap to be easily removed from the cigar. A punch is a rounded, sharpened insert that is pushed into the cigar, removing a small plug of tobacco.
Some smokers also prefer to cut their cigars with the aid of a cigar knife, which can also be used for other general utilitarian tasks.
2. A cigar lighter (and some matches)
Every cigar smoker needs a quality lighter. Today, most cigar smokers prefer jet-flame lighters that use butane fuel. These burn with a directional, bright, blue flame that can be used to toast the foot of the cigar, establish a light, and correct burn errors.
However, there are still some smokers that prefer soft flame lighters, as these are less likely to scorch the wrapper and are more economical with fuel.
There is also a segment of smokers that insists on doing things the old-fashioned way, with matches or a cedar spill. Every purist has some high-quality wooden matches and a few strips of cedar in his collection somewhere.
3. A deep cigar ashtray with offset stirrups
Ashtrays are not an absolute necessity but they are highly useful, especially for those that smoke indoors.
High-quality ash trays have deeper bowls that help to contain odors as well as ashes. In addition, many ashtrays have divots or “stirrups” designed into their edges, that give smokers a place to rest their cigars between puffs.
4. A quality cigar case (or a cigar tube)
You might be thinking you can just store the cigar in the plastic sleeve it came in, or in the plastic bag the tobacco shop owner gave you. Don’t do that.
Tobacco is subject to drying out, becoming brittle, and losing flavor if it is not stored and protected properly. If you only need to take it out of the humidor for a short trip, get a high-quality leather cigar case or a stainless steel or aluminum cigar tube. This will protect it from light, prevent it from getting crushed, and help slow down the loss of moisture.
5. A travel humidor
If you’re going to be away from home for more than a day and want to bring along cigars, make sure you have a small travel humidor with you.
Like a cigar travel case, a humidor will protect cigars from light and physical damage, but it will also keep your tobacco conditioned and hydrated, preventing it from drying out and ruining the smoking experience.
6. A cigar humidor (with a hygrometer and thermometer)
Every cigar smoker needs a high-quality cigar humidor. The humidor, though it might be a beautiful accessory, is not cosmetic. It protects the cigar against light and maintains a consistent, steady temperature and humidity level in order to protect the cigars it contains. This enables cigar lovers not only to store their cigars for prolonged periods of time but also to age them.
If you’re looking for a humidor, look for one that contains a hygrometer (humidity gauge) and a thermometer, and preferably a glass top through which you can see these devices. That way, you can check the temperature and humidity without opening the humidor. Remember – 70℉ and 70% humidity is a good rule of thumb.
Where Can You Find These (and Other) Cigar Accessories?
Looking for unique cigar gifts for the tobacco enthusiasts in your life? Visit Atlantic Cigar online at AtlanticCigar.com. They carry a wide range of cigar accessories – including the ones mentioned in this list – along with many others.
Check out their website today or get in touch with them at 800-887-7877.
