You’ve had a few cigars at a friend’s place or a special occasion, and now you want to do it properly at home. The good news: you only need three things to get started, and none of them are expensive. Here’s exactly what to buy and why.

The Three Essentials

1. A Cigar Cutter — Don’t Skip This

The cap on the head of a cigar needs to be cut before you can smoke it. You cannot bite it off cleanly (it tears the wrapper), and you shouldn’t use scissors or a knife.

For beginners, a straight-cut guillotine is the right choice. It’s the easiest to use correctly, works on any cigar, and gives you a clean, reliable draw every time.

What to get: The Colibri Straight Cut ($36–$44) is an excellent first cutter. Stainless steel blades, comfortable grip, and built to last. Avoid cheap cutters — a dull blade tears the wrapper and ruins the smoke.

How to cut: Find the shoulder of the cigar — where the cap curves into the body. Cut 1–2mm above that line. Do not cut too much or the wrapper will unravel.

2. A Butane Torch Lighter — Not a Regular Flame

This is the most important upgrade for anyone new to cigars. Regular lighters (Bic, Zippo) impart flavor into the cigar from the fuel or fluid — butane is odorless and flavorless. A torch lighter also produces a hotter, more focused flame that lights a cigar evenly.

What to get: Start with a single-jet torch lighter. The Xikar Allume Single Jet ($59.99) is our top recommendation for beginners — reliable, refillable, and sized right for a pocket or bag.

How to light a cigar:

1. Hold the foot (the open end) over the flame without touching it — toast it by rotating slowly until the edges glow orange.
2. Once the foot is evenly toasted, bring the cigar to your lips and draw gently while applying the flame in short bursts.
3. Rotate the cigar as you light to get an even burn across the whole foot.
4. Check the burn — it should be even all the way around. If not, touch the flame to the lower spots briefly.

3. An Ashtray Built for Cigars

Cigarette ashtrays don’t work well for cigars. The rests are too narrow (a cigar will roll off), and they’re too shallow for cigar ash, which you should let build up 1–2 inches before tapping — not flicking.

A good cigar ashtray has deep, wide rests and a heavy base. Our Rally Ashtray is a popular first ashtray that works equally well on a desk or patio.

Nice-to-Have: Humidity Control

If you’re buying more than one or two cigars at a time, you’ll want to store them properly. Cigars need to be kept at 65–72% relative humidity. Below that, they dry out and smoke harsh. Above that, they become soggy and can develop mold.

Options range from a simple $15 humidor travel case to a full-size desktop humidor. We carry humidity control accessories to help keep your cigars in perfect condition.

For someone just starting out, a small travel humidor or a zip-seal bag with a Boveda humidity pack (62% or 65%) works fine for a few cigars.

What NOT to Buy as a Beginner

• A cigar humidor before you need one. Don’t buy a big humidor until you know you’ll consistently have cigars to store. Start with a small travel case.
• A triple-jet lighter right away. They’re great, but they burn through fuel faster. A single-jet is fine until you know you want more power.
• A punch cutter as your first cutter. Punch cutters are great, but on large ring-gauge cigars they can make the draw too tight. Learn with a straight cut first.
• The cheapest anything. A $5 cutter tears the wrapper. A $3 lighter doesn’t produce a clean enough flame. Budget cigars are fine; budget accessories ruin them.

The Beginner Starter Set: Under $110, Ships Free

Here’s everything you need to get started properly, all available at High Heaven Gallery with free shipping:

• Colibri Straight Cut — $36.99 → Shop cutters
• Xikar Allume Single Jet Lighter — $59.99 → Shop lighters
• Rally Ashtray → Shop ashtrays

That’s it. With these three things and a quality cigar, you’re set up better than 90% of casual smokers. Questions? Call us at (847) 868-0451 — we’re happy to help you find the right combination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a regular lighter to light a cigar?

Technically yes, but it will affect the flavor. Butane is odorless and flavorless — lighter fluid and Zippo fluid are not. A torch lighter also produces a hotter, more focused flame that lights a cigar more evenly. It’s one of the highest-impact upgrades for a beginner.

How long does a cigar last?

Most cigars take 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the size. A Churchill (7 inches) can take up to 2 hours. A Robusto (5 inches) is typically 45–60 minutes. Don’t rush it — that’s partly the point.

Should I inhale cigar smoke?

No. Cigar smoke is meant to be drawn into the mouth and appreciated there, then exhaled. Inhaling cigar smoke is harsh, unpleasant, and potentially harmful. The enjoyment is in the flavors you taste, not lung delivery.

What’s the difference between Xikar and Colibri?

Both are premium brands with strong reputations. Xikar is American-made and comes with a lifetime warranty on most products. Colibri is a British heritage brand (est. 1928) known for industrial precision and bold design. We carry both — read our full comparison here.