Cigars, especially the good ones, can cost a fair amount of money. To that end, a damaged cigar can be a very disappointing thing. Of course, it is only disappointing if one isn't aware of just how easy it is to fix them.

First, forget any notions one may be harboring about wetting the wrapper with one's tongue and sticking it back together in that fashion. This will not work. A glue must be used to stick the wrapper back together. The appropriate glue is available at just about any grocery store.

First and foremost, put the cigar back into the packaging to prevent the loss of any more filler material and to stop the wrapper from falling apart further up the barrel. Then, one must take a trip to the store. There is a product called pectin, a natural glue, which will enable the smoker to repair their stogie. Simply wetting the leaf and trying to reseal it will not work and it is necessary to use a glue to fix these problems.

The pectin will generally be found in the canning section of the grocery store. It may be advisable to just ask if one has no experience using it so that one doesn't spend all their time hunting around the grocery store. This material is a powder. It is completely natural and is safe for consumption. It will add no flavor to the tobacco when used to reaffix the wrapper. The repair process is very easy.

That's about all that's involved in repairing a cigar. Before heading off to the store, make certain to put the cigar in its original packaging so that the wrapper doesn't fall apart any more than it already has and so that no more filler material is lost. Using this method, just about any cigar mishap can be handled with ease. This will happen from time to time. Cigars are hand-made products and, as such, there are bound to be flaws. Most often, however, that hand made quality results in their typically very high-quality and, of course, the excellent flavor that results from a good wrap!

One may not realize it, but the ash on the foot of one's cigar does play a role in how well the cigar smokes and how it tastes. Most often, individuals give this little consideration. There are good reasons to maintain a certain amount of ash while smoking, however.

The ash is far more than a nuisance. It affects the burn rate of the cigar, the ease of draw and much more. Over time, a cigar smoker will develop the ability to determine exactly how much ash is the best on the foot of their cigar.

While a cigar is certainly hot, it should not be so hot that it affects the taste of the tobacco. This is why very powerful lighters, such as the various Lotus torch lighter models, are held a bit away from the cigar during the lighting process. To burn, fire or embers require fuel, oxygen and heat. The ash regulates the amount of oxygen the cherry receives and, thus regulates the overall temperature of the burn. As any smoker is aware, the first puff off of a cigar is usually the hottest. The temperature of the smoke mellows as ash is generated.

The ash also affects how easily one can draw off of the cigar. Of course, a thicker, heavier ash means that it will be a harder draw for the smoker. No ash means that the draw will be very easy but also may mean that the ember will be burning too hot to ensure quality flavor. The art of cigar smoking involves finding a happy medium between the two. It may take some time but, then again, all worthwhile things have that quality to them.

Don't ash too frequently. Not only does this cause the ember to burn too hot, it can pull filler material out of the wrapper and the entire cherry, if done too vigorously. Conversely, tapping off the ash too infrequently may result in a very difficult draw, a cigar that keeps going out and, of course, a bunch of ashes falling off the foot at an inopportune moment. Cigar smoking is an inherently social activity and one even may want to ask a very experienced smoker for their advice on the matter. A cigar is best enjoyed when smoked correctly and, to that end, the experience of an old hand is very much a useful thing. Remember to keep track of what methods give the best results!

Smoking a cigar is a different affair than smoking a cigarette. There are etiquette concerns regarding when and where it's appropriate to light up as much as there are etiquette concerns regarding how one lights up. Following both is certain to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Some cigar smokers will prefer to use matches, some will use cigar lighters and still others will use cedar strips to light-up. This is largely the preference of the smoker.

The host will generally offer a cutter. This is used to cut away the sealed end of the cigar so that it can be smoked. Make sure to hold the cigar over an ashtray when doing this. The scent just after cutting can be quite enjoyable, as well, so enjoy the aroma! Next comes the actual lighting which is something of an art.

One starts by warming the cigar. This is done by holding the match, lighter or cedar strip below the cigar without touching the wrapper and rolling the cigar around in one's mouth. Once the wrapper is warm, it is ready to light. Test the wrapper with the fingers to ensure that it is warmed up.

The goal when lighting a cigar is to achieve a temperature sufficient for combustion but not one that is so hot that it ruins the flavor of the tobacco. The cigar should not be plunged into the flame. One simply holds the flame below the wrapper and employs the same technique as was used to warm the cigar excepting that one puffs hard enough on the cigar to draw the flame to the tobacco. This may take a few seconds and, after the cigar is mostly lit, there will likely be some spots that haven't ignited fully. Take the cigar out of the mouth and blow on it to get it burning evenly.

Cigars are not inhaled as are cigarettes. Use short puffs to draw the smoke into the mouth. If the cigar wanes, a little bit of vigorous puffing is usually all that's required to get it going again. A cigar may be extinguished and relit so don't be afraid to put it out if it's more cigar than is desired at one sitting. Properly-lit cigars can burn for a long time and making sure it's done right from the start ensures an excellent smoking experience.