general cigar question for all... [Archive]

icantbejon

11-12-2008, 10:28 AM

MileHighGolfer

11-12-2008, 10:33 AM

"essays are due no later than November 23rd at 5 pm standard time. Please double space, use new times roman 12 point and regular college margins. Points will be deducted for unacceptable citation and referencing or use of an unknown referencing style, in addition no essays over 1500 words will be considered."

hehehehe

for real though, if this is true 'good form', ill have to start doing it..cuz, well, i havent been.....

silentjon

11-12-2008, 10:35 AM

I leave them on. Not to be a snob, I'm just lazy. Plus, I don't want to damage the wrapper.

Skywalker

11-12-2008, 10:35 AM

pnoon

11-12-2008, 10:39 AM

So I was reading on CI the other day that some people believe it is in bad taste to leave the band on a cigar when you are in company. CI stated a few reasons for this, but the one that stuck out to me was that you wouldn't want to offend those you were smoking with if you were smoking a finer quality product.

So that leads me to ask, do you leave your band on when smoking or take it off? In addition, why?

Does anyone else feel like I just asked a test question? :D

I seem to remember hearing about this before. Personally, I think (what I bolded from your post) is ridiculous. If people are offended by the quality of the cigar I'm smoking, tough noogies.
:2

mrreindeer

11-12-2008, 10:39 AM

Eh, I don't have a ton of experience with this because I haven't really herfed with experienced smokers. On Saturday night, I was, but we were all smoking the same, CAO LX2's, so there really was no point in removing the band, so we didn't even breach the topic nor did we remove.

That being said, I've heard that removing the band is the best form of etiquette because you don't want to 'brag' about the kind of cigar you're smoking if it is a better quality cigar.

I've heard that you should remove the band from the start. If it sticks, smoke a bit until the glue softens up and you can effortlessly remove it without damaging the wrapper. If you can't, well, you're stuck with the band on your cigar, which I, personally don't mind. I like to see what others are smoking.

If you're just hanging with friends though, I'd forget it and keep the sucker on.

phidelt076

11-12-2008, 10:39 AM

After messing up a few wrappers trying to take the band off prior to lighting, I always leave them on now. I wait until the burn gets close to the band and that seems to loosen up the glue. My smoking buddies are usually smoking my cigars so I don't give etiquette much consideration.

Bruzee

11-12-2008, 10:47 AM

I leave them on until the burn reaches the band!

At herfs I'm always asking what people are smoking! I don't care if it's better than what I have (which it usually is)! I am curious about what people think about what they are smoking!

If someone feels bad about what I'm smoking... I'll give them one of mine!:ss

I gotta agree with Skywalker here. I also learn about new smokes when I see a buddy of mine light up a stogie I havent seen/smoked yet. Its a good conversation starter with other cigar smokers too!

hotreds

11-12-2008, 10:48 AM

I also leave the band on until the fire reaches it! Apparently removing the band is especially done in Europe- but I ain't in Europe!

zmancbr

11-12-2008, 10:51 AM

I leave them on. Not to be a snob, I'm just lazy. Plus, I don't want to damage the wrapper.

Ditto... I don't remove them cuz I tend to mess up the wrapper! And I don't really care what people think of my smokes regardless of if my band is more expensive or theirs is...

Beer Doctor

11-12-2008, 10:51 AM

I keep it on until it's close to getting burned. There is no reason to take it off before that. It can cause damage to the cigar if taken off. I don't know anyone who would be offended by someone smoking a better cigar than they have. That's like saying you should have a coozy on your beer so as not to brag about what beer you're drinking...ridiculous.

Rockestone

11-12-2008, 10:51 AM

That's all a bunch of huey!! Who cares if someone else is smoking something that cost more expensive than what your smoking. I don't know about you guys, but the guys I smoke with aren't exactly the sensitive type. Smoke what you wanna, and peel the label if you wanna.

I feel better now, thanks.:D

poker

11-12-2008, 10:58 AM

If people are offended by the quality of the cigar I'm smoking, tough noogies.
:2

Im right there as well. If just the band on my cigar offends them, they need thicker skin or better cigars.

JonHaven

11-12-2008, 10:59 AM

I always leave mine on.

Personally, I like when others leave theirs on because seeing the label gives me the opportunity to learn about cigars that I haven't smoked before.

I discovered two of my favorite cigars, the CX2 and the Def Sea, this way.

Scottw

11-12-2008, 11:02 AM

I leave them on until the burn reaches the band!

At herfs I'm always asking what people are smoking! I don't care if it's better than what I have (which it usually is)! I am curious about what people think about what they are smoking!

If someone feels bad about what I'm smoking... I'll give them one of mine!:ss

I couldn't agree more. If you are herfing with people who get offended if you are smoking a superior of inferior cigar, then you are herfing with the wrong people. I love to know what others smoke and get their opinion.

Vitis

11-12-2008, 11:04 AM

Either way is fine with me. If they are loose I take em off, other than that I wait till i've smoked em down to the band. Not sure what glue the use on CCs, but they seem like the hardest ones to get off without tearing the wrapper.

~Vitis

Mugen910

11-12-2008, 11:06 AM

I leave them on. Not to be a snob, I'm just lazy. Plus, I don't want to damage the wrapper.

:tpd: I don't take them off till I get the stick down close to the band due to the fact that the heat will loosen the glue used. If I tried to take the band off before I smoke, I will ruin the wrapper.

kaisersozei

11-12-2008, 11:13 AM

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

rizzle

11-12-2008, 11:16 AM

It takes a whole lot more to offend me than a cigar.

Drat

11-12-2008, 11:18 AM

I don't want to damage the wrapper.

:tpd: I slightly damaged the wrapper of a Taboo Costa Rican Maduro Monday night taking the band off. Luckily it was only a slight tear and it still smoked wonderfully.

neoflex

11-12-2008, 11:20 AM

I too leave it on. Most times I wait until I am pretty close to the band to remove it just to be safe as the band being warm is not always guaranteed to not tear the wrapper. In the rare cases I get a band that is loose I usually remove it right away just because 9 out of 10 times it just ends up being annoying sliding up and down the stick.(Hmmm that sounded bad didn't it?) More often than not I smoke alone so no need to worry about offending anyone and when I smoke with others more often than not everyone is smoking what they like anyhow and wouldn't be offended anyway.

Scottw

11-12-2008, 11:21 AM

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

:r:r:r

Lucky_Hippo

11-12-2008, 11:27 AM

I've never seen anyone looked down on for smoking a "finer quality product", however, I have seen persons looked down upon for smoking a LESS quality product.

Personaly I remove them if they are easy to remove and keep them on if they're not.

:cb

GKitty

11-12-2008, 11:29 AM

If just the band on my cigar offends them, they need thicker skin or better cigars.

Well said.

gettysburgfreak

11-12-2008, 11:34 AM

I leave it on until I am able to get it to slide off easily. When I first started smoking I damaged a few wrappers trying to pry the band off after I just lit the cigar and I don't want to go through that again.

nozero

11-12-2008, 11:54 AM

I've seen several references to this, for example:
http://www.cigartrends.com/etiquette.php
Zino Davidoff's guide to cigar etiquette
Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.

It's somewhat contradicted here:
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/html/cig101_1boo.asp
Why remove it? The arguments range from the potential of the band damaging the wrapper to the steadfast belief that only the most naive smokers would actually leave the band on. Most experts, including Zino Davidoff, believe that the removal of a cigar band is a "personal choice," claiming that in today's world there is no shame in leaving the band on a cigar, citing references to both practices in literature as evidence. He personally removes his bands, but only after a few puffs, when the cigar is well-lighted and "running." Waiting a few minutes allows the heat of the smoke to make the gum on the band less adhesive and easier to remove without tearing the fragile wrapper.

I found this one to be interesing...
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/cigarsmokingeti_snfb.htm
Rule Six
You've seen actors do it in the movies, but, actually, smelling a cigar is a sign of bad etiquette. Instead, if you're selecting a cigar, look at the color of the wrapper, the name on the band, and its other characteristics in order to determine whether its your type or not.

I take them off before lighting or shortly there after, if they are easily removed. But I don't care if others leave them on or not.

jaycarla

11-12-2008, 11:56 AM

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

Now that is funny!

I leave mine on.

When I first started I did take them off all the time, because I read somewhere that you "should". I found though I liked leaving them on, and it is my smoke gosh darnit!

spectrrr

11-12-2008, 12:04 PM

I like looking at what other people are smoking... not cause i'm jealous, I'm just curious! If I'm smoking with friends and folks from this forum, I wouldnt ever consider taking the band off (and possibly damaging the wrapper).

exception however would be if i was in a cigar bar or other such place and was surrounded by folks I didnt know. then I would consider taking the band off, depending on what I was smoking.

G G

11-12-2008, 12:10 PM

I haven't had the opp to Herf but once, because I am at the end of the earth. I usually smole alone or in my wifes company, and she don't care. But for the record I usually leave it on till the burn gets close. :tu

lightning9191

11-12-2008, 12:11 PM

I usually leave mine on until I smoke down near the band...then it comes off.

icantbejon

11-12-2008, 12:20 PM

Well this topic definitely got a lot more response than I anticipated. I guess I should have started out by saying that I take mine off. Not because I'm a snob, or feel like I'm smoking cheap sticks. I have never herfed with anyone, other than buddies and I generally provide the cigars so that definitely isn't my motivation cause they are usually smoking something similar to what I am. I guess it's just a habit. I generally leave them on long enough for the glue to heat up, making it easier to pull off.

Reading the responses, it seems that most leave on. Good stuff. I like the idea of leaving on to find new smokes and a conversation piece.

Skywalker

11-12-2008, 12:20 PM

I remove the cello and the band before putting cigars away in my Humi!

Yikes!!!:eek: Now I don't know what I'm smoking either!!!:D J/K

Cigary

11-12-2008, 12:28 PM

I wonder who it was that ever asked the question about leaving the bands on or taking it off? Did it offend him that some guy was waving his cigar around telling others about what a great cigar he was smoking and to look at the band on his cigar? Did it offend others around him where you could hear the ooohs and ahhhhs? I think it is silly because the same people who might be offended are probably the same people who drive around in cars that they want others to see them in. How many of us will take the emblems off of our vehicles so that we might not offend others? What about our watches or polo shirts? I personally like to see what another person might be smoking as the aroma may be something that I really like?

For those who are offended by the site of a cigar band on a cigar I say turn away and for those who like to keep their bands on their cigars what's the harm except at some point you will have to remove it anyway because you'll want to smoke the rest of the cigar.

cbsmokin

11-12-2008, 12:29 PM

So should a gentleman not wear a Rolex, designer clothes, and drive a German sports car, so as not to offend?

jitzy

11-12-2008, 12:47 PM

Im right there as well. If just the band on my cigar offends them, they need thicker skin or better cigars.

I pretty much agree with this, I'll smoke anything from a flor de oliva to a padron 80th and I wont take off either band just cause one is a more expensive smoke.

Texan in Mexico

11-12-2008, 01:02 PM

Deja vu??

It is my understanding that the bands were originally placed to avoid getting one's gloves dirty.

I do not wear gloves when I smoke and am normally very private so I take them off before lighting.

livwire68

11-12-2008, 01:17 PM

I remove if they come easily, if they dont I wait awhile. I am a band saver. I smoke what I like at that moment, could be a high end or a low end, to me it does not matter. I will leave it to others to guess what I am smoking, When I am in public it may just make someone feel better that they can afford a cigar with a band (reverse thinking) and I cant. Most people I see smokeing cigars are not "cigar smokers" its the cool thing to do at the time or just for a celebration.

icantbejon

11-12-2008, 01:48 PM

I seem to have touched a nerve with this post. Definitely not my intent. I certainly wasn't trying to imply folks were snobbish around here. My bad.

Cigary

11-12-2008, 02:02 PM

I seem to have touched a nerve with this post. Definitely not my intent. I certainly wasn't trying to imply folks were snobbish around here. My bad.

Nah,,,not at all. The question has been around forever and everyone has their take on it. I do not smoke cigars to impress anyone nor do I leave the band on to impress anyone as well. I think we all have our own reasons and that is ok as long as we don't leave them on to "impress" others. I drive a BMW not to impress others but because the engineering on this car is amazing as it is 10 years old and well over 100K miles and I keep it looking brand new. The car has paid for itself and now I get the benefit of having a car that will deliver another 100K plus miles easily. If I want to impress anyone I will buy a G 5 Gulfstream and I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

jledou

11-12-2008, 02:04 PM

If it bugs me while I am smoking the cigar then it comes off, it if doesn't it stays on until the burn gets close to it.

Commander Quan

11-12-2008, 02:06 PM

I always take the band off before lighting in the following ways ;
1) Slide the band off the head of the cigar, and if I can't
2) Take the band apart where it is glued together, and if that doesn't work
3) Rip the SOB off any way necessary

Neatly removed bands get placed in a cigar box, torn bands get pitched. I always take the bands off because, with my obsessive compulsive nature the band would always have to be facing a certain direction when in my hand and in my mouth so to solve the problem I eliminate it.

Texan in Mexico

11-12-2008, 02:24 PM

Skeletor would be so proud!

I always take the band off before lighting in the following ways ;
1) Slide the band off the head of the cigar, and if I can't
2) Take the band apart where it is glued together, and if that doesn't work
3) Rip the SOB off any way necessary

Neatly removed bands get placed in a cigar box, torn bands get pitched. I always take the bands off because, with my obsessive compulsive nature the band would always have to be facing a certain direction when in my hand and in my mouth so to solve the problem I eliminate it.

icantbejon

11-12-2008, 02:43 PM

I always take the bands off because, with my obsessive compulsive nature the band would always have to be facing a certain direction when in my hand and in my mouth so to solve the problem I eliminate it.

Now that is some serious obsessive complusive **** right there. :r

ucla695

11-12-2008, 03:19 PM

I’m not worried about offending anyone (I like to think we're all bigger than that). If that were the case, we’d all have to take off our watches and wear the same thing to herfs. Oh, can’t forget about lighters and cutters. Those get checked in at the door too. :ss

Seriously, I’ll remove the band before I smoke a cigar if it comes off. It’s not because of etiquette or anything like that. It’s because I like to save them. :D If the band’s not cooperating with me, then it stays on until it becomes loose enough to take off.

Stogieboy

11-12-2008, 03:46 PM

I leave the band on in hopes of offending some dumba$$ who could be offended that easy. :ss :hm

acruce

11-12-2008, 03:55 PM

I leave them on.

Parrotheadduff

11-12-2008, 04:01 PM

Do you take the label off your beer? :chr

LkyLindy

11-12-2008, 04:03 PM

Leave it on-This ain't England

ConMan

11-12-2008, 05:01 PM

If the band is loose, I'll take it off. If it's not, then it generally stays. Once it heats up and loosens up, then it comes off.

elderboy02

11-12-2008, 05:52 PM

I also leave the band on until the fire reaches it! Apparently removing the band is especially done in Europe- but I ain't in Europe!

:tpd:

HK3-

11-12-2008, 05:55 PM

I'm a band on kinda guy. :cb

csbrewfisher

11-12-2008, 06:14 PM

CI stated a few reasons for this, but the one that stuck out to me was that you wouldn't want to offend those you were smoking with if you were smoking a finer quality product.

There's liberal PC cigar smokers? No sh*t! Get a rope.

Cigary

11-12-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by icantbejon
CI stated a few reasons for this, but the one that stuck out to me was that you wouldn't want to offend those you were smoking with if you were smoking a finer quality product

There's liberal PC cigar smokers? No sh*t! Get a rope.

Holy Crap,,,,I must be offending people all day long with what I do and not even know it. Yesterday I ordered the most expensive item at Wendys and was getting looks,,,now I know why!:(

icantbejon

11-13-2008, 01:05 AM

Do you take the label off your beer? :chr

Only when it's been a long dry spell if ya catch my drift......:r

jquirit

11-13-2008, 09:34 AM

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

I wear a ski mask when I'm out herfin' just so I won't make all the "less beautiful" people jealous of me. Plus, it's damn cold out there. :D

As for the bands? I leave 'em on. They're a helpful reminder of what I was smoking, along with the "you've reached the 1" mark on the cigar, time to start thinking of what to smoke next". Them cigar bands are so helpful!

:ss

WyGuy

11-13-2008, 09:54 AM

I almost always take mine off. I collect most of my bands so the first thing I do when I take out a cigar is take the band off and put in a plastic bag, that way I don't forget about it and leave it in my pocket or some other place.

croatan

11-13-2008, 10:01 AM

I leave mine on. Makes me feel special and important. ;)

Seriously: have you ever tried having a puff-puff-pass with a bunch of unbanded cigars. It'll just piss you off.

groogs

11-13-2008, 10:29 AM

I leave them on because I don't want to damage the wrapper. I have never really thought about it offending anybody I am smoking with, they are usually smoking better cigars than I am anyways. I have never found myself envious of a cigar somebody else was smoking. :confused:

icantbejon

11-13-2008, 10:38 AM

MarkinAZ

11-13-2008, 11:01 AM

I tend to leave the band on myself too (always have). Like others, when the burn reaches the band, the heat has had the time to warm the glue, which makes (a majority of the time) removing the band easily and effortlessly from your smoke.

Now, another reason for keeping the band on your cigar is that it makes for striking-up a conversation with another BOTL or SOTL at a herf or your B&M like "So, what you'd think of that Cremosa anyways":rolleyes:;)

gnukfu

11-13-2008, 02:05 PM

I leave it on and then take it off at some point so I don't smoke it.

acarr

11-13-2008, 02:26 PM

I usually take them off because I save them all for some odd reason. Someday, I will probably just throw them all away.

brigey57

11-13-2008, 03:29 PM

So I was reading on CI the other day that some people believe it is in bad taste to leave the band on a cigar when you are in company. CI stated a few reasons for this, but the one that stuck out to me was that you wouldn't want to offend those you were smoking with if you were smoking a finer quality product.

So that leads me to ask, do you leave your band on when smoking or take it off? In addition, why?

Does anyone else feel like I just asked a test question? :D

__________________
"Learn to pay attention. Life is hard.....it's even harder when you're stupid."

I always warm the cigar up a bit before I remove the band. Reason being is it will sometimes stick to the cigar and tear it if you don't first heat up the cigar. Once the cigar is torn then it isn't worth a darn. :ss

ucla695

11-13-2008, 05:08 PM

Do you take the label off your beer? :chr

:r :r :chr

Shervin

11-13-2008, 09:25 PM

Sr Mike

11-14-2008, 07:12 AM

The way I see it, if someone is offended because you are smoking a finer quality cigar, then either hook them up or shut them up. It is personal preference.

On the other hand, if a guy flaunts that he is smoking a finer quality cigar, you can easily demonstrate that his cigar can break in half just as easily as any cheap stick you have ever encountered. (I know a guy who actually did that)

Starscream

11-14-2008, 08:37 AM

I heard that taking off the band was proper European etiquette. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall reading that somewhere.

I leave my band on until the last possible moment. That way it has time for the glue to warm up which allows me to remove the band w/o tearing the wrapper or the band.

theycallmedan'lboone

11-14-2008, 08:41 AM

If pnoon loves him some cremosas and I love me some Perdomo goodness, who cares. I take the band off when it's time.. some times early, sometimes late, sometimes never.

ahc4353

11-14-2008, 08:52 AM

So I was reading on CI the other day that some people believe it is in bad taste to leave the band on a cigar when you are in company. CI stated a few reasons for this, but the one that stuck out to me was that you wouldn't want to offend those you were smoking with if you were smoking a finer quality product.

So that leads me to ask, do you leave your band on when smoking or take it off? In addition, why?

Does anyone else feel like I just asked a test question? :D

Now I have to worry if my cigar band offends anyone? ROFLMAO!! I just posted my thoughts on how far we have gone down this "do not offend anyone" road in another post.

Now that I think of it the guys that smoke the really great cigars here would be offended if they saw what I smoke. I'll take the bands off from now on guys I sure don't want to offend you. :D

BryanB

11-14-2008, 09:52 AM

I leave mine on unless I'm smoking at work and we don't sell them.

kfish

11-14-2008, 09:57 AM

I leave it on until the burn gets close to it then I take it off and save it. I like for people to leave their bands on. That way I can see what they are smokin and ask them about it if it's a stick I haven't tried before.

icantbejon

11-14-2008, 10:01 AM

Al, it seems that you offend many people around here. Thus the continual bombings and constant demand for future bombings. :D

MarkinAZ

11-14-2008, 10:50 AM

Now that I think of it the guys that smoke the really great cigars here would be offended if they saw what I smoke. I'll take the bands off from now on guys I sure don't want to offend you. :D

I'm sure that Vin will not be offended Al;):ss

pipermacbean

11-15-2008, 08:09 AM

Sometimes on, sometimes off... no rhyme or reason here.

icantbejon

11-15-2008, 09:01 AM

[QUOTE=andysutherland;68495]I heard that taking off the band was proper European etiquette. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall reading that somewhere.QUOTE]

Yeah, that's where I got this whole concept from. Proper English etiquette apparently says to take them off.