In every hobby, niche, society, or clique there exists a minority of people that self-identify or are called out by their peers as Snobs or Aficionados.  Cigar enthusiasts are no different, with a small subset of the community being Snobs and Aficionados.

Snob: a person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field 

Given the definition above, you might say that a Cigar Snob is someone who exibits the negative qualities of condescension or disdain. Today we want to talk about the Aficionado, a near 180-degree difference.

Aficionado: a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime 

With the term being tossed around all over social media lately, we figured we’d give you a quick run-down on key points to identify a genuine, real-deal Cigar Aficionado!

You Might be a Cigar Aficionado If: You Lay Your Cigar Down When You’re Done

A true Cigar Aficionado knows that there’s only one right answer as to when a cigar is finished: when you’re no longer enjoying it. The cause could be weather, atmosphere, construction, or pairing related – the fact is that the cause is irrelevant. 

If you’re no longer enjoying the cigar that you chose, and decide to lay it down and move on to the next adventure, it’s quite possible that you’re a Cigar Aficionado.  This Gentleman or Lady knows that there’s a time and place for everything, and if a cigar is no longer performing they way they intended it’s time to grab another.  Or call it a day.

You Might be a Cigar Aficionado If: You Refuse to Name a Bad Cigar

A true cigar enthusiast knows that taste is 100% subjective, with there being as many palates as there are people on this planet. One person’s prize cigar sits in another’s bottom shelf, and that same smoke might not even interest someone else.

The truth is that a bad cigar is hard to identify objectively because your cigar experience will depend on two overarching factors: taste and performance.  Your tastes will not perfectly correlate with anyone else and performance can be greatly affected by cigar storage. 

Related: 7 Pitfalls to Avoid for the New Cigar Smoker

Humidity, time in transit, and your cutting/lighting method could easily be the culprit if your cigar isn’t performing the way you think it should.  The above related article is a great primer to alleviate some of those conditions.

It should also be mentioned that consistency is another factor that Cigar Aficionados might consider in a good cigar but it’s also extremely hard to pinpoint as mood, environment, pairing, and time in storage may change from cigar to cigar.

You Might be a Cigar Aficionado If: You Sample Each Vitola

It’s a rookie mistake to get pigeon-holed into a favorite size or vitola.  Each size offers a slightly different expression of that blend, and sometimes the flavor profile differs greatly from one size to the next.  An authentic Cigar Aficionado allows the cigar to speak to them in multiple formats before deciding on a favorite.

This even goes for different years, with tobacco changing from crop to crop.  While master blenders make their money bringing you a consistent cigar year over year with the flavor profile that you’re looking for, a particular harvest may strike your fancy in a different way than before.  Knowing that the tobaccos change from time to time, and being open to changing with them, is a sign of a Cigar Aficionado.

You Might be a Cigar Aficionado If: You Always Let Your Cigars Rest After Shipping

One of the worst things that we can do to a new cigar is to give it an unfair advantage right from the start. What may be your Go-To smoke in a few weeks might very well be a Non-Starter if smoked right off the truck (ROTT). This is because cigars experience large shifts in temperature and humidity during transit that will negatively affect your experience.

Related: How Does Shipping Affect Cigars? Temperature, Humidity, and You

A first impression is very hard to overcome, and even the most experienced in the business often succumb to letting those impressions cloud their judgement in the future.  Let’s face it, there’s only so much time each day to enjoy a cigar and the choices are endless. 

A genuine Cigar Aficionado always allows the cigar to put its best foot forward and waits patiently before lighting up that new cigar they’ve been waiting to try.  And this goes for Brick and Mortar shops as well, considering that all cigars must be shipped to their final destination at some point. 

You Might be a Cigar Aficionado If: You’re Open to New Brands

This may sound like a no-brainer, but we often see self-professed Cigar Aficionado that only smoke XYZ brand. This is effectively the opposite of our definition of a Cigar Aficionado, because the true Aficionado wants to experience the best of the best, not the best label or box design.

Being open to trying new things is a classic symptom of a Cigar Aficionado because a connoisseur is never at rest with what is known.  Much like a specialist must recertify or learn the newest techniques and technology each year, the Cigar Aficionado routinely samples the latest and greatest to see how it affects his or her palate.

You Might be a Cigar Aficionado If: You Understand Personal Preference 

A dangerous time exists when someone learns how to enjoy a cigar to their personal preference before they learn about the personal preference rule in general.  Having learned a particular way to enhance their experience, they sometimes commit to spreading the gospel and correcting others.

The Cigar Aficionado knows that cigars are a very personal matter and that it differs from person to person. Everything from the percentage of humidity for storage to the cut and light are subject to the personal preference rule, with suggestions being helpful but not the rule.

Related:  How to Cut a Cigar: Different Shapes and Caps

There are certainly wrong ways to do things, such a leaving your cigars in the car for long-term storage or lighting a cigar with the foot band still in place.  The sincere Cigar Aficionado, though, understands the difference between mentoring a new cigar enthusiast and imposing their indisputable views in a highly subjective hobby.

That's it from us!  What do you think are key signs of a Cigar Aficionado?