Smoking cigars isn’t just about setting fire to tobacco and losing yourself in
fragrant blue smoke. It is a holistic passion, where the accoutrements make the relatively high maintenance upkeep
of cigars all worth it. This list is a collection of all the vital parts you need and the best versions available
here at The Rake Atelier.
The Humidor
The key component of any cigar collection, the humidor is a complex and much debated
factor of cigar keeping. There are so many opinions as to how best keep cigars, at what humidity or outside
temperature, whether to use special solution or distilled water, Boveda packs and so on. The point is that they are
all asking the same question but coming up with different answers, and they all revolve around the humidor. The ne
plus ultra of humidor makers is Elie Bleu. Beautiful, intricate, highly varnished and lacquered, intricately
designed and coloured wooden boxes, created solely for the purpose of cigar keeping.
The Cutter
Preparation of the cigar is essential before smoking, so the cutting off of the
‘head’ of the cigar requires something that will not crush it down and just end up splintering and shattering the
tobacco, which while it won't affect the smoke, will mean you spend a good chunk of your time pulling bits of
tobacco out from between your teeth.Guillotine cutters are great and more
familiar, but allow me to recommend a punch. Specifically this Davidoff punch in rose gold, which has two settings
depending on the ring gauge of the cigar and because it is so compact, it can be attached to your keys so needn’t be
just another thing to remember when leaving the house.
The Lighter
Another much debated item. Some say that you should only light with cedar wood or a
match.Gratifyingly, Edward Sahakian always keeps a mini Bic lighter on him
and frankly, that is adequate. However there is something satisfying and almost spiritual about Dupont lighters,
that they should never be overlooked. The signature click, the chic lighting aperture, the lacquered case, the dual
flames to evenly ignite the cigar; they are designed to make smoking more pleasurable and fulfilling. For an added
touch of élan, this is a vital component to the list.
