Cigar smoking is an age-old pastime. The art of cigar smoking can be traced back for centuries. At one point in time, everyone was actually a cigar aficionado. Today, however, there are three types of cigar smokers instead of one. These are the habitual smokers, the wannabe and the cigar entrepreneur. The one thing that all of these have in common is that they enjoy cigars.

The habitual smoker is just that, someone who is addicted to tobacco. These individuals generally have no idea of the proper way to enjoy a cigar. Many of them actually inhale the smoke, which puts a lot more stress on their bodies than smoking cigarettes or smoking a cigar in the proper manner. The habitual smoke will generally invest no more than fifty cents apiece on their cigars, finding the cheapest brand possible to just get their fix.

Then there is the wannabe. This individual may actually, at some point, manage to become a true cigar entrepreneur. For now, however, he is the one that mostly invests in the fifty-cent cigars, but smokes them in much the same manner as the aficionado. He has read up on the art extensively, yet cannot or simply will not afford the true premier cigars. Occasionally, this individual will sport out a five-dollar bill for a decent cigar, but only once in awhile. With a little luck and time, this person will one day gain a true appreciation for a real cigar and swear off the el cheapos.

Then, we have the Cigar Aficionado. This is an individual that realizes there is an art in the cigar, from the point of picking it out to the point of smoking it. He will not simply go in and slap his cash on the counter, grab a five pack and walk out. He will inspect the cigar closely before even considering purchasing it. He will look it over, occasionally smell it, and pick and choose from a box if he is only taking a single. More times than not, unless he is just experimenting, he will buy by the box. A cheap cigar to this individual is no less than six or seven dollars.

The Cigar Aficionado knows every aspect of the cigar. He knows how it was rolled, the format it is in, and the history behind each particular cigar. He studies endlessly into his smokes before buying them. To the cigar aficionado, purchasing a cigar is like purchasing the Mona Lisa. You are very careful that you get the real thing, and you treat it as a form of art.

The Cigar Aficionado knows how to smoke a cigar. He understands that smoking a good stick is much more than sticking it in your mouth and puffing. It is tasting, allowing the flavor to linger, and savoring it. He knows that smoking a fine cigar requires a perfect drink to go with it, a perfect setting to smoke it in, and a particular time of day depending upon the smoke.

There is far more to being a cigar aficionado than most people will ever realize. It requires time, patience, and a dedication to the cigar industry. If you believe you have what it takes to become a true cigar entrepreneur, take your time. Patience is key in the art of fine cigars.