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@TheCigarMan85 said:
Hi group! I'm a newbie to "fine" hand rolled cigars, but have been smoking machine-made ones on and off since my late teens (40M). Question: when I smoke a handmade cigar, I know I need to cut off the head and/or drill a small hole in it in order to draw the smoke through. But, when I smoke these, it seems like I don't get a lot of smoke per puff, even though I might take a big drag. Also, it seems like the foot is burning a little unevenly, burning in a "cone" shape and not a flat ash (I can provide pictures if this is unclear). Am I lighting it incorrectly, or is there something else I am missing?

Welcome to the forum. If you search through the threads you’ll find a lot of good information here. You’ll also notice that it changes over time. A few things:

1. Don’t worry about burns that are a little uneven. They can often be corrected by simply turning your cigar. The part that is burning slower needs to be turned downward.
2. Smoke output varies by cigar. Don’t worry about how much is coming off of the foot. Pay more attention to what you’re getting out of it.
3. Like I said, you’ll find all kinds of good info on how to light, cut, store, and probably even smoke your cigars. All of the info is right…and it’s also all wrong. This hobby is a completely subjective one. The best thing you can do is try to figure out what works best for you.
4. When digging through those old posts, please notice the date of the last post before responding. No need to revive one that’s been dead for ten years.
5. Try to have thick skin. Without it you won’t last around here. There’s a lot of good info and a lot of good people. Jump in, just don’t take anyone too seriously.