11 Awesome Cigar Accessories to Buy

Smoking cigars is more than an occasional treat. It's a lifestyle. And to maintain that lifestyle, there are a few essential extras you'll need if you want to make the most out of your cigar experience.

There are many cigar accessories serving all manner of purposes. When shopping online for them, you might be taken aback by how many options are out there.

Some are all but essential to maintaining a cigar hobby. Others are more like excellent amendments that allow you to enjoy your smoke more than you would otherwise.

So to get you set up, let's take a look at the top accessories in both categories that will have you living your best cigar life.

1. A Premium Cigar Cutter

Before you can even think about lighting up a premium cigar, naturally, you have to cut it.

In the movies, you might sometimes see tough-guy characters bite the ends off of their cigars to show how grizzled and gritty they are. It makes an impression on film, but it's no way to treat a quality cigar.

In the best-case scenario, you'll spend your whole smoke session picking bits of stray tobacco out of your mouth. Not quite the elegant image that the activity ought to invoke.

And in the worst case, biting off the cap can cause the wrapper to unravel, cutting your smoke short in one of the worst ways possible.

To avoid this, you always want to ensure that you have a quality cigar cutter handy before picking out a cigar. As a matter of fact, it's often a good idea to keep a couple of cutters handy.

They come in numerous variations, from the classic guillotine to the v-cutter to the punch cutter. Different cutters are often better suited to different types of cigars. You might find a punch cutter impractical for a pyramid cigar, for instance. So having options can help you to ensure that you are always prepared to enjoy a good smoke.

2. A Worthy Cigar Lighter

Cutting a cigar is only step one. Getting a solid light is at least as necessary and can prove a bit trickier for new smokers.

Many cigar enthusiasts will swear by matches, claiming that the old ways are the best and only way to guarantee an optimal cigar smoking experience. And there is something to that; you never have to worry about the taste of a match spoiling the flavor of your premium tobacco.

But on the other hand, they can be unwieldy, difficult to use, and if you're outdoors, then good luck finding an alcove to block the wind for you.

By contrast, a good cigar lighter makes it easy to get an optimal light every time and with a fraction of the effort.

As opposed to the cheap, disposable lighters you see up at the checkout at the gas station, dedicated cigar lighters are usually high-grade torch lighters that generate a robust and consistent flame to help you light each cigar evenly for a consistent burn.

And while it is true that low quality fuel can impart unwanted flavor to a cigar, good butane fuels such as Purofine dispel such concerns.

High-performance butane is the gold standard for cigar smoking as it has been ultra-refined to remove the impurities we associate with that foul fuel flavor. It's the best of both worlds, allowing for an easy, reliable light with all the ease of a button press.

3. Don't Forget a Place to Ash

It's always important to practice good manners when smoking your cigars. Avoid smoking in crowded areas, be sure to freshen up afterward; the rules are mostly common sense.

But one item that can be easy to overlook is a suitable place for your ashes.

The average ashtray that you can buy anywhere was designed with cigarettes in mind, so using one of those for your cigar purposes is an imperfect solution. And don't forget that if nothing else, an ashtray is conducive to extinguishing your cigar correctly, lest you cause a cloud of foul-smelling odor to escape from a stamped-out smoke.

So, having a suitable ashtray in your kit is essential whether you plan to smoke in your home lounge or want to get a few friends together for a smoke elsewhere.

4. A Place to Rest Your Cigar

You could always rest your cigar in its ashtray between draws, but this can cause your expertly lit cigar to burn unevenly if it's not positioned just right.

By contrast, a dedicated cigar stand gives you a convenient holder for your cigar that allows you to free up your hands without worrying about what to do with your smoke.

5. Take Your Cigars on the Go

It's not unusual to find yourself craving a fine smoke when you're away from home. And depending on where your travels take you, you may not relish the idea of having to seek out a tobacconist or pay exorbitant local taxes.

In a situation like that, you'll be thankful to have a travel case full of your favorite premiums with you.

Cigar cases come in various sizes, so which one is right for you depends on how many cigars you expect to enjoy over a given day. Whatever that number is for you, you'll rest easy knowing that your precious cigars are safe and secure on your person.

6. Proper Humidity Control

Buying cigars is an investment, no different than accumulating fine wines or spirits. In fact, some are so valuable that they're kept indefinitely with no intention of ever being smoked.

Proper storage of those assets is key to protecting that investment. And in the case of cigars, that means adequate humidity control.

It's a science that has been perfected over generations, with great humidor makers being elevated to the status of master artisans.

If it's in your budget, a good humidor is worth the investment, as, with proper cigar maintenance practices, they can keep your most prized smokes fresh for years or even decades to come. They come in various sizes, ranging from modest desktop-sized humidors to massive cabinets that can hold thousands of cigars.

But if you're still new to the hobby, you don't need to take that plunge right away. If you only buy a handful of sticks at a time, an airtight container and humidity control packets are a perfectly acceptable way to keep them fresh until it's time to light them up.

7. The Right Drink to Go With Your Smoke

We always recommend having a drink with your cigar. Sometimes we want to keep a neutral palate to experience our blends at their most unaffected—a simple glass of water is great for that. 

But another wonderful part of the pipe smoking ritual is pairing your cigar with the right libation.

Your whiskey of choice is the conventional choice. It's hard to go wrong with a single malt scotch or a good Kentucky bourbon if you prefer something with a little bit of bite to it.

Alternatively, an increasing number of smokers have been turning to rum as their cigar pairing of choice. It could be because it's always the traditional pairing; you won't find many whiskey bars in Havana, after all. Or it could merely be how well those flavors play together.

Bear in mind, however, that there are more factors to consider than personal preference. Every cigar has its unique flavor profile, as indeed every spirit does. Consequently, not all pairings are created equal.

In acknowledgment, some cigar makers have gone so far as to provide recommendations on the optimal pairings with their products. So do your research and keep a few options handy so that you'll have a proper accompaniment for every smoke session.

8. A Tasteful Decanter and Glass Set

If you take the step of investing in a fine spirit, it's only fitting to enjoy your libation from a suitable vessel.

It's an image you would recognize from any number of films or TV shows. The main character pours themselves a hearty drink from a glistening crystal decanter. It's an image that evokes elegance and decadence in equal measure, only further accentuated by savoring a fine cigar along with it.

While the purpose of decanting spirits is still somewhat debated, the sheer aesthetic value is beyond contestation. If nothing else, it will help elevate the evening the next time you host company to enjoy a glass and a cigar with you.

Complete the experience with a set of worthy drinking glasses. You can either acquire a complete decanter-and-glass set or mix and match pieces as you see fit. Either way, it will lend a touch of grace to your next smoke that you didn't even realize you were missing.

9. A Pick-Me-Up

Fine spirits are the classic match for fine tobacco, but they may not always be the right choice for the situation. Maybe you're a teetotaler, or perhaps you want to enjoy a fine smoke before noon. Whatever the case, there are plenty of valid reasons why you might reach for a cigar while abstaining from the spirits.

In these cases, a fine cup of joe is the optimal alternative. It's the perfect way to either start your day or take some late afternoon refreshment.

Pairing your coffee with a cigar tends to be easier than pairing it with liquor as well. Typically, you'll want a smoke that's a little on the milder side to avoid clashing with the coffee or overwhelming the senses. A heavy nic hit and strong coffee might be a bit jarring to start the day, but figure out your preference and indulge yourself.

10. A Way to Freshen Up

We alluded to it briefly earlier, but politesse is next to godliness when it comes to smoking cigars, you always want to be keeping yourself fresh. And a key point of etiquette is doing your best to avoid carrying the smell of your cigars with you wherever you go. After all, as much as we may savor their tapestry of flavors and scents, not everyone can be counted on to feel the same way.

Freshening your breath with either mouthwash or mints (they make smoker's mints just for this purpose) is an excellent first step—particularly if your partner is less of a fan of cigars than you are. Keeping a bottle of either cologne or odor eliminator handy is also a matter of courtesy. 

11. A Cigar Journal

Today's cigar market is so flushed with options that cigar smokers are almost spoiled for choice. And there are few things worse than having a great cigar but not recalling the name.

If you enjoy experimenting with new cigars, keeping a notepad or pocketbook to record particularly remarkable experiences can save you from having to wrack your brain later on.

Elevate Your Smoking Experience With Cigar Accessories

It's true that at the end of the day, all you technically need is a cigar and a flame. Just like how it's technically true that all a house needs are four walls and a roof.

But most would agree that that's not quite optimal. With these cigar accessories in your pocket, however, you can count on having the experience that a premium cigar deserves.

Now all you need are the cigars to go with them. If you're just starting your cigar smoking journey, a great place to start is with our top cigar picks for beginners.