Are cigars addicting?

A: First of all, since I am not a physician or a psychologist, I’m not qualified to give a “professional” opinion on addiction. But as someone whose been in the cigar industry a long time, and seen all kinds of cigar smokers, I would- say, yes, they can be addicting, but it depends on several factors.

First and foremost, YOU. If you have an “addictive personality” and you really take to cigars, you may find yourself smoking several cigars a day. As for me, I usually smoke no more than two a day, whereas some of my coworkers and our readers smoke as many as 8 to 9 cigars a day. From my experience, more than three cigars a day wears out my palate, and even that number would appear as an addiction in the eyes of many. (I suppose I am “addicted” to a certain degree.)

A significant number of cigar smokers generally smoke 2 or 3 cigars a week, primarily for enjoyment and relaxation. Additionally, you don’t inhale (at least you should avoid inhaling), and they’re natural, so you could say that cigars are a little “healthier” (and I use that term lightly) than ciggies. If you stick to mild cigars of high quality (not machine-made drugstore cigars) at the beginning, you may find that’s all you need once or twice a week. That’s not to say it can’t become a daily habit, but IMO, I don’t see much harm in one cigar per day. Moreover, there are many cigars that have less nicotine than others.

If you want a recommendation, start with a mild, premium handmade cigar of very high quality, like an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Flor Fina, Avo Classic, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne, or a Rocky Patel American Market Selection (shown).