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Label or no Label?

BigFatDog

Member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
163
When I was taught my lighting ritual, buy my father, I was taught to remove the band. To do otherwise is tacky. When I started smoking myself, I began (and still do) removing the bands, from my cigars, when they went into my pocket humidor. To this day I can't stand to see some one smoking a cigar with a band on it.

Where do you stand & why?
 
From what I've read it's an old English gentleman's tradition to remove the band so as not to show off, so to speak. Practically speaking there's less chance of damaging the wrapper if the cigar is allowed to warm up prior to removing the band. Personally, I like to know what the other guy is smoking.

Doc.
 
I always remove the band, usually they don't have bands anyway.
 
I wait until the cigar is hot or else you risk damaging the wrapper leaf.
 
I generally wait until at least halfway through before removing the band. This allows the glue to get hot enough to release from the wrapper without damage. If at any point the band is loose and an annoyance I will remove it.
 
I have read that, for the same reason Doc said, you should remove the band. Don't want to show off the $10 stick by brand. I started out always removing the band before lighting up, but have damaged way too many (2-3) really good cigars doing this. If the cigar is aged properly, the band will come off easier. I am definately with Jabba on this one. I wait until the band is ready to come off itself. Sometimes that is about the time the cigar is smoked away from it. On or off, hasn't seem to effect the taste yet. Personal preference. I guess it would depend if you are smonking an expensive stick and wanted everyone to know or a cheap on and didn't
 
Out of habit, I remove the bands before I start. I have a very small swiss army pocket knife with a very small, thin blade. Gets under the edge of contrary labels without damaging the wrapper every time....

Cheers - B.B.S.
 
If I can remove it with ease I do. Sometimes I wait until it heats up a bit and is easier to remove.

So yes, I do remove the band.
 
The whole "band on" vs "band off" debate is a long standing one. There are probably other threads on the topic here on CP, if anyone wants to search for them.

Personally, I leave the band on until I have to take it off and I enjoy it when others leave their bands on. That way, I can see what they are smoking without having to ask, "so, what cigar are you enjoying tonight?" In other words, IT'S A COURTESY TO LEAVE THE BAND ON!!! There I said it, you guys who take 'em off are just plain rude. :p
 
I tried to find an archived thread on this, with no luck. I usually have a pocket knife that I can use for label removal. I know I destroyed a few sticks years ago but I can't remember the last time...
 
Bands on until I need to take it off...plus I too enjoy seeing what others are smoking.
 
I leave em on until its too close. Then if its one I like I stick em in a jar..why? Not real sure other than the jar looks kinda cool.
 
I always leave the band on to show everyone that I am smoking very hard to find and outragously expensive (way more than YOU can afford) cigars. If I take the band off, I feel that I'm doing the general cigar smoking population a disservice by not allowing them to bask in MY glory that I can afford these sought after cigars and you can't...BIATCH!!! :sign: ;)








On a less serious note...I always leave the band on so I can show off that I only smoke expensive cigars that you probably can't afford! :laugh:

-Fetter

<EDIT> To add more sarcasm!!
 
I leave them on till they get a little warm then I take them off. I damaged too many cigars taking them off before the cigar is lit.
 
i usually leave it on until i have to take it off. I don't really smoke with other people though, so I don't worry about ettiquette. If I'm smoking with a friend, we already know what the other is smoking, but I leave it on anyway.
 
Band on for me. I like to see what everyone else is smoking, plus I've damaged my share of wrappers taking them off too early.

I leave it on until the burn is just about to hit it.

My 2 cents
 
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