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Some individuals hold that cigars should only be smoked halfway. There are many axioms such as these and there are enough individuals who adhere to them to keep them alive. Like most such axioms, this one is based more in myth than in reality.
The taste of a cigar will, of course, change a bit as one gets closer to the end. Whether or not this is desirable is completely a matter of personal taste. The best way to find out is to experiment and there are few cigar smokers who would object to this sort of investigation!
The taste of the cigar changes because tar builds up in the tobacco as one puffs through it. This is unavoidable. It's not that the tobacco is any different from one end of the cigar to the other, it's simply that the byproducts of combustion inevitably build up and affect the flavor. Many individuals find this change in taste quite enjoyable and, as one gets more used to the flavor of the cigar, one also gets more "bite" off of each puff which makes it enjoyable from start to finish.
If a cigar is smoked halfway though, the same change in taste will occur but it will be less pronounced. Some smokers find this change in taste very unpleasant and, therefore, they stub out"and waste"the majority of their cigar. One should avoid this at all costs. Cigars are gourmet indulgences and should be enjoyed all the way through. There are several ways in which one can mitigate the change in taste.
Fine cigars are not cheap and their price is justified in the quality of their tobacco and in the technique used in wrapping the leaves. Saying that one should smoke only half of a cigar is akin to saying one should only eat half of a gourmet chicken because the taste of the meat changes slightly as one approaches the bone. It is a matter of preference and little more. Some individuals will find that the cigar becomes too strong for their taste toward the end and, in these cases, it is preferable to change brands rather than to waste fully half of a gourmet cigar. There are many mild brands on the market from which to choose.
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