I've loved the taste of a cigar, or a decent pipe tobacco, for years at this point. Unfortunately, both do tend to cause unpleasant levels of cancer. Now, I will still smoke a cigar or a pipe once a month, but, I've figured out an excellent method for making use cigars without the associated, well, cancer.
A bit of background - from the lovely domestically-produced pipe tobaccos of Canada - soaked, infused, or straight; to the incredible variety of cigars I've found over the various travels in the Caribbean, I've always appreciated a pleasant smoke. Fortunately, I've never had to deal with addiction, as I've, at my most frequent, smoked once a week - Friday evenings, to be precise. Over the past few years, I've cut down to a monthly, or, at times, even a "seasonal" smoke.
Still, I love the smell and taste of tobacco, and, it had recently occurred to me that I don't need to smoke it to have a grand old time with it. As such, I've elected to make this guide for those of you that want to do the same. By noting the other aspects of tobacco beyond its smoke, one can still "use" it, without some of the side-effects.
Cigars are excellent for tasting - just inhaling on an unlit cigar can tell you a lot about it. In fact, I would argue that since I've cut down on my smoking, I've been able to discern the various parts of a tobacco's body to a greater degree. Similarly, a pipe tobacco in an unlit pipe let you taste many of the subtler aromas within whatever blend (or straight sort) you've got.
Occasionally, I might just light a cigar, and rather than inhaling (or, rather, filling my mouth with the warm smoke), I'd gently blow on it. Now, I'm sure I'm not the first man to use a cigar as a sort of incense; still, I think that's an excellent way to be able to savour the smoke without the harm. Or, at least, as much harm as second-hand, diffuse tobacco smoke causes. I reckon less than my charcoal grill.
I must say - it's plenty cheaper too; you'd be surprised by how long a cigar lasts when, well, you aren't actually smoking it. Consider it an expensive and more pleasant scented marker. Plus - if you think I am mad for the suggestion - just you wait until you meet the chaps that buy thousand-dollar wines so they can stare at the bottles. ;)
Cheers, my friends - and, to anybody reading this - have an excellent day.