Most of our customers are holding their first or fifth cigar, not their five hundredth. These answers assume nothing. There’s no dumb question here and nobody checking your credentials.
New to this
What should my first cigar be?
Start mellow. The Northbound Connecticut was built to be a first cigar: creamy, smooth, and forgiving. If you already drink your coffee black and want more from minute one, start with the Habano. Work up to the Maduro. Not sure? Build a Trio with one 5-pack of each.
How do I cut a cigar?
Use a guillotine cutter and take off just the cap, the little dome of leaf at the closed end. About the width of a nickel is plenty. The opening should be smaller than the body of the cigar; it takes less than most people expect. Cut too deep and the wrapper unravels; too shallow and the draw is tight. One clean, committed snip.
How do I light it without ruining it?
Slow is the whole trick. Hold the foot above the flame, not in it, and rotate the cigar while the edge toasts. Then take gentle puffs while you keep rotating until the whole face glows evenly. A soft-flame butane lighter or a wooden match works great. Torch lighters are the modern go-to; just don’t forget extra fuel to refill it.
Do I inhale?
No. Cigar smoke stays in your mouth, where the flavor is. Draw like you’re sipping something through a straw, taste it, let it go. That’s also why a cigar takes the better part of an hour instead of five minutes.
How long does one take?
A Northbound toro runs thirty to sixty minutes, depending on your pace. Don’t rush it. The time is the point.
What if I can’t finish it?
Let it go out on its own and enjoy what it gave you. No shame in it. We don’t recommend saving a half-smoked cigar for tomorrow; it won’t taste like it did today.
How do I store cigars without a humidor?
A zip-top bag or any airtight container with a two-way humidity pack (69% is the standard) will hold your cigars just fine for months. If the habit sticks, a humidor is a nice thing to own. It is not an entry requirement.
What do I drink with a cigar?
Whatever you like. We reach for black coffee in the morning and sparkling water at night, and some of our favorite cigars have been paired with nothing but a quiet porch. There are no rules here.
Any advice for the actual first time?
Eat and hydrate first. Pick a slow hour where nobody needs you. Smoke slower than you think you should. If it’s not for you, that’s fine too; the sitting still part might be the habit worth keeping.
Ordering
Do I have to verify my age?
Yes. You must be 21 or older to buy from us, full stop. We verify age at checkout using AgeChecker.Net, a trusted verification provider. Orders that can’t be verified are cancelled and refunded.
Do I need an account to order?
Yes. Every order has to be age verified and tied to the adult who placed it, so we don’t offer guest checkout. Creating an account happens right in checkout and takes one step. It also keeps your order history, tracking, and verification on file so the next order is faster.
What can I buy?
Each Northbound blend comes as a 5-pack ($60) or a 10-count box ($120). Want to mix it up? The Trio is any three 5-packs for $165, and the Box Trio is any three 10-count boxes for $330.
Where do you ship?
Addresses in the United States. A few states have laws that make shipping tobacco too restrictive, so at present we cannot ship to California, Hawaii, or Utah. We also don’t ship to P.O. boxes or APO/FPO addresses.
When will my order arrive?
Orders ship within 1 to 3 business days, and transit usually takes 2 to 5 business days. You’ll get tracking by email as soon as it ships.
My cigars arrived damaged or dry. Now what?
Email us within 7 days of delivery with your order number and a photo, and we’ll replace or refund it. Details are in our Shipping & Returns Policy.
Can I return cigars?
Because cigars are a consumable, we can’t accept returns once an order ships. If something’s wrong with your order, we’ll make it right.
Do you sell to shops, bars, or events?
We’d love to talk. Email drew@boundcigars.com.
Still have a question?
Email drew@boundcigars.com and a real person will answer, usually within a business day. No question is too basic. That is the whole point of this page.