The first real cold snap always brings the same question at the lounge: do we move inside, or do we find a way to keep smoking outside? If your home, your spouse, or your local ordinance has already made that call for you, the patio is not retiring for the season. It just needs a plan.
A good winter setup is not complicated or expensive. It comes down to heat, wind, gear, and a few adjustments to how you smoke. Get those right and some of your best cigars of the year will happen when there’s frost on the railing.
Start With Heat
Cold is the real enemy. Cold hands fumble cutters and lighters, and a chilled cigar smokes differently than one at room temperature. Aim to keep yourself warm first, and the cigar will follow.
- Propane patio heaters. The tall, free-standing mushroom style puts out the most heat and covers a small seating area. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a solid one. Keep it at least a few feet from anything flammable and never run it in an enclosed space.
- Tabletop heaters. A smaller propane or electric unit works well on a covered porch when you’re sitting alone or with one other person.
- Fire pits. Nothing beats the look and feel of a real fire, but smoke from the pit can compete with your cigar’s aroma. Sit upwind and use seasoned hardwood, which burns cleaner.
- Electric infrared heaters. If you have a covered, ventilated porch and an outlet, these deliver focused warmth with no flame.
Whatever you choose, read the manufacturer’s clearance and ventilation instructions. Heaters and enclosed spaces are where winter smoking goes wrong.
Deal With the Wind
Wind ruins more winter smokes than temperature does. It makes a cigar burn hot and fast on one side, and it makes lighting a frustrating exercise.
- Use a windproof lighter. A soft-flame butane lighter will blow out the moment a breeze shows up. Choose a double- or triple-jet torch lighter, or a lighter with a windscreen. Several good options sit in the $20 to $40 range.
- Add a windbreak. A privacy screen, a patio wall, or even a strategically placed planter can cut the breeze dramatically. Position your seat so your back is to the wind.
- Rotate the cigar. If one side starts running ahead, turn it slowly as you puff to even out the burn.
Dress for a Long, Slow Smoke
A cigar can take an hour or more, and you’ll be sitting still the whole time. That’s very different from a walk around the block.
- Layer up. A base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a windproof outer shell beat one thick coat.
- Warm your hands. Fingerless gloves or thin leather gloves let you handle the cigar and cutter without freezing. Hand warmers in your pockets are cheap and effective.
- Insulate your seat. A wool blanket or a cushion keeps cold from creeping up through the chair.
- Keep a hat on. A lot of body heat leaves through your head, and a beanie costs almost nothing.
Adjust Your Cigar Choices
Cold air changes how a cigar behaves, so pick accordingly.
- Go slightly larger or fuller. A robusto or toro gives you a long, steady burn and more flavor to hold up against cold air that dulls your palate. Many smokers find medium-to-full bodied blends shine in winter.
- Skip the delicate stuff. Very mild, nuanced cigars can feel muted when you’re cold. Save those for warmer evenings.
- Expect a slower burn. Cold slows combustion, and you may need to puff a little more often to keep the cigar lit.
- Warm the cigar first. Keep your cigar in an inside pocket, not an outer one, so it doesn’t arrive cold and stiff. A cold wrapper is also more likely to crack when you cut it.
Pick the Right Drink
Winter is when drinks do double duty as hand warmers.
- Bourbon or rye over a single large ice cube, or neat if you prefer.
- Hot coffee or espresso pairs well with chocolatey, earthy cigars.
- Spiced hot cider, with or without a splash of rum, is a perfect cold-weather companion.
- A thermos of hot tea for the nights you want to keep your head clear.
If you’re drinking spirits, remember that alcohol makes you feel warmer without actually keeping you warm. Don’t let it fool you into staying out in dangerous cold.
Protect Your Humidor Too
Winter changes the inside of your house as much as the outside. Heated indoor air is dry, which can pull moisture from your collection faster than you’d expect.
- Check your hygrometer more often than usual.
- Refresh your humidification element before it’s completely spent.
- Don’t leave cigars sitting outside in freezing conditions. Bring only what you plan to smoke and return the rest to the humidor.
A Simple Winter Patio Checklist
Before you head outside, run through this list:
- Heater positioned safely and tested.
- Windbreak in place and seat angled out of the breeze.
- Torch lighter and a spare, charged and filled.
- Blanket, gloves, and layers ready.
- Drink in hand, preferably a warm one.
- A cigar with enough size and strength to last the evening.
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to hang up your lighter when the temperature drops. A decent heater, a good windbreak, the right lighter, and a little preparation turn a cold patio into one of the best seats in the house. Cold air makes a good cigar taste crisp and a good evening feel earned.
What does your winter setup look like? Share it with us on Instagram at @secondthirdcigar.