How to Smoke a Cigar Safari Style: A Beginner's Guide to Smoking Backwards

Ever pulled a cigar out of the box and found the cap cracked or unraveling? Don't toss it. There's an old trick that saves it: you smoke a cigar safari style. I'm Gerard from Mardo Cigars, and I'll explain exactly what cigar safari style is, when to use it, and how to do it step by step. It's the easiest way to rescue a damaged premium cigar.

What Does "Smoke a Cigar Safari Style" Mean?

Smoking a cigar safari style simply means smoking it backwards. Instead of lighting the foot (the open end) and drawing from the cap, you flip it. You light the cap end and draw from the foot. It sounds strange, but there's a good reason for it. Say you open a box and one cigar has a cracked cap or is unraveling. A bad cap ruins the draw and the whole experience. So instead of fighting it, you turn the cigar around. The damaged end becomes the end you light, and it just burns away into ash. That's cigar safari style.

When Should You Use It?

Cigars are natural products, and sometimes they arrive damaged. A cracked cap, a loose wrapper, or a deep split down the middle can happen in shipping. If the damage is small, you can often fix it with cigar glue (more on that below). But sometimes the crack is too deep. It might affect not just the wrapper but the binder too. Gluing that takes forever to dry and still smokes poorly. That's exactly when safari style shines. I once had a Partagas Serie P No. 2, a pricey Cuban that's hard to find, with a badly cracked cap. Rather than waste it, I smoked it safari style and salvaged the whole cigar.

A Word on Cigar Glue

For minor damage, a little cigar glue works wonders. The product I use is called Perfec Repair. It's basically the same xanthan gum that rollers use to seal the seams of a wrapper. It's thick, almost like a resin, and it dries clear. A dab over a small crack or a lifting cap can hold it together for a normal smoke. But there's a limit. If the crack is deep and wide, you'd need so much glue that it takes forever to dry and smokes badly. When you hit that point, skip the glue and go safari style instead.

How to Smoke a Cigar Safari Style (Step by Step)

You may hear a little crackling from loose leaves, and you might need to touch up the burning end with your lighter now and then. That's normal for a damaged cigar. But the end you draw from is clean and smooth, so the actual smoking experience stays enjoyable. Go slow and let it settle.

Is It Worth It?

For a cheap cigar, maybe not, just grab another one. But for a rare or expensive stick, absolutely. Cuban and limited cigars aren't easy to replace, so saving one is a real win. Safari style also comes in handy on the go, when you don't have glue or a spare cigar. It's a good trick to keep in your back pocket. And once your cigars arrive safely, keep them in top shape so damage doesn't happen in the first place, our guide on how to store cigars covers the basics.

How to Avoid Damaged Cigars in the First Place

Safari style is a great rescue trick, but the best fix is prevention. Most cigar damage comes from dry, brittle wrappers or rough handling. Keep your cigars at steady humidity so the wrapper stays supple and less likely to crack. Handle them gently, and don't cram too many into a tight space. When you buy, check the wrapper for splits before you commit. And if a box arrives in cold or hot weather, let the cigars rest for a few days before you smoke them. A little care up front means fewer safari-style rescues later.

Watch: Smoking a Cigar Safari Style

Prefer to see it in action? Here's the full Mondays with Mardo episode where I salvage a damaged Cuban: