A cigar party is an excellent way to celebrate significant achievements, be it a promotion, business deal or victory in a competition. If people in your circle enjoy cigars, you will have a good time with great conversations and fantastic cigars. 

Hosting a successful cigar party requires preparation — you definitely want to impress your guests, and you need to prepare adequately to do so. If you've never hosted a cigar party before or are looking for new ideas, we've got tips on how to throw the perfect cigar party.

Planning a Cigar Party 

A cigar party is not just any party. The mention of cigar parties brings to mind scenes of sophistication, ambience, class and indulgence in life's finest things. Here's a quick overview of throwing a cigar party: 

• Choosing a theme: While not every cigar party has to be lavish or exclusive, you'll want to set the right mood for the party, and a theme can help. Themes help dictate the dress code for the attendants, let your guests know what to expect and set the tone for the party. 
•  Booking a venue: Carefully choose the party location. One key consideration is to choose a location where people won't be affected by the clouds of smoke. For example, if you decide to host the party in your home, ensure there is enough ventilation. The basement could be an ideal location where you and your guests can enjoy the party without worrying about the rest of the house. If you're hosting a cigar party in public spaces like clubs or restaurants, first find out if smoking is allowed.
• Creating an ambience: Create a relaxed environment that will make each of your guests comfortable. If you're hosting your party at night, play around with the lights to create the perfect atmosphere for the night and keep the conversations going. 

With those three tips in mind, let's explore how to throw a cigar party step by step.

1. Create Your Guest List

It's not a party without company! The people make the party. The shared meals, drinks, conversations, catching up, networking, show of dance moves and more — it's impossible to enjoy these activities without the right company. Since you're the host, you're in charge of preparing a guest list and sending invitations. 

Since this is a smoking event, avoid inviting nonsmokers who don't enjoy the clouds of smoke. You can definitely still invite nonsmoker friends who don't mind the smoke. And if you know people who are curious to explore the world of cigars, you can invite them, too.

Your venue and the number of people it can accommodate will help determine your guest list — you can't have 20 people in a room that only accommodates 10. Considering smoking requires adequate ventilation, squeezing more people in your room might spoil the atmosphere. The management of the club or restaurant will let you know the number of people the venue can accommodate. 

2. Book the Venue

You can set up a date and book a venue once you have prepared your guest list. Choose a date, time and location that is convenient for all your guests. Send invitations well in advance to give your guests enough time to prepare for the event. 

Indoor vs. Outdoor Parties

When it comes to choosing a venue for your cigar party, you have many options, including those we've already mentioned, like clubs and restaurants. You can also host an outdoor event if the weather is nice, or you can mix things up at a venue that allows for both indoor and outdoor celebrations. This is a great option if you're expecting a high number of people. An outdoor venue is also ideal if you host smokers and nonsmokers because you can set a location where the nonsmokers can sit to avoid the smoke. 

If you're hosting your party outdoors, you'll have additional factors to consider. For example, what type of cover or tent will you use to protect your guests from the sun during the day? You should also make arrangements to ensure there will be enough parking space for your guests. 

Cigar Lounges

Cigar lounges may allow you to book an event, and, in some cases, they may let you bring your own cigars. However, keep in mind that cigar lounges may not provide the preferred ambience or atmosphere for your guests. Plus, the type of crowd, experience levels or age ranges that cigar bars and lounges cater to may not be inviting to your guests. If you have a very specific idea for your cigar party, you may want to host the party at home or at a venue where you can better control the ambience or decor.

When booking a venue, choose a convenient location for your guests. From there, you can customize your cigar partying experience by organizing a menu and fun events that may not be available in the bars and lounges. 

3. Decide What to Serve

It's a cigar party, but those are not the only things you'll serve your guests, You want them to be entertained and feel comfortable throughout the party, so you may also serve drinks, food, or snacks.

Cigars

Cigars are the stars of the party, and you should choose the highest quality brands for your guests. If any of your guests are cigar connoisseurs, they'll probably have high expectations about the type of cigars that will be provided. You can also allow your guests to come with their preferred cigars. If you're the one providing the cigars, make sure to have a variety of cigars to cater to the preferences of your guests.

The main types of cigars you can serve include:

• Milder cigars.
• Medium-bodied cigars.
• Full-bodied cigars.

You can also consult your vendor about cigar party favors. For example, they may offer customized cigars, and if you're hosting a birthday party, you can ask for the birthday person's name on the label. You can also include a personalized message on the label. 

Don't forget to provide cigar accessories at the party. You don't want your guests to use knives to cut their premium hand-rolled cigars, so you need a razor-sharp cigar cutter on standby. You also need a torchlighter and ashtrays. 

And here's an extra tip — you may get offers or discounted prices if you buy cigars in bulk for a party. 

Beverages

Your guests might expect alcohol, but this depends on the party's theme, location and type of crowd you're hosting. From aged whiskey to fine wine, you have a wide selection of beverages to choose from. Ciders or nonalcoholic spirits make good nonalcoholic options. Knowing your guests' tastes will help you choose the right drinks for them.

Meals

Your menu should be based on the cigars you serve. Rich and robust full-bodied cigars pair well with rich flavors, such as lamb and steak. Cigars with spicy notes go great with smoked ribs, grilled sausage or brisket. For guests who prefer lighter cigars, you can serve whitefish, pork medallions or chicken. Whether you prepare full-blown meals or serve snacks, choose tasty food items.

4. Plan Music and Activities

The next step is to choose fun music and activity options for your guests. 

Music

A good party should have a good mix of entertainment and quiet time that allows for conversations. For example, you can play loud music to get things going before quieting things down to ensure your guests don't have to shout at each other to make conversations. Whether you've curated the playlist yourself or hired a live musician, make sure the music doesn't overwhelm your guests and still allows them to enjoy their conversations.

Your guest list will determine the type of music to play. A good host tries to accommodate each guest's music taste as much as possible. Alternatively, ask your guests what they'd like you to play as they enjoy their cigars.

Activities 

While the cigars remain the star, your party is about more than smoking. Plan some fun activities for your guests to partake in throughout the night. Liven up the party by planning games like cigar trivia or bringing in a professional for a cigar-rolling demonstration. A chessboard or simple deck of cards can do the trick, and you can also seek venues that offer foosball or pool tables. You can also plan your party on the same day as the big game and watch it on TV.

5. Enlist Help 

You may need extra help planning and setting up your cigar party, especially if you're hosting it at home. You may need people to help you prepare and serve food to your guests, set up sitting areas for an outdoor cigar party and clean up after the party. You can enlist the help of a few friends, hire caterers to take care of the food or bring in cigar professionals to host demonstrations. 

6. Choose a Theme

Some parties are celebrations of milestones or achievements. In these cases, the theme or activities should be centered on the occasion. Other parties are regular hangouts where friends meet to catch up. The following are examples of cigar party ideas you can adopt depending on the occasion:

• Birthdays: You can throw a cigar birthday party for yourself, a relative or a friend. The party can include regular birthday activities like sharing a birthday cake. Make arrangements to ensure nonsmokers at the birthday party are comfortable. 
• Corporate events: This cigar party is perfect for business professionals celebrating a milestone or achievement. A company that organizes a cigar event demonstrates a commitment to providing exceptional experiences to its partners, clients, employees and other stakeholders. 
• Cigar and whiskey: At these cigar parties, cigars are paired with various whiskies, and guests can find their favorite combinations. 
• Cigar education: You can invite knowledgeable experts to offer cigar education sessions to your guests. The attendants will learn more about the art of smoking, including how to light, properly cut and enjoy a cigar. These sessions add an educational and interactive element to the party and engage your guests on a deeper level.
• Cigar pairings: Provide your guests with cigar and beverage pairings by presenting a selection of wines, craft beers or spirits that complement the flavors of the cigars. Unlike the cigar and whiskey party, this party includes other types of drinks and may attract a bigger crowd.
• Custom cigar bands: Offer your guests custom cigar bands that feature a special message for your event. For example, if you own a company and you're hosting a cigar party for your clients or partners, the custom bands can feature your company logo. 

You can also provide your guests with notebooks and pens, especially if you have cigar education sessions during your party. These notebooks come in handy when your guests find flavor profiles they love and want to purchase for themselves. 

7. Decide on a Dress Code

As the host, you can choose a specific dress code based on the party's theme. You don't want your guests to be dressed too formally for a casual party and vice versa. When you announce your preferred dress code, your guests won't have to wonder what to wear to a cigar party. 

If you encourage your guests to bring their friends along, make sure to relay the dress code to them, too. Also, remember that too many restrictions on the dress code may discourage some from attending. You can give broad recommendations, such as cocktail or business casual attire, but you'll want to ensure guests don't feel too limited. 

8. Promote Your Event

Are you hosting a cigar party open to the public? You'll need to identify the right platforms to reach your target audience. For example, if you're hosting a corporate cigar party open to specific professionals or players in a particular industry, you must know where to reach them. You can use both traditional and modern tools to promote the cigar party, including: 

• E-mail.
• Co-op advertising.
• Sponsorships.
• In-store promotions.
• Podcasts.
• YouTube videos.
• Facebook Groups. 
• Posters and flyers. 

9. Have a Cleanup Plan

Many people forget one of the most important parts of hosting any party — the cleanup. Even the most respectful guests can accidentally make a mess, so the last part of hosting your party should be cleaning up the venue. Empty the ashtrays and open the windows to let fresh air in. You don't have to worry about cleaning up if you've hired a club or restaurant for the party, but you can still try not to leave a giant mess behind. 

10. Decide Whether Your Cigar Parties Will Be Recurring

Do you plan on hosting regular cigar parties? One thing you'd want to avoid is monotony. The same seating arrangement, theme, dress code or venue can make the parties lose their spark with time. You'll have to be creative and spontaneous and come up with different ideas for each cigar party you're hosting. Create a unique theme for each party and let your guests know about the different activities, dress codes or food. 

Get Your Cigars for Your Cigar Party From Corona Cigar Co.

Whether you're hosting a birthday cigar party, a corporate cigar birthday or just a regular hangout with your friends over cigars and drinks, you should get the right cigars with the right flavors for your guests. Corona Cigar Co. offers many cigar brands from the United States, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua to ensure you don't miss out on your favorite flavors. Shop cigars and cigar accessories online to place your order for your next cigar party!