By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Mastering these skills will help you provide a professional and enjoyable cigar experience that guests will appreciate and remember.
Compiled by: Rose Akoth
Presenting cigars is an essential skill for bar keeping professionals, especially in Kenya’s vibrant hospitality sector where premium service quality defines customer experience. This chapter focuses on the terminology and practices fundamental to cigar presentation, ensuring that catering and accommodation managers can meet the expectations of discerning clientele. Mastery of these concepts enhances professionalism in luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, and exclusive lounges where cigar service is a valued offering.
Cigar service uses a small set of terms that staff must know before they can take an order or present a cigar correctly to a guest.
A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of fermented tobacco leaf, wrapped in a further tobacco leaf, smoked without inhaling deeply. A good cigar is stored in a humidor that keeps it at the right humidity, since a cigar that dries out becomes harsh and brittle, while one that is kept too damp burns unevenly and can develop mould. The cigar's band, the printed paper ring near the closed end, identifies its maker and size, and is conventionally left on while the cigar is being smoked rather than removed beforehand.
A cigar list is the menu of cigars an establishment offers, naming each one, its size, its country or region of origin and its price, so a guest can choose a cigar the way they would choose a wine from a wine list. A well-kept cigar list groups cigars by strength or size, making it easier for a guest unfamiliar with cigars to pick one that suits their taste and the time they have to enjoy it.
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Create a free accountThis chapter began by clarifying key terms related to cigar presentation and service, establishing a foundation for the procedures that follow. It then explored various methods of taking customer orders, emphasizing accuracy and attentiveness to preferences. The chapter detailed essential tools required for cigar service, highlighting their specific functions in ensuring a quality experience. Different types of cigars were examined, focusing on their unique characteristics to inform appropriate handling and presentation. Practical steps for presenting and serving cigars were outlined to maintain professionalism and customer satisfaction. The chapter addressed billing and payment processes, including common billing methods and acceptable payment options to facilitate smooth transactions. Final clearance procedures were discussed to ensure the service area remains orderly after customer departure. Lastly, proper waste disposal techniques were covered to maintain hygiene and compliance with health standards in bar keeping operations.
Type: Individual
| Tools & Equipment | Materials |
|---|---|
| Cigar cutter | Cigar |
| Cigar lighter | Cigar terminology glossary sheet |
| Cigar ashtray | |
| Pen | |
| Notebook |
| S/N | Item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cigar | 1 pc per Candidate |
| 2 | Cigar cutter | 1 pc per Candidate |
| 3 | Cigar lighter (butane or torch) | 1 pc per Candidate |
| 4 | Cigar ashtray | 1 pc per Candidate |
| 5 | Cigar terminology glossary sheet | 1 pc per Candidate |
| 6 | Pen and notebook | 1 set per Candidate |
| Items to be Evaluated | Marks Available | Marks Obtained | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| TASK 1: Observe hygiene and preparation | |||
| Candidate wears clean and pressed uniform (Award 1 mark for clean and pressed uniform or zero if otherwise) | 1 | ||
| Candidate has short clean nails with no nail polish (Award 1 mark for correct nail hygiene or zero if otherwise) | 1 | ||
| Candidate uses cigar cutter and lighter correctly and safely (Award 2 marks for correct and safe use or zero if unsafe or incorrect) | 2 | ||
| Candidate handles cigar with care and places it properly in ashtray (Award 1 mark for correct handling and placement or zero if otherwise) | 1 | ||
| Sub-Total | 5 | ||
| TASK 2: Identify and explain cigar terminology | |||
| Candidate correctly identifies at least 10 cigar terms (e.g. wrapper, filler, binder, ring gauge, vitola, cap, foot, draw, ash, burn) (Award 1 mark per correctly identified term, zero if incorrect or missing) | 10 | ||
| Candidate accurately explains the meaning of each identified term (Award 1 mark per accurate explanation, zero if explanation is incorrect or missing) | 10 | ||
| Sub-Total | 20 | ||
| PRODUCT CHECKLIST | |||
| Complete glossary sheet with all 10 terms identified and explained in candidate's own words (Award 5 marks if all 10 terms are clearly and correctly explained, zero if incomplete or inaccurate) | 5 | ||
| Sub-Total | 5 | ||
| GRAND TOTAL | 30 | ||
Type: Individual
| Tools & Equipment | Materials |
|---|---|
| Order pad | Cigar sample display box |
| Pen | |
| Cigar menu booklet |
| S/N | Item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order pad | 1 per Candidate |
| 2 | Pen | 1 per Candidate |
| 3 | Cigar menu booklet | 1 per Candidate |
| 4 | Customer seating area (mock setup) | Shared |
| 5 | Cigar sample display box | Shared |
| Items to be Evaluated | Marks Available | Marks Obtained | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| TASK 1: Observing hygiene and presentation standards | |||
| Wears clean and pressed uniform (Award 1 mark for clean and pressed uniform or zero if not) | 1 | ||
| Wears flat, clean closed shoes (Award 1 mark for flat, clean closed shoes or zero if not) | 1 | ||
| Has short clean nails with no nail polish (Award 1 mark for short clean nails with no polish or zero if not) | 1 | ||
| Keeps hands clean throughout the activity (Award 1 mark for hands kept clean throughout or zero if not) | 1 | ||
| No jewelry or makeup worn during the activity (Award 1 mark if no jewelry or makeup or zero if worn) | 1 | ||
| Sub-Total | 5 | ||
| TASK 2: Collecting and preparing to take cigar orders | |||
| Collects order pad, pen and cigar menu booklet before customer interaction (Award 2 marks for collecting all required equipment or zero if incomplete) | 2 | ||
| Approaches customer with confident and polite manner (Award 2 marks for confident and polite approach or zero if not) | 2 | ||
| Explains cigar options clearly using menu and display (Award 3 marks for clear explanation of cigar options or zero if unclear) | 3 | ||
| Uses appropriate communication techniques to confirm order details (Award 3 marks for effective communication or zero if ineffective) | 3 | ||
| Records the order accurately on the order pad without errors (Award 4 marks for accurate order recording or zero if errors present) | 4 | ||
| Confirms order with customer before finalizing (Award 3 marks for confirming order or zero if not done) | 3 | ||
| Sub-Total | 17 | ||
| TASK 3: Managing order taking environment and customer interaction | |||
| Maintains a neat and organized work area during order taking (Award 2 marks for neat and organized area or zero if cluttered) | 2 | ||
| Demonstrates positive attitude and patience with customer (Award 2 marks for positive attitude or zero if negative) | 2 | ||
| Answers customer questions knowledgeably and courteously (Award 3 marks for knowledgeable and courteous answers or zero if not) | 3 | ||
| Uses appropriate body language and eye contact (Award 2 marks for appropriate body language or zero if poor) | 2 | ||
| Sub-Total | 9 | ||
| PRODUCT CHECKLIST | |||
| Order pad contains complete and accurate cigar order with correct cigar names, quantities, and preferences (Award 15 marks for a fully accurate and legible order or zero if incomplete or incorrect) | 15 | ||
| Customer confirms satisfaction with order taking process (Award 4 marks if customer expresses satisfaction or zero if dissatisfied) | 4 | ||
| Sub-Total | 19 | ||
| GRAND TOTAL | 50 | ||
At the start of this chapter we promised you would be able to:
Tick each one you can genuinely do.
So, are you there yet?
You're competent when you can confidently do 50% or more of what this chapter promised.
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