| Smoking a cigar is very unlike smoking a cigarette. | | | | regulates the amount of oxygen the cherry receives |
| The right time to ash a cigarette is when the ash | | | | and, thus regulates the overall temperature of the |
| becomes inconveniently long. The tobacco in | | | | burn. As any smoker is aware, the first puff off of a |
| cigarettes is cheap and hot-burning. Conversely, the | | | | cigar is usually the hottest. The temperature of the |
| tobacco in a cigar is expensive and burns best when | | | | smoke mellows as ash is generated. |
| it's kept at a lower temperature. This ensures the | | | | The ash also affects how easily one can draw off of |
| very best flavor. | | | | the cigar. Of course, a thicker, heavier ash means |
| Figuring out how much of an ash gives the best | | | | that it will be a harder draw for the smoker. No ash |
| flavor will depend not only on the smoker's | | | | means that the draw will be very easy but also may |
| preference but on the cigar in question. Some cigars | | | | mean that the ember will be burning too hot to |
| will burn hotter than others and, thus, need more of | | | | ensure quality flavor. The art of cigar smoking |
| an ash. Remember that the first few puffs of a cigar | | | | involves finding a happy medium between the two. It |
| will be the point at which the ash is at its hottest. | | | | may take some time but, then again, all worthwhile |
| Cigar lighters, such as Colibri lighters, oftentimes have | | | | things have that quality to them. |
| a very hot flame and the first few puffs are not | | | | The cigar ash may still have some very hot embers |
| representative of the overall flavor of the cigar | | | | within it, so keep this in mind when smoking in |
| owning to the heat. Once an ash is generated, the | | | | outdoor locations. Especially in areas with dry grass or |
| real flavor begins. | | | | wood, this can pose a risk of fire. To make sure the |
| While a cigar is certainly hot, it should not be so hot | | | | ash is cooled, flick it first into the palm of the hand |
| that it affects the taste of the tobacco. This is why | | | | and then toss it to the wind once one is sure it's |
| very powerful lighters, such as the various Lotus | | | | cooled off. Aside from determining the flavor of a |
| torch lighter models, are held a bit away from the | | | | cigar, the ash presents one of the hazards of |
| cigar during the lighting process. To burn, fire or | | | | smoking and should be watched. |
| embers require fuel, oxygen and heat. The ash | | | | |