subject: When To Ash A Cigar To Achieve The Best Smoke [print this page] Cigar smoking can be a very enjoyable experience, but there are some tips to keep in mind which make it even more enjoyable still. One of the key things to keep in mind is that you want to keep your cigar burning cool. So, we're going to be looking at a number of ways to make sure that your cigar does just that; stays burning cool. First, we'll look at how often (or rather, slowly) you should draw on your cigar. Then, we'll consider the issue of when you should ash it. Finally, we'll get a brief introduction to keeping it fresh in a humidor.
What does the length of the ash have to do with the temperature of a lit cigar? In order for a cigar ember to remain lit, it requires fuel, heat and oxygen. The tobacco and a lighter serve as the fuel and heat sources. Oxygen allows the cigar to be lit, and a greater amount of oxygen will reach the embers when you draw in air through the cigar. A longer ash serves as a barrier that will decrease the amount of oxygen that you are able to draw into the cigar thus reducing how high the temperature of your smoke is able to rise.
Another question you might have is, "How long should I wait to ash my cigar?" That's a good question. On the one hand, the longer the better. That ash keeps your cigar burning cool. On the other hand, you don't want it to fall on your clothes. A good rule of thumb to go by here is that you want to let at least an inch form prior to ashing. That should give you the best of both worlds.
Another consideration when ashing your cigar will be based on etiquette. Waiting too long to ash will inevitably lead to ash spilling on your clothes, furniture, the carpet, or anywhere else besides the ashtray.
Of course, some smokers prefer to ash their cigars before the one-inch mark. This is really all about personal preference. You'll need to smoke for a little while before you can determine what your preference is - a warm smoke, hot smoke or cool smoke. In addition, the length of your ash will somewhat be dictated by where you are, and the reason you're smoking. For example, if you're smoking to rate a cigar, a cooler smoke than usual might be in order to get all the flavors.
