Questionable article on cigar ash / cone

[jacksfull]

I came across an article about cigar ash. Basic stuff, and not very well written, but professing to cover ALL the "mysterious" details. Some bits of good info, some urban myth. Typical... other than the fact that it was an informational page on a vendor's website selling CC's while giving conflicting info on "white ash" (so I won't link it)... at least, it was typical until I got to this tidbit I never heard before:

"...it is also important that shape of the burning end of the cigar is exposed after the ash has fallen off. If you are smoking for a long period, the burning end can take the most various forms from a small hollow in the middle with harshly bevelled (sic) edges to an absolutely level burning surface. But it is considered that the perfect shape of the burning end is a cone.

Why a cone? It is connected with the structure of the cigar. The roller starts making a cigar with a leaf known as ligero. This leaf lying in the very center of the cigar gives all the taste. The ligero leaf is gathered from the very top of the tobacco plant, and it contains the greatest amount of nicotine, sugar and complex gustatory compounds. Therefore no wonder that it burns longer than the other tobacco leaves used to make up a cigar. And the burning end of the cigar has a conical form exactly because this leaf takes the longest time to burn.

The percentage of ligero leaves varies depending on the tobacco blend for every cigar. As a result, the cones can have either sharp or blunt shape. But no matter what they are, conical shape for the burning end of a cigar with a thin layer of ash is the ideal one."

I call BS. Even cigarettes and MM's with chopped filler burn in a cone shape.

Furthermore, it's clear to me that oxygen for combustion is drawn more from the side than straight down the middle of the cigar. You can see the coal brighten around the rim when you draw and side of the ash usually shows ridges... indents where it was burning hot on the draw and higher rings where the cigar was resting at "slow burn" (or maybe vice-versa). That's got to be a big part of why the wrapper contributes so much to the taste... it's the part that's on "rapid burn" when you draw, and seemingly producing much of the smoke. I've got to believe that's why you get the classic cone shaped coal... because the fuel and oxygen meet at the rim and the center is buffered enough to trail slightly.

Mind you, I'm not saying the filler doesn't contribute to the taste, and certainly Ligero should be a prominent note. But, ALL THE TASTE? Nah.

And sharp versus rounded cone depending on the amount of Ligero? I suppose that could be, but I'm skeptical.

I'm willing to stand corrected if I'm wrong here. I admit that I'm winging it... but I think the author was too. He seems to have put two and two together and come up with five... then published it as fact!

[samb]

Hmm, both points seem to make sense to me, but Im not all too knowledgeable in the science behind the cigar and smoking. But if I really think it about it, your theory is better held true with science as opposed to the ligero content. Hopefully someone with more/better knowledge will chime in.

[zuma]

I call BS. Even cigarettes and MM's with chopped filler burn in a cone shape.

Furthermore, it's clear to me that oxygen for combustion is drawn more from the side than straight down the middle of the cigar. You can see the coal brighten around the rim when you draw and side of the ash usually shows ridges... indents where it was burning hot on the draw and higher rings where the cigar was resting at "slow burn" (or maybe vice-versa). That's got to be a big part of why the wrapper contributes so much to the taste... it's the part that's on "rapid burn" when you draw, and seemingly producing much of the smoke. I've got to believe that's why you get the classic cone shaped coal... because the fuel and oxygen meet at the rim and the center is buffered enough to trail slightly.

I agree 100% with your view... for a homogeneously humidified cigar with relatively homogeneous construction (that is, the air intake thru is homogenous), burn rate is limited by oxygen diffusion. That is why cigarrettes and tripa corta cigars do show the conical shape (the angle being determined by the draw rate). Also, a dry boxed cigar will tend to be forced to form a cone, as the wrapper and outer layers are drier (and more easily combustible).

[StumpyJoe]

Hi All,

I unfortunately cannot recall the source, however, I remember being perplexed on this subject as well. I recall when smoking NCs I would always get a cone but very infequently with CCs. I heard the reason came with how the filler tobacco was handled...if it was rolled no cone...if it was bunched then a cone would appear. The theory mentioned bunching is a much easier skill and much faster than rolling the filler leaves...which is why NCs have people that just bunch...and in Cuba they still have rollers that build the cigar start to finish...tho that is going by the wayside as well.

Great question, will enjoy all the other theories.