Something, I never knew I needed to know about Cigar appreciation

[StingMeadery]

If you have learned something from your experience, that has refined your process and enhanced your experience I would really appreciate you taking the time to share it...from minor to major.

*I learned this last week, such a small detail but huge in effect.

A good friend and very experienced smoker and I were enjoying a stick last week, when he casually pointed out I was clipping too high up the cap thereby opening up the draw too much (a common mistake of newer smokers he said) and instead to take the barest end of the cap off, to condense the flavours...

Tried this last evening with a Vintage 1997 Siglo V and had a most splendid experience...

#somethingineverknewineededtoknow

[Colt45]

First thing that comes to mind for me is to take time between draws, and to not "over-smoke" a cigar.

Overall - the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know......

poundsigntwitterisstupidandinstagramistwitterforpeoplewhocantread

[StingMeadery]

Thanks Colt45, how many draws per minute do you recommend as optimal in your experience?

[Colt45]

how many draws per minute do you recommend as optimal in your experience?

I don't normally put a clock on it But there have been a few times where I've consciously decided to take time between draws - not usually measured in draws per minute, but draws per every few minutes. What I've found is that flavors tend to remain cleaner / truer - but this requires a properly blended and rolled cigar to start with.

Cigars should be a joy....

I don't always adhere to the above

[ramon_cojones]

one or two draws a minute or less, take your time and you will be rewarded

[TiminBC]

It maybe just me but when 'chew' on the exhale it seems to cause me to taste more.

[CooGAR]

Then there is the ol' trick of burning off the tar build up (and sometimes rancid/stale smoke taste) as a cigar gets toward the end of smoking and/or it won't stay lit.

1) Using your lighter, re-light the cigar until a flame is "jumping" from the lighter to the cigar (just like you do when you first light the cigar).

2) Once you get the nice flame and glow at the end, keep the lit lighter out at the end of the foot and BLOW for 5-6 seconds, maybe a little longer. Use a nice steady, but firm, stream of air out of the end. A nice flame with all kinds of colors (the tar burning off) will shoot out of the end of the cigar. After you are done blowing, let the flame go away - wait about 15-30 seconds - and your cigar will taste much better and stay lit....

[CaptainQuintero]

Draw as slow and shallow as you possibly can is my big tip.

Imagine being in a deathly silent room full of people with fantastic hearing, then trying to suck some cream out of a bearclaw/eclaire/profiterole with a straw from behind a table so no one notices why all the buns have no cream in them

Using your tongue to create the draw/suction rather than your lungs was a good one too.

[CaptainQuintero]

Oh, using a soft flame for relights too. I always find the burn stays even afterwards, plus no scorched/burnt flavours or 'too hot burn' straight away after the relight too

[dvickery]

the older a cigar is ... the more this needs to be done ... before cutting ... lick the cap and wait a few minutes ... if really old (say more than 15 years) lick cap wait repeat 3 or 4 times .

this prevents that annoying shattered cap that just leads to a crappy smoking experience .

derrek

[StingMeadery]

Fantastic tips guys, each one is golden...

Thanks for taking the time to share your collective wisdom.

It would be really great if someone on list (FOH/el president ?) could do an in depth video on perfect clipping technique.

Structured over a range of sizes and shapes, with the intention to provide perfect draw and flavour...

What cigars are best suited to clipping/punching/V-cutting and more importantly why.

I am interested in refining and enhancing my experience all round so looking to experienced list members as a resource

[bummy]

What I do Sting is Punch it ( unless it's a torpedo) then I cut it. I find the flavours are more intense with a punch, I can always cut it if the draw gets tight later.when first lighting it a take about 3 draws in the first minute to make sure the cherry of the cigar is well lit, then about 2 draws every minute & enjoy the great ride ! Hope that helps . Enjoy

[Smallclub]

It would be really great if someone on list (FOH/el president ?) could do an in depth video on perfect clipping technique.

Structured over a range of sizes and shapes, with the intention to provide perfect draw and flavour...

not to spoil your enthusiasm, but there is no "perfect clipping technique". Once you have tried all the possibilities and the tools (cutter, punch, scissors, etc.) it's a matter of preference.

MRN cut his cigars with his teeths…

[StingMeadery]

not to spoil your enthusiasm, but there is no "perfect clipping technique". Once you have tried all the possibilities and the tools (cutter, punch, scissors, etc.) it's a matter of preference.

MRN cut his cigars with his teeths…

Thanks for the low down. I have to agree Cigars like wine in the end all comes down to purely subjective experience...what floats your boat.

Will explore a few different possibilities and try punching one also.

Cheers

[Bclass1]

The only thing I can really impart is before you light anything up:

Feel the cigar by randomly squeezing the wrapper; this will give you a good sense of whether it may be underfilled or not.

Smell it - smell the foot, the body, and take note of the overall construction of that particular cigar..

Finally, make sure to do a pre-light draw on it a few times to see what types of flavors are revealed prior to enjoying.

These are the things I generally do. It relaxes me, puts me in a good smoking mood. Just my opinion..

[tommggeorge]

Then there is the ol' trick of burning off the tar build up (and sometimes rancid/stale smoke taste) as a cigar gets toward the end of smoking and/or it won't stay lit.

1) Using your lighter, re-light the cigar until a flame is "jumping" from the lighter to the cigar (just like you do when you first light the cigar).

2) Once you get the nice flame and glow at the end, keep the lit lighter out at the end of the foot and BLOW for 5-6 seconds, maybe a little longer. Use a nice steady, but firm, stream of air out of the end. A nice flame with all kinds of colors (the tar burning off) will shoot out of the end of the cigar. After you are done blowing, let the flame go away - wait about 15-30 seconds - and your cigar will taste much better and stay lit....

+10 on this. Had never heard of this trick but have tried it twice now with brilliant results. Takes a bunged up, tarry smoke in the final third back to a clean smoking beauty. I take my hat off to you sir. Don't know whether the flame in front of it is necessary but it seems to show you how long to keep blowing - the tars/gases/oils seem to be flammable and take much longer to purge than I would otherwise have guessed.

If you havent tried it - give it a go.

[Habana Mike]

Yes, the purge can do wonders. I've had some that looked like flares with the brightness and length of the flame during blow off....

It even works a third of the way through.

[Ghabanos]

What I do Sting is Punch it ( unless it's a torpedo) then I cut it. I find the flavours are more intense with a punch, I can always cut it if the draw gets tight later.when first lighting it a take about 3 draws in the first minute to make sure the cherry of the cigar is well lit, then about 2 draws every minute & enjoy the great ride ! Hope that helps . Enjoy

Ditto

[StingMeadery]

Loving this thread guys, really nice contributions!

Can't wait to try all the new techniques being shared

[Deodato]

Then there is the ol' trick of burning off the tar build up (and sometimes rancid/stale smoke taste) as a cigar gets toward the end of smoking and/or it won't stay lit.

1) Using your lighter, re-light the cigar until a flame is "jumping" from the lighter to the cigar (just like you do when you first light the cigar).

2) Once you get the nice flame and glow at the end, keep the lit lighter out at the end of the foot and BLOW for 5-6 seconds, maybe a little longer. Use a nice steady, but firm, stream of air out of the end. A nice flame with all kinds of colors (the tar burning off) will shoot out of the end of the cigar. After you are done blowing, let the flame go away - wait about 15-30 seconds - and your cigar will taste much better and stay lit....

+10 on this. Had never heard of this trick but have tried it twice now with brilliant results. Takes a bunged up, tarry smoke in the final third back to a clean smoking beauty. I take my hat off to you sir. Don't know whether the flame in front of it is necessary but it seems to show you how long to keep blowing - the tars/gases/oils seem to be flammable and take much longer to purge than I would otherwise have guessed.

If you havent tried it - give it a go.

+11. Brilliant tip! Wish I had known of this years ago. Thanks for posting.

[melies]

I have found that sometimes with young cigars you can get something like a tar buildup in the back of the cigar (where your mouth is that can turn a great cigar horrible. If you cut off the part where the tar builds up, the cigar magically becomes great again. (repeat if necesary)

[Jimmy2]

not to spoil your enthusiasm, but there is no "perfect clipping technique". Once you have tried all the possibilities and the tools (cutter, punch, scissors, etc.) it's a matter of preference.

MRN cut his cigars with his teeths…

I agree with Smallclub ... Just try the different methods others here posted and see what works for you ..

I use my nail to cut the cap off ....

[BonVivant]

LITERAture

[mk05]

...something from your experience, that has refined your process and enhanced your experience...

Literature x2

[garbandz]

wet the wrapper with water before lighting up.this will prevent splitting and rejuvenate the wrapper giving a more flavorful smoke.

take gentle,slow draws,you should not see a red hot coal at the foot of your cigar.

draw once not twice each time,double puffing only heats the foot up.

gently purge the cigar a couple of times,this is most useful after half way.