Slow smoking tips and tricks

[LordAnubis]

Im doing a slow smoking competition today. Smoking some NC garbage at the local lounge. WHat are your tips for slow smoking? Im thinking jsut take a slow short puff every 45seconds. A behike on the line for the winner. Whats your advice?

[JohnS]

At the very least, hold the stogie upright or vertical after every puff. If you can, draw from the cigar whilst holding it vertically too.

[oneizzzz]

Not an expert, but I'd say keep as much ash as possible to maintain the heat of the ember without having to keep drawing on it.  Good luck!  A Behike is a pretty effing nice prize...

[Fuzz]

Loosely draw on the cigar, ie don't get a good seal with your lips around the cigar. That way you partially draw on the cigar and the air around it. Don't ash, it will help insulate the cherry. John is right. Treat it like a long ash comp and hold it vertical.

Are there any relight limits or is it just one light and then you go till the cigar goes out?

[Bradr84]

I think it's all about paying attention to the cigar. Different gages and tobaccos will smoke differently. Keep the cherry cool, yet still burning. Inspect and appreciate the cigar after each draw. Don't overthink it, be aware and just enjoy it. 

[smbauerllc]

I think it's all about paying attention to the cigar. Different gages and tobaccos will smoke differently. Keep the cherry cool, yet still burning. Inspect and appreciate the cigar after each draw. Don't overthink it, be aware and just enjoy it. 

I would agree with this.

I have a naturally fast smoking pace and have been really working on slowing myself down to enjoy my smokes for longer and keep from overwhelming my palate.

Reading the forums while smoking also really helps slow me down.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[nKostyan]

Cut the head into a full ring, this will give an even combustion. Exclude the punch or V-cutter

[Cairo]

13 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

WHat are your tips for slow smoking?

Great thread--thanks for raising this topic.    I always need more tips on this.

[djrey]

Don't worry about relighting. I smoke at a slower pace and on a robusto size cigar I may retoast the edges 5 or so times throughout. Robustos can last anywhere from hour 15 to an hour 45 depending upon construction. Additionally, many people mention an underweight cigar will burn quicker due to the increased oxygen flow. This is true but there is a very effective way to cure it. After cutting touch your tongue to the cut end over and over until you get the draw you want. Your saliva swells the tobacco creating the perfect draw. With that technique it solves most problems with a loose pack. 

[Bijan]

3 minutes ago, djrey said:

Don't worry about relighting. I smoke at a slower pace and on a robusto size cigar I may retoast the edges 5 or so times throughout.

This is a competition where he may not be allowed to relight or touch up.

[djrey]

Just now, Bijan said:

This is a competition where he may not be allowed to relight or touch up.

Lol and that's what I get for reading too fast 😆

[ParkitoATL]

4 hours ago, djrey said:

After cutting touch your tongue to the cut end over and over until you get the draw you want. Your saliva swells the tobacco creating the perfect draw. With that technique it solves most problems with a loose pack.

That's a great idea! Thanks.

 

17 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

Im doing a slow smoking competition today. Smoking some NC garbage at the local lounge. WHat are your tips for slow smoking? Im thinking jsut take a slow short puff every 45seconds. A behike on the line for the winner. Whats your advice?

I would probably set my iPhone timer for 60-75 seconds, and every time it buzzes, hit repeat and take a slow draw.

[bassistheplace]

focus man, focus!

[DeskSmkr]

NC?! You are going to win this competition. NC is almost cheating, they usually stay lit easier.

Start with your physical location in the area - choose dimly lit over bright so you can see the wrapper burn line glowing all the way around.

Start with a patient, even toasting to get it lit. Spend a little extra time and butane ensuring even thorough lite. You are off to a proper start.

I think you are onto something with the 45 seconds, good solid strategy, plus or minus to keep the foot burning evenly. Look at the lit end and keep just hot enough to have circumference of wrapper burning all the way around at each 45 second interval. Light short puffs to add heat and ignite the stubborn edges of wrapper. Look at the wrapper edge and watch the glowing part ignite the wrapper after the puff, puff again slightly if the glowing line stops short of complete circumference glowing. Don't puff to a complete glow, let the wrapper glow travel across the burn line after a puff and repuff only if needed.

Start with shorter intervals to strengthen that even lite, then space out, and shorten puff intervals again as needed because often at the end of a cigar, more frequent and light puffing may be needed to keep it lit.  Puffing too frequently initially often results in less smoke for some reason.

You have plenty of time and everyone is under the same limits as you. This is a long game, finish to win. Accept any mistakes you become aware of and adapt your strategy. Focus on breathing in slowly and out slowly, filling belly not chest. Focus on your cigar only. Flavor takes second place here. Keep the ash, let it fall if it does. Remove the ash tray from your area.

Breath slowly in and out, focus on your cigar's burn, send a picture of the behike after winning.

 

[LordAnubis]

Well to report back. Epic fail. I was going ok to the half way mark and then bam, cigar suddenly went out. I was holding it up right so maybe the tars or whatever had all collected at one point... who knows. Ultimately I thought i relit it and continued on even if i was out of the comp, but still only managed an hour and 40 mins on a 6 inch cigar. The winner was going well over two hours.

[westg]

Why torture yourself 🥺

[LordAnubis]

3 hours ago, westg said:

Why torture yourself 🥺

You’re torture. 

[DeskSmkr]

Ah yes one of the few that suddenly self extinguish - bum cigar is all, happens to everyone, better luck next time! Thank you for sharing the event, I'm living vicariously on this one

[Fuzz]

4 hours ago, americanom said:

Are there people here who smoke, for example, a pipe?

Firstly, welcome to FOH. It is customary to introduce yourself here.

Secondly, I direct you to the Pipe Smoking sub-forum.

 

 

[BrightonCorgi]

An egg timer.

[Capn_Jackson]

This is a thing? I should compete in one. I get sometimes two hours or more from a robusto or Corona gorda. I had no idea there were competitions! Learn something new everyday.