Cigar Purging?

[maestrobasser]

I purge before each draw. The goal is to ensure the entire foot of the cigar is lit vs. purging stale smoke.

As a cigar rests (the time between draws where you tell lies about your high school youth :smile it cools from the outside in. When you draw in after a few minutes of rest, you are most likely to draw only the filler tobaccos. At the end of your draw you might get some binder and wrapper.

Since a cigar is a blend of tobaccos, you want to smoke them all at the same time. Blow through the cigar until you see a uniform red ring on the outside of the foot, then draw in.

To experience different flavors, try taking smaller then larger draws. There are dramatic differences in flavor depending on size, blend and length of draw.

Wow, that sounds like a whole lot of "take something you really enjoy and make it more like a job".

I have never purged, and I enjoy my smokes fine from start to finish.

 

[srduggins]

I usually purge my smokes when the burn goes awry, and since I often smoke outdoors in the wind, that happens frequently, or in the last third if the flavor turns sour.

 

[Mickeymorris626]

I personally would rather have "stale" smoke than a super hot smoke. I usually don't take a puff off my cigar if I see a cherry on the end of it. I feel that ruins the flavor more than anything.

That being said, I do purge, but I let it sit for a bit before I take another draw. I feel a purge after the first and second third of the cigar really opens up the flavor and slows down tar buildup a bit

 

[Rev]

Wow, that sounds like a whole lot of "take something you really enjoy and make it more like a job".

I have never purged, and I enjoy my smokes fine from start to finish.

I learned this technique from Carlito Fuente back at an event in '91 or '92. To take it a few steps further:

After drawing in, keep your mouth open for a second or two to let the smoke cool.
Close your mouth for a second or two, holding the smoke in.
Blow the smoke out and then smack your palette.
The flavors will really stand out using this technique.