The Ash?

[ciggy]

I was wondering the take on a cigars ash. Does a cigars ash have anything to do with the quality of the cigar. I've had white, grey, and dark ash on a number of cigars I've liked and disliked however this seems to be an issue among cigar talk.
Does this ash issue mean anything to you? :scratchhe

 

[BrandonJ]

I am not sure that it means anything, but I feel when an ash is nice and long it could mean the cigar is rolled/packed firmly and humidified properly. It also helps the cigar smoke cooler if the ash is holding, thereby letting you enjoy more of those complex flavors and not turning the cigar acidic/harsh.

 

[tedski]

I'm a guy ... so I prefer a nice firm ash. :halfgrinw

 

[diesel]

The appearance of the cigars ash has to do with the soil the tobacco was grown in. I don't believe that a lighter or a darker ash is an indicator of a good cigar, but more of a fetish. Some of the most popular cigars in the word have a darker ash. I have noticed that before a bit off aging, some cigars ash appears closer to black.

 

[VillageIdiot]

Yeah. It's all about the nutrients in the soil.

 

[Simoun]

The ash's whiteness has nothing to do with quality; it's a result of high levels of calcium in the soil.

 

[TheCigarKid]

Ash doesn't effect flavor as far as I'm concerned, certain cigars I love have a dark ash, and some have a light gray-whiteish ash. I'm assuming the length has to do w/ the construction, ring gauge, and the density is variable. The color of the ash has to do w/ the nutrients in the soil, nothing to do with the quality of the leaf. For example, calcium, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium. Calcium is one of the main elements in the ash though, I believe.

 

[ciggy]

I'm a guy ... so I prefer a nice firm ash. :halfgrinw

:rolling: Don't we all...Good one!!

yea I kinda figured the same as I really couldn't find any stable info on this subject. More cigar talk than anything. However it did peek my inner.. Hmmm?
Thanks Fellas!

 

[Clint]

The ash does tell a great deal about the craftsmanship, quality of tobacco, and additives found in the soil.

A long ash means that the ash is stronger, which indiactes a well rolled stogie. If the ash is flakey, this can mean the opposite, but it can also mean that the stogie is not getting adequate humidity in your humi.
A longer ash can also simply be a product of humidity in the air while you are smoking.

White ash indicates the presence of potassium and/or other chemicals and/or pesticides in the soil. White ash on a Cohiba equals a counterfiet cigar, as Cuban soils have no potassium added.

You should let the ash fall of naturally. Avoid tapping it off, as it creates a natural insulation keeping the cigar burning cooler.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jhard1121]

Right, I have heard that the length of the ash matters in regards to the quality, but the color does not (at least in my experience)

 

[Jughead]

What they said.

 

[fybyoyo]

Somewhere I heard that a quality cigar's ash should be able to get to at least 1.5 inches.

 

[ctaylor]

Somewhere I heard that a quality cigar's ash should be able to get to at least 1.5 inches.

That's something I always wanted to know. I understand a long ash shows a cigar is constructed and maintained properly, but why leave the ash on for so long? Does it help the burn of the cigar?

 

[kuzi16]

the only thing that ash indicates as far as quality of a cigar is how well it is rolled. If a cigar is rolled poorly the cigar will not be able to hold an ash as well as one that is rolled well. the color doesnt tell you anything as far as quality goes. as said before, only what nutrients may or may not be in the soil.

 

[kuzi16]

That's something I always wanted to know. I understand a long ash shows a cigar is constructed and maintained properly, but why leave the ash on for so long? Does it help the burn of the cigar?

no so much the burn, but the temperature of the burn. the ash will not let in as much oxygen as if there were no ash. this keeps the burn cooler. a hot burn will make the cigar a bit bitter.

 

[fybyoyo]

I found this. I've seen something like this described somewhere else but can't recall.

www.cigars4dummies.com/cigar-smoking/the-ash-knows-.html