The Last Third...

[cartisdm]

In the past 6 months or so I've really been focusing on the art of cigar smoking. My palet is developing and I can start to identify flavors and appreciate different blends and wrappers. However, the first third of every cigar really wakes up and I can lots of smoke and flavor and the cigar doesn't heat up or anything. The second third is ok, but I have to really concentrate on what I'm doing. By the final third I'm fighting to keep the cigar lit, not too hot, and still enjoyable.

What am I doing wrong? I am really making sure not to puff too often but it seems like the cigars just want to die on me. I do a few of those soft "puff puff puffs" before each draw otherwise I don't get anything. It's completely unlike the first two thirds that draw nice and slow without effort. Often a hard clump develops right behind the ash (is this a plug?) and the relighting/fighting continues. I swear it must be my technique but I feel like my method doesn't change the whole smoke...

 

[Highlander]

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. If you need a touch up light, go ahead it's better to do that and enjoy the smoke than worry about.

 

[Jwrussell]

If this is something happening with a variety of smokes I would guess at a humidity issue. Could be construction, but again, if it's happening with all of our smokes regardless of manufacturer, origin of tobacco, etc., that would be some really bad luck. Do you purge at all? Sometimes that can help. I tend to smoke to the nub quite a bit so fighting the overly hot tobacco towards the very end is always an issue, but I've many times found the final third or even final 4th and so on can be some of the tastiest points of the cigar.

 

[cartisdm]

If this is something happening with a variety of smokes I would guess at a humidity issue. Could be construction, but again, if it's happening with all of our smokes regardless of manufacturer, origin of tobacco, etc., that would be some really bad luck. Do you purge at all? Sometimes that can help. I tend to smoke to the nub quite a bit so fighting the overly hot tobacco towards the very end is always an issue, but I've many times found the final third or even final 4th and so on can be some of the tastiest points of the cigar.

I have done the purge thing. I imagine it's just something I'll get better with in time. Six months ago I didn't have a dang clue for cigars other than light them and smoke them (which I did for years). I'm sure I'll learn to treat the cigar better throughout the smoke as I get more practice

 

[Le Buzz]

Honestly i rarely ever enjoy the last 4th of a cigar. I almost never nub a stick.

 

[Jwrussell]

Any more details you can provide might help. Assuming you are puffing at about 1 puff per minute (not much more), you have pretty much covered smoking at the right pace. Is this at all more prevalent with specific types/origin of cigars, or just in general? What humidity level are you keeping your sticks at? Those kinds of things might help.

 

[cartisdm]

Any more details you can provide might help. Assuming you are puffing at about 1 puff per minute (not much more), you have pretty much covered smoking at the right pace. Is this at all more prevalent with specific types/origin of cigars, or just in general? What humidity level are you keeping your sticks at? Those kinds of things might help.

It doesn't seem to be with any types of cigars in particular, but I'll see if I notice a pattern. I have been keeping them at 68% for the last 3 months but last week my humi dropped to 65%. I didn't adjust it because I know a lot of people here use 65% so I was going to give that a shot.

When you all need to relight your cigar, do you notice a hard "plug" right behind the ash? Is this normal or is this what might be causing my troubles? I would assume that if a cigar was plugged it would give me issues throughout the whole smoke, not just the last third

 

[sean]

I have found that an increased rate of purging, a little at a time over the course of the smoke helped to reduce that "plug." Doing this also helped me nub more cigars, and really enjoy the last third of my sticks much more than I ever had before.

 

[cartisdm]

I have found that an increased rate of purging, a little at a time over the course of the smoke helped to reduce that "plug." Doing this also helped me nub more cigars, and really enjoy the last third of my sticks much more than I ever had before.

That makes sense because I imagine that plug is developing from built up tar and crap. I'll give this a shot after work!

 

[Hot_Sauce]

The last 3rd is my favorite part of a cigar if it is rolled right.

As mentioned sometimes you have to purge it or touch it up.

It's always nice to have an enjoyable cigar that you wish would last a little longer.

 

[Jwrussell]

It doesn't seem to be with any types of cigars in particular, but I'll see if I notice a pattern. I have been keeping them at 68% for the last 3 months but last week my humi dropped to 65%. I didn't adjust it because I know a lot of people here use 65% so I was going to give that a shot.

Depends, give 'em a shot at 65% and see if you like how they burn better. Nothing really wrong with 68% either, it's personal preference.

When you all need to relight your cigar, do you notice a hard "plug" right behind the ash? Is this normal or is this what might be causing my troubles? I would assume that if a cigar was plugged it would give me issues throughout the whole smoke, not just the last third

What do you mean by "plug"? I don't have draw issues everytime I relight, and that is what would make me think "plug". If you just mean that the cigar seems kind of hard right behind the ash, I would assume that was just the tobacco that was in the process of burning/igniting when the cigar went out. Really shouldn't affect draw much.

 

[dowjr1]

For me the last third of a cigar can really be hit or miss. Of course I purge occassionally but as soon as I start getting that charred taste when I draw then I put it down. If I go a whole stogie without it then I am impressed. I also rarely nub a cigar.

 

[hawaiian]

I normally do a small purge every time the ash falls or following a small touch up. I rarely get the tar build up taste and when I do taste the bitter tar, I do a long 10-15sec purge. If it doesn't go away still then I call it quits. I nub till I burn my lips if the cigar is good but toss after just few inches if I'm not enjoying it at all.

 

[indyrob]

I start my cigar by pinching a piece of the cap off. As I go and it gets harder to draw I just slice a little off of the.head.

 

[DanLW]

I've just been smoking for 2 months, so newer than you. But I share your sentiments about how properly smoking a cigar is an artform. Here are some of the things I've learned which may help. But first, my experience with this issue.

On all but my last cigar (I'll get to that), I've experienced a taste toward the last half to third which I describe to myself as the "end cigar flavor". It's kinda a bitter, moist, unpleasant flavor. I've started to experiment with purging, and am already seeing results. However, I've only had a cigar go out on me once, and it was one that had a tight draw. And I've never experienced what I would call a "plug" behind the cherry.

Before I get to that, here is my technique.

For cuts, I've been using a double blade guillotine cutter. Haven't tried punches or v-cuts.

For lighting, I toast and light slowly. Usually takes me perhaps 90 seconds to get a good light. I do not draw through the cigar when lighting. I blow on the end to get a good burn, then take my first draw.

My draws are long and slow. I almost always smoke at night, so as a result I can see the wrapper burn. I try to keep the glowing bit as soft as possible. If it glows bright, that means the burn is hotter, and a hot burn is bad for a cigar, from everything I've read. So I draw long and gentle.

For purges, I just started experimenting. At first, I tried to purge for as long as I would draw on each ash fall. But that seemed to give me issues where the cigar would want to go out. I noticed another member says he purges for 10-15 seconds. My question to that would be do you draw immediately after the purge, or wait for a minute? Perhaps my problem was needing to draw.

For purging, what worked for me recently is a quick 1/2 to 1 second purge a few seconds after a draw. Then wait a minute and draw normally.

Patience seems to be what helps me the most. While it seems counter-intuitive, everything I've read about burn issues says to slow down if you start getting one side that won't burn. Once I started doing that, maybe half the time it will catch up with itself. The other half I have to apply flame to get the burn evened up. I've found that after applying flame, it helps to not draw immediately. Let the wrapper slowly burn itself up on up to the burn line.

One diagnostic question I would have is how far behind the cherry is the cigar hot? Mine are usually pretty cool up to maybe within 1/2" of the burn line. When I have burn issues, the hot zone seems to come further back from the cherry.

Be sure to give us updates on what works! Half the fun seems to be trying new things in search of the perfect technique.

 

[Jwrussell]

I noticed another member says he purges for 10-15 seconds. My question to that would be do you draw immediately after the purge, or wait for a minute? Perhaps my problem was needing to draw.

Speaking for myself, yes, draw shortly after a long purge. Doesn't have to be immediately, but I don't wait as long as I do between draws.




Sent from my personal space using my iPhone

 

[DanLW]

I did try doing what was probably a 12 second purge last night. I did it on the nub so that if I messed it up, I wouldn't ruin the stick. The next draw was nice and cool, as if there were still a few more inches to the cigar. The 2nd warmed up a bit. Of course, this was on the nub. Next time I have a cigar go south at the halfway point I'll have to try this and see (taste) what happens. It definitely cools the cigar down significantly!

 

[sean]

Nice! :thumbsup:

 

[cartisdm]

You guys are great. I just had an Oliva Connective Reserve and the experience was much better! The cigar itself was just ok, but I was able to smoke it without any issues. In the past I'd only purge prior to a relight and even then it was just a couple of quick blows. This time I purged periodically and for long, maybe ten second blows. I'd watch the cherry closely then do a very soft puff to check the draw. Perfect every time! I never required a relight and that "plug/buildup" I was referring to before didn't occur. I could've easily smoked it all the way to the nub but I ran out of time and my presence was requested at the lake to grill food for friends. Thanks everyone!

 

[sean]

Check behind your ears... feels a little drier, right? :wink: