Cigar smoking, like any other gourmet activity, is one where every aspect of the endeavor matters. This includes when one should ash their cigar. The ash does do a bit of work for the cigar smoker and maintaining the proper amount affects the quality of the smoke.

Figuring out how much of an ash gives the best flavor will depend not only on the smoker’s preference but on the cigar in question. Some cigars will burn hotter than others and, thus, need more of an ash. Remember that the first few puffs of a cigar will be the point at which the ash is at its hottest. Cigar lighters, such as Colibri lighters, oftentimes have a very hot flame and the first few puffs are not representative of the overall flavor of the cigar owning to the heat. Once an ash is generated, the real flavor begins.

A cigar ember should be burning slightly cooler than one might think. The ash plays a role in this. To generate an ember, the cigar needs heat, fuel and oxygen. The tobacco, obviously, is the fuel. The lighter provides the heat that allows the cigar to combust and the oxygen is ambient, the levels being increased when one draws through the cigar. To mitigate the heat, the ash acts as something of a damper, reducing the raw amount of oxygen to which the ember is exposed.

Too much ash, of course, will extinguish the cherry. Usually one ashes their cigar long before this happens but, if it happens to be set down in an ashtray, it will sometimes go out because of this effect. Generally, one wants to find the happy medium between a cool burn and having the cigar go out. This takes some experience but, like most things related to cigar smoking, the experimentation means nothing more intense than enjoying a good cigar! Be sure to take note of how much ash lends the right temperature to the ember at the foot of the cigar.

Don’t ash too frequently. Not only does this cause the ember to burn too hot, it can pull filler material out of the wrapper and the entire cherry, if done too vigorously. Conversely, tapping off the ash too infrequently may result in a very difficult draw, a cigar that keeps going out and, of course, a bunch of ashes falling off the foot at an inopportune moment. Cigar smoking is an inherently social activity and one even may want to ask a very experienced smoker for their advice on the matter. A cigar is best enjoyed when smoked correctly and, to that end, the experience of an old hand is very much a useful thing. Remember to keep track of what methods give the best results!

Dave Sabot is the owner of an online specialty lighters store featuring windproof lighters and cigar reviews.