Not enjoying cigars?

M

Mr C

Young Ape
Hey guys...
Haven't been on for a while, but my cigars have reached an nice aging point and am keen to go at them again(I stopped because they were generally too harsh on my mouth and throat, so figured i'd mellow them out with age)...

What I want to know, is how long do you hold the smoke in your mouths for?

I usually hold it for at least 8 seconds each time, and by the time I get half way, the back of my throat is burning and it tastes bitter...

Also, how hard do you pull on the cigar?
I tend to pull hard and long and that could attribute to it's bitterness...
I don't puff fast, but sip long and hard then hold it... It usually starts to cone...

I'm not enjoying most of the cigars I smoke and just want to see what i'm doing wrong..

That being said, there are a few that I have truly enjoyed, but it's not a specific brand, it's just that cigar tastes fantastic, and the rest of the time I just cant seem to enjoy it, even from the same box...

Humidity at 65% on all my cigars, have tried all levels, even down to 55% (that wasn't too bad, just a little hot, but no problems at all otherwise).

Please help...
Thanks
 
I read this a little bit ago and really didn't know what to write and I am not sure if it will come out right but, I just smoke it. I don't try and think about holding for this long or blowing throught my nose every 3rd time or any of that. I take my crappy $5 torch and get the bottom all toasty and then I smoke it. If I want to blow through my nose I just do it, if I don't want to then I don't. I figure as long as I am the one who is smoking it and I am enjoying it then I am doing it right. In truth I don't know what to tell you if what your doing isn't good then change something.


Maybe I was off topic I am sorry.
 
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I generally hold the smoke in my mouth for quite some time. Well, truthfully, I like trying to make smoke rings (not always the best, but I try). I finally blow the existing smoke out after I feel like I am going to turn blue from not breathing.

As far as how I draw...I generally take very slow, but long draws off of the stick. I cannot stand spiciness, or the harshness that develops from heavy pulls.

I would recommend taking very easy, but long pulls, holding the smoke for several seconds and then slowly letting the smoke escape. Then wait a good 45 seconds to a minute until your next pull.

Works for me (except for the smokes I had in a recent blind review...nothing I did helped).

Jim
 
Just smoke it in a way that allows you to enjoy it. Stop over-thinking it. Just take a few mild puffs and let the smoke find its way out. You may have read that there is a certain way to smoke a cigar and you can toss that right out. Jut smoke the damned things the way that you want.
 
Hey gents... please don't get me wrong, I in no way care how people percieve me to smoke...

I'm simply trying to isolate what could be problamatic and causing me not to enjoy the cigars with my normal smoking style...

I have major inconsistancies and want to narrow down the problem so that I can enjoy every smoke, thats why i'm asking how long you hold it, or if you let it out immediately...

If immediately, do you still get the full taste?

Just looking to see what is most used and then build from there...

Do any of you get a nasty tobacco and burning feel in back of throat?
What could be the cause of this?

Thanks
 
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A burning sensation in the back of your throat has me wondering if you have been smoking long. I used to get that some when I first started. Usually when I held the smoke in my mouth and relaxed my tounge so the smoke could go up into my nose I would get a burning sensation. It's gone away now after getting used to it. That may be something that may help you. Also, as far as tasting it, I'm still learning that myself but try drinking water with your cigar. A sip or two between pulls, thats what I do.
 
I think if I held the smoke in for 8 seconds (like riding a bronco) I'd get a burning sensation too.

Like others have said here, just smoke the freakin' cigar dude. When I smoke, I puff, it goes in my mouth, out my sinus, back in the sinus, out again. What the hell do you do? Carry a stopwatch?

I don't mean to sound harsh. Just relax. That's what I smoke for......flavor & relaxation.
 
Mr C said:
I tend to pull hard and long and that could attribute to it's bitterness...
Click to expand...


I believe this is the key problem. You're absolutely right that "pulling hard" will create bitterness. By doing so, you're causing the stick to burn hotter, so the smoke you're sucking in has a more bitter taste.

Stop sucking on it. Just take a slow, gentle draw as if you were simply taking a relaxed breath (not actually inhaling, of course). This should help.
 
I sometimes hold it, sometimes not. I sometimes blow out of my nose, othertimes not. There is no one way to smoke. If one way begins to bother you, change mid-smoke. There are no rules. :ss
 
It could be the type of tobacco you are smoking?

Cameroon burns the roof of my mouth and the back of my throat!!!:2
 
Are you a cigarette smoker? You sound like you might be. I have a (cigarette smokin') friend that asked similar questions when he tried smoking cigars.
For me I take a draw, "retro-hale" a bit, do a lil' lip-smackin', exhale and do a little more lip smacking (trying to get all the nuances and flavors, I can), but not on every draw. I don't time anything.
I pretty much, let the cigar tell me how it want's to be smoked.
 
I hold it in for however long I feel like. I don't think about it.. I just do it. Also, try not to suck so hard and if the draw is tight then use a paperclip or a skewer to upplug it a bit. You shouldn't have to drop the RH to 55% for draw purposes, though. You shouldn't have to feel like you are sucking a thick milkshake. Its ok to take smoke in for probably 2-3 or more seconds even.

Maybe start with something mild if you want. I know you aged them, which will be good(most likely). I am finishing my Punch Royal Selection #11 and it is absolutely fantastic. Delicious and I think it would be a great smoke to start on(other than price). Not too complex but loads of flavor. Go for it and welcome back!

Oh, when you intake from the cigar, try to use your lips and cheek muscles rather than neck or throat. This might help you from burning your throat. At first you can blow it out like you're concentrating it or blowing a bubble or blowing out candles. Hope this helps! I just did some "experiments with my punch to try to help you! Good luck!
 
Can't add too much more than what has already been posted but if your ash is getting cone shaped it sounds like you are smoking too fast. causing the wrapper to burn faster than the filler can burn. If this is the case this could be the source of your problem.
 
After a couple hundred cigars, you"ll figure it out. Thats why theres no instructions with each box of cigars, just smoke em.
 
easyt said:
I believe this is the key problem. You're absolutely right that "pulling hard" will create bitterness. By doing so, you're causing the stick to burn hotter, so the smoke you're sucking in has a more bitter taste.

Stop sucking on it. Just take a slow, gentle draw as if you were simply taking a relaxed breath (not actually inhaling, of course). This should help.
Click to expand...

:tpd:

I have never actually timed myself but 8 seconds sounds like a long time. When I first started I had trouble keeping the cigar lit and would take too many draws too quickly which would of corse also make it burn hotter and become harsh. I still have a tendency to what I call double draw...The first draw is just like a quick puff like you would make when lighting and then followed by a actual draw. The amount of time I hold the smoke really varies by what I am doing but I can honestly say it has NEVER been 8 seconds.

Call it the anti rodeo smoke...:D
 
neoflex said:
Can't add too much more than what has already been posted but if your ash is getting cone shaped it sounds like you are smoking too fast. causing the wrapper to burn faster than the filler can burn. If this is the case this could be the source of your problem.
Click to expand...

Ok not to thread jack with this question but heres the thing im a fairly slow smoker (a typical PC can last me well over an hour), and unless a cigar is have a burn issue i always get the cone shaped burn when i tap off the ash and if i understand correctly you are saying this is bad? Even though the cigar is burning straight on the outside? The way i understand it this i supposed to happen, ive never had a cigar burn straight across with out a cone. Maybe i read your quote wrong or i misunderstand somehow, would you mind explaining?

Back to the original question, i believe you are holding the smoke in your mouth to long, 8 seconds seems like a long time and its bound to cause some irritation as the smoke swirls around in your mouth and your throat.
 
Mr C said:
Also, how hard do you pull on the cigar?
I tend to pull hard and long and that could attribute to it's bitterness...
I don't puff fast, but sip long and hard then hold it... It usually starts to cone...

Please help...
Thanks
Click to expand...

Pulling hard and long makes me think you're getting the cigar to hot and scorching the tobacco , kinda like if you hold the flame too close to the foot of the cigar when lighting it up . :2
 
Even though I'm still a newb to the whole cigar smoking thing, I too believe that it's all a personal preference like everyone else is saying. Sit back, relax, smoke the way that is most comfortable to you!
 
I tend to dry-box my stick so that when I smoke then, they are right around 55-60%. This seems to allow for a better more flavorful burn while taking long, slow draw that won't heat up the tobacco to much.

Each cigar smokes differently, so you'll have to find the "sweet spot" where the burn and the flavor are ideal without drawing too hard or too fast, but not drawing too infrequently causing it to go out. It's really less complicated than it sounds. experiment with your next stick and see.

As for 8sec. That feels a bit long to me, but to each their own. I won't hold smoke in any longer than 4.
 
I agree with what some of the others have said. I think 8 seconds holding the smoke in may be too long. It also sounds like you may be drawing too fast and or too hard. Try drawing not as hard and not as often and exhaling a little faster than 8 seconds. Just my two cents.
 
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