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Ashing

G

Glacies

New Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Messages
250
Location
SW VA
When I first started smoking cigars, someone told me that the length of ash a cigar can obtain without dropping off is a direct representation of the quality of the cigar. This doesn't seem too far fetched to me because it would seem that it would have to be rolled well and be structurally sound. Is this anywhere near the accurate? In the back of my mind, I'm thinking it would also have to do with the way the cigar was smoked as well.

Furthermore, I've also heard people saying that ashing your cigar will change the taste. I do not see how this is at all possible.

Oh Cigar gurus, I ask for you to educate me.
 
I think there is some truth to the first part. The sturdiness/color of an ash may have some representation of the quality of a cigar, but I think it's far fetched to say it's a 100% measurement tool for such.

As for the taste, I've never noticed any difference.
 
There may be some modicum of accuracy to the relationship of ash-length to quality, but as for it having any impact on its taste - like my other good brothers here, I have never noticed any impact whatsoever.
 
It seems to me that if i am contently removing the ash the cigar will taste a little bitter, but If I let the ash develop a little bit, then the burnt ash seems to cool the ember, and make the cigar less bitter. The first puff after ashing is always more bitter than the ones that follow IMO.
 
The only "quality" difference that I'm aware of relates to the tobacco used. Clearly, long filler holds a better ash than mixed filler which holds a better ash than short filler. And, generally speaking, long filler cigars are "higher quality." But I must admit, the La Vieja Habana Festibal de Moroc (Drew Estates) is a tasty mixed filler ("Cuban sandwich") cigar that I think is more tasty than many long-filler cigars.
 
beaucredo said:
It seems to me that if i am contently removing the ash the cigar will taste a little bitter, but If I let the ash develop a little bit, then the burnt ash seems to cool the ember, and make the cigar less bitter. The first puff after ashing is always more bitter than the ones that follow IMO.
Click to expand...

I was going to say something along those lines and it is of course all theoretical. The cherry might burn a bit hotter after an ash has fallen causing something to happen. I have had great cigars with a flaky ash and bad cigars with solid ash. I think the length of an ash can indicate if a cigar was rolled well, taking into consideration the type of leaf used of course.
 
Marcos said:
beaucredo said:
It seems to me that if i am contently removing the ash the cigar will taste a little bitter, but If I let the ash develop a little bit, then the burnt ash seems to cool the ember, and make the cigar less bitter. The first puff after ashing is always more bitter than the ones that follow IMO.
Click to expand...

I was going to say something along those lines and it is of course all theoretical. The cherry might burn a bit hotter after an ash has fallen causing something to happen. I have had great cigars with a flaky ash and bad cigars with solid ash. I think the length of an ash can indicate if a cigar was rolled well, taking into consideration the type of leaf used of course.
Click to expand...

I notice this to.

It may just be in my head from reading about flavor changes with ashing and I could be noticing something thats not there but I seem to notice a more bitter taste for the first puff or two (after an ash drop) then it mellows out again.
 
This has been discussed before but I would have to generally agree. I have noticed typically the longer ashes come from better smokes. As for the taste, when you ash, the flavor does get a little bitter/hot. There is a whole science behind this that Wilkey could explain but just try this...every time you ash (or after lighting) blow through the cigar for a little. It has something to do with carbon and refreshing the cigar. I do it. It seems to help.
 
rectifythis said:
This has been discussed before but I would have to generally agree. I have noticed typically the longer ashes come from better smokes. As for the taste, when you ash, the flavor does get a little bitter/hot. There is a whole science behind this that Wilkey could explain but just try this...every time you ash (or after lighting) blow through the cigar for a little. It has something to do with carbon and refreshing the cigar. I do it. It seems to help.
Click to expand...

I make it a habit to purge after every ash as well.
 
I can say that it changes the burn when the ash falls off........it has lost it's insulation. I believe it could taste different if the ash is repeatedly knocked off?
 
I'm with the majority on this one: I don't notice any flavor difference before/after an ash. What I do notice is a change in the burn. Often when I have a poor burn, I ash the cigar and the burn usually corrects itself better. Also, every once in a while after I ash the burn goes all funky for a few puffs.
 
beaucredo said:
It seems to me that if i am contently removing the ash the cigar will taste a little bitter, but If I let the ash develop a little bit, then the burnt ash seems to cool the ember, and make the cigar less bitter. The first puff after ashing is always more bitter than the ones that follow IMO.
Click to expand...

I also notice this as well but not all the time. I guess it depends on the cigar, more so on a fuller/spicier cigar.
 
rbbrock said:
I'm with the majority on this one: I don't notice any flavor difference before/after an ash. What I do notice is a change in the burn. Often when I have a poor burn, I ash the cigar and the burn usually corrects itself better. Also, every once in a while after I ash the burn goes all funky for a few puffs.
Click to expand...

X 2.....

What he said. For me, if burn probs are gonna happen, it almost always starts after I flick that first ash.
 
My input on this is that a sturdy ash might dictate a little bit about the quality construction about the cigar in certain cases.
But in my experience the Cubans I have seen have had flawless construction and a very flaky light ash, so this is evidence to the fact that ash consistency doesn't always dictate a cigar's construction.

-Rob
 
Sometimes I purge after ashing and sometimes if the ash is dangerously long, I will purge to initiate an ash release. When a cigar starts to go harsh, then purging for 10 second or so will bring it back for a time. Once the purging becomes too frequent due to the return of harshness, that is the signal to put the stick down.

I think it has been suggested that blowing forcefully will heat the coal to a temperature sufficient to "burn off" any accumulated tars. Seems to make sense to me.

As for ash length? I've not noticed any real correlation to quality for the vast majority of cigars in the middle range. Real low end stuff tends to short-ash and some high end stuff (Anejos, most notably) long-ash.

Wilkey
 
I know I'm a complete newb at this, but I did notice that on my Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva, that it had profound notes of black pepper throughout the first half of the cigar. However, when I ashed the 2" long ash the pepper became much more subtle. I didn't really enjoy the first half of the cigar as much as I would have liked, but found that the latter half was excellent.

I smoked a Hemingway Short Story today, and I think it was a much better cigar than the Gran Reserva.. IMHO of course.
 
Marcos said:
rectifythis said:
This has been discussed before but I would have to generally agree. I have noticed typically the longer ashes come from better smokes. As for the taste, when you ash, the flavor does get a little bitter/hot. There is a whole science behind this that Wilkey could explain but just try this...every time you ash (or after lighting) blow through the cigar for a little. It has something to do with carbon and refreshing the cigar. I do it. It seems to help.
Click to expand...

I make it a habit to purge after every ash as well.
Click to expand...

Same here and also around every 6th puff or so. I find myself purging more often lately and it really has helped the taste of all the cigars I've smoked recently.
 
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