How do you maximize your smoking pleasure ?

[semery74]

Would anyone agree that you can perform this to a greater degree with Habanas than Non?

[Habanakane21]

Would anyone agree that you can perform this to a greater degree with Habanas than Non?

Oh god yes....some NC's are way to harsh for me.

[aavkk]

I didnt know there was a formal name for that, thanks Guy. I started doing this a few years ago occasionally and now find myself doing this every 3 or 4 puffs depending on the cigar.

[Van55]

Good lord! There is no dictionary.com entry for "retrohale" or "retro-hale.". Please do not let that become another cigarro-world term such as "herf" and "ISOM."

Yes exhaling the smoke through your nose is indispensable for the full enjoyment of a cigar.

[Professor Twain]

I can't do it, despite instruction and extensive practice, including in front of a mirror. Wish I could!

[MrGlass]

First time I tried I did it with no problems.

But that was the only time I've ever been able to do it - every attempt afterwards has only ended badly. Think I might have to go searching for this instruction video everyone keeps talking about.

[Danashan]

IMHO, absolutely essential to getting the full picture. Not all cigars benefit from retrohaling to the same degree, while some will completely surprise you with new flavours. The danger is, though, if the cigar is young, retrohaling will hit you with ammonia you may not have felt in the mouth.

Just last week I've smoked Punch PC, a first from a box from March 09, and the very first exhale through the nose got my eyes to water and confirmed my suspicion the cigar is way too young. These Punch will be abolished to the back of my humidor for another year in the hopes more age will help. If it was an NC I've payed so much for, I'd return the damn box, but I doubt the tobacco that young would be released by any self respecting manufacturer. Oh, well...

[Kangaroo495]

I definitely retrohale. Then, when the smoke hangs in the air in front of my face, I sniff the air to get the aroma. I'm probably inhaling more smoke than the average cigar smoker. But this really enhances the experience for me.

[Cubanface]

It definitely maximizes your smoking pleasure Laficion. I retrohale about 75% of a cigar. I think this makes a milder cigar stronger when you do this. I'm surprised many of you don't. If you get a really strong cigar and you do this, you will get like a nicotine freeze in your head like a brain freeze. Immediately after you retrohale it through your nose. You also do get more flavor. Just try it if you don't usually do it . It can't hurt.

[smokem]

How do you maximize your smoking pleasure ?

While you're blowing smoke rings, make sure someone is doing the same to you.

[cigcars]

The first time I ever heard about this procedure was from one of my tobacconists in town here. And I'm afraid I'm right with the ones who say they lack the coordination & the ability to do such. With me, I'm certain that not all of the smoke would totally exit my poor nostrils, then I'd be on a coughing, difficulty in breathing, panic attack laden experience that just might spoil my cigar pleasure experience PERMANENTLY God forbid! No, I just enjoy the aroma & flavor as it rolls over my tongue and back out my MOUTH! Not my nostrils. I'd end up inadvertently inhaling that way, then I'd be Tore Back!

[Smallclub]

If you don't retrohale you miss at least 50% of the experience, that's simple.

[Lotus400]

This thread has intrigued me, so I went to the "doc" video and have mastered the technique. Because I am new to this hobby, my stock is 2007 and younger. Will the enjoyment of retrohaling increase as my collection ages? Right now I am not getting the additional complexity everyone is talking about.

I have only tried this with a few Habanos, so I will continue evaluate with different marques.

Cheers

[dicko]

First time I tried I did it with no problems.

But that was the only time I've ever been able to do it - every attempt afterwards has only ended badly. Think I might have to go searching for this instruction video everyone keeps talking about.

there's the link mate

[Omskakas]

I do retrohale sometimes but I think there is better way to sense different smells. That's because our olfactory system is not built to sense things we exhale, but things we inhale. So when you blow smoke throught your mouth (don't blow, just close your mouth) immediately inhale smoke with nose that you just blew. It can take few tries to master and any wind is bad.

[Colt45]

That's because our olfactory system is not built to sense things we exhale, but things we inhale.

I was thinking along the same lines, but I'm no biologist Using the wine analogy crutch, when tasting wine, you smell (inhale) then sip,

not sip then blow it out your nose!

[Omskakas]

I was thinking along the same lines, but I'm no biologist

Funny, because I am.

[buster]

...when tasting wine, you smell (inhale) then sip, not sip then blow it out your nose!

And that's funny, because that's exactly what I did when I read this Thanks Ross, my monitor was due for a cleaning anyway!

Rick

[Colt45]

And that's funny, because that's exactly what I did when I read this Thanks Ross, my monitor was due for a cleaning anyway!

Rick

What are friends for?

[Lotus400]

I do retrohale sometimes but I think there is better way to sense different smells. That's because our olfactory system is not built to sense things we exhale, but things we inhale. So when you blow smoke throught your mouth (don't blow, just close your mouth) immediately inhale smoke with nose that you just blew. It can take few tries to master and any wind is bad.

This makes absolute sense to me. When evaluating wine, smell is a large component and you are inhaling from the glass. I can see how what Omskakas describes might offer better enjoyment of a cigar. You learn something new all the time