Cigars and Ambient temperature

[baragh]

So today was apparently the coldest day of the year so far in Sydney (not that cold by international standards)

Of course I had to celebrate this with a cigar outside. I usually smoke quite slow compared to most, mainly to avoid my cigar from burning hot, and this was on my mind with the weather being colder than usual.

If the ambient temperature is very cold, does that mean the cigar can stand to be smoked much faster without burning hot? Conversely, if I'm smoking on a very hot day, do I have to really slow down on my cigar? In OZ I don't think we have too much of a temperature variation, but would be interesting to hear from the standpoint of people who smoke in much more volatile climates.

[LeafLover]

Baragh,

I don't mean to hijack your thread but I was going to start a similar thread in regards to ambient temperature (hot vs. cold) and how it affects the flavor of the cigar as well as the burn. Personally I feel in colder ambient temperatures, the flavors when the cigar is smoked are less intense. I've also noticed that in a colder ambient temperature, an unlit cigar (aroma at cold) is not as pungent vs. an unlit cigar when in warmer temperature. (I.e. my cigar just out of my fridge vs. cigar that's been dry boxed in the ambient 80(f) degree.)

So Baragh, if I may throw my question in along with yours:

Does ambient temperature affect:

1) Burn

2) Flavor

????????????????

[Fuzz]

IMO, I would think the the cold temps dull your taste and smell senses. Also the cold would prevent the volatile chemicals present in the cigar from releasing into the air.

Take this example; if you over chill a white wine, the wine appears closed or dull. However, once it warms up and those lovely volatile chemicals release, the wine comes to life.

I once tried smoking during a ski trip and I'll never repeat that experience again. It was like I was smoking nothing at all, couldn't taste a thing. not sure how you northern boys and girls handle it when it snows for several months.

[IcedCanuck]

I have found that when I went out to smoke a CC in the middle of winter I had to smoke a little faster than I was used to or the cigar would go out so the burn is a bit of an issue for sure. Flavours didn't seem to be quite as strong to me either but were still there for sure. But to be frank if it's below -30C and you're standing outside in it you are not going to enjoy a nice CC as much as you would if the temperature was in the +20's or +30's. Personally I also go with smaller sizes in the winter ... you won't catch me smoking a Churchill in the snow