Learn to taste cigars better...

[ElJavi76]

So while perusing the internet this weekend I came across this video from a vendor of humidification bags (ykw they are). Now the video is a bit lengthy, but most of us are smoking 2-5 cigars a day. If you're in the least curious you can watch some, if not all, of it. 

I don't know if you guys have ever heard of the method described in the video. The first half of the video is chatter about lighting cigars and the like. The gentleman from a major cigar group states that retrohaling is actually counter productive to smelling/tasting more of your cigars. He only does it 3 to 4 times during an entire cigar  What's your take? How often to do retro when you smoke? I think I do it quite a bit thru the cigar, although not the entire way. Again, wondering what your experience is with your retros. 

The interesting one was at the end when he suggests a certain trick to really enhance your tasting. Like I said, take it with a grain of salt... This might help and some and confuse others, but I find it interesting to compare notes on how you taste more of your cigars. Enjoy, if you care to watch.

 

[JoeyBones777]

I saw this video and found him to be knowledgeable on a mostly subjective matter. With regard to retrohaling, it depends on the cigar to me. If it is a full body and strength NC then I agree fully but with most Cubans, especially with age, I retrohale the hell out of them and never get an adverse effect. I like his trick toward the end. It is helpful and fun.

[JohnS]

Thanks for posting this video, @ElJavi76! The great majority of our members retrohale when smoking a cigar...

 

[SenorPerfecto]

Not surprised an NC cigar maker is pooh-pooing retrohaling a bit. All mature Cubans are made for retroing. Not all NCs are — too much pepper in most Nica puros.

[ElJavi76]

If you close your eyes while I'm smoking across from you... I might be tempted to smack you on the forehead. ??

I think you guys are spot on... Some of the advice here is geared towards NC tobacco. I actually found something useful here though. The relight trick of toasting end then blowing out of cigar several times before pulling on it paid dividends right away for me. I have a hard time relighting cigars from one day to the next. This afternoon I relit a half smoked cigar from last night and used the above method. No funky taste or bitterness. It was actually sweet right off the relight. So not all of the advice was throwaway. LoL The retro thing left me scratching my head a little.

 

[Xavier_Dredo]

I retrohale virtually every puff

[The Squiggler]

I liked a good portion of this... the thing about "highly flammable ammonia crystals" though... is that true or something he made up?

[StogieSteve23]

4 hours ago, The Squiggler said:

I liked a good portion of this... the thing about "highly flammable ammonia crystals" though... is that true or something he made up?

I was wondering the same thing here.  I listened to this podcast one day a couple weeks ago and had to pull up the video interview to see what he was talking about.  Would certainly like to know more on this fact. 

[Joeyjojo]

I watched this last night (seems like anyone who has watched a tobacco based review had this pop up on their YouTube feed)

I found it an enjoyable watch. It has some good info for new smokers, as well as some info long term smokers would be a little skeptical about (ammonia crystals and and very little retrohaling).

Either way, the guy seemed cool and has the sort of job most cigar enthusiasts would kill for.

[Goodfortune]

Very interesting video with some good information. As @ElJavi76 said, I will take it with a grain of salt, but enjoyed hearing his perspective nonetheless. Definitely going to try some of those tasting techniques next smoke.

[AbasCigar]

For me, a cigar without retrohale is a lost cigar experience. It is part of the whole experience when it comes to tasting. That is why I don't smoke super strong peppery NC.. 

Sometimes when a cigar burns too much when retrohaling I simply blow out some smoke through the mouth, then I take in some fresh air to dilute the smoke before retrohaling. Works good

[SmokyFontaine]

I actually saw him on a video for a cigar retailer/blog and was so impressed with his knowledge and information-share that I started looking for other videos. At first, frankly he came across a little "douchy" but I warmed up to him and personally feel like while a lot of what he's talking about is subjective, I trust his opinions more than my own due to his history, it literally being his job to know all about cigars, and I would be inclined to defer to him on most things cigar-related. Really, really deep knowledge of the whole process. I'm a big fan of Travis Pappenheim. This was a neat video. Thanks for posting. 

[madandana]

I think I retrohale on every puff. It’s just become second nature so I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

[Theophilus]

Thanks for sharing 

[Kayslay]

On ‎4‎/‎11‎/‎2020 at 8:33 PM, Xavier_Dredo said:

I retrohale virtually every puff

Same here. I almost feel like retro allows me to taste the cigar tenfold.

 

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2020 at 8:00 AM, AbasCigar said:

For me, a cigar without retrohale is a lost cigar experience. It is part of the whole experience when it comes to tasting. That is why I don't smoke super strong peppery NC.. 

Sometimes when a cigar burns too much when retrohaling I simply blow out some smoke through the mouth, then I take in some fresh air to dilute the smoke before retrohaling. Works good

I do this too! But I am almost 100% sure that when I do this, I am actually inhaling......oh well.