FOH kick around: Purging

[El Presidente]

Purging? 

Define it for our newcomers to the hobby. 

How do you do it?

Do you do it?

Why do you do it?

Does it really make a difference in your eyes?

 

[Fugu]

Never, with one exception: brief purge (= not more than a short blow into the cigar) after lighting / relighting (I never draw on it while lighting).

Apart from that, it is doing nothing good from my experience, except that it's introducing excessive moisture into your cigar (well, it might help in dried-out sticks )

Should you feel the urge to purge
somethin' wrong's goin' on (in the first place). 😂

[Ford2112]

I have purged before. 😵‍💫🤮

Retrohale yes. Purge I tried it and see no benefit personally. 

[TacoSauce]

If I was a bit too aggressive in lighting the cigar with a butane lighter, I will often purge (reverse puff) once or twice before settling in. The intent is that this will expel some of the overly charred notes and more quickly get me back to the normal flavor profile. Does it actually work? Who knows!

[riderpride]

When I smoke in cold temps (under -20c), the cigar tends to build up a lot or tar. Purging (exhaling through a cigar with an open flame at the foot) is the only way to prevent the buildup from reaching my mouth. The downside is a significant change in flavors, but at least I can enjoy the stick...and I see a fireball, lol!

Cheers

 

[LizardGizmo]

I've developed a habit where I'll purge after I toast the foot of the cigar prior to the light. I am not sure it makes any difference, but I do it every time. I also purge when I am sensing ammonia or other buildup in the cigar that is causing an unpleasant taste, which I do believe helps.

[rabidraccoon]

I pretty much only do it upon relighting a cigar that has gone out. I guess the theory is that maybe it'll blow out some of the ash clinging to the dead coal. Not sure if it actually does much though. My procedure is: tap out some ash, relight the end, purge (blow out) and then light again while drawing in.

[BigGuns]

I’ve always purged when relighting, but before the relight not after. Interesting to read many do it after. Not sure if either make a difference, but it makes me feel better…also, I’ve recently started purging after the initial toast. Heard it on some random podcast somewhere that I think comes out every Tuesday. 

[Li Bai]

I do it sometimes but only by blowing briefly into the cigar, no flame. Sometimes before lighting up, sometimes towards the end and since I nub almost every cigar I smoke, I really believe it helps.

[joeypots]

I’ll blow into the cigar a bit before the first draw of the cigar. I don’t know if it does anything. 

Recently I’ve begun to violently swing the cigar around in circles 8 or 10 times after it's lit and before the first draw. All that does is make me feel like a pretentious dandy in the desert.

[BrightonCorgi]

I purge the cigar if it develops a nicotine taste or if I am going to put the cigar down for a few minutes.

[Blazer]

I will purge if the cigar won't stay lit, heyuull, I'll try anything if it wont stay lit! I will also purge in the last 3rd of the cigar if it starts developing harsh flavors.

[JohnS]

Below is Briley Kenney's article for the lifestyle website, 'The Manual'. Obviously, it is targeted at those who are new to the hobby.

What is cigar purging and how do you do it?

Let us show you the right way to purge a cigar

By Briley Kenney - Published November 1, 2024

Jon T / Unsplash

If you smoke a lot of different cigars, at some point, you’ll need to purge. If you’ve never heard the term, you may ask, “What is cigar purging?” It doesn’t mean you have to get rid of some of your cigars, purging is merely expelling bad chemicals out of a cigar, usually which build up in the cap — where your lips and mouth go. It’s a simple concept, and learning how to do it is fairly straightforward. The real complexity comes into play when you consider the “why,” and we’re going to explore that a little. But first, let’s talk about how to purge a cigar.

How to purge a cigar for a more enjoyable experience

Charles Etoroma / Unsplash

Typically, when you smoke a cigar, you’re puffing or taking in the smoke and exhaling — or retrohaling, which I always recommend. When your mouth is on the cigar, for lack of a better term, you’re sucking in. Purging involves doing the opposite for a short while. You put your mouth on the cap of the cigar and blow out, but only lightly. You’re not trying to explode the tobacco packed inside the cigar out the foot.

You don’t want to blow haphazardly, though. Before you do it, make sure you tap any loose ash into an ashtray so it won’t blow all over the place. Second, if the cigar is lit, give it a little time to cool before purging so you’re not increasing the heat and flame inside. If it’s not lit, and we’ll talk about why in a bit, you don’t have to worry about that.

As you smoke a cigar, especially stronger full-bodied blends, tar and stale smoke can build up in the head. That’s especially true if you’ve left a lot of saliva on the wrapper. Sometimes, it happens if you’re smoking fast or drawing too often. Usually, you’ll know if there’s tar because the cigar will taste more bitter than usual, and you may even see thick, brown residue on your fingers. I have also had situations where a cigar tasted like chemicals, with an ammonia scent or something particularly offputting. Purging can help with that, for the most part.

Why purge your cigar(s)?

Unsplash

There are a couple of valid reasons, and this is a big point I wanted to make. The obvious reason we’ve already touched on is that tar or nasty flavors and chemicals have built up in the head, and you want to reset, so to speak, and get back to those natural flavors. Some even recommend doing a quick purge before lighting the cigar for the first time, especially if it’s been aged. Personally, I don’t do it unless it’s needed, but as with all things cigars, it’s all about your preferences.

Another reason why people might purge their cigars, and this one is quite a bit more controversial, is because they are relighting. Within reason, it’s best to finish a cigar in one sitting, but that’s not always possible. Some people get pulled away because of an emergency, others prefer not to sit for hours and finish an entire cigar, and some just change their minds after they start. Whatever the case, relighting your cigar is possible if done right. I don’t recommend it, but purging is a great way to go about it.

To relight and purge a cooled cigar, start by cutting the ash off slightly behind the burn line. A quarter of an inch behind the burn line is probably too much, but don’t go further than that. Before lighting, purge the cigar to push all the nasty tar and smoke buildup further in. If you’re comfortable, you can take a cold draw to see if you’re still tasting bitter flavors. When you’re satisfied, relight as normal and then continue smoking.

Do you ever purge lit cigars?

The Manual

Just like many disagree with relighting cigars, me included, some will advise against purging a lit cigar. I’m not one of those people. In fact, I often purge cigars that I’m smoking depending on the flavors I’m tasting or what I’m experiencing. It won’t fix the burn issues you encounter, and a dry or over-humidified cigar will give you bad flavors — purging won’t fix that either.

As I’ve said, however, sometimes I’ll light a cigar with a strong chemical or tar taste, and purging helps even while lit. Just make sure you let the cigar cool a little before doing it. Don’t purge immediately after a long draw or puff.

Why does it work? You’re essentially blowing fresh oxygen into and through the cigar, pushing some of those unwanted flavor contaminants toward the foot. I’m not sure if there’s proven science behind it, but it definitely works.

Caveat emptor: sometimes, there’s no saving a bad-tasting or poorly constructed cigar, including those with lots of tar build-up. It’s entirely possible to ruin a cigar by injecting too much of your own saliva, as well, so keep that in mind. I will never understand why some folks chew on their cigars either, but hey, to each their own. The point is, just know that purging will not always fix everything. It’s never a bad idea to give it a try before tossing a cigar, and if it goes back to those pleasant flavors you were experiencing, then fantastic. But it’s not a miracle process. Or, maybe it is, what the hell do I know?

Source: https://www.themanual.com/culture/what-is-cigar-purging/

[Capn_Jackson]

On 12/14/2024 at 4:23 PM, BigGuns said:

I’ve always purged when relighting, but before the relight not after. 

I do the same, before a relight, if a relight is needed.

[Wookie]

I purge if I’m putting it down for 18-24 hours. I’m guilty of finishing cigars up to 24hours after light.  Often cannot tell the difference. But that is also after a freshie…so I’m sure my palate is compromised. 

[Dlowil]

The purging before relighting is most intriguing. I sometimes get interrupted by the kids and send the unfinished cigar to the unfinished cigar graveyard. One question I have: is there a particular way that works best for storing half smoked cigars to ensure you get the most of them for a relight?

[LaoFan]

If (rarely) I know a relight after some time has passed is coming, I purge and cut under the burn line. When I come back, it's not great, but I think it's better. Might be purely aesthetic...but the brain is a powerful thing.

[LordAnubis]

I often purge. Almost an ADD thing. How? You just blow out of the cigar instead of sucking air from the cigar. I do it to keep the cigar lit. Often I find purging then gives a good immediate puff full of smoke and flavour. It’s probably an environment thing though also. If you’re in a calm smoking environment and paying attention to the cigar, it's probably not needed. But on a golf course outside with variable conditions, I thinks it’s required more. 

[Lucas Buck]

10 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

I often purge. Almost an ADD thing. How? You just blow out of the cigar instead of sucking air from the cigar. I do it to keep the cigar lit. Often I find purging then gives a good immediate puff full of smoke and flavour. It’s probably an environment thing though also. If you’re in a calm smoking environment and paying attention to the cigar, it's probably not needed. But on a golf course outside with variable conditions I thinks it’s required more. 

Same for me. I smoke very slowly and find frequent purging to keep the burn correct & smoke clean. It’s rare that I get any bitter tar flavors. YMMV

[El Gato]

Sometimes, whenever I feel necessary with some stronger cigars.Blow-flame-blow till it's tasting good again, usually when not lit. Huge difference. 

[my happy place]

I don't usually purge. The only times I find myself doing so is if the cigar struggles to stay lit and requiring me to smoke faster than usual or relights. I'll purge to keep it lit and keep the harsh tar flavor out.