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Posted

I was smoking one of the great Bolivar Immensa today and, as luck would have it, found myself unable to finish it at one sitting. I carefully put it out and came back to it a couple of hours later. This once great tasting smoke was now bitter and a completely altered flavor profile. I have heard for years all kinds of theories on the viability of relighting and was wondering what experiences you folks have had and if any particular system seems to work well for you. Or is relighting just a loser?

Advice?

Posted

I think the only chance of it being smokeable is to blow all the smoke out of the cigar before putting it down. the theory being that the smoke will go stale if left in the cigar.

Dunno though... every cigar I used to relight tasted like dogturd. So I haven't done it for over 10 years.

Posted

I have, on occasion, relit cigars. If I must leave a cigar in the anticipation that I might return to it at a later time, I knock off all the ash, blow out briefly, then let it go out. But I've found it's not so much the "going out" technique that's critical, it's the relight technique. When relighting, I dust off the ash from the end, exposing the cold coal. Then I direct the full force of my Blazer's torch flame on it, rotating the barrel of the cigar, for at least 30 seconds. Without drawing or blowing. This incinerates the stale tobacco at the foot and restarts combustion at a fresh, high coal temperature.

Now mind you, not all cigars will amend themselves to this treatment. And not all boxes will respond consistently. But if you must, then this is the technique I've found to offer the best odds for success, which are still on the order of 50/50 for an enjoyable smoke. Also, do not expect it to return to its full glory. The conditions in the smoking area also play a factor. If it's humid or has been raining, you can forget about it. The cigar will be a bitter, bad burning mess. Also, if it's really dry, you may find yourself smoking the equivalent of newsprint. If the cigar sits in the sun, likewise, goner. However, temperate spring and summer days, ashtray protected form the sun by the overhang of of a porch, cigars stand a good chance of reviving from morning to afternoon. BTW, I don't think a gentle flame would have the power to recondition the foot appropriately. And you can certainly forget about the gentility of long matches or cedar splints.

Why do I relight? Among other reasons, it kills me to throw away a half-smoked $8 or $10 cigar. Worse, one I've been enjoying. And as for establishing a no-bother block of time...all I can say is, if you're a typical dad with typical children, and spouse, those settings are truly few and far between. My home smoking time is spent exclusively on the porch while I read or write, and that means I am accessible. That's just my life.

Wilkey

Posted

In twenty plus years of smoking, never have I relit a cigar and had it be pleasurable. I've learned to just accept that and dispose of them.

Posted
In twenty plus years of smoking, never have I relit a cigar and had it be pleasurable. I've learned to just accept that and dispose of them.

I agree 100%. I smoke for pleasure. The "choice" between a dead cigar and a fresh cigar does not even require making a decision.

Posted

Don't do it to often, but when I have to I will start out the way Wilkey described. Once the foot is glowing brightly I then put the cigar in my mouth and blow thru it with the flame near the end of the cigar. The flame will jump from the cigar and the end may even light. Keep blowing thru it until the flame dies down a bit.in color (usually about 15 seconds or so.)

I tried several different ways but this is consistently the best way that I've found.

Posted

Well I never do this.

So that being said. If you cut the cigar below the ash point where it shows clear tobac I think you might have a chance of it tasting like anything other than crap due to tar, etc.

I have nothing better to advise on something I think is ill advised.

Posted

I generally use a technique similar to Wilkey's, but my success rate is only around 20-30%. and like he said they almost never return to former glory. I say "almost" because every now and then one WILL return to former greatness. I have no idea why? But over the years it has happened maybe 2-3 times. The last time was with and aged 98 Party serie du conn#1 about a year ago. I had only smoked about 1 1/2 to 2" one afternoon, when I had to leave the house quickly and did not return until late that night. Before leaving blew the smoke out, then knocked the ash off and then to cut another 1/4" off.

It was a good 6 hours when I returned home and for whatever reason the cigar came to life again. It started off a tad dull, but only for few puffs and then within a 1/2" it livened up with typical middle 3rd flavors. Then right on cue went into the classic final 3rd finish. Maybe I got lucky becasue I smoked so little of a long cigar to begin with? and perhaps our ambient RH of 63% to 67% also helped. But again, that is very rare.

For me, despite the odds and poor success rate, I have to at least TRY to save them.

Posted

Right on, Bill. The point you make about giving it some time is entirely on target. It rarely takes as few as a half dozen puffs but more commonly a little time and coaxing. And I agree, I feel that I do have to give it a game try.

Wilkey

Posted

There was a Cigar Aficionado interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger once, when he showed up for the interview he pulled half a Punch out of his jacket from the night before and fired it up.(like he couldn't afford a fresh one)

You have to be Terminator tough to do this!

If you must, the blowing smoke out - knocking off ash - and getting a good relight is about your best shot.

Posted

I'll relight if its within an hour or two, making sure to purge it of all smoke before I let it go out (i find this makes a big difference). But its always a crapshoot, depends on the cigar.

Posted
Don't do it to often, but when I have to I will start out the way Wilkey described. Once the foot is glowing brightly I then put the cigar in my mouth and blow thru it with the flame near the end of the cigar. The flame will jump from the cigar and the end may even light. Keep blowing thru it until the flame dies down a bit.in color (usually about 15 seconds or so.)

I tried several different ways but this is consistently the best way that I've found.

Same way, it does works but for me it works only if less than two hours passed.

Posted

Same situation as Wilkey here at my place. I almost always relight after say 24 hours just to see. Follow the same technique too. Funny: the cheaper smokes have a higher success rate of being fine to smoke to the nub. I find 90% of the time I can get a good 10 minutes of good smoke before it turns bitter and crappy,

So , a big fan of the relight here.

Posted

I have tried this several times. It almost never is worth trying. Once in a blue moon, I have had a decent experience. I have not tried a relight in several years. It is like opening a corked bottle of aged wine. You just have to let it go...

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