Is there a right or wrong way?

[Paulie2876]

I'm an ex ciggy smoker too but just cannot inhale or retrohale either. On the odd occasion a puff has slipped in and I end up doubled up

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[Niela]

Retrohale definitely adds to the flavour of a cigar. Everybody should give it a try... :-D

[monkey66]

Retrohaling will open up all sorts of flavours but can be horrible on young and strong cigars.

On subtle and vintage cigars it can be an absolute revelation.

[Niela]

I would also say that inhaling cigar smoke is far more toxic than cigarette smoke. Because cigars burn at a lower temperature, which makes for a smoke that has far more toxic components as cigarettes. Even without all the chemicals you find in cigarettes.

But everyone to their own. If you enjoy inhalation, then that's fine of course. But if you only do it to ease your cigarette withdrawal, then rather try retrohaling and spare your lungs a bit. :-)

[Scott]

I don't retrohale, it doesn't really agree with me! if you look at all the so called experts or watch a video on youtube then it's highly recommended.

Not for me thanks.

[tippexx]

I'm not great at retrohale, but Monk is correct an older cigar will have dissipated most of it's nicotine and ammonias leaving just the better and mellower profile tastes. For retro I find a smaller lighter draw is better, it's easier to expel through the nose if you don't totally fill your mouth with smoke .... which you really shouldn't be doing anyway.

[Niela]

It took me a few cigars to be able to retrohale, it gets better with time...

Try to exhale 4/5th of the smoke before you exhale the rest through the nose, that helps... :-)

[cj121]

That made me wonder, and I think I'm the other way around: I tend to retrohale before the main exhale. I think

[RobBooth]

I tend to exhale the bulk of smoke before retrohaling the last little bit.

[EarwaxUK]

I also tend to retrohale (although I hate that word). In my experience it's easier for cigarette smokers (or former smokers) as they're likely to have done it with cigarettes before.

To proffer an opinion to the OPs initial question, I don't think there is a "wrong way". I've seen lots of relatively pompous advice on the internet about whether or not you should take the band off the cigar, about whether you should let the ash drop or not, about inhaling and retrohaling, about when and where and why and how you smoke. But the one thing that seems to get lost in all that is the enjoyment of a good cigar.

I've seen a thousand (slight hyperbole for you there) youtube videos about how you light a cigar "the right way" and, more specifically, how not to light a cigar. I've even seen people referring to Zino Davidoff's rules on etiquette and telling us to only smoke a cigar halfway down, never ask for a light from another cigar smoker, not smoking while walking etc.

But a wrong way to smoke? Frankly, you can smoke it backwards if you want and light the foot, it'll still smoke. It's a hobby - do it the way you want and the way that gives you the most enjoyment.

[Niela]

But a wrong way to smoke? Frankly, you can smoke it backwards if you want and light the foot, it'll still smoke. It's a hobby - do it the way you want and the way that gives you the most enjoyment.

Yep, I agree with that. But for me the retrohale made me enjoy a cigar even more than I did before. So while it's surly not wrong to smoke it another way, it would always be a practice I'd recommend to others.

[ValeTudoGuy]

I'm pretty sure Butters smokes certain cigars backwards..... For reasons only he can fathom,

[smokey joe]

I'm pretty sure Butters smokes certain cigars backwards..... For reasons only he can fathom,

The final 3rd is said to be the best so why not smoke it 1st


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[ValeTudoGuy]

The final 3rd is said to be the best so why not smoke it 1st


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Who says the final third is best?

I also imagine the foot of a cigar gives a pretty effective wind tunnel and there is no option to cut it more shallow..

Some would also have you believe that a roller creates a blend to progress in a certain way. Though i dont really buy into that.

Bit if someone wants to smoke a cigar backwards, without a wrapper or even with cedar left on...
Its up to them, after all they paid the entey price.

I would still have a chuckle at the sight.

[sheppsea]

I'm not sure that's quite true [MENTION=13408081]smokey joe[/MENTION], if you listen to Davidoff himself he would tell you that you shouldn't smoke beyond the midway point