To tap or not to tap?

[tippexx]

Ash. Something we haven't discussed on here since Deano was in short trousers, or perhaps ? because of all the nice ashtrays on eBay ? something we just forget.

Long ash does look untidy to an aesthetic eye and can be a bit of a nuisance spilt into the buttons of 501s, but in saying that I've also come to think that the ash serves as a dampener and regulator to progressive combustion in cigars and when I tap it off it will often create a judder or change in an acceptable taste profile. Trying to get that taste back can be impossible because it's starting again without the regulator, and puffing harder or more frequently won't help either because those actions create a build-up of gasses behind the burn or overheat the cigar and neither is conducive to 'best' flavour.

As a matter of discipline I try to regulate my puffs to the Davidoff recommended one a minute. For me it seems to work and it keeps the flavors clean and reasonably consistent throughout a smoke. I've also learned to try to keep ash until it either falls of or looks 'ready to' before I tap it. Three taps is my norm for say a PC and four or five for a Lonsdales. I'm pretty convinced it helps .... but, just my opinion and over to you lot to have your say!

[ValeTudoGuy]

I am not a fan of long ash and often enjoy the flavour change a good tap kick starts.

Though I must say you often have very nice looking and equal ash cylinders in your tray Arf.

[sheppsea]

I try to resist tapping the ash where possible, but as soon as I feel it may fall on me I tap it off; my pet hate about cigar smoking is when I get ash all over my jacket.

I do find cigars seem to smoke better with a bit of ash on though


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[Ranks]

I try to keep the ash as long as possible as it does seem to keep it burning right but I would hate for that long ash to drop on my Sunday best

[oskihen]

Generally suck it and see and go with the flow of the cigar

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[RDBM]

I'm don't bother trying to keep an ash going as long as possible, too much hassle and I can't relax with the cigar for fear of it falling off all over the place. I tend to go with how the cigar feels when a little pressure is put on the ash, if it feels like there's a good bit of resistance there I keep it, if not it comes off.
Definitely agree that there can be a definite change in flavour and smokeability after the ash has gone.

[wayne_w]

I try to keep the first build up of ash on as long as possible.
Once it has either fallen off by it's own accord or just a light touch on the side of the ashtray to remove it, I try to keep it down to a cm or so.
I've found that by gently touching the ash on the side of the ashtray, the ash, if it's ready to fall, will come away easier. Sometimes it won't come away, in that case it's left to stay a while longer, without heavy pressure to remove it.

Another quirk of our hobby!

[PeeJay]

I'm getting into the habit of having the ashtray on my lap until the first ash fall when in the cabin

[cj121]

In terms of the possible flavour change, I guess we can either be at the mercy of the puro, or take our destiny into our own hands before the ungraceful lap-dance of ashpants makes centre stage . I've always thought that keeping a reasonable ash also contributed to a smoke being a little cooler, but perhaps that's total BS and a figment of my imagination. I appreciate Tipps' 'regulator' hypothesis.

[anz3001]

Yep, comes off when it starts to look precarious.

[Krist]

I tap it sometimes if I feel it, sometimes it falls on me and creates a mess. It's usually the latter. I don't think about it much.


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[cigarmo]

Go with the flow then roll off

[Streetfighter]

I find the ash insulates the burn, so tend to leave ash until you feel it give, them gently roll of on the edge of the ashtray giving respect to the leaf (ye right usually jump up arms thrashing about rubbing frantically ash from my jeans).

[cj121]

A rolling respectful approach, I like that one.

[akyprianou]

I tend to do the 'traditional' thing of letting my ash fall naturally, but theirs nothing wrong with tapping. Either way i suggest giving your cigar a quick draw over a flame after your ash falls, as your burn can come out of place from time to time.