Enjoying a premium cigar is a ritual, often savored over time. But life happens. Sometimes, you need to temporarily extinguish your cigar without ruining the experience for when you return to it. Knowing how to properly put out a cigar for later is crucial for maintaining its flavor and preventing it from becoming unusable. This guide will cover various methods, their pros and cons, and crucial tips to ensure your cigar remains enjoyable for its next chapter.
How Do You Put Out a Cigar Without Ruining It?
The key is to avoid completely extinguishing the cigar. Harshly snuffing it out can lead to a harsh, acrid taste when you relight it. The goal is to reduce the combustion enough to temporarily suspend the burn, allowing you to resume smoking later without significant flavor loss.
What's the Best Way to Put Out a Cigar for Later?
The most recommended method is using a cigar rest, a small device designed specifically for this purpose. These often incorporate a small, airtight chamber to hold the cigar, minimizing air exposure and keeping the ember safe.
Using a Cigar Rest: A Detailed Guide
- Prepare the cigar: Gently tap the ash from the cigar to remove loose debris. This helps prevent the ash from clogging the chamber of your cigar rest.
- Insert the cigar: Carefully place the lit end of the cigar into the designated chamber of your cigar rest. Ensure a snug fit to prevent air circulation.
- Secure the cigar: Some cigar rests have locking mechanisms or other features to secure the cigar further. Use these features if available.
- Storage: If you are storing the cigar for a longer period (a few hours or longer), consider storing the cigar rest in a humidor or other humid environment to prevent the cigar from drying out.
Other Methods (with caveats):
- Gently pressing the ash: You can gently press the ash down against the cigar to reduce the burn, but this is not ideal for long periods and may leave a slightly harsher taste upon relighting.
- Using a damp paper towel: Lightly pressing a damp (not soaking wet) paper towel against the ember can temporarily reduce the burning, but this risks affecting the cigar's wrapper and can introduce undesirable tastes. This method is best for short-term pauses.
How Long Can You Put a Cigar Out Before It's Ruined?
The longevity depends heavily on the method used and the cigar's construction. Using a cigar rest will give you the best chance of successfully relighting a cigar even after a few hours. Using a damp paper towel or simply pressing the ash is more suitable for short breaks, perhaps only 15-30 minutes. After several hours, even a cigar in a rest may start to experience some flavor degradation.
Can You Put a Cigar Out and Light It Back Up?
Yes, absolutely! The methods described above are designed to allow for relighting without dramatically changing the smoking experience. However, keep in mind that the flavor profile might slightly change after a period of time.
What Happens if You Snuff Out a Cigar?
Snuffing a cigar out aggressively, by completely extinguishing the ember, will likely introduce a harsh, bitter taste when you try to relight it. The intense heat from snuffing can alter the tobacco's flavor compounds, making the smoke undesirable.
How to Properly Relight a Cigar After Putting It Out:
- Carefully remove from rest: If using a rest, remove your cigar gently to avoid damaging the wrapper.
- Reapply the flame: Use a gentle flame, such as from a butane torch or match, to reignite the ember slowly and evenly. Don't apply the flame too directly or aggressively. Let the relighting process be slow and gradual.
- Give it some time: After relighting, allow the cigar to burn for a minute or so before taking a puff to allow the flavors to re-develop.
By following these tips, you can enjoy your cigar over time, knowing you have the tools to put it out for later without sacrificing the smoking experience. Remember, using a cigar rest is the most effective approach to preserve your smoke's taste and quality.
