08/29/2026
Art of the Ash #57: Purge before the relight š„
If your cigar goes out, donāt immediately start puffing while you relight it.
First, gently blow out through the cigar while applying flame to the foot. This is called purging, and it helps clear out stale smoke and built-up combustion compounds that can make a relit cigar taste bitter or harsh.
This is especially helpful if your cigar has been sitting out for several minutes. The longer it has been extinguished, the more noticeable those stale, bitter flavors can be when you fire it back up.
Once the foot is evenly glowing again, give it a moment before taking your first draw.
A cigar going out doesnāt ruin the smoke. How you relight it can.
