Purging a cigar may sound like someone overreacting to a blend they don’t like, vowing to purge any of the remaining sticks from their humidor. However, “purging” a cigar actually refers to a technique that could save a cigar. To purge a cigar, simply blow into the head of the cigar rather than drawing air into your mouth. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for employing this counterintuitive technique.

Purging a Previously Lit Cigar

This is a situation that nearly every smoker has encountered at some time or another. You start smoking a cigar and you’re really enjoying it. Suddenly, something urgent comes up and neither finishing the cigar nor taking it with you are viable options. All you can do is set the cigar down, allowing it to go out on its own.

When you return, the cigar is more or less as you left it. But you know that as soon as you light it back up it won’t taste nearly as good as it first did. This is where purging comes in. By blowing into the cigar before re-lighting it, you can expel that cold, stale smoke that would be unpleasant to taste. Sure, nothing is going to beat smoking the cigar as it was intended, but purging the old smoke can still help.

Fixing a Cigar’s Burn

There are few things that cigar lovers find more annoying than an uneven burn. Not only can it affect the flavor profile of a cigar, but it’s also just unsightly. Purging offers a simple and quick fix. All you have to do is spin the cigar so the area that isn’t burning is facing upwards. Then, as you purge (blow into the cigar) the concentrated heat should burn the problematic spot on your stogie. Be warned: you should let the cigar cool down after doing this. Otherwise, your next draw will likely be hot, harsh, and bitter.

Purging While Smoking

Believe it or not, there are times when some will argue that purging a cigar can simply improve the experience. For example, if you’ve ever smoked a cigar with a tight draw, you may notice that it can develop some harshness the more you smoke. Purging a cigar like this is like hitting a reset button on your cigar. With the old smoke blown out, your cigar will have an easier time establishing its intended flavor profile.

Now that you know how and when to purge a cigar, there’s no need to fight through harsh draws, stale smoke, or uneven burns. Use this knowledge wisely in your future smokes.