Do you Retrohale??

BlueRings

One of the mysteries of cigar smoking, this is the key to flavor and really tasting a cigar fully. It has changed my opinion of so many cigars over the years. I find most dont or havent tried it before. To me it is the only way to discover the difference between flavor and strength. For those that havent there are youtube videos how and plenty of forum postings. So do you or why dont you??

Russ55

I do.

stephen_hannibal

Yes retrohaling is key to my smoking routine....

Krieg

I do a little, just to get the full taste of the cigar.

xmacro

It burns like hell and not matter what strength the cigar is, I don't seem to pick up anything thru retrohaling.

t_evan50

Just a few times per cigar to get a little better idea of the nuances.

Krieg

xmacro:

It burns like hell and not matter what strength the cigar is, I don't seem to pick up anything thru retrohaling.

might be blowing too much smoke out your nose, it doesn't take much to pick up the flavors. I blow 90% of the smoke out my mouth and 10% through the nose (over the course of the cigar)

kuzi16

i retrohale every cigar.

mbetot

Yes, but only a few times through the course of the cigar. Probably in thirds.

doromath

I retrohale on every cigar, at least every three puffs. I'll also fully exhale through my nose now and again, not for flavor but just out of habit. It feels good on my sinuses and generally lets me feel the body a bit more.

TGO

kuzi16:

i retrohale every cigar.

+1... I am not sure I would be able to stop it is instinctual and key to fully appreciating the cigar IMHO

Poker_Slob

I have to agree, it is a habit after a while, I don't even think about it.

One2gofst

I do. When I was a total novice (as opposed to the experience novice i am now) I only smoked a few cigars a year. I only smoked them through my mouth. Retrohaling brings out so many more dimensions in the sticks it is incredible. To each there own, of course, but those who won't even try it are missing a lot, imo.

jsnake

I didn't in the past but I have for about the last year.

docbp87

I retrohale on almost every draw. If you are getting nothing but a big burn, then you are expelling too much smoke through your nose. I would say that maybe 3/4s should be expelled through your mouth and only 1/4 through your nose. Just enough to get the smoke through your nose.

ellinas

just about everytime, i'm not in the habit of doing it yet.

fla-gypsy

Always

bigjohn125

not yet. I'm a newb and i usually screw it up and it burns or makes me cough so it ruins the experience. I enjoy cigars plenty without.

Dustin1981

Poker Slob:

I have to agree, it is a habit after a while, I don't even think about it.

I agree with this as well. For me it didnt burn my nose as bad as it does most, I think its from my years of cigarette smoking. Its the only good thing that came from that.

ug dan

Sure do. Brings out flavors that might be missed otherwise.

Garen B

bigjohn125:

not yet. I'm a newb and i usually screw it up and it burns or makes me cough so it ruins the experience. I enjoy cigars plenty without.

Blow the majority of the smoke out of your mouth first, upwards of 90%. Then take your tongue and touch the roof of your mouth and exhale half of the remaining smoke out slowly. If you do it slowly, it shouldn't burn your sinuses.

To answer the OP, I do on every cigar. Usually about every 5 puffs I'll retrohale, and it's now a habit for me.

JCizzle

I do. I'm a noob but for some reason I am able to retrohale easily.

Garhead

Krieg:

xmacro:

It burns like hell and not matter what strength the cigar is, I don't seem to pick up anything thru retrohaling.

might be blowing too much smoke out your nose, it doesn't take much to pick up the flavors. I blow 90% of the smoke out my mouth and 10% through the nose (over the course of the cigar)

+1. Even a little less for me. Just a little bit, smell and taste go hand in hand, but you only have to "smell" just a little bit to get the taste. Imagine a nice cut of steak, grilled, and you take that first bite. You can imagine the taste and you're probably salivating imagining it right now lol! We don't inhale our foods, we eat them. The "odors" from the food linger up into our pharynx and into our smell olfactory cells, which is minute. Smell has a little bit to do with it, but most of it come from the tastebuds or "papille" on your tongue. So yes, all in all, a little bit of retrohale helps, but if you're blowing smoke like crazy through you nose as well, you're actually inhibiting the experience. Just a little bit is all you need (no, I didn't look this up, lots of courses in college on anatomy.....if you're wondering if I'm just "blowing smoke"....ha).

bluezulu

My palete is not good enough to taste and get the nuances of the cigar any other way. Lol I actually saw a vid on youtube on it and gosh-darn-it it worked. Cigars are just like wine and beers they are all so different.

lilwing88

I retrohale every 4th or 5th puff. I also "swish" the smoke around in my mouth..... if that makes any sense.

ShotgunJohn

I retrohale about every 3rd to 4th puff, it took a while to learn, but it really opens up the flavor of the cigar.

Amos_Umwhat

xmacro:

It burns like hell and not matter what strength the cigar is, I don't seem to pick up anything thru retrohaling.

this is exactly how I'm affected, if I take the smoke in my mouth and blow it out my nose, no matter how I try. I do, however, use my nose, by expelling smoke from the mouth and lifting the flavors out with my nose, without inhaling.

bigharpoon

Amos Umwhat:

xmacro:

It burns like hell and not matter what strength the cigar is, I don't seem to pick up anything thru retrohaling.

this is exactly how I'm affected, if I take the smoke in my mouth and blow it out my nose, no matter how I try. I do, however, use my nose, by expelling smoke from the mouth and lifting the flavors out with my nose, without inhaling.

How much age do your cigars have? I've noticed this is yet another benefit of putting cigars to rest, the retro-hale is much smoother.

kuzi16

bigharpoon:

Amos Umwhat:

xmacro:

It burns like hell and not matter what strength the cigar is, I don't seem to pick up anything thru retrohaling.

this is exactly how I'm affected, if I take the smoke in my mouth and blow it out my nose, no matter how I try. I do, however, use my nose, by expelling smoke from the mouth and lifting the flavors out with my nose, without inhaling.

How much age do your cigars have? I've noticed this is yet another benefit of putting cigars to rest, the retro-hale is much smoother.

as cigars age they loose power. first to go is almost always the spice.

shamrocked

Garen B:

bigjohn125:

not yet. I'm a newb and i usually screw it up and it burns or makes me cough so it ruins the experience. I enjoy cigars plenty without.

Blow the majority of the smoke out of your mouth first, upwards of 90%. Then take your tongue and touch the roof of your mouth and exhale half of the remaining smoke out slowly. If you do it slowly, it shouldn't burn your sinuses.

To answer the OP, I do on every cigar. Usually about every 5 puffs I'll retrohale, and it's now a habit for me.

Every time I tried it would burn my sinuses but I should really learn to do this as well. I'll try out this tip

Sandman1am

I do and I tend to blow more smoke out my nose then most people. I find that because I have had sinus surgery it helps me with getting more of the nuances. I have a hard time smelling things unless it is very strong due to my allergies and again the sinus surgery.