A little help please (seems I've been doing it wrong)

[Ghygly]

Got a problem guys. I was doing a little reading about the proper way to enjoy a quality smoke and was somewhat stunned to read that I should never, ever inhale: that inhaling cigar smoke will make me ill. I guess I'm screwed. I've been smoking for 40 years and I thought I was really enjoying the tasty Montecristo's that I'm so fond of, hell I didn't even realize that they were making me sick.

In an attempt to correct my ways, I tried smoking one of my Buena Fortuna's without inhaling. What the hell!! I could tell I was smoking, there was smoke and everything. But I couldn't taste a damned thing. It looked good, unlit it smelled good, hell it even felt good, the ash developed evenly and long, I just couldn't taste the damned thing. I was enjoying a cup of my favorite Columbian, it tasted great. I hadn't been eating anything and among my friends and family I'm known for my sense of taste and smell. I'm sort of the go to guy when there is a question about food or drink.

What am I missing? Even more to the point, what do I do about this? I've become really interested in fine cigars as a hobby. I've been reading all the reviews and ordering a lot of hopefully tasty smokes and I would hate to think that I'm missing out on the most important part of the experience.

[Bkcloud114]

WOW..... you have been smoking for 40 yrs and have been inhaling all that time ?

The only thing I can tell you about inhaling a cigar is something a FOG once told me on CigarPass...

Cigars are like a fine wine, they are menat to be enjoyed for their different flavors. There is no reason to inhale a cigar because you don't have any taste buds in your lungs.

I have come across a few people who I have seen inhale cigars. I do believe you are getting more of the nicotine in your system thru your lungs..... as for it being bad for.... it is probably just as bad as cigarettes..... except cigarette tobacco has alot more chemicals added to it.... It is my understanding that cigar tobacco is "unprocessed" tobacco.

Just my 2¢

[grand cru no 2]

While I personally don't inhale cigars, my stance has always been that there is no wrong way to smoke 'em! Smoke them however you like to.

On a side note, I remember that in the Fuente DVD either Carlito or his Pop inhales. I remember noticing it but I don't remember which one it was. I should probably consult the DVD but I'm too lazy. lol

[Roham]

It's all personal preferance. I don't inhale but that's just me. I read once that there are no taste buds in your lungs, which is a good point I thought.

[Iced T]

I have come across a few people who I have seen inhale cigars. I do believe you are getting more of the nicotine in your system thru your lungs..... as for it being bad for.... it is probably just as bad as cigarettes..... except cigarette tobacco has alot more chemicals added to it.... It is my understanding that cigar tobacco is "unprocessed" tobacco.

Nicotine in 1 cigar is equivalent to 75 cigarettes... Thanks anti-smoking education!

[reaganyouth84]

Nicotine in 1 cigar is equivalent to 75 cigarettes... Thanks anti-smoking education!

Haha, hey, that's government propaganda.
-Mike

[labmonkey]

While I personally don't inhale cigars, my stance has always been that there is no wrong way to smoke 'em! Smoke them however you like to.

I agree with GC#2.....except that I do occasionally inhale a cigar.....rarely but I do sometimes.

[F.T. Pulver]

Just out of curiosity, what sort of flavors were you getting when you were inhaling?

[Ghygly]

I'll do the best I can.
Monte Cristo Buena Fortuna. Very rich, spicy flavor with just a hint of sweetness. Never to be mistaken for some flavor-enhanced, wrapped wad of floor sweeps. This is a real smoke, medium draw, tightly wrapped, slow burning, on the strong side of medium, with a slight bite at the back of the throat. Ash is firm, almost hard. Very pleasing aroma (so much so that my daughter in-law loves it when I light one up).

On a side note. I used to live in Delano California. There is a large Filipino community there. It was not unusual to see old (I mean like 80 or so) Filipino women walking down the street smoking Petri Toscanelli cigars. If you think this is odd (and trust me, if you haven't tried one, a Petri will flat curl your toes) they smoked them with the ash on the inside of their mouths. On the other hand, perhaps they just looked 80.

[F.T. Pulver]

If you've been inhaling all this time, you may nee to retrain your pallet a bit. Try intaking the smoke and blowing it out through you nose without inhaling it. You can also try to hold the smoke in your mouth then slowly let it out while trying to "sniff" at it with your nose at the same time. Both of these techniques take a bit of time to master, but it may help you get more out of your cigars. good luck.