A common question among new cigar enthusiasts is about the duration for which one should hold in cigar smoke. Unlike cigarettes, where the point is to inhale smoke, cigars offer a wholly different experience that focuses on taste and aroma. By holding cigar smoke in our mouth for a time, we allow our senses of taste and smell to unite and fully experience the tobacco. 

Understanding Cigar Smoke

Cigars are typically composed of aged and fermented tobacco from many regions, offering a complex assortment of flavors. Cigar smoke is denser and richer than other tobacco forms, and is primarily experienced through the mouth and nose. Nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth as well, and all of the flavor will be determined by your palate and aromas. 

The reason many of us hold cigar smoke in our mouths for a brief period of time is to allow our senses to fully taste what the Blender intended and detect subtle nuances. Typically this is done by taking a puff, expelling about half of the smoke, and then slowly releasing the rest.

The Recommended Approach

Typically you’ll want to take a puff, expel about half of the smoke through your mouth, and then slowly release the rest. You may find yourself ‘chewing’ on the smoke, working it in your cheeks as your release it. You might also let some of the smoke escape from your nose (called retro haling) to taste even more by combining your sense of smell and taste, but this isn’t required. 

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How long do you hold cigar smoke in your mouth? The duration is generally brief – a few seconds at most. This short pause allows your palate to detect the wide assortment of flavors and aromas present in the smoke. After savoring the taste, expel the smoke slowly. It's common to pause more than once to maximize your perception of what the cigar has to offer.

Why Not Inhale?

As we’ve talked about before, cigar smoke is alkaline whereas cigarette smoke is acidic. This difference means that nicotine from a cigar is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth instead of the lungs. It also means that cigar smoke can absolutely wreck your lungs if inhaled. 

Cigars are meant to be enjoyed slowly and inhaling quickly puts an end to the ceremony, relaxation, and luxury experience you signed up for. 

Instead, Consider the Puff

A lot of this is personal preference designed to help you get more from your cigars. One thing that is objectively important, however, is making sure to get a full puff from your cigar. 

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Shallow puffs will cause your cigars to extinguish themselves before you’re ready. I see many new enthusiasts combating this problem out in the wild, and usually it has to do with not taking full puffs. 

A full puff will allow the tobacco to ignite the filler, binder, and wrapper leaves together. This is necessary to keep your cigar burning and have a good time - shallow puffs only ignite a portion of the filler. In turn, this creates a tunnel that’ll have you reaching for your lighter more and more often.