How to properly sample the flavor and bouquet of a cigar

I posted a video on the youtube channel yesterday which covered how to properly get the proper flavor, bouquet and aroma a cigar. I found a website which offers a clear, fully detailed article describing exactly how to light, smoke and maintain a cigar such that the entire experience is clean and generates the most pure flavor the cigar can possibly produce. This technique is one that I've never seen anyone use in person, although I have seen bits and pieces of it mentioned on the Internet. The video can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHKcld1BWCo

Basically, it involves regular "purges" and "sipping" the cigar, rather than "gulping" it. There is also a very specific lighting technique which focuses on lighting the entire foot at once, rather than lighting from the outside (Wrapper) in, which most people seem to do. Another key point is that the foot should not be charred during the lighting process, as this will impart a peppery/bitter/burnt flavor for the first 1/4" or so of the cigar. If you notice, it is quite common for people to mention that a cigar starts out this way. While sometimes it actually is due to the blend, I'm beginning to believe that more often than not it is the result of charring the foot and failing to purge immediately after lighting.

There are various chemicals in the tobacco which are responsible for the flavors experienced during the smoking process. As a cigar is smoked, these build up in and just behind the cherry. So, when the cherry reaches these on the next draw, you often get a burned, peppery flavor. Now, this flavor isn't actually all that obvious until you smoke a cigar in a manner that removes it. Once you do, you'll realize that your palate was being coated with a burnt taste which then prevented you from properly tasting the flavors of the cigar and sampling the bouquet.

In order to prevent these charred remains from building up, a process known as purging should be performed at regular intervals as you smoke your cigar. This process simply involves blowing through the cigar, rather than drawing through it. By purging the cigar at regular intervals, you burn off the charred, overcooked chemicals in the tobacco which are responsible for flavor and push these out of the cigar. When a cigar starts to die because of waiting too long between draws, it is common for the smoker to take several draws in quick succession to get the cherry going again. This pulls cold, nasty aromas and charred chemicals into the cigar, tainting the tobacco. It also makes the cigar overheat and brings that heat far into the cigar, causing it to begin to get mushy far back from the cherry.

When your cigar begins to die, instead of drawing on it, blow through it while rotating it until the cherry begins to glow orange all the way around the cigar. Now your cherry is going again and, more importantly, you did not pull those nasty flavors into the cigar. At this point you will want to let the cherry cool for a few moments and then you can take another draw.

One thing you'll notice if you are purging regularly (I will lightly purge after every other draw usually) is that the cigar will be so cool that you can comfortably hold your finger just 1/8 of an inch behind the burn line. The cigar will not get mushy, and it will remain cool. This is because the purging process keeps the cherry going, but pushes the heat it develops out of the cigar. The airflow through the cigar also helps cool it. You will be amazed at the difference in the way your cigar tastes when you use the technique described on this website. I strongly recommend using it, particularly if you're after flavor and not a nicotine kick.

Remember to sip the cigar and immediately retrohale a small portion of the smoke (Pass it through your nose). When you combine the regular purges with sipping the cigar, retrohaling becomes a comfortable and pleasant experience. You should not experience strong discomfort in your nasal passages. You only want to pass a small amount through the nose. This will allow you to sample the cigar's "bouquet" and it will give you far more information about the flavors the cigar is actually producing. You'll also notice that by using this purging, sipping and retrohaling technique for the entire duration of your cigar, you will not be left with the strong cigar aftertaste after you're done. The pure finish flavors will remain, with only the slightest hint of an aftertaste. The aroma your cigar produces should also be more pleasant for those around you.

Alright, I've rambled on long enough, so go check out this article. Please let me know how this technique goes for you! Note: The article is titled "How to smoke a Cuban cigar," but this technique will work on any cigar and it vastly improves the experience in my opinion:

http://www.tabacordillera.com/how-to-smoke-a-cuban-cigar.htm