Retrohaling...

[ZippoGeek]

Does anyone else here NOT retrohale? In 22+ years of smoking cigars, I've never really done it. Feels like I'm missing out on some great flavor, since taste and smell are so closely connected.

And a stupid question: If I was to start retrohaling, how exactly do I do it without INhaling? I don't want to start that habit . Was trying to do it just now and started sneezing like hell!

Thanks guys.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Does anyone else here NOT retrohale? In 22+ years of smoking cigars, I've never really done it. Feels like I'm missing out on some great flavor, since taste and smell are so closely connected.

And a stupid question: If I was to start retrohaling, how exactly do I do it without INhaling? I don't want to start that habit . Was trying to do it just now and started sneezing like hell!

Thanks guys.

Start real small and with non spicy sticks.

Blow out 90+% of the smoke then force the remainder up through your sinuses with the back of your tongue with your mouth closed and while exhaling slowly through your nose.

 

[Tennessee Dave]

Good advice Ryan. With some cigars I think one is missing the essence of the cigar if not done. On the other hand if your retro the wrong cigar it will give you a very unpleasant experience.

 

[Zmilin]

Ive done it and try it more and more but I don't get much out of it.

 

[daleo8803]

I do exactly what chef said. I get more spice and I can get more out of the stick. But start with mild stuff!!! Lol trust me, your nose will thank me.

 

[ZippoGeek]

Start real small and with non spicy sticks.

Blow out 90+% of the smoke then force the remainder up through your sinuses with the back of your tongue with your mouth closed and while exhaling slowly through your nose.

Success...I'm starting to get it! Thanks guys!

 

[SeaGarr]

I mean there are no rules, and no one has to retrohale in order to enjoy a cigar but it's an element of cigar smoking I really enjoy.

My feelings are that by retrohaling, you taste aspects of the cigar you otherwise wouldn't - in essence enhancing the cigar's taste and ultimately my experience. Try it for a while, if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you.

 

[8ball]

It took some practice, but I retro all the time and never get any in my lungs. They to swallow a little (like drinking a glass of water) while exhaling out the nose. The trick is to move the smoke to the back of your throat where the nasal passage connects. The big thing is to not use your lungs to pull the smoke back. You'll be surprised how easy and second nature it becomes with a little practice.

 

[erjaq]

i retrohale every single puff (unless I force myself not to0. IMO you really dont have any idea what the cigar tastes like unless you do.

Before retrohaling, I could sorta kinda detect a chocolate-y note in some smokes. After retrohaling, I can tell the difference between dry cocoa and fudge and bakers chocolate. (not saying Im right about those descriptions, but at least they make sense to me...)

 

[JuzCallMeDee]

swallow...


















then breathe out of your nose.

 

[Tim H]

I find I pick up a lot more spices, if available, by retrohaling. Get a good mouthful of smoke, put the tip of your tongue on the back of your front teeth. Then slowly move your tongue backwards along the roof of your mouth while exhaling out your nose. On some stronger sticks it is easy to pick up enough spice to make my eyes water but that does not happen too often. Retrohaling also seems to leave much different flavors on my tongue than if I didn't retrohale.

 

[jfettlol]

Unless the stick is overly spicy (maybe 10% of all I smoke), I have to retro every puff. Only way to taste a cigar now, without it, I get almost nothing in terms of flavor, with it, I get everything. You'll get the hang.

Oh one more note, there's no real percentage of smoke you have to retro. I find my ratio/percentage changes depending on each cigar.

 

[Mr. Guy]

I've always retrohaled kind of naturally. I thought it was a common thing until one of my smoking buddies mentioned a video suggesting the practice can increase enjoyment. He couldn't get the hang of it. I tried to describe how I accomplish the apparently learned skill to little avail. He's doing better now, possibly due to my instruction.
With out the added influence of a cigar, can you breathe through your nose while keeping the back of your throat open? So, lips together, mouth "open", throat open as well, all air passing in and out of your nose. The exhale portion of this will be the retrohale. With the cigar, pull the smoke in per usual, remove cigar from mouth, then keep lips together, mouth open, throat open and exhale through your nose. I don't think I'm doing a good job of explaining, but then again now does one explain to do something that's always come natural?
A theory of mine is that this has something to do with the sinuses as a whole, for example, I really struggle to hold my breath under water and not get a rush of fluid up my nose. My buddy has no problem with that. I can only keep submerged while completely exhaling breath out my nose in an effort to keep the water out.

 

[Mr. Guy]

Forgot to add, I get mostly pepper and spice sensations in the retrohale. Some sticks will add more chocolate as well. I do think I experience a longer finish with more subtleties when retrohaling, nothing completely game changing though. As mentioned before, more of a distinction between specific wood sensations and specific types of chocolate, for a couple examples.

 

[jonboy]

I retro every single puff. It's easy for me, but that may be because I used to smoke cigarettes. The advice above should get you on the right track.

 

[ToastedFoot]

Does anyone else here NOT retrohale? In 22+ years of smoking cigars, I've never really done it. Feels like I'm missing out on some great flavor, since taste and smell are so closely connected.

And a stupid question: If I was to start retrohaling, how exactly do I do it without INhaling? I don't want to start that habit . Was trying to do it just now and started sneezing like hell!

Thanks guys.

I have retro-haled many cigars. I also find it can clog your sinuses sometimes. A good alternative to retro-hale is after you have blown your smoke out of your mouth immediately exhale out of your nose while tasting and smacking your lips (keep mouth closed). It gives additional flavor components while avoiding any singed nose hair effects. It helps much more on spicy cigars and complex flavors. At least from my experience. I can taste a cigar like that even after I am finished.

 

[TraderCigarCo.]

i retrohale every single puff (unless I force myself not to0. IMO you really dont have any idea what the cigar tastes like unless you do.

Before retrohaling, I could sorta kinda detect a chocolate-y note in some smokes. After retrohaling, I can tell the difference between dry cocoa and fudge and bakers chocolate. (not saying Im right about those descriptions, but at least they make sense to me...)

I'm with you. I can't pick out flavors like caramel and vanilla and leather, but I do get a "different" in the experience when I do retrohale, which for me as about every puff. I think I do it instinctually now as I don't really think about it much when I smoke.

 

[Zigarro]

I retro every cigar and cannot imagine enjoying a Melanio to it's fullest w/o it.

 

[Le Buzz]

I have retro-haled many cigars. I also find it can clog your sinuses sometimes. A good alternative to retro-hale is after you have blown your smoke out of your mouth immediately exhale out of your nose while tasting and smacking your lips (keep mouth closed). It gives additional flavor components while avoiding any singed nose hair effects. It helps much more on spicy cigars and complex flavors. At least from my experience. I can taste a cigar like that even after I am finished.

This is pretty much the way I taste cigars. The few times I actually retrohaled the smoke I got nothing but singed sinuses and a harsh pepper and burnt wood aroma.

I will make it a point to retrohale my next smoke and see how it goes. To be fair, I haven't given it a thorough effort but I definitely will, just to be able to put retrohale snobs in their place. Some of the attitudes towards folks who don't retrohale are pretty absurd.

 

[Richin ManGoo]

hey zippo you must remember now if you only smoke crap CI/Cbid stuff you can retro all you want. A crap stick is still a crap stick.



And with that i am out Beeotches!!!!!!!!