Doing so is not easy: the combustion products of the tobacco leaf remain loosely bound and any disturbance causes them to crumble. As we can imagine, it is a fight against gravity, and that is why smokers place the cigar in an upright position. Very few of those who participate in these contests manage to balance columns of waste larger than 16 centimeters. Furthermore, such a feat cannot be achieved with just any type of cigar.
The consistency of the ash, a key factor, depends on different factors. On the one hand, there is the quality of the blade used. If it is good, it leaves a denser ash, which delays its inevitable fall. Furthermore, it is generally accepted that a cigar is well made when the burnt tip reaches at least 2.5 cm in length and is still attached to the cigar. Another factor that influences is the art of the twister, that is, the expert who rolls the cigar. If you do not do it firmly enough or choose short leaves, the ash will tend to disintegrate.
Heavy smokers say that, if the rolling is mechanical, the ash falls more quickly than if it has been done by hand. And the third aspect that will decide if we will get a very long column of slag is in the hands of the user himself: tell me how you smoke and I will tell you the length of the ash. To get as long as possible it should be gently inhaled. And, of course, you have to have a good pulse, to avoid vibrations.
But there is a more subtle aspect why smokers want the ash to stick to the cigar: its length affects the flavor. A long pillar cools and softens the smoke, making the experience more pleasant. In fact, the puff that occurs just after the ash has fallen is much warmer and stronger than the previous ones.
