Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Bespoke Unit's Paul Anthony & Charles-Philippe discuss cigar ash with Davidoff's Klaas Kelner. Watch our video to learn what information an expert can learn from his cigar's ash!
CONTINUE WATCHING:
See our other #davidoffcigars Dominican adventures with Klaas and others!
See Davidoff's cigar rolling method in their factory: youtu.be/sIx9-59oVgI
Watch From Seed To Smoke, our Davidoff documentary: youtu.be/_mGFeOwjfbs
Our Davidoff playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfsWHCy_hDdq-Cir85QVpMqilLi9mMCH8
Learn to store an (unsmoked) cigar in a pinch: youtu.be/LQyXs0FPBKc
READ ABOUT CIGARS:
How to ash a cigar like a pro: bespokeunit.com/cigars/smoking/#ash
Guide to lighting a cigar, including contingencies for irregular burns: bespokeunit.com/cigars/lighting/how
All of our written content on cigars: bespokeunit.com/cigars
What Does Ash Say About A Cigar? Learn About Ashing & Touching Up Cigars With Klaas Kelner
Analyzing your cigar is not just about taste and smell. It's also about feel and construction. You can use your sight to analyze the cigar, and the first time you ash is a great time to learn about its construction.
[01:05] Ash example:
Here, CP has about 1 inch of ash. Ash it gently—the first time you do so, observe the shape of the ash still left on the cigar.
This cigar's end has a sort of pyramid or cone shape to it; this is a great indication of good construction. A perfect pyramid shape indicates a good blend of tobacco types from different parts of the plant. The leaves are correctly layered, with stronger leaves are towards the inside, and softer leaves are outwards. The strongest leaves require higher heat to burn, hence the pyramid shape.
If the leaves are not properly layered, there's a big risk of your cigar canoeing.
Davidoff uses accordion-style folding, which has a noticeably different result from other methods. Booking, which stacks leaves like a book's pages, leaves the stronger parts of the tobaccos to one side. Entubado, a circular rolling method, creates characteristic holes in the cross section.
[03:36] Smoking Speed & Cherry Shape
Many of us have heard the assertion that a pyramid shape results from smoking too fast. However, Klaas points out that the opposite is true; smoking fast pulls in more oxygen, raising the temperature in the middle. This results in tunneling, which could put your cigar out.
If you have a cigar that is all the same type of leaf—100% viso, or seco, you will get a flatter burn. The pyramid shape results mostly from careful leaf distribution by the roller.
[05:12] Ash Length & Quality
CP likes to try and get as long an ash as possible, and asks Klaas: how does a long ash affect smoke quality?
Klaas clarifies that long ash only negatively affects a smoke if it hinders your ability to draw oxygen to the cherry. Mainly, you want to keep it between one and two inches.
You also want to ash it when your cigar starts to go towards the side. Klaas demonstrates that a well-constructed cigar can stand up, ash side down.
[08:20] Helping Your Off-Center Cigar
Paul's cigar burns a bit unevenly, and Klaas demonstrates how to even out such a cigar. Although you can touch it up in a very minor way without ashing, in this case that's not feasible. Without pre-moistening, he ashes it, then uses a single flame torch lighter to catch the slower-burning side up to the other. This unevenness is caused, he explains, by a pocket of extra oil.
Klaas summarizes it thus: maintain your cigars well, light them properly, and smoke in an ideal environment. Don't expect a perfect burn if these conditions aren't met.
[11:38] What Does The Burn Line Mean?
Next, CP asks Klaas what the burn line tells you. A thicker burn line indicates an oilier wrapper. It gives a fuller experience with more flavour, but requires more oxygen to burn properly. If you see a thick burn line with a lot of blackened tobacco, it's an incomplete combustion.
Ultimately, getting to know cigars better comes with experience. Pay attention when you're smoking, and you'll learn more, and begin to understand what every quirk of the ash tells you about your smoke.
REMEMBER to comment! How do you like to ash your cigar? What smoking environment gives you the best experience? Finally, feel free to request any cigar topic you'd like us to feature on Bespoke Unit!
Yours,
The Bespoke Unit Team
CONNECT:
Web: BespokeUnit.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/BespokeUnit
Facebook: Facebook.com/BespokeUnit
Twitter: Twitter.com/BespokeUnit
Subscribe to Newsletter: BespokeUnit.com/newsletter
What Does Ash Say About A Cigar? Learn About Ashing & Touching Up Cigars With Klaas Kelner
youtu.be/ot7WDu-Cchg
Bespoke Unit's Paul Anthony & Charles-Philippe discuss cigar ash with Davidoff's Klaas Kelner. Watch our video to learn what information an expert can learn from his cigar's ash!
CONTINUE WATCHING:
See our other #davidoffcigars Dominican adventures with Klaas and others!
See Davidoff's cigar rolling method in their factory: youtu.be/sIx9-59oVgI
Watch From Seed To Smoke, our Davidoff documentary: youtu.be/_mGFeOwjfbs
Our Davidoff playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfsWHCy_hDdq-Cir85QVpMqilLi9mMCH8
Learn to store an (unsmoked) cigar in a pinch: youtu.be/LQyXs0FPBKc
READ ABOUT CIGARS:
How to ash a cigar like a pro: bespokeunit.com/cigars/smoking/#ash
Guide to lighting a cigar, including contingencies for irregular burns: bespokeunit.com/cigars/lighting/how
All of our written content on cigars: bespokeunit.com/cigars
What Does Ash Say About A Cigar? Learn About Ashing & Touching Up Cigars With Klaas Kelner
Analyzing your cigar is not just about taste and smell. It's also about feel and construction. You can use your sight to analyze the cigar, and the first time you ash is a great time to learn about its construction.
[01:05] Ash example:
Here, CP has about 1 inch of ash. Ash it gently—the first time you do so, observe the shape of the ash still left on the cigar.
This cigar's end has a sort of pyramid or cone shape to it; this is a great indication of good construction. A perfect pyramid shape indicates a good blend of tobacco types from different parts of the plant. The leaves are correctly layered, with stronger leaves are towards the inside, and softer leaves are outwards. The strongest leaves require higher heat to burn, hence the pyramid shape.
If the leaves are not properly layered, there's a big risk of your cigar canoeing.
Davidoff uses accordion-style folding, which has a noticeably different result from other methods. Booking, which stacks leaves like a book's pages, leaves the stronger parts of the tobaccos to one side. Entubado, a circular rolling method, creates characteristic holes in the cross section.
[03:36] Smoking Speed & Cherry Shape
Many of us have heard the assertion that a pyramid shape results from smoking too fast. However, Klaas points out that the opposite is true; smoking fast pulls in more oxygen, raising the temperature in the middle. This results in tunneling, which could put your cigar out.
If you have a cigar that is all the same type of leaf—100% viso, or seco, you will get a flatter burn. The pyramid shape results mostly from careful leaf distribution by the roller.
[05:12] Ash Length & Quality
CP likes to try and get as long an ash as possible, and asks Klaas: how does a long ash affect smoke quality?
Klaas clarifies that long ash only negatively affects a smoke if it hinders your ability to draw oxygen to the cherry. Mainly, you want to keep it between one and two inches.
You also want to ash it when your cigar starts to go towards the side. Klaas demonstrates that a well-constructed cigar can stand up, ash side down.
[08:20] Helping Your Off-Center Cigar
Paul's cigar burns a bit unevenly, and Klaas demonstrates how to even out such a cigar. Although you can touch it up in a very minor way without ashing, in this case that's not feasible. Without pre-moistening, he ashes it, then uses a single flame torch lighter to catch the slower-burning side up to the other. This unevenness is caused, he explains, by a pocket of extra oil.
Klaas summarizes it thus: maintain your cigars well, light them properly, and smoke in an ideal environment. Don't expect a perfect burn if these conditions aren't met.
[11:38] What Does The Burn Line Mean?
Next, CP asks Klaas what the burn line tells you. A thicker burn line indicates an oilier wrapper. It gives a fuller experience with more flavour, but requires more oxygen to burn properly. If you see a thick burn line with a lot of blackened tobacco, it's an incomplete combustion.
Ultimately, getting to know cigars better comes with experience. Pay attention when you're smoking, and you'll learn more, and begin to understand what every quirk of the ash tells you about your smoke.
REMEMBER to comment! How do you like to ash your cigar? What smoking environment gives you the best experience? Finally, feel free to request any cigar topic you'd like us to feature on Bespoke Unit!
Yours,
The Bespoke Unit Team
CONNECT:
Web: BespokeUnit.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/BespokeUnit
Facebook: Facebook.com/BespokeUnit
Twitter: Twitter.com/BespokeUnit
Subscribe to Newsletter: BespokeUnit.com/newsletter
What Does Ash Say About A Cigar? Learn About Ashing & Touching Up Cigars With Klaas Kelner
youtu.be/ot7WDu-Cchg
