[uncballzer]

Definitely slow down your smoking. Try one puff per minute, a reasonable rate; it may seem hard, but sit it down between puffs and it'll get easier to do. Purging is another option, but I tend to still have some of the harshness. So, go slower--think of it as, it's a $30 cuban, and you want to savor it for as long as you can.
Second, finish it, smoke it until your fingers burn! You'll get used to the taste and it won't bother you as much later on.