Anti-smoking wife offers longest ash advice

[Rubix^3]

Subtle humor here, I hope it translates:
Ok, with all these "long ash" contests going on from time to time I have tried on many occasions to hold onto a long ash, but to no avail. Longest one I have got so far over the last week is about 2". So my wife is a bit upset because not only does she not like that I smoke cigars, but i left quite a mess of ashes on the front porch from all my failed attempts, hahah. So I finally sweep the porch, and my wife, admiring my display of domestic responsibility shares some sort of strange cigar wisdom;
"you smoke them too slow".

Ironic considering the source.

Thinking about it though, maybe she has something here...

[Cypress]

Hmm, i am a fast smoker. Try it out and see if there is any difference. I would say keep the control item the same. ie same cigar, same weather, same wind, same chair, etc. Only vary the time it takes to smoke.

[2Curious]

She's 100% correct. Darn. Was hoping to keep that a secret till someone started another contest.
To get that ash nice and tight you gotta smoke it down quick. Not too quick to tunnel, but much quicker than normal.
Thus, attempting a nice long solid ash, and enjoying your cigar is an oxymoron.

[ribletman]

I am not convinced that smoking faster is the secrete to a long ash. I have a friend that I often share a cigar with, so I normally buy two of anything I want to try, just in case. We have smoked no less than 50 pairs of cigars together. But his ash nearly always holds on a lot longer than mine, and I smoke 'em down faster than he does. I am normally around a half-inch further on the smoke when he hits halfway. My best guess is that I am more violent in my hand-movements while not drawing. around 1.5 inches is about as good as I get.

[sboyajian]

a lot of it has to do with the construction of the cigar.

[jledou]

Along with a "fast" smoking technique I would also suggest that your frequency and draw length also needs to be fairly consistent for your best results.