Ash Retention
Smoking & Technique
Definition
How long a cigar's ash holds together before falling. Retention reflects leaf structure and mineral content of the soil more than blend quality.
Why it matters
Long ash is often treated as a sign of quality, but it mainly reports on the tobacco's mineral makeup; a tidy smoker taps at an inch regardless.
In context
"The ash held nearly two inches before he tapped it off."
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