Ok, that was a super cheesy title, but I couldn’t help myself.

I have to admit, I’m more concerned with flavor than aesthetics when it comes to smoking a cigar, but let’s be honest, we often feel we have a higher-quality cigar when the cigar ash seems to be performing miracles.

Now, when I say ‘miracles’ I’m not referring to your local longest ash contest or even the World Cigar Smoking Championship.*

*Side Note: Yes, the WCSC is a thing, and if you can smoke a 5 1/8 x 42 cigar in OVER two hours and 15 minutes, you might find yourself in the world’s top 10. This year, the cigar is produced by Oliva, and if you have a chance, check out your local event…they are a lot of fun.

The fact of the matter is that the cigar’s ash has little relation to the taste and performance of the cigar, but it can be an indicator of a few things.

Furthermore, getting everyone to agree on those things…well…that is an endless debate. Therefore, I suggest this article as a starting point. If that sounds like I’m hedging my bets and staying open to new data, you would be correct. 

Have you ever wondered what makes a cigar ash bright white or look like a stack of coins, well, let’s cover a little bit of chemistry.

Cigar Ash Indicates Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium Amounts.

Calcium in Cigars = Consistency

Calcium in the tobacco can contribute to the structural integrity of the ash. The more calcium, the greater the chance you are going to get that stacking-coins look.

Magnesium in a Cigar = Color

The whiter the ash, the higher the magnesium content. Less magnesium typically produces a greyer ash. The reason you don’t see many ‘pure white’ ashes is that the amount of magnesium is not the norm. However, we will discuss soil in a minute.

Potassium in Cigars = Combustion

I hesitate to mention this one because it’s about combustion, not construction. Potassium does not significantly affect the color or consistency. It does, however, become a behind-the-scenes contributor to burn (very much ‘after-the-fact’).

Here is where all bets are off…

Everything else matters as well. The soil, the type of tobacco, and the fermentation process. All three of these things change how the above can come into play.

If you are beginning to think that there are numerous variables here, you are correct. The exact amount of magnesium will have different effects with different tobaccos and fermentations. The same is true for calcium, and to a lesser degree, potassium.

Cigar makers face the incredible challenge of maintaining a consistent blend year after year—the look, feel, and most importantly, flavor. I don’t know a cigar maker who realistically has a goal of what the ash will look like ahead of the performance of the cigar.

So, go forth with the cigar ‘ash’ comments to your friends, but hopefully start a bit more down the road on knowing a bit more about what gets left in the ashtray at the end of the day.