What Is Retrohaling and How to Do It

Retrohaling means gently pushing cigar smoke out through your nose instead of your mouth. Because most of what we call flavor is actually smell, retrohaling lets you perceive the pepper, cedar, cocoa, and sweetness that the tongue alone cannot detect. It is the single technique that most separates a casual smoker from someone who truly tastes a cigar.

Why retrohale at all

Your tongue only registers a handful of basic tastes. The rich complexity of a fine cigar, its spice, coffee, leather, and floral notes, is picked up by the olfactory receptors behind your nose. When you retrohale, you route the smoke past those receptors and suddenly a cigar that tasted flat comes alive. It also helps you judge a cigar's strength and quality more accurately.

How to retrohale without coughing

The mistake beginners make is pushing too much smoke too fast, which burns the sinuses. Take a normal mouthful of smoke, do not inhale it into your lungs, then close your lips and let a small amount drift up and out through your nose by exhaling very gently. Start with a tiny puff. As you get comfortable you can send a little more.

Start slow

• Use a mild cigar first: a full-bodied smoke will overwhelm your nose on the first try.
• Retrohale a small amount: a wisp is enough to get the full aroma.
• Do it later in the smoke: once your palate is warmed up, flavors are easier to read.

A note on inhaling

Retrohaling is not the same as inhaling into your lungs. Cigars are meant to be tasted in the mouth, not drawn into the lungs like a cigarette. If you are unsure about the difference, read should you inhale cigar smoke before you practice.

Where to go next

Retrohaling rewards good technique overall. Brush up on how to smoke a cigar properly and, if you overdo the strength, learn the warning signs of nicotine sickness.