Can cigars be smoked “backwards?”

Q. What is the effect if you light the wrong end of a freshly cut cigar; smoking it backwards, so to speak? I’ve done this and noticed some harshness in the first few draws, then realized my mistake. I finished the smoke anyway.
– Simon in Sturgis, SD

A. There shouldn’t be that much difference in the way the cigar smokes or tastes. The main problem I foresee would be, since the foot isn’t capped you run the risk of the cigar unraveling on you.

Harshness in the first few puffs is common with a lot of cigars, even if you smoke them from right end. It’s usually a little residual ammoniac, which tends to be in the foot. In most cases, the bitterness tends to fade within the first few putfs and the smoke rounds out.

In any event, I wouldn’t get too used to it. On the other hand, maybe you’ll start a new trend.