I leave a lot of bowls to be finished later, so when I pick up any pipe I check to see how much is left. It's always white-ish. Not white, but off-white to gray. There's probably a Pantone number for each shade of white.
Debate : Fine White Ash
- Thread starter cshubhra
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I have thought this over for a couple of days. What i think is that we see that prolific white ash going and that is because the tobacco is getting a more uniform burn to achieve this state. We are seeing a material character in 'fine white ash'. This is due to a higher surface area to volume ratio. This means that the tasties are in the smoke more readily. 
Cigars (proper, non-flavoured ones) do not have additives.
Some leave white ash, but the majority don't.
Irregardless of how they are smoked.
More to do with where and how the tobacco is grown, and maturation process of the leaves (ie natural or maduro).
Your post reminded me a guy I know. He is a serious petrolhead, he has a few cars, all in impeccable, better than showroom condition (one of them a spectacular Mazda MX5, another is a 1970s Alfa spider, another a 1990s Alfa Brera) with extended modifications in interior, sound systems, as well as engine, breaks, transmission - everything, but not kitch or aggressive. He painstakingly researches routes down to the angle of each bend etc, and often books time on tracks to drive. He drives only alone, and only in perfect conditions. Is it enjoyable? His cars sit for weeks or months at a time…
I say if that is your goal you are succeeding! I agree with the consensus above (note, I didn't say "consensus of opinion, because I read something in another thread!) --- to me ash is ash and may also include various amounts of unburnt tobacco, depending on when I've declared myself done. It may be wasteful, but if I only enjoy half a bowl for whatever reason, I'll dump the rest and clean the pipe so I can start fresh the next time around with it.
That suggests drying the Capstan a bunch more. Then you'll get a fine white-ish ash!
Thanks but I have 'only' smoked a few kilos of the Scottish, wet or dry and Capstan has been my daily for many years. It is the tobacco itself or whatever 'chemicals' they cased or topped it with, which makes the difference. For me. Besides, smoking to the bottom seldom fits with my cravings and I don't smoke to finish a bowl. Maybe a milder, drier, faster burning tobacco/casing/cut will more often result in less dottle. I dunno. But try both, wet or dry and you will quickly experience the difference.
Your anecdote, and this forum in general is just a reminder that everyone has a different angle on what about their hobby is personally important to them...some people are obsessed with the potassium content of the soil their tobacco was grown in (fine white ash comes from a high potassium content, sorry if someone pointed it out already, I think I skipped page 2) and other people feel the need to keep a spreadsheet for their cellar contents, still others have a cellar which would comfortably double their lifespan...
3 pages on fine white ash...well done everyone...well done.
Can we do grey next? I really want to talk about grey ash ?
In all seriousness, I know that in cigar circles cuban grown leaf supposedly has a distinctive ash..... I have noticed that a grey "salt and pepper" type ash is pretty consistent on the habanos I have enjoyed.......
I seem to get this whitish ash on almost all of my pipe tobaccos, but rarely have smoked one down to where that is all that was left...... I usually have at least a few unburned ribbons, or if I get bored with a bowl, ill dump it before hitting bottom.
In all seriousness, I know that in cigar circles cuban grown leaf supposedly has a distinctive ash..... I have noticed that a grey "salt and pepper" type ash is pretty consistent on the habanos I have enjoyed.......
I seem to get this whitish ash on almost all of my pipe tobaccos, but rarely have smoked one down to where that is all that was left...... I usually have at least a few unburned ribbons, or if I get bored with a bowl, ill dump it before hitting bottom.
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Yes, whitish and grayish are fine words to describe what's often seen in the bottom of a chamber! And the ash doesn't have to be "fine"!
Plenty white ashes on somewhat moist Sun Bear today. Until the end of the smoke when I mixed the ashes with dottle. As did Balkan Supreme couple of days ago. I don't remember what color PS Bullseye was, didn't enjoy it since it was over dried and I didn't stare and contemplate the meaning of 50 shades of white pipe ashes.
I was just about to say that if you find that the best for you is something that burns to a fine white ash. Keep up with that. If not then who cares. But if those are the blends that just keep doing it for you, then obviously what ever quality that makes the fine white ash is something that agrees with those people.
Oh smoked some EGR today (surprise) and because of this thread I paid attention to the ash. Basically it was fine white ash with almost black grey ash where the latakia bits where. Not sure if that helps anyone but it is what I noticed. And nope usually pay little to no attention to the ash.
I get that with meers. Instead of having wet dottle, it smokes all the way down, then I try to relight the ash at the bottom and get a mouthful. With a briar I get to dottle, then it’s hard to light and it’s time to dump it. Happy that I get to smoke the whole bowl with a meer, but wish I had the presence of mind to know when it’s over.
When out walking and smoking, I always walk and smoke my way down to this fine white ash tree. Does that count?
