What makes a cigar to be plugged or tight?

[cj121]

Good point about massaging your sticks Rick some tight spots can often be worked on, especially once the cigar warms up and gets more pliable.

[RickMG]

Just know this isn't by any means limited to Cuban cigars. It might be thought that way because you probably smoke many more Cuban's to NCs but over here all I can smoke are NCs and let me tell you, I've had my share of plugged or hard to draw cigars. Fortunately it's not that often and I am usually at the cigar shop/lounge I bought them at, so I can immediately tell them and they replace it, no problem.

If it happens when I'm somewhere else I find the only thing I can do is the massage technique and it usually works pretty well (at least I can smoke the cigar even if it's a little tough to draw). Never tried, and doubt I would ever put one in the refrigerator for a day or two as cigars over here aren't quite the investment they are over there.

[TJCoro]

Poke 'er!

and if that doesn't work .... the draw-poker as a last resort.

On this side of the planet, I go for the "draw poker" first. Often, by the time I discover a puro is plugged, I'm pumped and have no patience to dry box or otherwise.

Occasionally, for a stick that resists my sturdy poker, I will gently work it in and let it rest like that for a few days inside don TJ's massive unit.* That will usually soften things up!

Now, I've never tried the refrigerator thing and must give it a go sometime. Perhaps with a Cain Habano Wrapper I recently picked up that is a bit tight on the draw. Someone recently suggested putting a stuffed stick in the freezer for a bit. Well, not sure if that will purge the plug, but you can bet your last peso it will Plug the Beatles!!

That's what I think, anywayz!



Bag Boy

* don TJ's Humidor, for all you knewbees out there.

[tippexx]

its hard to spot a tight drawer, even those taht felt resoanbly well rolled could be tight, some very tightly rolled draws rather beatiful....

If you've cut it and the cold draw is really tight put it back into the humidor or into a dry box for a few days. If after some time it's still tight, try popping it into a refrigerator for a day or two, apparently this helps loosen them up a bit .... and if that doesn't work .... the draw-poker as a last resort.

Sadly cigars cost a lot of money and the failures rate makes them even more expensive.

[seanbeer]

i hated plugged cigars!

over humidified plus tighly rolled is no.1 killer.

if kept at 65RH and still tight on cold draw, I usually use a metal stick draw poker to losen it. if its still crap in the bin if I have a spare one, if not. poke it again, may be cut it.

its hard to spot a tight drawer, even those taht felt resoanbly well rolled could be tight, some very tightly rolled draws rather beatiful....

[butternutsquashpie]

Really? I was under the impression that Cuba stopped selling tobacco after the revolution and never started again?

Well I honestly have no idea of the trade politics. I just did a quick google, seems there's only one in all of Canada and it's right in my city I had one in me humi around a year ago. I should get some more again actually.........
Also, I most likely won't be visiting the UK anytime soon. So don't hold your breath. Maybe I'll just include em in some bombs

I obvously meant they werre "hand-carried" out of Cuba by a friend of a friend of a friend.

Really now? I thought all defecting Cubans ran (sailed) to Florida, not Mexico??

Sent from my BlackBerry 9100 using Tapatalk

[TJCoro]

I called you once bebore...

Aren't all Cohiba Sublimes from Cuba TeeJ?

If you've got some you're wanting rid of, give me a nod

Not so sure, based on the ones I got from you (baddda-bing)!


But in all seriousness, I obvously meant they werre "hand-carried" out of Cuba by a friend of a friend of a friend.


Regarding a nod, I believe el Perro gave you one about a year ago which received "No Reply."


Regards,

TJ Coro

[Sligub]

Also, that reminds me. We have 2 mansfacturers of Cuban cigars in Toronto due to our easy trade agreements. If I'm ever in the UK again, (or you're in TO) I'll be sure to offer some the Canadian rolled Cuban cigars

Really? I was under the impression that Cuba stopped selling tobacco after the revolution and never started again?

[fordi]

That being said, I do wonder what the people would say if you send a fistful of words through the pen. Probably would call you an imperialist stooge and get on with their day.
And sides, it's not like bad rollers are kept on the shift too long......... Right??

Also, that reminds me. We have 2 mansfacturers of Cuban cigars in Toronto due to our easy trade agreements. If I'm ever in the UK again, (or you're in TO) I'll be sure to offer some the Canadian rolled Cuban cigars

Sent from my BlackBerry 9100 using Tapatalk

Sounds good to me!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[Stevieboy]

Aren't all Cohiba Sublimes from Cuba TeeJ?

If you've got some you're wanting rid of, give me a nod

[TJCoro]

I had it happen with a Cohiba Sublimes...I had to just chuck it away. I was f'ing furious!!

That's queer! I had a similar problem with a Cohiba Sublime from a box that supposedly was brought back from Cuba.

Although the draw was too tight for my taste, it was smokeable, however.

TJ


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[butternutsquashpie]

I read an interesting article about Cuba recently and one individual (not necessarily involved in the cigar industry) said about their employer "they pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work"

Edit: construction referred to as in draw issues.

That being said, I do wonder what the people would say if you send a fistful of words through the pen. Probably would call you an imperialist stooge and get on with their day.
And sides, it's not like bad rollers are kept on the shift too long......... Right??

Also, that reminds me. We have 2 mansfacturers of Cuban cigars in Toronto due to our easy trade agreements. If I'm ever in the UK again, (or you're in TO) I'll be sure to offer some the Canadian rolled Cuban cigars

Sent from my BlackBerry 9100 using Tapatalk

[cj121]

I don't think anyone's stuck that far up their Cuban bums to be offended by your observations Fordi. No dramas. Most folk would have to agree, generally, that construction is often an issue with CCs in comparison to NCs. Whilst Cuba may have the edge on flavour (my palate anyhow) the New World manufacturers have got it down where construction is concerned. Demand, divided by effort equals poorer QC IMO. Mind you, think about what the average roller gets paid in both quarters and you'd get an idea of what goes into QC. I read an interesting article about Cuba recently and one individual (not necessarily involved in the cigar industry) said about their employer "they pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work"

Edit: construction referred to as in draw issues.

[fordi]

I've noticed that the vast majority of plugged cigars I've heard of, I'd say 99.99%, have been cuban. Never have a plugged/tight problem with NCs. But that's not what you were asking! I think the leaves have just been rolled too tightly and the cigar has slipped through quality control, as dry boxing would take away the tightness that comes through moisture. I've tried two methods to unplug, both have worked. If on the cold draw its plugged, stick it in the fridge in a Baggie for an hour. Dunno why, it works. Second is to have a good feel of the length and circumference, if you can feel a part of the cigar that is particularly tight, give it a tender loving massage.
The worst plugged cigar I've had was a BHK54!

Alex I have to say, now in my humidors I have mostly non cubans mainly due to logistics. I totally agree with you about the plugged issue in cubans. I have had three plugged cubans on me and none that were non cuban. I may be going against the grain with a lot of forum members but for the premium cuban manufacturers they don't appear to be looking after the faithful? I am new to cigars and I'm not saying I'm against any blend for one second, but from a business case not history, on a new pallet it's worth getting non cubans in rather than just sticking to cubans?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[cj121]

What a pisser Stevie. I think I'd be writing to Habanos if that happened.

Actually, I wonder what they'd say if someone did do that, with a bona fide complaint?