Why are so many Cubans badly rolled / blocked?

[architeuthis]

I won't buy Montecristos for this reason... At least half that I've ever bought were plugged or the wrappers exploded. And if I buy from an on-line vendor, it better be understood that they'll replace anything that isn't smokeable before I make the purchase.

[cj121]

Oh no Al, wasn't implying anything of the sort, but making parallel to the overfilling, possibly, of some sticks. Your experience has been a bit of a shitter really mate, sorry to hear about it.

[monkey66]

I won't buy Montecristos for this reason... At least half that I've ever bought were plugged or the wrappers exploded. And if I buy from an on-line vendor, it better be understood that they'll replace anything that isn't smokeable before I make the purchase.

Sorry to hear about your experience, I don't think I have had more than one plugged CC in the last two years.

No Monte's.... you are missing out on some fine smokes.

[HabanoSy]

Been quite fortunate on this count...

Only once have I suffered a badly plugged stick and that was just as I was starting out the road to Puro heaven...

A HdM Epicure No.1, trouble was it was virtually the entire box that was bad, looking back I put it down to me being a novice and I probably smoked them way to early.

Haven't been back the No.1 since this experience but I think im softening towards trying another one, then maybe another, then maybe another...!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Big Al]

Well Sy, my Epicures have been a treat thus far (3 of 10) and as fine as fine can be. The Hoyo de Monterray and Cohiba are the only Cubans (of the several I have now tried) that I have had no problem with. I have suffered block problems with Bolivar, Piedra, Ramon Allones, Monte Cristo, Romeo y Julieta, San Cristobal, Punch, Partagas, Sancho Panza. No wonder I am fed up with them.

[Paulie]

You definately have had a bad relationship with some cigar brands that's for sure.

[HabanoSy]

Yeh Al, you really seem to have had some shite luck when it comes to the ole Cubans...!?!

I do recall some tunnelling once with a San Cristobal La Punta and some burn issues with a Punch DC, but apart from that all the other brands you mention have all been fine...

Oh well, you can pacify yourself with the fact that you'll have some fantastic LGC Gloriosos winging there way to you soon and you can see how you get on with them...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Robusto]

Since toking seriously since the early 1990s, I've only been faced with one plugged cigar. It was a weird moment, and I had no idea cigars could be unsmokable like this.

That was in the lifetime of this forum. I remember writing about it on here close to a year ago and a BOTL across the pond (Rokkitsci, I think) explained about the DrawPoker. SBoy bought one and has always raved about it.

Luckily, I haven't had a plugged Puro since - BUT some of them, especially Bolivars (which I adore), have required a hell of a tug for an hour plus to smoke.

In fact with Cubans, I find it rare to have an 'easy' draw. The El Rey del Mundo from Craig/Whisk yesterday was a bizarrely 'easy' smoke compared to the Havanas I normally have to pull hard on to enjoy.

I sort of equate enjoying the draw on a good Cuban cigar to being quite an arduous task, and I look at the bugger and think... There's no way those folk could have rammed more leaf inside you, you beauty!

I'd hate these fat Cuban bastards to be easy smoking like cigarettes...

I do sympathise, and I seem to have been lucky.

If I buy a big stack of blank data CDs, there are duff ones in the pile from time to time that have to be slung in the bin.

Yes. Yes. I know.
Discs are paid for in pennies.
Not in gold dust.

[Big Al]

Interestingly, Robusto old mate, I think your post is on the money. Some of the cigars I have complained about have been plugged - the Partagas Serie D4 yesterday for instance - but here's the rub: most of 'em probably haven't but they fail my own personal test of "how it should be". In other words, as you say, they have been a stiff draw. But far, far too stiff for my taste. The moral of the story may just be that (as I suggested to myself above) I should keep away from most of the Cubans as they just don't suit me. Pity, but there it is.

[Big Al]

Oh well, you can pacify yourself with the fact that you'll have some fantastic LGC Gloriosos winging there way to you soon and you can see how you get on with them...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

Oh don't worry about that Sy - I most certainly will. Indeed, now I have those 5 coming I am eyeing up the one I got from Simon!

[rokkitsci]

Y'know, if you think about it, it's really a wonder more cigars (both CC and NC) aren't plugged. Remember, if you will, we are smoking HAND-ROLLED stogies. If Jose had a fight with Maria before he left for work in the morning, it is altogether conceivable that he'd be a bit distracted from his rolling and p'raps apply a bit too much pressure to the vitolas as he thinks about the injustice of life. Now, some of the larger manufacturers actually test each stick on some sort of sucking device to make sure they draw properly; however, I would not be surprised to find that this may not be the case for most Cubans and most of the lesser NC brands. In fact, if you've ever watched the process, it's amazing the damn things come out as well as they do. Getting a plugged stick or one with an exceptionally hard draw or an uneven burn is just the risk you take when your discriminating taste dictates that you smoke only labo(u)r-intensive, hand-rolled cigars. I'm certain that the tasteless, el cheapo machine made dogrockets draw perfectly, every one of 'em.

(migh too sense)

[daverave999]

I'd like to see this sucking machine.

[rokkitsci]

About two-thirds of the way down, on the left:

http://www.known.com/leelanaucigar.lasso

I'd like to see this sucking machine.

[daverave999]

I was being facetious but now you've posted it, that's pretty cool! Thanks,

[Seriesteve]

I'd like to see this sucking machine.

This is a machine for random testing the quality of the Cigars draw.
Not sure you get one to test all, wouldnt they need to be clipped, thinking ?

http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A03uv8I...esting-cigars/

Edit:- It can take a minute to load !