tight draw

[lancerv43]

I was smoking a cigar with a very tight draw not plugged but very very tight. Not a very enjoyable smoke. Anyway the the ash on this cigar was very odd. It was flaky almost as if the wrapper was applied way to tight and once it caught fire it would flare out and become a flaky ash. Is this the reason for the draw to be so tight perhaps. Anyone else notice with a tight drawing cigar a flaky ash.

[cigcars]

*When a tight draw happenss to me, I think I'm so flustered and frustrated 'til I really haven't taken the time to notice this! In years past I ended up with two of those "Draw Pokers" specifically for when you end up with a tight draw or plugged cigar. While the concept does seem workable and consists of a long steel point that you "draw thru" your cigar, and the handy dandy elongated tray with a cover on it to hold it in place while you send the long point through... Doesn't work. No improvement in the draw. So I normally just give up on a cigar with this problem.

[jawofboston]

A tight draw can be exceptionally annoying. I haven't noticed the ash issue you point out. usually I find with a tight draw that you get a tight ash. I had a Mag 46 the other night that was very snug but so darn tasty that I was willing to put up with it. On the other hand, I only smoked it about 2/3 before giving up.

[drake2k]

I agree it's very frustrating to be looking forward to a great smoke, only to find it so tight it's light sucking a golf ball through a garden hose.

Often the solution is lower RH, or a little more age. I have a box of El Morro that started out impossible to smoke. After 3 cigars, i put the box back for 2 years, then put them in 60% RH and the rest have been fine.

[Chewz0507]

I recently had a Partagas Aristocrat that was so tightly rolled that it was nearly impossible to get any draw on it. I have used a cigar awl with some luck in these cases, but this cigar continued to close up after a few more draws. Eventually I just gave up. It was from an 08 box, but I am going to see if I can age it a few more years and get the humidity down and see if that works. If that doesn't help, then I am no idea what to do at that point.