When you are struggling on a tight draw do you....

[Trimming]

Say a few curse words about Habanos QC,

and a few for good measure towards the Vendor

I purchased them from as I pitch it.

[...]

Before even buying my first box of cubans, I had read over and over again that it was a common thing for some cigars to be plugged. I guess I accept the odds whenever I clip one. I test draw and if unsmokable at 62% rh, I just move on to the next. No point in making a fuss about it as it would spoil my enjoying of the hobby. I focus on the great ones instead

[aaron878]

Learned my lesson the other night. I took the "struggle through it" option. Ended up with a mild toothache and a sore jaw...

Now if the pre-light draw is tight I'll take the pipe tool to it and if that doesn't work I'll dry box for a few days.

[TiminBC]

I have been quite lucky in the past year or so as the only plugged cigars I bought were in Phnom Pehn Cambodia. I was travelling via the USA and gambled that prices would be ok in Cambodia. The prices were not cheap so I asked and they very quickly replaced the cigar. I bought 10 for the rest of my trip but avoided longer cigars and had no issues. They were higher than expected but I did manage to try several new to me cigars so it was worth it.

I am of the if it is cheap crowd chuck it and if it is expensive try to poke it a bit.

[Rufio]

I usually try and get through at least the first third and see if it opens up. If not, I don't even try anymore.

Question: how many cigars out of a box do you find plugged/ unsmokeable? I have found other than hand picked boxes from our host, about 10% are plugged.

Been a little worried lately as I have noticed more plugged sticks in my stash. I started to doubt my storage (69/64) but I want to believe that's just what happens?

[CaptainQuintero]

I usually try and get through at least the first third and see if it opens up. If not, I don't even try anymore.

Question: how many cigars out of a box do you find plugged/ unsmokeable? I have found other than hand picked boxes from our host, about 10% are plugged.

Been a little worried lately as I have noticed more plugged sticks in my stash. I started to doubt my storage (69/64) but I want to believe that's just what happens?

Try storing at 65rh, it essentially eliminated tight draws for me, what's left are the solid plugs, dry box those for a week and they should open up if they ever will

[Rufio]

Awesome! I will definitely try that!

[littlepea]

If the pre-light draw is on the tight side, I go for 10-30 minutes in the freezer in a ziplock bag...works most times. If not I'll have a go at it with a draw poker and try and roll out any obviously tight spots. If the obvious plug is towards the foot then I might clip the cigar below it, but that's last resort.

[Arazk9]

The first time I delt with a very tight draw was a party short. I tried piercing it with a tooth pick from one end to the other but that didn't help so I just suffered through it