2020 Plugged Cigar Poll

[mpq]

17 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

30-50%?! My goodness... you're talking 1999-2000 numbers there. That's unheard of today. Of any vitola, skinny or not. I have to ask what your storage conditions are.

I have to say the last 3 boxes of PLMC and one of MdO4 have had zero cigars plugged. They really seem to be taking care of the ultra-skinnies lately.

I actually seem to have the most issues with 42 RG. Had quite a few Monte 1s that were on the tight side earlier this year. One or two El Principes. If I'm into a box of RyJ Belvederes or PLP/RGPE I might get two or three tight buggers but that's about it. I don't consider those premium cigars.

Monte especial has been the worst, but CoLa has not been good either. Stored in wineador at 60/65. 

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, mpq said:

Monte especial has been the worst, but CoLa has not been good either. Stored in wineador at 60/65. 

I can see the 39s being an issue. At 60 deg you could definitely take that rH down to 62 or even 60-61 for 90 days. There's a lot of seco in Laguito 1 & 2s relative to their RG that can really absorb moisture and contribute to tight draws.

[Str8BlkCoffee]

I am not nearly as experienced as many here but I have encountered more problems by being impatient and not letting time do its job. A well acclimatized cigar will have far fewer draw problems, imho. Also too I have learned that if I do run across a stick that has too tight of a draw, I will place it in my dry box and revisit it at a later date. If it is still plugged after a few extra days then it goes back or I will use the PerfecDraw.

[GVan]

I have had a few plugged cigars in the last few months - according to my logs - maybe 3 or 4.  Also, a few more with very tight draws that you had to work at smoking.  I'm not sure I've written down every one because if I can fix it with a PerfectDraw, I smoke it and forget about it.  I only tend to remember the "frustrating cigars".   (1) Monte PE, (1) PLPC, (1) HdM Epi #2 and the below NC ..... Given my CC smoking rate that's about 1%.

Surprisingly, one of the plugged cigars was a Padron 64 Anniversary A from 1998.  It was the last one of the box and I was really looking forward to a great 2.5 hour smoke - that was really frustrating because I refused to give up on it and fought it all the way to the end!

Since I live in FL with high humidity -- The bigger problem for me is having to re-light a young CC several times in the last third.  The first third to half burns great then, the trouble starts.  I know my problem is that most of my CC's are very young and just need more time to age and loosen-up.  I keep the humidity in the humi at a very consistent 65% rH (room humidity is 57% rH) .  I've tried dry-boxing but buy into the fact that it would take a very long-time in the dry-box to really make a difference.  So, I've just vowed to be more patient and put the CCs away for a 1 to 3 year rest.  

Interestingly, since I'm still building my CC collection, I tend not to buy Cohiba's or expensive LE's and have kept it to standard production only.  In my formal, written CC Plan - I had assumed 1% bad CC's towards my annual purchase requirements.  So, that means on average, I will throw away $35 to $70 worth of cigars per year.  

From reading this post (and others) I've started recording "bad cigars" in my logs so I can better determine how they impact my plan.  I also, now, am much more careful about a "tight draw".  If I cut it and it's tight -- I put it back in the Humi in a box labeled "George's Cigars ONLY - USED" and will let the CC sit for a few more years!  It's amazing and gratifying how much I can learn from the information sharing that occurs here on FoH - Thanks!

[FatPete]

Just curious as to why there are so many plugged cigars when they are all tested for good draw by hand using a draw testing machine before they leave the factory ?

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, FatPete said:

Just curious as to why there are so many plugged cigars when they are all tested for good draw by hand using a draw testing machine before they leave the factory ?

They had a work around for the draw machine testers within the first month. 

 

    

[GavLew79]

Can't remember the last plug I had. Far less common than when I first started this malarkey. Happy days. ?

[SigSauer516]

It's gotten better but the Dip2s still give me tons of problems. Half require PerfectDraw tool. 

Love the flavor but I might give up on em. Lots of other CCs that are just as good but not as much trouble. Sigh...

[brianrex64]

I would say 2 to 3 per box. of those probably 1 use the prefect draw on and you pull a big stem out. most of the time once the plug is free'd up the smoke is fine. 

[Sorrowful]

I'm having really bad luck with a box of cohiba siglo 1.  Others I have a 2-3 per box hit rate

[Hammer Smokin']

I'm actually quite surprised how many fight through a plugged cigar.

once I cut and find a tight draw, I stick it in a "very" dry box (likely low 50's rh). Every month or two I redraw to check them. I'll be honest, only 1/3 of the super dry box actually get smokable, but I prefer smoking 1/3rd in a pure smokable manner than fighting through 100% of the cigars.

The other 2/3'ds just sit. I have cigars that I cut over a year ago sitting in that super dry box. Maybe I'll open them up a smoke them in a pipe.

But I don't have a pipe.....maybe try it in a bong, lol.

[smitte3]

Does anyone else think Cuban cigars generally have a different style or method of bunching tobacco, which generally results in a tighter and firmer draw across the board compared to non-Cubans?  I agree there are other factors that contribute to tighter draws in Cubans (mainly age & humidity), but think it's a matter of style and preference with Cuban rollers and how they're trained because I've never used a perfect draw on a non-Cuban, but constantly am using it to open up Cubans of all sizes and marcas.