What could cause the draw problem?

[denarok]

I recently picked up Torano Exodus 1959 Gold from my local B&M yesterday, they were on sale cheap, for $3.99, and I smoked it right away.

But i had one problem, my draw was causing me to look like a fish, normally for a $4 cigar I would just do this for a little bit and probably throw it away, but this cigar had an amazing taste especially for $4

So I tried to cut it some more to open it up and that did not do anything. Did I just have a dud?

Has anyone smoked smoked these? I read some reviews online and no one mentioned draw problems, Should I pick up a few more and just let it sit for a few weeks before smoking?


Forgot to add, this is the first time i ever ran into this problem after picking up a cigar from this place

[Buddha024]

Generally this comes down to 2 problems: humidity is too high, or it's plugged. I was guess that it's plugged since you said you've never had that problem from there before and you didn't mention a sour taste. Anyway, my .

[ongreystreet]

I would also say plugged. I just had one out of a bundle of 25 Miura cigars plugged. Thought it was me, but lit up a second and it was fine just like all the others. Next time this happens I would investigate even more, maybe even rip into the cigar.

[Mitch]

I have a tool for smoking a pipe which you can poke through the cigar to maybe open it up. You can try that next time. Just be careful to not rip the cigar.
3-in-1 Pipe Tool

[AspiringGent]

This situation calls for a draw tool. They're typically just long pokers to stick through the length of the cigars, but some of them are also jagged to catch at the tobacco a bit as they're inserted. I've had more success with the latter.

[denarok]

ok thanks for suggestions, going to pick up a few more and try it out again

[denarok]

btw i picked up another other day and it was fine, so first one must have been plugged thanks!

[JCK]

If you don't have a draw tool handy, you can try rolling the cigar in your between your fingers to try and locate the plug, generally a hard spot. Sometimes you can break the plug free a little by rolling the hard spot between your fingers to break it loose. Just don't get so aggressive on the wrapper to where it cracks.

Draw tools are the best answer though.

[vegascigarman]

Originally Posted by JCK

If you don't have a draw tool handy, you can try rolling the cigar in your between your fingers to try and locate the plug, generally a hard spot. Sometimes you can break the plug free a little by rolling the hard spot between your fingers to break it loose. Just don't get so aggressive on the wrapper to where it cracks.

Draw tools are the best answer though.

I completely agree with you about rolling the plugged part of the cigar between your fingers to break it up. I used to incorrectly squeeze the cigar gently, turn it a 1/4 turn, squeeze it again, and back and forth a little. I have learned that squeezing the cigar will actually make the plug worse sometimes since it is compressing the tobacco, whereas rolling will break it up a little.

Using a draw tool, poker, Chech pipe tool(also called a 3 in 1), or similar device, will allow you to draw air into your mouth, however, you will not be smoking the cigar. You will be drawing smoke through a hole in the cigar instead of drawing the smoke through the layers of folded tobacco which is where a great deal of the flavor comes from.

Just as many people here have posted, you will get a plugged cigar once in a while, even the best producers in the world make a bad cigar once in a while. Take the cigar back to the retailer and they will usually replace it for you and most of the time if they ask, they will receive credit from their distributor.

I hope that this is informative and that I didn't go on and on too long.

David.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by vegascigarman

Using a draw tool, poker, Chech pipe tool(also called a 3 in 1), or similar device, will allow you to draw air into your mouth, however, you will not be smoking the cigar. You will be drawing smoke through a hole in the cigar instead of drawing the smoke through the layers of folded tobacco which is where a great deal of the flavor comes from.

David.

I have to strongly disagree with this statement. A draw tool will work wonders and have saved many a cigar from being tossed.

[vegascigarman]

Originally Posted by madurolover

I have to strongly disagree with this statement. A draw tool will work wonders and have saved many a cigar from being tossed.

I respect your opinion and I believe you may see it differently if you rethink it for a minute. Like I said, you will be able to draw air(smoke) through the cigar, and yes as you said (and I agree), this lets you finish the cigar instead of tossing it. However, you will not get the same flavor as you would with a replacement cigar and no plugs.

If possible, and if you have a reasonable tobacconist, you're better off replacing a plugged cigar with one that you will more easily enjoy because it was rolled properly. And rolling by the way does not apply to the filler as the filler is folded back and forth in layers and it is these layers that the smoke passes through and picks up flavors.

We all have one or more local tobacconists in our cities that we like dealing with and most of them are wonderful people that enjoy what they do and the industry as a whole. Your local tobacconist is happy that you are giving him or her your business and they will usully replace a plugged cigar without any hassle.

I only know of one cigar manufacturer who is difficult to deal with and usually will not give credit to a store for a bad cigar and his name is Paul Garmerian. His cigars are more commonly known as PG's and I must say I think they are awesome, for several years they were one of my favorite smokes, but now they are hard to find because he will not admit that his cigars have a plug once in a while and unfortunately many retailers choose to no longer deal with him or carry his product.

David.

[vegascigarman]

Originally Posted by madurolover

.

Oh, I also love Madurs!

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by vegascigarman

I respect your opinion and I believe you may see it differently if you rethink it for a minute. Like I said, you will be able to draw air(smoke) through the cigar, and yes as you said (and I agree), this lets you finish the cigar instead of tossing it. However, you will not get the same flavor as you would with a replacement cigar and no plugs.

If possible, and if you have a reasonable tobacconist, you're better off replacing a plugged cigar with one that you will more easily enjoy because it was rolled properly. And rolling by the way does not apply to the filler as the filler is folded back and forth in layers and it is these layers that the smoke passes through and picks up flavors.

We all have one or more local tobacconists in our cities that we like dealing with and most of them are wonderful people that enjoy what they do and the industry as a whole. Your local tobacconist is happy that you are giving him or her your business and they will usully replace a plugged cigar without any hassle.

I only know of one cigar manufacturer who is difficult to deal with and usually will not give credit to a store for a bad cigar and his name is Paul Garmerian. His cigars are more commonly known as PG's and I must say I think they are awesome, for several years they were one of my favorite smokes, but now they are hard to find because he will not admit that his cigars have a plug once in a while and unfortunately many retailers choose to no longer deal with him or carry his product.

David.

David, I would have to fly overseas to see my tobacconist.

A good poker will not make a hole in the cigar. It has notches cut into it and it rips through the plug and shreds the tobacco. As the tobacco is warmed it expands and becomes a solid layer of tobacco. While I will give you the fact that it does not leave the plugged area in the same shape as the rest of the cigar I will state emphatically that it does not alter the taste of the cigar at all.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by vegascigarman

Oh, I also love Madurs!

LOL I actually smoke very few of them now days. I do still enjoy them when I do smoke one though.

[vegascigarman]

Originally Posted by madurolover

David, I would have to fly overseas to see my tobacconist.

A good poker will not make a hole in the cigar. It has notches cut into it and it rips through the plug and shreds the tobacco. As the tobacco is warmed it expands and becomes a solid layer of tobacco. While I will give you the fact that it does not leave the plugged area in the same shape as the rest of the cigar I will state emphatically that it does not alter the taste of the cigar at all.

Sounds nice, I wasn't aware of that device, I thought that you were just talking about a long, needle style poker. I'm glad that I learned something new today. Thank You.

You're right, you don't want to throw away an otherwise nice cigar if it isn't feasible to replace them.

Come out to Vegas some time and check out one of the master rollers here.

Thanks again,

David.