Pepin's people can't roll a torpedo

[Warren]

Before I offend the Pepin masses let me state up front about 90% of what I'm smoking these days comes out of Pepin's factories.

That being said the draw on his torpedoes sucks. The belicosos are fine. The torpedoes/pyramids are horrible. I just went through two boxes of Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas and a box of Don Pepin Garcia Blue Imperiales. Multiple cuts and a good many just tossed because trying to draw gave me a headache. I don't see me paying Pepin prices for cigars I can't enjoy again.

Anyone else noticed this or is it just me? I have almost no problems with any of his other shapes/sizes but anything with a sharp point tends to be bunched to the extent that it kills any chance of a decent draw unless you clip off a big chunk.

[madurolover]

Never had a problem with them myself

[gary106334]

I had the same problem with my last box of Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas. Also had wrapper problems with them. No more Artistas for me.

[NCRadioMan]

Never had a problem. If I do, my handy draw tools will correct the problem with no problem. They really are worth it.

[gary106334]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Never had a problem. If I do, my handy draw tools will correct the problem with no problem. They really are worth it.

I have one and that is where the wrapper problems started. The wrappers on at least eight of them split when the poker was half way through. Never had that problem before. The Tatuaje Havana VI were in my coolador with a good number of Pepins and the Pepins were fine, it was just the Tatuaje.

[ironpeddler]

Holy Sh!t...I thought it was just me because I had them on the bottom shelf of my humi at 70%. Then I dry boxed a few and still had the same problem, again I thought it was still a humidity problem. The plugging was one thing...after cutting them, the unraveling became very annoying.

I haven't have any problem with Monti #2s, VR Unicos, Partagas SP, #2...etc....just the Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas.

In a weird way, I feel better now. Good call.

[gary106334]

Originally Posted by ironpeddler

Holy Sh!t...I thought it was just me because I had them on the bottom shelf of my humi at 70%. Then I dry boxed a few and still had the same problem, again I thought it was still a humidity problem. The plugging was one thing...after cutting them, the unraveling became very annoying.

I haven't have any problem with Monti #2s, VR Unicos, Partagas SP, #2...etc....just the Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas.

In a weird way, I feel better now. Good call.

I have had several boxes of the Almirantes VI's and have had no problem. In fact I have a box of in the coolador right now that is the same coolador the Artistas were in (just threw away the last Artistas today).

[txmatt]

Gang, get out the tar and feathers!

I can't recall smoking many Pepin torpedos, I might have had a JJ torp several years ago.

Here are a few hints that have worked for me in the past on other poor drawing torps

Try a "Dickman Cut." (which is named in honor of its biggest proponent, Joe Dickman, former Fuente-Newman west coast sales rep). To do a Dickman cut, do [SIZE=2]a straight cut but at 45-degree angle. This cut opens a tremendous surface area, and can provide good draw on cigars that typically have draw issues.

The other thing that may help is that Pepin's cigars draw much better when stored at 65%, so try dry boxing for awhile if you store them at 70%..

-Matt-
[/SIZE]

[BagfullofPings]

Humidity issues.

At my local B&M, the torps suck. In my cab, the torps are great. At the B&M, the RH is 65-70. In my cab, the RH is 60 - 63.

[andrewsutherland2002]

I've had some Pepins and Tats. Never smoked a torpedo of either. This post has advised me not to purchase a torpedo of either brand.

[fizguy]

I have had wrapper problems with the artistas as well. I had to return almost a whole box to CI once. My next havana vi box purchase will be almirantes as those have all been fine for me.

[Nurse_Maduro]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Never had a problem. If I do, my handy draw tools will correct the problem with no problem. They really are worth it.

I don't know what your draw tools are, but I've never had another draw problem since I started placing a 2mm hex wrench in my smoking pouch. Dunno why anyone would throw away an otherwise good stick when such a simple solution is available.

[gary106334]

Originally Posted by Nurse_Maduro

I don't know what your draw tools are, but I've never had another draw problem since I started placing a 2mm hex wrench in my smoking pouch. Dunno why anyone would throw away an otherwise good stick when such a simple solution is available.

Not a simple solution when the wrapper comes off.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Nurse_Maduro

I don't know what your draw tools are, but I've never had another draw problem since I started placing a 2mm hex wrench in my smoking pouch. Dunno why anyone would throw away an otherwise good stick when such a simple solution is available.

I get your point but when I'm paying anywhere from $6 - $12 a stick I shouldn't have to carry around a hex wrench to fix draw issues. I understand that handmade cigars are just that, a handmade product. And when I get a plugged stick or two in a box I won't complain. But my point in this post was it seems like Pepin rolled torps are especially bad. I'm sitting here right now smoking a Tobacos Baez Favoritos and it draws perfectly. As do most of the more rounded belis. But again last night I had a DPG Imperiales that I had to clip four times to get a decent draw. And by the time I was done a nice torpedo looked like a toro. I really had to chop that thing up.

[The Postman]

I would say you need to take this problem right to the top - get in touch with them and voice your concerns. I don't know about you, but I work too hard for my money to be throwing away 10 to 12 dollar cigars.

Just my 1.85 cents worth to be sure!!