Why are Cubans more likely to be plugged than NCs?

[crusse]

The title says it all really. We've all been let down by plugged cigars at some point, but I've never had a plugged NC. In fact, according to most reports good NC brands like Fuente, Oliva and Padron seem to almost never produce plugged cigars. On the other hand, it isn't rare to get a plugged cigar from even the top Cuban brands, especially in the thinner vitolas.

I don't really want this to turn into a 'Cuban vs NC' debate, because that topic has been done to death. For the sake of argument, I'll accept that Cuba produces the best tobacco in the world. But when it comes to avoiding tight draws, Cuban quality control seems to fall short of the standards set by the NC producers.

Are the Cuban rollers less skilled than their Nicaraguan and Dominican counterparts? I doubt that this would be the case. Are the workers put under too much pressure so that the production process becomes rushed and sloppy? Maybe, but this seems like a dubious way of making a luxury product. Is it down to lack of investment...?

[snooky]

I often wonder if many of the said cigars are plugged or if they need a little age on them to improve the draw . Like all good CC's.

[crusse]

I often wonder if many of the said cigars are plugged or if they need a little age on them to improve the draw . Like all good CC's.

I think that age plays a part, but I have come across the odd CC with 8+ years on it that still has a very tight draw. On the other hand, you can smoke a Padron or an Oliva that's straight off the shelf and be almost sure that it won't suffer from a poor draw.

[bfg84]

Its because they are packed full of extra quality..........

[daniel2001]

The title says it all really. We've all been let down by plugged cigars at some point, but I've never had a plugged NC. In fact, according to most reports good NC brands like Fuente, Oliva and Padron seem to almost never produce plugged cigars. On the other hand, it isn't rare to get a plugged cigar from even the top Cuban brands, especially in the thinner vitolas.

I don't really want this to turn into a 'Cuban vs NC' debate, because that topic has been done to death. For the sake of argument, I'll accept that Cuba produces the best tobacco in the world. But when it comes to avoiding tight draws, Cuban quality control seems to fall short of the standards set by the NC producers.

Are the Cuban rollers less skilled than their Nicaraguan and Dominican counterparts? I doubt that this would be the case. Are the workers put under too much pressure so that the production process becomes rushed and sloppy? Maybe, but this seems like a dubious way of making a luxury product. Is it down to lack of investment...?

Do you smoke an equal (or near equal) number of CC to NC? That could be a factor.

Perhaps Cuban quality control is not up to par (they could hire me as a quality consultant), or perhaps Cuban cigars are rolled with more tobacco for a given vitola, which increases the chances of a cigar being plugged...

I've not really smoked enough NCs to compare fairly and accurately.


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[crusse]

Do you smoke an equal (or near equal) number of CC to NC?

About a third of the cigars I smoke are NCs. While this means that I'm statistically more likely to have a plugged CC, it doesn't explain why I come across a plugged CC at least once every few months, but have never come across a plugged NC.

I have never seen an NC review in which the reviewer complained of a plugged cigar. But that complaint seems all too common in CC reviews. It almost seems as if plugging is a problem that is completely limited to Cubans. I'd just like to understand why this is the case.

[Jacobwaits]

Totally agree.
And like the overall quality of the tobacco...the problem seems to be getting worse.

[Nightwingvyse]

I've actually found the complete opposite to the theory on age. Of all the Cubans I've tried, it was the aged ones that were more likely to be plugged.

[peanutpete]

it may have some thing to do with n/c being in the hands of private companies and them taking a harder line on quality control but i think the problems of plugged cuban cigars has greatly improved since 07/08 i would say they have a firmer draw but i hardly get an unsmokable cigar

[snooky]

I smoke maybe 5 Cuban cigars a week and recall only a couple ever plugged in ten years . Though many have a tight draw. Agreed Cuban quality control can always improve. Bit when youre smoking a good un you soon forget the bad ones !

[Simon Bolivar]

Crusse, good question & well phrased.I often wonder when I read about someone having regular plugged cigars, to the extent they ditch it rather than get blue cheeks. I wonder if another member was smoking the same cigar, they would have said it was unsmokeable or just tight. Sometimes they open up after a blockage & become reasonable. Poking with a hypodermic syringe or cocktail stick can make a big difference. Young oily cigars are a bit notorious (Cohiba comes to mind) & humidity is the last important factor.
If I have had a tight couple from a box, I allow then to dry a bit before smoking another, this, especially with the slimmer vitolas is often all that's needed. My Belgium friend tried a Slenderella once & just couldn't get on with it. He's a big guy & used to taking bigger draws. Patience & technique will help in many cases but if it's real blue cheeks stuff & you can feel a plug along the length, cut past it & try again, gotta be better than wasting the whole stick.
I know Stevieboy's motto is 'life is too short for plugged sticks', but I have can't have ditched half a dozen in as many yrs & I smoke 98%+ Cubans.
ps Yes I am a tight bast**d

[crusse]

Crusse, good question & well phrased.I often wonder when I read about someone having regular plugged cigars, to the extent they ditch it rather than get blue cheeks. I wonder if another member was smoking the same cigar, they would have said it was unsmokeable or just tight. Sometimes they open up after a blockage & become reasonable. Poking with a hypodermic syringe or cocktail stick can make a big difference. Young oily cigars are a bit notorious (Cohiba comes to mind) & humidity is the last important factor.
If I have had a tight couple from a box, I allow then to dry a bit before smoking another, this, especially with the slimmer vitolas is often all that's needed. My Belgium friend tried a Slenderella once & just couldn't get on with it. He's a big guy & used to taking bigger draws. Patience & technique will help in many cases but if it's real blue cheeks stuff & you can feel a plug along the length, cut past it & try again, gotta be better than wasting the whole stick.
I know Stevieboy's motto is 'life is too short for plugged sticks', but I have can't have ditched half a dozen in as many yrs & I smoke 98%+ Cubans.
ps Yes I am a tight bast**d

Thanks for your well thought out response Simon. I doubt that humidity is the issue for me - I keep my hygrometers regularly calibrated and my desktop and 2 tupperdors all stay at a steady 66-7% RH. Maybe I should slow down my smoking, but then I thought that it was fairly slow already (it takes me about 1 hour to smoke a PC). I have used the cocktail stick method and cutting past the plug and they sometimes work, sometimes not.

To be honest I only get a plugged or very tight cigar occasionally, but it's still a lot more often than with NCs. Maybe I've just been unlucky?

[Simon Bolivar]

I'd say an hour is a little slow for a PC. I avge 45mins but you might smoke then past the band, I usually stop just above. Either way it doesn't sound that speed is your issue. I agree cutting & sticks don't always resolve the problem but a good tip to try; hate wasting a stick but sometimes you have to go with Stevieboy, ditch it & light up a new one to get rid of the memory & finish on a prime smoke

[crusse]

ditch it & light up a new one to get rid of the memory & finish on a prime smoke

Sounds like good advice to me...but I'd still like to understand the reasons behind the quality control issues that sometimes turn up with Cubans.

[Simon Bolivar]

There are know bad yrs, the peak production period of '98-'01 are know to be liable to this problem. When you check out vintage sites these are the most common yrs as there were surpluses, although generally I have been lucky there as well. Perhaps the aging has helped some improve. Lately production has improved & I personally witnessed the draw being tested in the facory at Pinar de Rio, during my trip to Cuba last yr.

They tested some from each roller & if the draw failed the stick was broken up & sent back on the numbered tray to the orignal roller. This draw machine must be improving the overall quality. These were Trinidad Fundaores being rolled whilst we where there & the high end of the Cuban market. Hopefully this testing will filter down to the lesser brands as well. As to why it doesn't happen to NC's, perhaps they train their rollers not to try & over pack them. But to be honest, beside my main complaint of lack of flav when compared to Cubans, is that a large proporting of the few NC's I have tried, have had a too loose draw for me. That may just be due to me fighting with Cuban tight draws for yrs of course!