What makes a cigar to be plugged or tight?

[nicwing]

Two of the last three cigars I have smoked have been so tight I have veins standing out on my forehead still!

One was bought at great expense from a very fine London cigar terrace (and I know I should have taken it back/pointed it out) but I hoped (wrongly) that it would loosen up.

The most recent had been stored for 12 months in my humidor (at 70% humidity) and dry boxed for ten days since a friend brought them back from Havana for me from one of the store rollers whose cigars I love. One other of these was also tight, having gifted it to a friend at a bbq but I concluded that the problem with that one was that it had only been out of the humidor for a day or so.

So I am now trying to understand what it is that causes a cigar to be tight? Is it made that way or does storage cause it?

Interested to hear your feed back chaps.

[cj121]

You should have popped the offending cigars into the 'Tight Git' hall of fame N.

Personally, and being far from an Aficienado, I'd say they're made that way. Slightly too much leaf, maybe a thick vein thrown into the roll, with it all sometimes compounded by an awkward vitola and wham bam, no thank you mam

[AlexG]

I've noticed that the vast majority of plugged cigars I've heard of, I'd say 99.99%, have been cuban. Never have a plugged/tight problem with NCs. But that's not what you were asking! I think the leaves have just been rolled too tightly and the cigar has slipped through quality control, as dry boxing would take away the tightness that comes through moisture. I've tried two methods to unplug, both have worked. If on the cold draw its plugged, stick it in the fridge in a Baggie for an hour. Dunno why, it works. Second is to have a good feel of the length and circumference, if you can feel a part of the cigar that is particularly tight, give it a tender loving massage.
The worst plugged cigar I've had was a BHK54!

[fordi]

Second is to have a good feel of the length and circumference, if you can feel a part of the cigar that is particularly tight, give it a tender loving massage.

Oooer!!!


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[cj121]

Oooer!!!
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Yes, and don't stick anything down the end of it

[fordi]

Haha!


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[butternutsquashpie]

Slightly too much leaf, maybe a thick vein thrown into the roll, with it all sometimes compounded by an awkward vitola and wham bam, no thank you mam

Thick vein is definite. I normally unroll the last inch of a cigar just for the fun of it. And MOST tight ones are from ones with a HUGE stem going down the centre.
OR machine rolled buggers are terrible too. My last 2 H. Upmann Epicures and last 3 Monte 5s have been atrocious for that.

AlexG, I'll check out your method with every Epicure I smoke from now on.

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[Sligub]

four major reasons poor rolling, overfilled, stems and/or over humidification.

My last 2 H. Upmann Epicures and last 3 Monte 5s have been atrocious for that.

The monti 5 is Totalmente a mano but the thinner Rg cigars do tend to have more of a problem than Thicker cigars because they are more difficult to roll.

[butternutsquashpie]

four major reasons poor rolling, overfilled, stems and/or over humidification.

The monti 5 is Totalmente a mano

Over AND under humidification. Like the living plant. Over water it, it'll burst, underwater it, it'll shrivel.
Also, I wouldn't call it poor rolling. Just so well rolled that it ends up NOT being beneficial..

And I swear pre-2011 ones were machine rolled. Mine sure felt like it. Ah well I hated their fooking guts anyways. Maybe it's just me though........

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[Sligub]

And I swear pre-2011 ones were machine rolled. Mine sure felt like it. Ah well I hated their fooking guts anyways. Maybe it's just me though........

Nope always been hand rolled, unless they have a glass top that is.

[Nightwingvyse]

The worst plugged cigar I've had was a BHK54!

Wheewww. I'd be in tears.

[Stevieboy]

Wheewww. I'd be in tears.

I had it happen with a Cohiba Sublimes...I had to just chuck it away. I was f'ing furious!!

[cj121]

What a pisser Stevie. I think I'd be writing to Habanos if that happened.

Actually, I wonder what they'd say if someone did do that, with a bona fide complaint?

[fordi]

I've noticed that the vast majority of plugged cigars I've heard of, I'd say 99.99%, have been cuban. Never have a plugged/tight problem with NCs. But that's not what you were asking! I think the leaves have just been rolled too tightly and the cigar has slipped through quality control, as dry boxing would take away the tightness that comes through moisture. I've tried two methods to unplug, both have worked. If on the cold draw its plugged, stick it in the fridge in a Baggie for an hour. Dunno why, it works. Second is to have a good feel of the length and circumference, if you can feel a part of the cigar that is particularly tight, give it a tender loving massage.
The worst plugged cigar I've had was a BHK54!

Alex I have to say, now in my humidors I have mostly non cubans mainly due to logistics. I totally agree with you about the plugged issue in cubans. I have had three plugged cubans on me and none that were non cuban. I may be going against the grain with a lot of forum members but for the premium cuban manufacturers they don't appear to be looking after the faithful? I am new to cigars and I'm not saying I'm against any blend for one second, but from a business case not history, on a new pallet it's worth getting non cubans in rather than just sticking to cubans?


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[cj121]

I don't think anyone's stuck that far up their Cuban bums to be offended by your observations Fordi. No dramas. Most folk would have to agree, generally, that construction is often an issue with CCs in comparison to NCs. Whilst Cuba may have the edge on flavour (my palate anyhow) the New World manufacturers have got it down where construction is concerned. Demand, divided by effort equals poorer QC IMO. Mind you, think about what the average roller gets paid in both quarters and you'd get an idea of what goes into QC. I read an interesting article about Cuba recently and one individual (not necessarily involved in the cigar industry) said about their employer "they pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work"

Edit: construction referred to as in draw issues.