Problems with Cubans

[skins]

I'd firstly like to say that I'm not an NC fanboy. When I first started smoking cigars about a year ago I bought a mixture of C's and NC's and generally much prefered the non-Cubans so I stuck with NC's from then on. This was probably due to my poor choice of Cuban varieties.

I keep a small 50ct humidor and it remains at a consistant 70% and I've never had any problems with smoking NC's.

Last week I decided to check out what I might be missing out on so I bought a 3-pack of Cohiba Singlo VI's and 2 each of Patagaras D4 and P2 all bought from a very reputable online retailer with many shops too.

I have now smoked one of each and they all gave me the same problem. They seemed neither too dry or too wet before lighting. All burned fairly unevenly - nothing too drastic but I had to keep them in check with my single-flame torch, and all seemed to nearly go out, even though I was smoking at my usual, fast-ish rate.

I had to puff on them 3-4 times before I got a decent amount of smoke and this is only after 30 seconds or so from the last puff.

This isn't intended to goad the Cuban clan, but I'm currently enjoying a $2.00 NC stick and it's smoking perfectly.

As I said, I've not had this problem before - is there anything I might be doing wrong? I'd really like to enjoy the remainder of the expensive sticks.

[68TriShield]

The only thing that comes to mind is that they are too moist.
I'm one to smoke a cigar right off the truck to gauge a benchmark.
What happened to you has not happened to me often enough to mention.

Letting them rest a week or so than dry boxing the day before smoking,I think would do wonders.

[skins]

I was thinking of dry-boxing. I'll give it a go on my next one and report back.

[Lionhound]

I was always a CC smoker and had had very few NC's in past before joining UKCF.
I've rarely had a problem with the CC's. Some have certainly had problems with construction problems in the past but more recently these seem to have been ironed out, in general. Maybe I've just been lucky, but my favoured smokes, Partagas, Bolivar, Ramon Allones and Montes have all been reasonably consistent with few burn or smoke issues, and from your description, I smoke slower than you do.
Mine are all kept at around 68RH, temp depends on time of year (rightly or wrongly I don't really monitor temp)
I smoke straight from humi as I do with NC's and would have to say I have had more probs with them than the Cubans.
That said, I am trying many different NC's and to be fair, my favoured ones of them are also very consistent.

[larrysputnik]

I have seen more issues with CCs than NCs, to be sure. But the issues I have had have led me to make a few slight adjustments in my habit. For example, I rarely have a good experience with the burn on a CC right out of the box if the box is less than two years old. Therefore, I let them rest for at least 6 months (more if I can control myself) before pulling one out to smoke it. That allows the filler, binder and wrapper to further bond, which leads to a burn that is more even since the oils and moisture leach through and create a similar consistency. They all have to burn at relatively the same speed or else the wrapper or the filler will outrun its counterpart and cause an unpleasant smoking experience or worse, cause the cigar to go out. Age is the key to a CC's burn.

Secondly, when a cigar begins to burn unevenly, the trick is vigilance. You have to hold the cigar so that the slower burning side is on the bottom when the cigar is resting and as you smoke your cigar, begin to fix the burn by taking several short puffs and one big puff to start to spread the burn on the leaf. Do this while gradually turning the slow burning side to the side and you'll notice it begin to catch and fix itself after a while. Just keep an eye on it and try to avoid having to relight it with a lighter if at all possible. That just ruins things.

But all of that said, it is just a testament to the fact that without capitalism employees have no motivation to put in their best effort. As James Suckling once wrote, it would be a glorious day for cigar smokers if Alejandro Robaina's wrapper leaf could be blended into a cigar using Jose Padron's rollers. CCs are being rolled by people who are given no reason to make every cigar they roll better than the last. The cigars are all worth the $2 paycheck the roller gets at the end of the day whether it burns evenly or not.

[andrewb150]

what non Cubans are you comparing them to?

[68TriShield]

Larry,the newer cigars,07 08 or 09s have been smoking brilliantly for me.
Taste and construction.
Of course everyone's taste is different

[Lascaux]

i have to say out of the 08 cigars i've had, taste has been fantastic but burn has been pretty shocking, but im used to my aged cigars that burn like a dream.

my cab of 08 lusitanias a fine example. they taste out of this world but they're a freekin beast to tame... they make you fucking work for them!

[Deano]

I thought it was just my bad lighting methods, but maybe there's more to it. I'll certainly try to put more effort in, in future - taking larry's lead.

[larrysputnik]

I thought it was just my bad lighting methods, but maybe there's more to it. I'll certainly try to put more effort in, in future - taking larry's lead.

You will not regret it. You will enjoy the Larry method, I promise.

[TJCoro]

Laughing Me Fuckin' Arse Off!

You will not regret it. You will enjoy the Larry method, I promise.

The Larry Method??? You must be joking, senor Spud.

Why, I remember a time on this forum when you didn't know which end of a puro to light...and now you are naming puro enjoying techniques after yourself???

Shame on you, man!

[larrysputnik]

Oh you better believe it TJ. Bend over and I'll show you the Sputnik Method...

[cj121]

Oh you better believe it TJ. Bend over and I'll show you the Sputnik Method...

Business in the front, party 'round the back ay Larry?

[larrysputnik]

Business in the front, party 'round the back ay Larry?

Well actually in TJ's case we simply say "Don't fool yourself Coro, it's going right up the poop-chute."

[TJCoro]

Take it like a man!