Expert: James Yee - 10/28/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi James, Thanks for taking my question.  I have been to Cuba several times and have always purchased cigars, each time thinking that I am finally getting something other than the poor quality ones you get on the street.  Last time we were fortunate enough to visit a farmer through a Cuban friend who claimed to have won awards for their crops/cigars.  All seems very legitimate.  The cigars we purchased at the farm were to be their best but like all previous purchases most but not all burnt poorly (irregular), came with a taste like they were too moist and also very hard to draw.  I'm guessing but they had a ring size of 45-50 and were 7ish inches long.  We also purchase through JR Cigars which are mostly fantastic, however, the odd time we run into the same problem, hard draw, seems too moist and do not taste good whereas another from the same batch will be great.  I am wondering if this is due to aging them properly?  Perhaps they need to age and the ones we smoke with these poor qualities are green in the sense they haven't cured long enough.  I am hoping you can shed some light on this for us.  We have resorted to testing the draw on these before lighting and if they are difficult they go back into the humidor to age.

Thanks
Mike from Canada

ANSWER: Hi Mike,

Cigars with a hard draw is often caused by over-humidification or a construction flaw (such as the cigar being rolled too tightly or having a knot in the filler tobacco.)  With premium handmade cigars, there is always the possibility of finding tight cigars in a batch.  Because the cigars are hand-rolled, they can sometimes be rolled too tightly by the cigar roller or the filler tobacco may be bunched in a certain way that causes a hard spot and obstructs the draw.

A tight cigar draw can also be caused by over-humidification.  Like a sponge, a cigar can absorb the excess humidity in a humidor and this will cause the filler tobacco to expand and obstruct the draw.  You mentioned the cigars feeling too moist and had irregular burns so this is most likely the cause.  What you should do is let your cigars sit in your humidor for at least 6 months before you smoke them and this will allow them to return to a more ideal condition.  (Before introducing them to your humidor, you can leave the cigars in a dry, cedar cigar box for a day or two and this will help remove the excess moisture from the cigars.  The cigars should then sit in your humidor for a several months to restabilize.)

I hope this helps.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK, I understand your answer, thanks very much, very helpful.  I would like to seek additional clarity about the following: Is there a way to fix the knot in the filler tobacco? How about the tight roll, any fix for that?  Is there such a thing as the tobacco not being aged enough prior to rolling or the cigar itself requiring aging?  Do you know why the cigars you get on the street in Cuba are poor quality?

Thanks Again, much appreciated

Answer
Hi Mike,

Smoothing out a tobacco knot is simple:  When smoking a cigar that has a poor draw, try to feel for a hard spot on the cigar.  Use your thumb and index finger and gently pinch the cigar all over.  If you feel a hard spot or lump, you've found the knot.  To soften this lump, simply continue to gently pinch this hard spot as you smoke the cigar.  (Don't pinch too hard or you'll crack the wrapper leaf.)  The heat from the lit cigar will soften the tobacco and the pinching will usually break up the lump and improve the draw.  (It should be noted that this technique will break up most knots but some knots are too hard and beyond repair.)

As an alternative, you can use something called a Cigar Spike and this is basically a long, thin needle or spike that you insert into the head of the cigar and it bores a hole through the middle of the cigar.  This creates a small "tunnel" that improves the draw.  These types of tools are usually available at most cigar stores and tobacconists.  They go by many names but "cigar spike" is a common name for them.

Tightly rolled cigars can usually be repaired with a cigar spike.  The difference between a tightly-rolled cigar and a knotted cigar is that tightly-rolled cigars are rolled so tightly, they usually can't be repaired with the pinching method because all the filler tobacco in the cigar is already tightly compressed.

In regards to the aging and quality of tobacco, the tobacco in GENUINE Cuban cigars - produced by the major cigar factories - are all aged before they are rolled.  The reason why most Cuban cigars purchased on the street in Cuba are so poor is because the cigars are usually counterfeit or black-market cigars.  These cigars are usually made from tobacco that is privately grown by people who then roll the cigars themselves and sell them to tourists to make some money.  (The boxes and cigar bands may be genuine and stolen or recycled by the counterfeiters.)  The tobacco used in these "street cigars" usually aren't aged or fermented for the same amount as the real cigars are; this is why the cigars are usually a poorer quality when compared to the genuine cigars from the reputable factories or shops in Cuba.  

When buying cigars in Cuba, it's always best to buy directly from the factory shops or from Habanos SA-approved shops such as the La Casa Del Habanos (LCDH).

Regards,
James