Expert: James Yee - 8/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: I bought a box of Dominican Republic and made Brocatus torpedos. I have had this brand before and was pleased with it. I opened the box and placed them in a humidor for 4 days. The humidor hydrometer was Reading 68%. My problem is, the cigars do not want to stay lit. Even when puffing on them they will go out. They are very hard and I always use a double edge cutter. What can I do, without throwing them away?

ANSWER: Hi Larry,

Do the cigars feel hard at all?  If yes, the cigar(s) may be rolled too tightly and this can cause the cigars to have a poor draw.  Cigars that frequently burn out are usually caused by the cigar being rolled too tightly.  When smoking, gently pinch the cigar with your thumb and index finger and try to feel for a hard spot.  If you do find a hard spot, continuing pinching it gently as you smoke it and the heat of the lit cigar should soften the hard filler tobacco knot and improve the draw.

Letting the cigars sit in your humidor longer should also improve their condition.  Try letting your cigars sit in your humidor for at least 2 weeks before you attempt to smoke them.  This will allow the filler tobacco to absorb the humidity and soften which improves the draw and burn.

You can also improve the draw of the cigar by inserting a cigar spike through the center of the cigar foot to create a improved channel for airflow.  This will bypass any tobacco knots in the filler tobacco that may obstruct the draw and prevent it from burning properly.  Many cigar stores/tobacconists sell cigar spikes but you can also use a thin skewer or needle.  If you do use this method, be sure that you insert the spike straight.  Inserting it crookedly or pushing too hard on the needle can damage the cigar and create an irregular burn.

Hope this info 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: Hi James,
Should I leave the wrapper on the cigars when putting them in the humidor?

Answer
Hi Larry,

Whether or not you should remove the cellophane wrappers is optional and entirely up to you.  Cellophane wrappers and cigar tubes are not 100% airtight so humidity can indeed still pass through and keep your cigars properly humidified.  If however, you find your cigars to still be a bit dry, loosen the cap on the cigar tube or untuck the open end of the plastic sleeve so humidity is able to pass through more easily.  Some plastic cigar wrappers are even perforated to help the aeration process.

Keeping your cigars in their original sleeves and cigar tubes is also a great way to provide an extra bit of protection for your cigars against unforseen disasters such as tobacco beetle infestations and cigar mold.  Also, you can easily slip the cigar in your pocket and not worry about it being crushed or damaged as the tube/wrapper makes an excellent rigid housing.

Regards,
James