Montaigut Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 Like most of you I assume, I have come across a few plugs and tights over time. What struck me tonight as I was "enjoying" another one of those tight draws (Partagas 898 V) was how similar all those plugs and tights tasted. Hard to explain really but the closest I can come to a description is bitterness. As if the only thing that came through from cocoa, chocolate, coffee, cedar etc... was the bitter component of the flavors. I have no explanation for this. Perhaps it is only a matter of my palate, or the lack of a dense enough smoke coming through, or a function of combustion temperature, or some kind of "pucker" factor as you try to draw something out of the sucker... As for the 898, once I found out where the plug was, I snipped the offending section out and, lo and behold, the 898 returned to form. Out of curiosity have you had the same experience/feeling with your own "ugly cousins"?
Colt45 Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 Personally I believe that having to work harder to draw and get smoke can cause hard drawing cigars to "overheat", producing the off flavors.
KWG116 Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 I agree. I had a partially plugged 898 dry boxed for five days. I thought it opened up to where I could get a decent smoke. I was wrong. Struggled with the damm thing the whole time and finally gave up after I took the band off. It was all bitter and had bad aftertaste. Could not smoke the rest of the day. Next morning had a wonderful LGC #3 with a perfect draw. Last one I had was again a little tight and tasted muted and bitter. I always think I should just throw plugged cigars out but I always hold out hope. Thank you Kwg116
mm12 Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 898's seem to be a popular culprit with regard to tight draws. I smoked 2 this weekend and both were pretty damn tight. Yesterday it was an 01 Ramon Allones (I just had to break one out after watching this week's video review). The draw was for **** and it took a fair amount of effort to smoke it, but the flavors were fine. Cream and cherry, old wood, Christmas spice, cake, coffee. A couple of hours ago it was an 07 Partagas. The draw was a *****, but again, the flavors were fine. Cream, paprika, vanilla, wood, dark roast coffee. It seems to me, bad drawing skinnies have a few things in common. First off, the foot may look ok, but the cigar will feel just a bit harder than it should. This doesn't always mean a problem, but when there is a problem, the extra hardness is there. The big tell-tale for me is after I've clipped the cap. The tobacco at the head of the cigar SUPER tightly bunched. Every single time I see this, I know that smoking is going to be a huge challenge. For me personally, the bad/off flavors appear much more often when I have a bad-drawing large ring gauge cigar. I think this might have something to do with the fact that poorly drawing big cigars likely have bigger construction problems than just a bit of overfilling.
Maron76 Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 I thought all Habanos were being suction tested before they were wrapped? What year was this implemented? Is anyone getting any young cigars that are plugged?
First Lady Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Yes they say they test the cigars but some do slip through the boxing process but too be honest I would probably be able to count on two hands the amount of tight cigars we have seen in the past month which is great compared with 3 years ago
gigabyte056 Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Yes they say they test the cigars but some do slip through the boxing process but too be honest I would probably be able to count on two hands the amount of tight cigars we have seen in the past month which is great compared with 3 years ago I think it was suggested that Rob get to smoke one of each box as part of the ultimate QC. I don't remember who did the suggesting but am quite sure it was on one of the video reviews I have been smoking CC for the past 10+ years, the amount of tight draw cigars have reduced significantly, that being said, some cigars are more prone to being tight. I usually poke them into submission, and I use a cutter rather than a plunger.
ramon_cojones Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 This is an interesting topic and phenomenon I've noticed too. Had an 07 eminencia the other night and the draw was tight so I didn't enjoy the cigar at all. I couldn't imagine the cigar to normally taste as it had so in retrospect I do suspect the flavor to be greatly affected by the draw. Just like op mentioned there was some decent notes but it was accompanied by bitterness. I don't know how you guys deal with really tight draws I just tossem early on, life is too short for shitty cigars.
thechenman Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 I usually try to squeeze my tight drawing cigars into submission, but if that does not work, I just toss it.
Rehman Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 Some cigars can take you to realms ethereal, sublime. Some cigars can make you momentarily forget time. Some cigars might heal you, soothing and easing wounds, calming the waters, infusing the air, leaving fragrant rooms. Some cigars can hit the brain in ways that leave it drugged. Some cigars can do all this... ...but this one's plugged.
Cig Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 898's seem to be a popular culprit with regard to tight draws. I smoked 2 this weekend and both were pretty damn tight.Yesterday it was an 01 Ramon Allones (I just had to break one out after watching this week's video review). The draw was for **** and it took a fair amount of effort to smoke it, but the flavors were fine. Cream and cherry, old wood, Christmas spice, cake, coffee. A couple of hours ago it was an 07 Partagas. The draw was a *****, but again, the flavors were fine. Cream, paprika, vanilla, wood, dark roast coffee. It seems to me, bad drawing skinnies have a few things in common. First off, the foot may look ok, but the cigar will feel just a bit harder than it should. This doesn't always mean a problem, but when there is a problem, the extra hardness is there. The big tell-tale for me is after I've clipped the cap. The tobacco at the head of the cigar SUPER tightly bunched. Every single time I see this, I know that smoking is going to be a huge challenge. For me personally, the bad/off flavors appear much more often when I have a bad-drawing large ring gauge cigar. I think this might have something to do with the fact that poorly drawing big cigars likely have bigger construction problems than just a bit of overfilling. I agree with your statement 100%. I have noticed the same exact things, and I have also noticed that the 898s can be one of the more frequent offenders. One thing is for sure though, a good 898 is truly a wonderfully three dimensional cigar.
thechenman Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 Some cigars can take youto realms ethereal, sublime. Some cigars can make you momentarily forget time. Some cigars might heal you, soothing and easing wounds, calming the waters, infusing the air, leaving fragrant rooms. Some cigars can hit the brain in ways that leave it drugged. Some cigars can do all this... ...but this one's plugged. Very nice Rehman...
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