Plug rates

[Cohiba Stevie]

So the weather is glorious this evening and i decided to head out to the back yard to smoke a party short...

It was plugged, so no biggie i threw it away and just went back to the humidor for another and all was good with the world again...

As i sat in the weakening sunshine puffing away contently i decided i would take the plugged cigar and do some investigating, rather than just cut or rip it open i slowly unravelled it as if i was reverse roling it...

Low and behold i actually found quite a sizable thick stem that was stuffed towards the band end of the cigar...

Anyway ive realised that my plug rate sits at around 2 cigars per box on average, which im actually pretty happy with, its really not an issue for me. the way some people would talk they would have you believe that most cubans were unsmokable... I just dont see it.

So whats your plug rate?

[carnivalhobo]

I think I am in the same ballpark, however lately i keep having really bad luck. My friends will bring a few sticks out, let me have my choice, pick the pearl of the bunch (mostly because they do the same to me) and its mine that ends up plugged.

A couple weeks ago i was 4/5 of plugged sticks. Monte 2, VR Unicos, BBF, The 1st blind tasting cigar, OpusX Lost City dbl robusto all in a matter of a week or less.

In general I agree though, pitch em and chalk it up to a cost of doing business.

[canadianbeaver]

Oddly enough, I find my plugged cigars seem to come from one specific B&M near my house... but it could be my imagination or just lottery odds. Rarely from FOH trades or the Czar.

[Lotusguy]

I'd hazard less than 10% long-term average on CCs. Cannot recall ever having a plugged NC.

[CaptainQuintero]

2008 stock onwards I have had less than half a dozen. Pre 2008 it seems 50/50 although I tend towards the thinner ring guage cigars.

[chrismfontanot]

First two Party Shorts I've tried from a TAU OCT 11 box have been plugged. Waiting a little while to try a third...

[canadianbeaver]

?'s- Would a cigar be plugged from the time of rolling or would it become plugged later; And how big is the problem of factory seconds getting mixed in with boxes if the company is not paying close enough attention?

[Cohiba Stevie]

First two Party Shorts I've tried from a TAU OCT 11 box have been plugged. Waiting a little while to try a third...

Its funny you said that becuase the very first cigar from this box was the other plug. But then on another thread i read this was common because the last cigar on the right hand side usually needs forced into the box to make 13 fit on the top row... I think i got that right...

Beats me!

[CaptainQuintero]

I think the vast majority of plugs/tight draws come from overfilling the bunch/putting in leafes with stems that is then put in the press.

Factory seconds are debanded I can't see them ever getting mixed in with selections that have passed QC inspection unless you start getting into the grey market area.

[mm12]

It's very polarized in my experience. I have a ton of boxes where every cigar I have smoked has been fine. I have a fair number of boxes that seem like they'll have 2-4 plugs when all is said and done. Then I have a few boxes where I feel like I'll be lucky to get 5 cigars that are smokeable. I recently opened a box of 06 Connie 3's and I'm like 0-6 there. I have an 07 box of Punch Churchills that look and smell awesome. I'm maybe 1-7 there. Similar story with an 08 Siglo IV box I've got.

Overall I'd put the plug rate around 15%.

[Rushman]

I run about the same. 2 per box no more on avg, UNLESS I am smoking MC#4 or Party Lusi, then the rate jumps considerably. No other marcas or vitolas stand out in my memory as running higher plug average.

[canadianbeaver]

So when you have a plugger, do you pitch or repair? I try and save the stick with a long, skinny pointed wooden stick.

Pathetic, but I will give it a try or two before abandoning.

[Smallclub]

?'s- Would a cigar be plugged from the time of rolling or would it become plugged later; And how big is the problem of factory seconds getting mixed in with boxes if the company is not paying close enough attention?

– A plugged cigar is an overfilled cigar, or a cigar with a knot (twisted filler) - I can't see how that could happen "later";

– There are no "seconds" in cuban factories. Cigars that are rejected at QC go out of the circuit.

[OZCUBAN]

Hi all

My plug rate on average would be 2 to 3 sticks per box/cab ,which for Cubans is probably a good batting average

OZ

[tdlfoto]

My plug rate is significantly less than most I guess. I'd say about 1-2 per 100. Fwiw about 80% of my stock is from Czar and then mostly from LFTH so it's hand picked. I'll suppose that has a positive impact.

[TankerT]

To be honest, it depends more (I think) on the anticipated quality of the cigar line...

I had a plugged Bolivar the other day... but... prior to that... I don't recall a plugged cigar in the last 2 years other than some JLPs that I smoke while mowing...

[ramon_cojones]

4 out of 5 ra extras were plugged for me and fifth was barely smokable, will not be buying this stick again

some plugs in 08 and 09, a couple 2010 JLs and not enough info from 2011 yet

[charlesod]

2 per box is average for me as well. The skinnys are more commonly plugged. I had a recent box of RJ cazadores that had 9 of 25 plugged (worst ever). Robustos are rarely plugged, regardless of the brand.

[cckandb24]

First 3 RA extras I smoked where plugged. Nothing worse than paying $300 for a box of smokes and have that happen. I would say im at 15% plugged rate. Never had a plugged NC. For the life of me I cannot figure out why in the motherland of cigars they cant seem to roll consistantly good quality cigars.

[dvickery]

i have never had a totally plugged cigar..."to tight to smoke and be happy about it cigars" maybe 2 every 3 years.

i live at altitude(1050 meters asl)and a pretty dry part of the world...a hygrometer left on the living room table typically 30%rh.

climate and location is the only thing i can think of that might be different from others...i dont keep my humi any different than the rest of you.

derrek

[almudawi]

I must be one of the lucky ones I guess. I've been smoking cigars regularly since 2008 (5 yrs) and only had 1 plugged cigar (touch wood) it was a hoyo de Monterry petit Robusto in 2008.. so that makes my rate %0.0000001

[NJP]

Just finished a box of H Upmann PC and had 11 plugged not to worry cut them and had half PC's. It fills 20 minutes and I don't loose out.

[isa]

Barring the Party SDC 3 box of '98, very few - can hardly recall. I am usually bothered more about the lack of flavour than plugged cigars.

[randomhero1090]

Not sure if i've smoked enough to have a plugged rate at this point, but from the couple boxes i've smoked through, i'd say 1-2 out of 25 sounds about right.

However, i've NEVER ditched a cigar. I use a draw poke, and let me tell you, it does WONDERS. I'm also not afraid to go in there with a needle nose pliers and pull a stem out. I've found some pretty sizable stems right in the middle of a cigar, and when you clear that SOB out the way, the cigar opens up like a....well....I am sure you all heard that "prom" analogy.

Can backfire a bit. Stem can make the draw loose. But either way, the cigar isn't smoking as desired.

All depends on you. I know people who don't even mess with plugged cigars. They just toss them without any attempt. I, for one, don't have a large enough CC stash to ditch a cigar without a try.

[cottierm]

Well... none so far! Touching wood. But I'm sure it will happen in due time!

Best,

Michel