Results of my little experiment...

[Cohiba Stevie]

Hi everybody,

This is the scenario, many months ago when we were talking about our plug rates per box, I soon realised that the plug rates for one of my top 3 cigars was quite high.

I want to talk about partagas shorts...

Now, when it comes to shorts I smoke them like Don Draper smokes his lucky strikes. I go through maybe 3 boxes a year simply because it has everything I want in a cigar, its size is perfect for the irish weather and I can honestly truly say that I haven't had a bad one in terms of strength and flavour.

However...

my average plug rate per box is 4-5 average, compared to 0-1 for every other box of cigars Ive ever owned. In terms of storage my aristocrat sits just south of 65% all year, and the temp doesn't get much higher than 60. I have never had an issue with storage so I would like to rule out that adverse conditions may cause this problem.

While i adore the partagas short, 4-5 plugs per box for me in unacceptable, i remember seeing a suggestion that for cigars with a ring gauge as small as the short it can be better to take them completely out of their dress box and place them in the humidor loose and this will alleviate any tight draws or plugs.

So i tried it, just after christmas I took a completely new box of partagas shorts, got rid of the box and let them all sit loose in the pull out drawer of my humidor for 6 weeks. I finished the last one this evening...

I am pleased to report that not one, and I mean not one of those cigars had a tight draw. I have been tracking my progress on my phone and I am very happy with the results. I have no other issues with any of my other boxes, maybe the odd box of monte 4s but its to be expected with them. I am now going to do the same with a fresh box of RASCC and will post back.

It is something to think about though, I really do think the packaging of certain cigars can truly affect the draw, but then again I have had cigars like bolivar petit coronas be packed tightly and smoke beautifully.

I rambled a bit, but i am a happy when an experiment yields good results!

Thanks for reading, I would love to hear any similar experiences.

Stevie.

[Tan1801]

I don't really have any experiences of my own to add, but thanks for sharing your experience.

[ramon_cojones]

me being the plugged cigar king i can't say i've ever had a plugged short

[Cohiba Stevie]

me being the plugged cigar king i can't say i've ever had a plugged short

swings and roundabouts mate, I seem to suffer more tight draws from smaller ring gauges.

[El Presidente]

Cheers Stevie

I smoke on average 4-5 Partagas Shorts a week so i know where you are coming from. I would agree in approximately 4 uncomfortably tight draws/plugs per dress box of 25. most of the time it is due to a "knot" in the filler somewhere along the length.

Serioulsy, these days if I find an uncomfortably tight draw (after I clip) I simply throw the cigar loose in the fridge and reach for another. I will come back to that cigar later in the day (or sometimes i forget and find it the next day when looking for Soda for my scotch ). near 100% of the time that tight cigar is now absolutely perfect.

[cognacscotchcigars]

Stevie thanks for the post. Very good information.

[Rye]

This worked very well for me with my last 2-25ct boxes of Punch BP. Thanks for sharing!

[maduro]

Thank you for your results.

It gives me another avenue when it comes to the dreaded plugged cigar problem.

I have tried Rob"s fridge suggestion and have had a good rate of success.

There is a box of Bolivar Royal Coronas box date 2008 that will be liberated from their dress box later this evening.

Cheers

[jsoftz]

Thanks for the suggestions Stevie and Rob - I've definitely had a lot of smaller ring cigars plugged lately... I will try that fridge trick for sure.

Rob what exactly does the "knot" constitute? Just the filler bunched awkwardly?

[Upmann2009]

Thanks for the info Steve.

Now I realized why I hardly have any plug cigars base on your post.

My experiences was that I usually smoke one out of the box then restack them on the loose way just because I don't like the box press/hard look. I noticed that after a while it became softer and more round but never come to though it help the plug rate

Cheers

[socapots]

Some good info there guys. Thanks. I can't say I've ever come across a plugged shoRt. Then again I've only been through 3 boxes in my time.

Edit: but you can be sure I will now be putting anything I find plugged in the fridge or somewhere else to de humidify for a bit.

[thechenman]

Dry boxing...does wonders for cigars with tight draws IMHO. I figure a fridge just speeds up that dry boxing process, or is an effective replacement during times of high ambient humidity. Fantastic idea.