Question on RA construction

[LLumley]

Hi everyone, been smoking cigars for around 2-3 years, just recently got into CC's not too long ago. Recently I acquired a box of Ramon Allones Small Club Corona with box code JUL15. Now I know these aren't even a year old yet but I just had to try one. Is it normal for these things to have an extremely tight draw? Just about every one in the box has the same super firm feel. Is this something that will loosen up over time or is this just the hit or miss norm with this stick? Thanks for any input in advance!

[CaptainQuintero]

What's your humidor set at?

[NSXCIGAR]

Yes, RASCC can have that problem.

I haven't smoked any 2015 codes yet (honestly I haven't been too impressed with recent RASCC) but RASCC is definitely not a cigar I like to buy blind. 07-10 production is an exception--they were very consistent back then.

Boli CJ can also have that issue as well. Again, not a cigar I like to buy blind. Inspection for construction is a must for both cigars IMO.

A cigar I've never had a construction problem with is SC El Principe. Always a rock solid minuto.

[LLumley]

What's your humidor set at?

68% Humidity and about 61-64 degrees at all times.

[dicko]

Sometimes these smaller format cigars can be rolled too tight mate.

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[HarveyBoulevard]

I find that 68% will keep my smaller cigars a little tight. I keep about 62% and don't have the problems I used to when I kept a higher RH.

[CaptainQuintero]

68% Humidity and about 61-64 degrees at all times.

Maybe try getting them down to 60-62% it may help.

For the first few years I just thought I bum boxes until I dropped my humidity down to around 60% then I stopped getting tight cigars and cigars which needs second relights.

If it's something you want to try, you can get 60% or 62% boveda packs, double zippy bag a few with your tight sticks and you should see a difference after a couple of weeks.

[ThePolskiOgorki]

I have only had a handful of these. One was gifted to me from a 2013 box not long ago and it had the same problem. Let's face it though, this isn't something exclusive to this marca in this size. It could happen to any cigar in any box. I have smoked several Monte PEs lately that had this problem. Hopefully for you the whole box isn't like this.

[LLC]

I've gone through numerous boxes of RASSC and don't think I've had one that was tight.

[Professor Twain]

I smoke a lot of these and other small format cigars. I agree with the idea of using a lower humidity before smoking. I keep a small desktop humidor with humidity just above 60 where I'll keep my thinner ring gauge cigars before smoking.

Living in Florida, I also have to watch the outside humidity. Thinner ring gauges absorb humidity when it's humid out. I usually smoke thicker cigars, like robustos, when it's humid out.

Be patient with them, the RASCC is a truly great cigar.

[QuaiDorkay]

Try the lower RH, 62 is ideal.

[Shrody234]

You may find that dry boxing the stick 2-3 days prior to smoking can help with this issue.

[NSXCIGAR]

Good advice above as far as RH;

just as a side note, I've generally found that plugged RASCC and Boli CJ tend to be overfilled/bulging and/or hard as rocks. It's pretty easy to spot these on inspection. Again, both cigars are not blind buys for me--I really need these two cigars in particular looked at by eyes I trust.

Hopefully very recent 15+ RASCC production turns around. 13-14 was disappointing for me. If you end up liking the profile, I'd strongly recommend buying RASCC exclusively from our host as I do so as to eliminate future construction issues.

[Fugu]

Yes, RASCC can have that problem.

I haven't smoked any 2015 codes yet (honestly I haven't been too impressed with recent RASCC) but RASCC is definitely not a cigar I like to buy blind. 07-10 production is an exception--they were very consistent back then.

Boli CJ can also have that issue as well. Again, not a cigar I like to buy blind. Inspection for construction is a must for both cigars IMO.

A cigar I've never had a construction problem with is SC El Principe. Always a rock solid minuto.

"Boli CJ can also have that issue as well. Again, not a cigar I like to buy blind. Inspection for construction is a must for both cigars IMO."

Really?! I very rarely come across a too tight (much less 'plugged') BCJ! At least not to any higher rate than for any other Minutos or PC. And this is one of my go-to bread-and-butter cigars.

I'd even say, this is one of the few reliable blind buys - Perhaps I am just lucky and always only get the good stash from my suppliers (which i don't assume, while I have to add, I buy quite a few of these from my trusted local B&M)

[joeypots]

I've had issues with RASCC being too tight when young. 60%RH helps but not as much as time. I don't know why but time can help with a lot of tight draws.

[earthson]

Other than adjusting your RH down, I would think they're not smoking well because they are so young and the tobacco hasnt cured enough yet.

[NSXCIGAR]

"Boli CJ can also have that issue as well. Again, not a cigar I like to buy blind. Inspection for construction is a must for both cigars IMO."

Really?! I very rarely come across a too tight (much less 'plugged') BCJ! At least not to any higher rate than for any other Minutos or PC. And this is one of my go-to bread-and-butter cigars.

I'd even say, this is one of the few reliable blind buys - Perhaps I am just lucky and always only get the good stash from my suppliers (which i don't assume, while I have to add, I buy quite a few of these from my trusted local B&M)

I should probably clarify I bit...

most RASCC and Boli CJ are fine. But I have found tight draws in those two minutos much more frequently than I would like--at least in the last 3-5 years. What I've seen is almost without fail, when either of those have tight draws, they also are overfilled and bulging, something fairly easy to spot on initial box inspection. It's happened more than once, and that's enough for me to put both of those cigars in the non-blind buy category. I just don't like to take the chance, particularly when it's something so easy to spot.

There are only a handful of cigars I feel comfortable buying blind right now, so maybe I'm just that kind of guy. Once I get a bad box of something twice, I really get paranoid. I also re-evaluate frequently. RASCC used to be a total blind buy for me from 07-12. Reliability was remarkable. Not so much from 13-14.

My issue with Boli CJ is less with tight draws and more with consistency. I find a lot of variation within a box and always have. But tight draws are far more common than I'd like, as rare as they are, and they almost always seem to be overfilled sticks when it occurs.

[LLumley]

Thanks for all of the replies. I went ahead and ordered some lower RH heartfelt beads. Ill let these rest for some time. Hopefully they free up a little bit. Thanks again!