USNGunner wrote:You're talking wetting the entire wrapper with a "trickle" of water then wiping it dry? The goal is to moisten the wrapper?
Basically yes and yes. Wrapper leaves are essentially waterproof (if they're applied correctly) so no part of the inside of the cigar gets wet, nor does the wrapper leaf get "soaked" or "waterlogged", rather it ends up (after rolling over a towel) being just slightly moist, but not enough to inhibit burning at all (in fact it improves the burn!)
It appears that the wrapper becomes much more resistant to cracking, splitting and unravelling, probably because its flexibility is increased. After all, remember that rollers wet wrapper leaf before applying it to a bunched cigar, for this very reason, flexibility and resistance to cracking and related damage.
In more precise detail:
1. Do not cut the cigar, make sure the head (either round or pointy) is intact.
2. Run faucet, not dripping but in a continuous stream, but a small one.
3. Hold cigar perfectly vertical (upright with head facing up, foot facing straight down).
4. Keeping cigar vertical, hold under faucet stream.
5. Keeping cigar vertical, rotate it while re-placing your fingers in different locations, so the entire wrapper gets wet and your fingers don't block any spots from getting wet.
6. Keeping cigar vertical, remove from water stream and shake a bit to get rid of excess water.
7. Place cigar horizontally on a paper towel on countertop, and roll it along the towel to remove all remaining excess water.
8. Also gently dry the head of the cigar (either round or pointy) with the paper towel.
9. Wait a bit if you want, 1-2 minutes is fine, but this is optional.
10. Cut, light, smoke.
Getting the entire wrapper briefly wet seems to eliminate cold/dry air-related problems, and as I said, it often seems to increase the cigar's "body" somehow. It's really something, try it!
Just DO NOT tilt the cigar away from perfectly vertical so water gets in the foot.
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