Damn those CAOs!

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I have CAO cammies that I cannot get a decent draw- too damn tight. It seems that they are never going to loosen up. Smoked one soon after I got them, and it was very tight. Figured they needed to nap for a while. Last night I lit one up, and even after three months in the humi, it was still so tight, I tossed it and grabbed something else.


I gave up on the Extreme a long time ago for the same reason.


I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I've since tried the maduro CAO, and every one of them has had a great draw, even with short nap time, and has become one of my favorite smokes.


What gives? I keep my humis @ 65%. Do I need to start using a dry box? By the way, all the CAO I've smoked are churchills. It seems like the cammie and extreme would be an awesome smoke if the draw was good.


PS- In anticipation of everyone's eagerness to help, thanks, but I'm not going to send them out for inspection! lol

Sorry, but sending them out for inspection is your only option.

AKA, 65 shouldn't be too wet. Do you live in a very humid area? I might buy one of those draw pokers (which I personally have never tried) before I would toss a box of CAO. Good luck!

Aw, Dan ... if the TV repairman couldn't touch your set, how could he be expected to fix it? ... LOL

It might be a limited problem that somehow affected a small number of people including lucky ol' you ... I've smoked quite a few CAOs without experiencing that problem.

I've not tried a "Draw Poker" either, but have used a long, thin finishing nail to get the job done ... I'd try many things before tossing CAOs ...

I've only tried the GOLD Coronas recently and they smoked fine. Got a five pack and have since smoked them all. They were good smokes but I like others more. One of my favorites at the moment are those Mayorga High Octane Trios Parejos Maduro. In word...FANTASTIC!

Those draw pokers work great. I always take a pre-light draw and if it's a no-go,I bring it out and problem solved. X

I smoke all the CAO's and have never had a draw problem. but then I am not smoking the churchills. You may want to shoot for a differenct size.

Use one of those wooden shis-ke-bab skewers...You can get a package of 25 for less than a buck and they work just fine!

Smoked a CAO cammie churchill last week and it was fine. Bought on auction about 4-5 months ago and resting since in a range from 67-72%. I'd write CAO about it and maybe send them to them; you may just get lucky and they replace them for you. Until then...send them to me and I'll research all aspects of that tight draw for ya.

Danno, you realize you have to clip the end first. right?

I'm supposed to clip the end first? I learn something here every day! LOL


Thanks for the tips on the skewers- I'll give it a shot.


Good idea jr1, maybe I'll contact CAO.

the problem with the draw pokers or any other device like it, my personal favorit is a skewer, is that it make a temporary passage but you have to keep doing it as it plugs up again. The definitive solution is to use a very small drill bit. This not only makes a passage way but helps remove some of the leaf which is causing the problem in the first place.

The problem with a drill bit is that the cigar can get too hot, because the bit removes too much tobacco. X

As mentioned before, having never used one, I dunno about the 'draw poker', but when using my nail (or a substitute such as the skewer), I don't PUSH it into the cigar, but TURN it in, as if turning a screw ... I've found there's less chance of 'popping' the 'gar as the knot is encountered ... also, it tends to remove a bit of tobacco that way ... but not so much as to make it hot as X mentioned since that DOES tend to make it burn too hot ...

I dunno,I've never had a problem with CAO,I've never smoked a churchill either.Love the Cammies and the Extremes.Funny I don't really care for the Maduros much,there OK but?

I agree with jj love the cammies and extreme don't really care for the maduros

I'm not entirely certain this is relevant to the post, but what the heck... the CAO Brazilia is an absolutely amazing cigar. It has all the fullness and taste of a regular CAO and then some. It also was an excellent draw. I would suggest the samba size. Tyler

Did you guys know that in front of my house is a sign that says "authorized CAO maduro disposal facility"?

Same here, Mean ... except I don't have the lawn sign ... I've got the lapel button.

It's right next to the plywood sheep....right?