I feel some cigars are wrapped a little too tight for me or maybe it's something else. For example this morning I fired up a Montecristo Classic 7x54 and drew on it until my cheeks hurt to try to get a good puff. I feel like if I could get a descent draw off of it I might like it but finally gave up in the first third and threw it in the wood stove. This is the third one I've thrown out in the first third. The first one I tried a month or so ago and had the same problem so I tried squeezing it a little to try to loosen it up up no luck. The second one I tried a week or two later and tried squeezing more still with no luck and wrecked the wrapper and it started coming apart. Then this morning and I gave up. Then I fired up an Alec Bradley Prensado Lost Art 6x52 and had the same problem, too tight to draw. I was like wtf so I went big and pulled out a Gurkha Centurian 6x60 and nice smooth draw. Happy again. I like the draw off most cigars but some just seem too tight. Is there a way to solve this problem or is it just the way it is and some people like sucking their cheeks and tongues off? Please advise. Thanks 🇨🇮

By the way, I'm new here. Thanks for having me. My name is Pete and I live in the country in Massachusetts with my wife and dog. I like fat smooth hitting cigars with oily wrappers.

Try cutting the cap first... 😟

Good one. Yes, I cut the cap first with straight guillotine cut. I did think maybe if I cut deeper it would help but same result.

Just curious. What humidity do you keep your smokes at? Sometimes if they’re a bit damp the leaves swell and draw becomes tight.

Welcome Pete

There’s a draw tool called the perfect draw. Most fellas have one. I’ve saved a few cigars with it. It’s pointy and barbed like a fish hook. Push into cigar and pull some of the leaves/stems out. I’d recommend one.

Also recommend trying to store your smokes 65 percent or a tick less. Helped me out

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Aloha from Hawaii. 👍

There seems to be a fair amount of you Massholes on this board. I’mma sure they’ll be ‘round to greet you. :-"

Hi Jake, I keep my cigars 70 percent so maybe that's the problem. I'll try moving the problem cigars over to a case at 65 percent and see how it goes. I wonder how long they should sit in 65 percent environment until they acclimate. Good tip on the tool. I'm ordering one now. Thanks

Mahalo Palama!

Try dry boxing 🗃 for a period of time ⌚. Place in a used cigar box.

Ps Welcome to the forum. [ram27bat]

What’s taking Tony so long? :-"

Doing yard clean up .:-k

In a cigar box in the humidor or out? My humidor is currently 70 percent humidity and out in the room around 40 percent. In either case how long would you guess? I'm going to try moving them to 65 percent but will also try your trick with some.

A good 24 hours in the dry box with no humidity papa. I dry box longer at times but moving to 65 helped with that substantially

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Thanks Jake. I'll let you know how it goes.

For the ones you’re moving, as a rule of thumb, it takes a cigar 1week to go down 1% RH so be patient and try them at least 5 weeks after you transfer them. Of course ymmv depending on your humidor / storage container and the amount of cigars you already have in it.

Just wanted to reinforce what Jake mentioned about the PerfecDraw. The humidity change will likely help, but you'll still run into occasional plugged or tight cigar. It's a little pricey, but that tool has saved me from many frustrating smokes

Good to know. Thank you Palama

Papa Whiskey to determine who you are and decide upon your forum worthiness, please answer the following simple questions:

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Oh, and 65 is a good number for southern NE country

Brigham's or Friendly's?