Construction / Quality ?

[JimmyC]

I am admittedly a CC noob. Made some purchases in the past few months & was gifted a couple of CC’s as well. Seems more often than not I’m experiencing a tight enough draw to ruin the experience & had a couple so pluged they were almost unsmokable.

To me nothing is worse than looking forward to my daily cigar & having it ruined with bad construction.

Soooo what Brands/Sizes have the best construction?

 

[twenty5]

You have had the same experiences I have had which ended up turning me off of CCs all together. I do like the flavor profiles for a change but I cant ever get consistancy with them. I am probably more of a CC noob than you though and most of the stuff I found was cheaper brands and vitolas.

 

[U-Boat Commander]

Most likely your CCs were overhumidified. Try dry boxing them for 48 hours next time. CCs really need to be around 61-63%. You're probably storing them with your NCs at a higher humidity.

 

[twenty5]

I cant speak for the OP but all of my cigars are stored at 63 or so.

 

[KPP]

You have had the same experiences I have had which ended up turning me off of CCs all together. I do like the flavor profiles for a change but I cant ever get consistancy with them. I am probably more of a CC noob than you though and most of the stuff I found was cheaper brands and vitolas.

Like Justin...I too had some VERY consistent issues w/ smoking ccs early on. My theory anyway....is that I was receiving pretty much every cuban i'd smoke via trade. And while I'm not saying they were fakes, or they were "gray market, or simply discount smokes (which there are many still floating around out there)...I'd have draw issues w/ more than 50% of em'....easily. And the smokes I was buying were "Limited Editions" (Boli Petit Belis, Upmann Mag 48s)...which, as it turns out, I really don't care for those even still. So I'd all but given up, and almost did.

However, once I found a reputable vendor (thanks again Jim :tiphat...and started sourcing my own boxes....there's only been one box I've had construction issues with (Partagas 898Vs)...admittedly in a small sample size and simply a minor draw issue, no where near the extent of some the unsmokeables i'd had in the past (think 2000-2001 stuff sold as discounts at certain vendors).

I also have had draw issues w/ thinner gauges (PCs) in the past, and since I don't smoke all that much, I'll go for a robusto or larger if i'm smoking these days...but the larger the gauge (at least you'd think), the better luck you'll have of a decent draw.

Buy a box of Monte Petit Edmundos, Trinidad T's, or anything Upmann.....I can't say i've had a single construction issue with any of these. There's more to that list, but those stand out to me. PSD4s for the most part have been excellent as well, save for a little tighter draw or two on some 09 Tubos.


Many here will attest though I'd think, as I've seen it posted several places....Construction for cubans is on the uptick, and has been for the past few years now. Hopefully that will continue, as there's nothing worse than trying to smoke a plugged stick. Eff the poker bizness, life's to short....I'll pitch it and hope the next one's better.

 

[gibbleguts]

When I first started smoking I could walk into any humidor and pick the only plugged stick in there. Times have changed and I no longer even worry about a plugged stick. Not to say it doesn't happen but rarely. I will say that the part of that that I do appreciate is my love for NC's. If I had had consistantly good luck with CC's not sure I ever would have spent the time to find the NC's I do enjoy. Hope your luck improves as well but in the end as long as you can find a smoke you can enjoy lifes not too bad.

 

[nubchin]

Not sure if this is a consensus between CC smokers but I suspect aging could effect the draw as well as higher humidity , might be due to humid oily parts of the leaf and dryer side of the leaf balancing out when aged more in boxes.

2000-2005 had more duds in general , try recent regular productions from 2008- they are beautiful all around .
I have some Caz Dalia sized 2008-2010 cabs and a few DCs they all have good draws with a few exceptions but duds happen in NCs too .

The worst draws I had was with Prty Con 2 but again they were designed to have a tighter draw to make the smoke denser and thicker ( my wife enjoys watching me suck that thing ) .

If you are looking for lower goodies , try Aristocrats , Upmann Regalias , RyJ MF.
As mentioned above , recent Robustos hermosos and CG are grate too.

Some sampler packs do give you an idea as well.

When I'm lost in CC flavors , I always go back to Santiago Cabanas robusto from the Island Smoke Shop in Florida just to make sure I'm in the right path.:cbig:

There are tons of grate NC sticks in Europe Brazil Indonasia that are not widely seen, many options for you . :tiphat:

 

[MKS446]

Great thread...thanks boys! Gotta find me a better vendor!

 

[njstone]

My experience was much like Jimmy and KPP initially. My lifetime failure rate is still over 25%, but that's down from like 60%.

Lower rH helps, trusted source helps. I think more humi time helps IF rH is the problem, but nothing will solve bad construction.

 

[bigbwalls]

While I've also had a couple plugged Cuban cigars in my time, my main concern has been their consistency in flavor. In a box, I might get four cigars that give off wonderful and delicious flavors, while the rest are bland and somewhat bitter.

To answer your question, I've never gotten a bad Bolivar Royal Coronas or Belicosos Finos. For me, they've been consistent in flavor and construction.