It's a frustrating experience when you finally find the time to sit down and enjoy a cigar, and it has a tough or hard draw. This makes it difficult to smoke and can ruin the experience. Now, we know, repairing a cigar with a hard draw can be a difficult task. However, with the methods outlined below, you may be able to improve the draw of your cigar and enjoy it once again. Keep in mind though, if none of these methods work, then, unfortunately, you may have to cut your losses and throw out the cigar.
So, let’s discuss why cigars sometimes have a hard draw and how to repair them.
1. Tight Packaging
This is the most common reason for a hard draw. The airflow is restricted when a cigar is tightly packed, making it difficult to draw smoke through it.
To Remedy This: You can gently massage the cigar to loosen up the tobacco to remedy this. You can also use a sharp knife or cigar cutter to make a small slit in the side of the cigar. This will help improve the airflow and make drawing smoke through the cigar easier. If neither of these methods works, then, unfortunately, you may have to cut your losses and throw out the cigar.
2. Dryness
If a cigar is too dry, the tobacco can be quite brittle and break apart easily. This makes drawing smoke through the cigar difficult without the tobacco falling apart.
To Remedy This: You can try using a humidifier to increase the moisture content of the cigar. You can also try gently sucking on the cigar (without lighting it) to help rehydrate the tobacco. Alternatively, you can put moisture in your mouth and draw the cigar smoke through that moisture. This helps to rehydrate the tobacco and makes it easier to draw smoke through the cigar.
3. A Constricted Draw Hole
The draw hole is the small opening at the foot of the cigar you draw smoke through. If this opening becomes constricted, it can restrict airflow and make it difficult to draw smoke through the cigar.
To Remedy This: You can try using a sharp knife or cigar cutter to enlarge the draw hole. Be careful not to make the hole too big, as this can cause problems. You want to make enough of an opening to improve airflow and make drawing smoke through the cigar easier. Additionally, you can try gently massaging the cigar to loosen up the tobacco and help improve airflow.
4. A Plugged Draw
A plugged draw is when the cigar becomes blocked, and air cannot flow through it. This can be caused by tobacco bits, saliva, or other debris caught in the cigar. It can also be caused by the cigar being stored in an environment that is too dry, which causes the tobacco to shrink and block the airflow.
To Remedy This: You can try using a sharp knife or cigar cutter to make a small slit in the side of the cigar. This will help improve airflow and make drawing smoke through the cigar easier. You can also try gently massaging the cigar to loosen up the tobacco and help improve airflow.
5. A Bad Wrapper
If the cigar has a bad wrapper, it can cause it to have a tough draw. The wrapper is the outermost layer of the cigar, and if it is not rolled properly, it can restrict airflow and make it difficult to draw smoke through the cigar.
To Remedy This: You can gently massage the cigar to loosen up the tobacco to remedy this. You can also use a sharp knife or cigar cutter to make a small slit in the side of the cigar. This will help improve airflow and make drawing smoke through the cigar easier.
6. Improper Storage
If a cigar has been stored in an environment that is too dry, it can cause the tobacco to shrink and block the airflow. This makes it difficult to draw smoke through the cigar.
To Remedy This: Attempt to use a humidifier to increase the moisture content of the cigar. You can also try gently sucking on the cigar (without lighting it) to help rehydrate the tobacco. Alternatively, you can put moisture in your mouth and draw the cigar smoke through that moisture. This helps to rehydrate the tobacco and makes it easier to draw smoke through the cigar.