Draw tested cigar makers

[Buena Fortuna]

Originally Posted by Sam Leccia

Almost All companies Draw test Cigars.

However, NO company draw tests EVERY cigar. It would be near impossible.

Factory Supervisors take a sample of cigars per roller. If a roller has cigars that do not pass the draw test, a larger sample of his/her cigars are then draw tested.

It is done to get a cross section of quality from each roller.

ALSO, every cigar that IS draw tested, is NEVER sold. the cap gets destroyed from the machine, so it is only a way to ensure Rollers are rolling properly.

9 out of 10 draw problems are a result of humidity issues. I understand that you stated you cigars have been well kept. Maybe double check your homographer, or use two for accuracy.

I highly doubt that all of the plugged cigars that you have encountered are a result from poor construction.

Interesting...never heard that statistic before

Tabacalera de Garcia switched to making cigars by hand, it worried about draw problems. In 1984, the company began draw-testing its cigars, sticking the bunch in a suction machine to ensure that enough air could get through before the wrapper was applied.

"The first week we implemented the system, we rejected 35 percent of our production," says Seijas. "Now, we reject 2 to 3 percent." Cigar Aficionado - José Seijas May/June 2001

Patel also cut back on production. Cigar rollers in Central America are notoriously fast, some capable of making 400 or even 500 in a day. That seldom leaves room for superior craftsmanship.

"We slowed down the number of cigars they could make," he says, saying the new daily limit is 250. Before, they were "booked", simply put on top of one another. "Booking" is faster but creates a cigar prone to draw problems if packed too tightly with tobacco. To combat draw problems resulting from booking, cigar makers now limit the tobacco in each cigar. Cigar Aficionado - Rocky ll - Jan/Feb 2005

I spoke to Christian Eroia from Camacho and asked him why his cigars draw so well and so consistent and he said that every Camacho cigar is draw tested to make sure it meets standards before it can be sold. He stated that some manufacturers only batch test to save time, but it also affects draw consistency.

I'm sure that humidity exacerbates construction problems but is not the sole cause of draw issues 9 out of 10 times... From an educational standpoint, can you help me and others here in the Asylum understand a little better how you use proper humidity to overcome inconsistent/bad construction? Is it the brands you buy? Do you stay away from certain brands/sizes?