Draw tested cigar makers

[Sam Leccia]

Hey, Buena, appreciate the questions. below is my reply:

You cannot "overcome" bad construction with proper humidity.

I can't begin to tell you how many cigars I smoke a day, week, month. And I can't tell you the last time I had a plugged one. I'm serious.

The "9 out of 10" was not a stat but rather a generalization. Too often construction is to blame when in reality it is humidity. Whether the place of purchase or the end user. whether too wet, or too dry, or a drastic quick change in RH.

Draw testing cannot be done without destroying the cap. There is no way Camacho draw tests every cigar. No one does. There are over 100 rollers in a factory and usually only 2 - 3 draw testers. They could never keep up. Plus all of the cigars would have to go back to the rolling table to replace the cap. It just doesn't happen. Believe what you want, but i don't buy it. There is no need to. Plus, I have been to his factory, and last I was there, he had one draw test machine...again, I don't believe, there is a need to draw test every cigar anyway.

I have not heard of draw testing prior to the wrapper being applied. That almost defeats the purpose of draw testing, as a very snug wrapper could be the culprit. I also doubt that this is a common practice however, maybe there are advances in draw testing that I am unaware of.

I appreciate your follow-up questions and research my friend. If you have anything else, fire away, I'd be more than happy to answer anything you may have.

And to answer you last question, I only smoke Nub, and Cain

[Buena Fortuna]

Originally Posted by Sam Leccia

Hey, Buena, appreciate the questions. below is my reply:

You cannot "overcome" bad construction with proper humidity.

I can't begin to tell you how many cigars I smoke a day, week, month. And I can't tell you the last time I had a plugged one. I'm serious.

The "9 out of 10" was not a stat but rather a generalization. Too often construction is to blame when in reality it is humidity. Whether the place of purchase or the end user. whether too wet, or too dry, or a drastic quick change in RH.

Draw testing cannot be done without destroying the cap. There is no way Camacho draw tests every cigar. No one does. There are over 100 rollers in a factory and usually only 2 - 3 draw testers. They could never keep up. Plus all of the cigars would have to go back to the rolling table to replace the cap. It just doesn't happen. Believe what you want, but i don't buy it. There is no need to. Plus, I have been to his factory, and last I was there, he had one draw test machine...again, I don't believe, there is a need to draw test every cigar anyway.

I have not heard of draw testing prior to the wrapper being applied. That almost defeats the purpose of draw testing, as a very snug wrapper could be the culprit. I also doubt that this is a common practice however, maybe there are advances in draw testing that I am unaware of.

I appreciate your follow-up questions and research my friend. If you have anything else, fire away, I'd be more than happy to answer anything you may have.

And to answer you last question, I only smoke Nub, and Cain

I thought the same, but as it was explained to me by Christian, there are different types of draw testing processes and machines, some are capable of draw testing entire batches without damaging the cigar in any way, thus making it possible to test entire production runs.

He may have been blowing smoke (pun intended) but there was no benefit for him to do so as I am just a regular Joe cigar guy.

You need to expand your brands to experience more of the joys of plugged cigars

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Buena Fortuna

I thought the same, but as it was explained to me by Christian, there are different types of draw testing processes and machines, some are capable of draw testing entire batches without damaging the cigar in any way, thus making it possible to test entire production runs.

He may have been blowing smoke (pun intended) but there was no benefit for him to do so as I am just a regular Joe cigar guy.

You need to expand your brands to experience more of the joys of plugged cigars

There's no mechanical reason a batch of cigars, or any cigar, can't be draw tested before they're capped.
Watch a cigar being rolled and you'll see why.
Like Sam says, it's hard to believe that most manufacturers would not waste the time, energy, or resources to draw test every cigar.
Where there's money, there's time.
It costs more money to make a perfect cigar than a box of 30% plugged cigars, like cc's. In many instances, there's no incentive for torcedors in cuba to make a well made cigar.

Then take Graycliff and Padron and Fuente.
They bust their ass to turn out a superior product and value thier skilled workers. They can because the money's there to do it. But the money is there because of their values, not because they pumped out junk to make dollars happen.
You can't spend two dollars to make a one dollar cigar, but you can sure spend two dollars to make a 10 dollar cigar.

My two cents, and it's only my opinion, so take it for what it's worth...
Some people make cigars out of tradition, pride, and love. The money is the last consideration. If you've ever learned anything of the Fuente family, you'll know what I mean.
Some just make them to make money and do the very least they can do to maximize profits.
I'm not saying that's bad, but it definately shows in the product.