5 Vegas Classic Robusto -- unsmokable hard draw

[calvarez]

Did I just get a bad stick?  The draw on this was so hard I gave up.  Just not enjoyable.  With three hard puffs I could barely get a little smoke going.  The taste seemed like it would be decent if it was smokable.  I really like the 5 Vegas Gold and find they have a light draw, so I expected much better from this one.

[gitfiddl]

I vote for a bad stick.  I've never had a poorly constructed 5 Vegas cigar.

[kylepwhalen]

Yeah I vote bad stick too-I'm a huge fan of 5 Vegas and don't have problems with draw so yours seems very unusual

[BlackIrish]

Toss it and try another.  They're usually pretty reliable smokes.

[Jackal]

5 Vegas classics have always been a consistently good smoke for me.  I think that you just got a bad stick.

[junglepete]

Bad one...5 Vegas are quite consistent.

[Anthony]

gitfiddl - 12/6/2009  11:24 AM

I vote for a bad stick.  I've never had a poorly constructed 5 Vegas cigar.

Yes, what he said /\

[lowpro75]

Ditto.  Sorry I didn't add much to the conversation.

[gitfiddl]

Too late perhaps, but did you try to salvage it by running a straightened paperclip through it?  I've seen devices sold for the same purpose, but I can't see spending the money on them when I've got paperclips and 'plain' guitar strings laying around...

[Anthony]

gitfiddl - 12/6/2009  7:06 PM

Too late perhaps, but did you try to salvage it by running a straightened paperclip through it?  I've seen devices sold for the same purpose, but I can't see spending the money on them when I've got paperclips and 'plain' guitar strings laying around...

Good advice! I've used the pointy thing on my pipe tool for a couple of tight-drawing cigars, though usually I find a plugged cigar is beyond help.

[gitfiddl]

Anthony - 12/6/2009  7:13 PM

gitfiddl - 12/6/2009  7:06 PM

Too late perhaps, but did you try to salvage it by running a straightened paperclip through it?  I've seen devices sold for the same purpose, but I can't see spending the money on them when I've got paperclips and 'plain' guitar strings laying around...

Good advice! I've used the pointy thing on my pipe tool for a couple of tight-drawing cigars, though usually I find a plugged cigar is beyond help.

I've never been unable to unplug a cigar with a piece of wire.  You have to be careful with smaller ring sizes so you don't go through the wrapper.  I run it through the center.  If that doesn't fix it, then I do three more in a triangle around that.  I'll be damned if I'm gonna toss a cigar I paid a whole dollar for! Seriously, it works!

[lowpro75]

gitfiddl - 12/6/2009  7:26 PM

Anthony - 12/6/2009  7:13 PM

gitfiddl - 12/6/2009  7:06 PM

Too late perhaps, but did you try to salvage it by running a straightened paperclip through it?  I've seen devices sold for the same purpose, but I can't see spending the money on them when I've got paperclips and 'plain' guitar strings laying around...

Good advice! I've used the pointy thing on my pipe tool for a couple of tight-drawing cigars, though usually I find a plugged cigar is beyond help.

I've never been unable to unplug a cigar with a piece of wire.  You have to be careful with smaller ring sizes so you don't go through the wrapper.  I run it through the center.  If that doesn't fix it, then I do three more in a triangle around that.  I'll be damned if I'm gonna toss a cigar I paid a whole dollar for! Seriously, it works!

I use a wooden kabab skewer.  It works great.

[calvarez]

Too late perhaps, but did you try to salvage it by running a straightened paperclip through it?

No, it had been a long week and I was ready for a Scotch and a smoke on the patio, not solving another problem.  If it happens again I'll try to be more patient and give that a shot.

The first 1/3 of the cigar felt normal/soft, and the last 1/3 was hard and felt...hard to describe, but like there were sticks in it.  I'm sure there weren't, it just felt like there were ribs of some sort.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll buy another to try at some point.  As much as I like the Gold, I expected to like this one.