We’ve all had them. Those cigars that by some cruel quirk of nature just aren’t going to cooperate. Maybe the process was a little wrong that day or maybe the operator had a fight with his wife. For whatever reason, you’re faced with a choice. Do you throw out the cigar or try and repair the damage. Here’s some tricks of the trade that might help you to get at least SOME enjoyment out of that stogie.



Bands


If you normally take off the band like I do, (I smoke those things down to the point where my mustache could catch on fire), but it won’t come off this particular cigar because it’s glued on, DON’T FORCE IT! You’ll just tear off part of the wrapper and have trouble the whole smoke. Smoke the cigar until the ash gets within a half inch of the band. Often the heat and moisture from the smoke will loosen the glue enough to get the band off without damaging the wrapper. Even if it doesn’t, you’ve had at least half of a trouble free smoke.




Wrappers


Especially if you’re fond of seconds like I am, you occasionally get a cigar with a less than perfect wrapper. Here are some tips to try. If the wrapper is coming off the cigar, gently lick the underside of the wrapper a press it back to the cigar. This may stick it down long enough to smoke. If you have a hole caused by either beetles or a hard part of the filler poking through, you can take the tobacco you cut from the cap, moisten it in your mouth and place that over the hole.


Cellophane


Sometimes getting the cellophane wrapper off without damaging your cigar is tough. Open the butt end of the cellophane. Then try pushing from the cap end of the cigar. Gently turn the cap end cellophane between your fingers while pressing down. The cigar will usually slide out without damaging the wrapper.


Tight Draw


I HATE a tight draw. This can be caused by a plug somewhere in the cigar. GENTLY squeeze the cigar until you find the plug. Your choices are then to cut the plug out, (in which case you end up with two short cigars and some wasted tobacco) or GENTLY squeeze the plug one way and then turn the cigar and squeeze it from the other direction.


So Little Time, So Much Cigar


If you have a big cigar and not much time, try cutting them in half. With the cellophane still on the cigar, slide a double bladed cutter half way down the cigar and cut it. Take the half that still has the cap on it and put it back in your humidor. The half with two open ends will unroll if left too long. Light the end that would have been the foot as cigars CAN be rolled to produce a draw from only one direction. If the wrapper starts to come unraveled, moisten the cigar part way up the cigar in your mouth.