subject: Why Some Cigars Are Difficult To Draw [print this page] While hand rolled cigars are the pinnacle of the smoking experience, they do come with some drawbacks. One of the most common problems reported with high-quality hand rolled cigars is that some cigars are hard to draw and it can feel as though there is a blockage somewhere within the cigar. In essence, you are correct. If you find that your Lotus lighters fire up well, but it is difficult to keep your cigars going, you have hard, or tight, draw problems. However, don't worry, as this can be rectified.
The first thing you must understand is that the hard draw is due to the handcrafted nature of the cigar, itself. While most cigars are rolled perfectly, there will be the occasional cigar that is rolled too tightly. This has the effect of bunching the tobacco up in places within the cigar, creating knots of fibrous tobacco and effectively plugging the cigar. Even quality Lotus lighters will not be able to keep these cigars lit completely. That said, you can help the process along and still enjoy that premium cigar, without the tight draw.
If you notice that your Lotus lighters are having a hard time keeping your cigar lit, you'll need to feel your cigar. Place your thumb and forefinger on the body of the cigar, near the head (the unlit end) and squeeze (very gently). Move down the body of the cigar until you locate a hard spot. Once you find a harder spot, you should gently squeeze the area, while continuing to smoke your cigar. The combination of pressure from your fingers and heat from the burning tobacco will help loosen up the knot and allow air to flow more freely through the entire cigar.
Now, move down the body of the cigar, squeezing gently as you go. It is possible that you will find more than one hard spot. If you do, repeat the steps you just followed. Once done, if your cigar has gone out, use any Lotus lighters to relight your cigar and you should be back in business. A hard draw does not need to spell the end of your cigar smoking enjoyment and it can be easily overcome if you have a gentle touch and just a bit of patience. You will find that with these knots out of the way, your cigar is much more enjoyable and that the air/smoke flows freely through.
