By Walt White

[Doc notes: The following article is Part Three in a three-part series. For a look at accompanying photos, go to the “Burn Issues: Slideshow.”]

Nuisances While Smoking

Now that you have a grasp of what causes burn problems and how to correct them, I would like to briefly discuss a few burn nuisances. While these generally do not cause major problems, they can become increasingly irritating as they are experienced.

Below: A blistered wrapper

On occasion while smoking your cigar you may notice some bubbling or blistering at the burn line. While this generally does not lead to significant burn problems, it is an unattractive result of an over humidified cigar. When a cigar is over humidified the intense heat from the burning tobacco will sometimes flash boil the excess humidity residing in your cigar. As this water turns into vapor it expands causing the wrapper and binder to swell.

When the wrapper and binder begin to swell it causes a few different types of issues. The most common being small cracks in the wrapper due to the rapid expansion of the tobacco. This generally happens to tobacco that is fragile, such as a Cameroon wrapper leaf. When this type of expansion occurs in a wrapper that is a little tougher, such as Connecticut Shade, the leaf will expand but not crack. The result is minor bubbling or blistering of the tobacco.

The easiest way to correct a problem such as this is to slow down the rate at which you smoke. This will allow the excess moisture to turn to steam at a slower rate, which will ultimately cause the tobacco to swell slower.

Outside of cosmetic problems, an over humidified cigar can lead to your cigar being difficult to keep lit. For me personally, this is the most aggravating of the cigar nuisances. Due to the excess water residing in the cigar, the burn turns to a sort of smolder. This will lead to the tobacco constantly going out, especially if you slow your smoking rate to compensate for other problems such as cracking or blistering. There is nothing worse than having to relight a cigar every few minutes or sucking the life out of it, just to keep it lit.

In order to correct this type of problem you must pay very close attention to the burn line. Try to find the proper rate of smoking so that your cigar will stay lit and not damage the wrapper as it burns.

To avoid overhumidified cigars the best thing to do is to keep a watchful eye on your humidor’s RH level. By keeping your cigars at a constant relative humidity, in a range between sixty five and seventy percent relative humidity, you can solve many of these problems before they have a chance to develop.

Below: Doc’s most serious burn problem, an ash that has fallen in an expensive Cognac.

In the end, it may end up being less stressful and easier to simply pitch the cigar and grab a new one. However, the tips I have listed above and in the first two parts of this series of articles, may save you some aggravation and money by helping you to correct common burn issues and still enjoy your smoke.

Wrapping Things Up

First and foremost, I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it. The purpose of taking the time to create a list of burn problems and fixes was due to the lack of resources I have found over the past two years.

As a fairly new cigar enthusiast I often found myself in search of answers to these burning questions. My results were often found in brief “FAQ” (Frequently Asked Questions) articles written by cigar retailers who did not spend much time discussing the problems I was experiencing.

After hours upon hours of reading and researching cigars, I finally feel comfortable diagnosing and correcting problems as I experience them. It is my intention to help those that find themselves in similar situations.

Once again, I hope you enjoyed reading this article and I wish you best of luck in expanding your horizons when it comes down to your love of the leaf. Happy smoking!

Walt White is one of the cofounders of the Stogie Review, a premiere cigar review blog.

Walt can be found on any number of online cigar forums and is constantly pushing the limits of web technology. This is his first contribution to the Stogie Fresh Cigar Journal.