Fix a Plugged Cigar

There’s nothing more frustrating than lighting up a cigar you’ve been saving… only to realize it draws tighter than a milkshake through a coffee stir stick. A plugged cigar can turn a relaxing moment into an exercise in lung strength — and nobody wants that.

The good news? You can usually fix a tight draw in seconds, and no, you don’t need to perform cigar surgery. Let’s break down exactly why cigars plug up and how to fix them the smart way.

Why Cigars Become Plugged

A few things can cause a cigar to draw tight:

– Over-humidification (the #1 culprit)
– Tobacco bunching too tight during rolling
– A knot in the filler
– A stem running through the center
– High humidity areas inside the humidor

Even premium cigars can plug — yes, even the expensive ones.

Step-by-Step: How to Fix a Plugged Cigar

Here’s the easiest, quickest way to solve the problem.

1. Roll the cigar gently between your fingers

Sometimes a simple massage breaks up a compressed spot. Don’t crush it — just roll it lightly to loosen the filler.

2. Check the humidity

If your cigars often draw tight, your humidor might be running above 70% RH.
Try stabilizing everything with a Cigar Star polymer crystal humidifier + Boveda combo — the crystals provide humidity, the Boveda fine-tunes and prevents spikes.

3. Use a proper draw tool

This is the real fix.

A cigar draw tool is designed to slide through the center of the cigar, clear knots, and open airflow without damaging the wrapper or cap. It’s the difference between guessing and actually solving the issue.

Our Cigar Star stainless-steel draw tool is engineered with a slim, sharpened tip that breaks up the blockage cleanly — no splitting, no tearing, no frustration.

Just insert it slowly, twist lightly, withdraw, and test the draw again. Nine times out of ten? Problem solved in under 10 seconds.

4. Cut a little deeper (as a last resort)

If the blockage is right at the head, taking a bit more off the cap can help. But don’t overdo it — nobody wants flakes of tobacco in their mouth.

How to Prevent Plugged Cigars Long-Term

– Keep humidity steady (65–69% RH is ideal)
– Store cigars with Spanish cedar airflow racks to prevent moisture pockets
– Rotate cigars occasionally
– Avoid overcrowding your humidor

Plugged cigars happen — but they don’t have to ruin a good smoke. With the right tool and a little know-how, you can go from “this thing won’t draw” to “perfect smoke” in seconds.