Nice Big Tar Kiss

[steelman]

Geez, I recently had a nasty surprise awaiting for me about 1/3 of the way into a couple of different cigars recently. Puff, puff, yuck. I look at the punched end and that little black trickle was apparent. What a cigar killer the tar is. Any idea what makes this occur?

I store my stogies at 64% and 64 degrees. It is quite cold outside when this happened. Both of these cigars where punched. The last one was an Espinosa Maduro Box pressed Robusto. Not a bad cigar until the oil leak.

Help me solve this so I don't have to forgo this experience for a third time!!!:confused::confused:

Cheers

[Old Smokey]

Yeah, cigar tar is some of the most putrid vile stuff. I don't know why it happens, but have never experienced it when I smoke slower. I have had success in the past by clipping the head off a little more when I see or taste tar. Hopefully someone will have a more definitive answer to the problem.

[Zeede]

Isn't this why people purge their cigars?

[Joe k]

I had this happen to me a short while back with a shark, I just left it alone and kept smoking. It really had no effect on the taste of the cigar

[Horseshoe]

Just clip a little more off the head and it usually goes away. At least this has been my experience. It sure does kill the mood though if it hits your lips/tongue.

[jpalamar]

I only seem to get tar when I use a punch. I still punch most of the time but if you clip it the bigger opening makes it feel like it isn't there.

[steelman]

I guess that I will be back to clipping instead of punching for a while even though I prefer the punch to make a neater opening...

[Demuths1770]

with a punch it funnels the smoke through a smaller opening so this is more common with punches and smoking too fast can cause this as well. i have also heard that "chewing" on the end and keeping it too most from your mouth can cause tar

[defetis]

I just rarely smoke torpedos, belicosos, perfectos since this is mostly common in these vitola's

[HabanoMan]

with a punch it funnels the smoke through a smaller opening so this is more common with punches and smoking too fast can cause this as well.

This right here. This is the reason I completely quit using a punch.

[Demuths1770]

This right here. This is the reason I completely quit using a punch.

i also got more of a nic hit it seemed with the punch as well. got myself a perfect cut cutter and have not looked back yet and love it

[Bowtech4ever]

I punch and have noticed it on occasion too. Don't like to cut, so would a double V cut be a viable option?

[Demuths1770]

I punch and have noticed it on occasion too. Don't like to cut, so would a double V cut be a viable option?

it would probably help a little but your still restraining the smoke some

[Jordan23]

with a punch it funnels the smoke through a smaller opening so this is more common with punches and smoking too fast can cause this as well. i have also heard that "chewing" on the end and keeping it too most from your mouth can cause tar

Yep. I rarely if ever use a punch cut.

[Demuths1770]

seems like a punch smokes faster which in turn it may smoke hotter which also leads to the tar as well.

[bobajob]

I've had this happen mainly on maduros/oscuros and often when I suspect the cigar is a little too humidified.
It is caused by pyrolysis, which is the charring of the cigar without oxygen present. This happens at high temperatures, and also with high water content.

Therefore, anything which contributes to the build up of steam/water in the cigar and high temperatures can cause the portion of the cigar behind the cherry to undergo pyrolysis and this liberates tar from the hydrocarbons present in the oils of the cigar by cracking them.

Punches contribute to the increased heat since the aperture is narrower and the draw is tighter. They also allow a build up of steam and liquid for the same reason. Oscuros and maduros suffer more because of the higher presence of oils.