Plug

A plug is a blockage inside a cigar, usually a knot or fold of tightly packed filler, that stops air from passing through. A plugged cigar has a very tight draw: you work hard on each puff and get little smoke. Plugs come from uneven bunching, which is why factories check bunches by feel and often with a draw-testing machine before the wrapper goes on. A cigar stored too humid can also draw tight. Gently rolling the cigar between your fingers sometimes loosens a plug, and cutting a little more off the cap can help if the blockage is near the head.