So I got the special a while ago that had four of these in it, and I've smoked two so far. The first one I smoked a while ago, the second just a couple days ago. I smoked the first relatively soon after receiving it. I cut a reasonable amount of the head off, but I could hardly take a puff without feeling like I'd just put my mouth over a smoke machine's nozzle at a concert. In addition, it burned unevenly and I eventually gave up on it. The second I smoked more recently, and my humidor has been stable at 68-70% RH for the past month and a half and some since I put beads in there, and was only a little over before that. I cut a smaller opening because of the previous experience, but this time the cigar had little to no draw. Eventually I tried to use my cigar poker on it out of irritation, but the tobacco was so tightly packed that I split the wrapper even trying to use it gently.

The flavor on this 'gar is great, but I'd say the construction issues I've experienced with this, as well as a couple other Sol Cubano cigars, have just about permanently turned me off to the brand. I've still got 2 more Artisans left from this sampler, and some Connecticuts, Sumatras and Maduros left from another one, but unless the rest of them smoke just about perfectly, I'm afraid I can't recommend this brand.

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In this kind of town, say you kick someone in the head. They'll just, well, they'll likely sue you... but mad? No, they don't get mad.

~ Gogol Bordello "Punk Rock Parranda"