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"

That's disappointing, gdf; especially for a cigar that spendy. The Artisan always catches my eye when I'm perusing the brands list. I've nearly pulled the trigger on that sampler a few times, but never quite did it. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Bummer deal. I've got a couple of these i received in a trade and just haven't taken the time to settle down with one. From my experience, I've got nothing but good to say about SC, so hopefully I fare better with this one.

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"Beliefs are neat. Cherish them, but don't share them like they're the truth" Bill Hicks

I've only had the SC Cuban Cabinets and Sumatras but I'm yet to have one with construction issues. I'd shoot a note to Ccom and tell them you smoked two dud artisans, I haven't done this with ccom but I know most places will stand behind their products and send you another few.

hmm.. that reminds me.. I think I smoked a couple of dud GoF's last week.

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phobicsquirrel:

ummm milk it..

LMAO, I think they might look back at your records to see if you did indeed purchase a GoF.

25 dollar dud is never any fun...

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If you are going through hell, keep going.
Winston Churchill

dutyje:

hmm.. that reminds me.. I think I smoked a couple of dud GoF's last week.

I think they will check the records on that one joe, hope you didn't " misplace your receipt " :}

kaspera79:

dutyje:

hmm.. that reminds me.. I think I smoked a couple of dud GoF's last week.

I think they will check the records on that one joe, hope you didn't " misplace your receipt " :}

hmmm.. I'm sure it's around here somewhere... just send them along and I'll fax the receipt as soon as it turns up :)

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phobicsquirrel:

ummm milk it..

dutyje:

kaspera79:

dutyje:

hmm.. that reminds me.. I think I smoked a couple of dud GoF's last week.

I think they will check the records on that one joe, hope you didn't " misplace your receipt " :}

hmmm.. I'm sure it's around here somewhere... just send them along and I'll fax the receipt as soon as it turns up :)

I'm still waiting for the replacement on the Box of bum Opus X I bought. Darned if I didn't misplace the paperwork on those too. ( I hope everyone knows I'm full of S***. Service and product here are both great )

I smoked a SCA about six months ago that one of my Captains gave me.  I thought that it was a great smoke.  I don't remember any problems that I had smoking it, and I definately would have noted them in my log that I keep for all of my cigars.  Maybe you just got some REALLY bad ju-ju with two bad sticks.  I hope the other two are better so you can enjoy an awesome smoke.

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Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity

I've smoked a few of the Cubano's but never an artisan. I've never had a construction problem, but the cigars themselves never really blew me out the water either. Good smokes, but nothing special IMO. I've been eyeing the Artisans to buy but thats a lot of money to spend on something to just look at given my uninterest in the rest of the line.

I have had 1 of the Artisans it was enough to turn me off. I made it MAYBE 1/2 of the way thru it. I finally gave up. I was very disappointed by this cigar.

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"If I had taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral." George Burns

There seems to be a consensus here that this is the one dud in the Sol Cubano lineup. It's really surprising, considering how good their other offerings are.

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Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

I don't know... the one I've hod was pretty good. I still have one aging a bit and I put one into the pass. I hope whoever gets it enjoys it. Maybe they aren't very consistent?

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