Pulled a couple of smokes out of the humi yesterday to enjoy on the links and had an issue that I have not experienced before. After being lit for about 10 minutes or so, the filler expanded and the wrapper started to split like crazy. Got to the point where I just gave up since I was not enjoying them. Is this caused by being too dry?? :-) They were resting in the humi between 64-66% for about a month. Don't want to experience this with other smokes in the humi. Any suggestions would be helpful.......:-)
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Do you have a digital or analog hygro?
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I seem to have gotten this once or twice in the past and I think it was because of previous storage conditions, not the current ones.
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I had this happen the other day with a Hemingway signature. After a couple of minutes it split on both sides from the head down about 3/4". Never had that happen before with any other smokes from my humidor.:-)
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I suspect over humidification. When the filler and binder are at a higher rh, they will swell up when heated and split the outer wrapper. This can also occur when moving from a warm area(inside) to a very cold one(outside). :-)
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It serves you right, smoking cigars on a golf course in the middle of freaking winter.
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:-) My first thought was an extreme temperature change, or the cigars were to moist.
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I guess a few questions come to mind first:

What was the brand/size that the mishap occurred to?

What was the wrapper type?

What's the RH in your humi or cooler currently at?
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I've only had this happen once and it was recently. I was out of town and had put the humi I usually use as a dry box in my truck with 15 or so sticks. I left the humi in the truck and it got down into the 20s for a couple of nights. All of the sticks I smoke split. I am no rocket scientist but I now know not to let my sticks have dramatic temp changes any more.
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I have to watch this here in the northeast during the winter and be careful about what I smoke. I have had problems with Oliva O's when taking one out of a humi and going outside when the temp is at freezing or below and rh is just about nonexistant. I find myself smoking many Gran Habanos and Oliva G Maduros since they seem to tolerate the temp and humidity change. My humis are kept at about 68 degrees and 63% rh. Just my :-), hope it helps.
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this seems to happen to me with pepin jj line or the pepin blue all other brands do just fine,so far
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This usually happens to me when there's a massive change in humidity quick, like if I smoke outside and its drier than usual.

The other time is getting the crp sticks.
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LOL....as far as golfing in winter I guess I am a glutton for punishment. I hope the wrapper issue was due to the temp change....it was about 52degrees that day. The brands were both CAO.....Gold Madura and an MX2.
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I've had this happen several times when it has been cold outside. I think the extreme temperature and humidity change can shock the cigars. Especially for ones with Cameroon wrappers.
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I suspect a crummy wrapper. One brand in particular, mentioned a few post before, is having this problem. Several robusto's of various colored bands [red/blue/black/white] are splitting on me like crazy. No problems with any of the other sticks in my vino.

If you bought a box of these I would be calling that vendor.
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I too have had problems with Oliva Os and Gs, but merely from time to time and regardless of whether smoked in- or outdoors. Perhaps one or two out of every box are affected. I don't think its due to my storage conditions, as I do not have this issue with any other cigar. However, bearing in mind their usually decent construction and great value, I can tolerate a few split cigars.
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I've had a Graycliff that I was sooooo looking forward to smoking almost explode on me once. The thing literally cracked as I was smoking it and I noticed the swelling too, from the inside out. I feel it was almost the wrapped being too tight as it felt really solid. That particluar cigar was at 69% RH inside the humi then dry boxed at 57% for 2 days before being smoked, although it was smoked outside in cold-ish weather so maybe that had something to do with it too.
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I getting ready to bust out some more smokes from the humi.....different brands....and give them a go. I have smoked when conditions were colder than when I played golf and had no problems. I suspect (hope) that is was a bad lot.....
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