Anyone else experienced this or know what is causing it?

Sometimes when I smoke a cigar a black tar like substance will form at the tip of the cigar. I know its there because I can taste it. I can get rid of it by cutting off a 1/4 inch of cigar, and it won't come back after that. Strangest thing is it has been happening recently more than ever. In the past 10 years of smoking I have had maybe 5 like this before a month or so ago.
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Had one about two weeks ago that did this to me really bad. Couldn't even finish the stick.
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I never get the tar at the tip unless I use a punch. The small hole left by the punch seems to make it collect around the edge of the hole.
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Thats tar. Its caused by a couple different things. Are you punching your cigars or cutting them?
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That's been my experience as well, when I clip it too short it happens.
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Punch/small clip explains it.

Any idea why it happens some times but not others?
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I'm lost, I punch all of my cigars and never get any tar. :-)
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tighter draw, higher RH, environmental conditions... remember, youre dealing with a natural product.

One thought might be that a punch used on a 40RG cigar will remove a larger percentage of cap, than a punch used on a 56RG cigar. The smaller opening can cause an accumulation of nastiness. When you cut the tip, youre removing that nastiness.

Do you use different sized punches on your cigars Bill?
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I got a nasty tar experience on two separate occasions from cutting a torpedo midway up the shoulder on an angle. I agree that a larger diameter cut may prevent this unpleasant experience.

I can still taste that bitter goo...

Dave
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Nope Moe, Xikar 009 Punch every time. Maybe it's because I'm using a larger punch on all 50 RG or less smokes? :-)
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trying... not...to... make...rude... remark :-):-):-):-)

That sounds probable.
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That's what she said.



Glad I went with the 009 then.
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I noticed this as well when using a punch, haven't seen it since I bought my Xikar VX cutter
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This is the best advice given so far. I do find it happens more in colder weather.
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I've had this happen to me a hand full of time over the last 13+ years. I always thought it was just a mixture/combination of smoke, humidity & saliva...

but then again what do I know... :-)
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Hmmmm... A few weeks back I split a culebra with one guy and a woman. Our two were fine but hers kept leaving brown goop on her lips so she put it out. Thought it was odd that ours were fine but hers produced mass amounts of tar. :-)
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Here is a picture for everyone's enjoyment:Image

This was from an Anejo back in '07.
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Ummm..sweet sweet nectar!
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Wow that is quite disgusting. Looks like your cigar got shot and is bleeding. I'm glad I've never had that happen.
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Had that happen more frequently as of late too. Not sure why. I've been told it is often cause by drawing too frequently, yet I frequently re-light due to the fact I can't shut up long enough to keep my cigars lit.

I have been trying lower humidity in my 'dor, again opposite from what I've heard the cause to be. I hear folks say hot-box and/or too wet = tar on the head. Yet I'm doing the opposite and it seems to be happening more often. Maybe 1 out of every 5-10 smokes.
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