What does a splitting ash mean? Too dry? The moist?
I think it is an extension of that prominent vein that you can see running the length of that stick. Take a look just above the "split" and you can see it is right over that vein. I have seen this on lot's of sticks and there is usually a vein on the wrapper that causes it.
As a roller, I notice this occurs regardless of freshness or bunching techniques used. It does appear to happen more when a Viso leaf (which tends to be a thicker leaf with larger veins) is rolled with thinner more thin veined leaves and thin wrappers. As the stick is burned by a consistent smoker (one who draws in close intervals with less resting time between draws) those thick veins have the ability to pull the lighter weight leaf ash towards the burn curl of the heavier veins as it burns. When the Viso leaf is paired with other heavy weight leaves with equal vein strength, they are unable to pull away from one another and remain controlled during the burn. I have rolled the same stick removing the Viso Veins experimentally and this effect doesn't occur. It's not a flaw per-say... it's a consequence of a combination between leaf weight, thickness of vein ratios and burn distribution established by the draw speed of the smoker. Long Leaf Life to all ~The ReMixologist
I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd answer this conundrum. It's actually caused by magnesium. Too much in the filler or binder leaf will cause a brittle flaky ash but is nothing to worry about, shouldn't affect taste. Later
slickric
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What it really means is............
If you liked the cigar, who gives a crap.
Smoke it, enjoy it and move on.
That is why the comment, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." has so much meaning.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.