Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Maybe some day Tom... Maybe...

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I suggest adding cedar trays and/or boxes. My rh used to stay above 70 no matter what until I added more cigar boxes to my cooler. I'm using 4 cigar trays and several boxes along with about a pound of beads in a 48qt cooler. Rock steady at 67% :)

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Ok... new 'newbie' question...

I'm curious...

How do people find it's best to keep up with the latest posts, etc., on CA? I find myself just hitting 'New Posts' constantly... Is this what most people do? Is there a better way?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Bryan, I'm new too but here's my method. I start with my replies. Read and address what I want. When that's clear I move to today's posts. Read thru and address etc. Then I head over to new inmate processing, invade I missed welcoming in any new noobs.

Repeat!

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Chingas, I like it man! Thanks! ;)

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Go to the main page:
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/index.php

Look to the right of the main forum names and you'll see ">>new>>"

Julian ("mmblz") added that feature maybe six months ago. Absolutely great for finding new posts in only the forums you care about, or having the new posts grouped by forum.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Lots of different ways to approach it. Different techniques work best for different people.

I do exactly what you do. Works just fine for me.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Please HELP!!!

So, I plugged my fridge in... and the RH went from 69 to 74% in a matter of 2 hours!!! The temp did drop from 67 to 62, so I know the cooling is working.

Please visit my other thread and see the details and help me out with some opinions! Im kinda freaking out here...:confused:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...263#post943263

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Relax dude.

RH is a measure of how much moisture is in the air versus how much it can hold. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, so, in other words, as temp drops, but the amount of moisture vapor in the the air stays constant, the RH is going to go up.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Dry beads should soak some of the extra Rh up. If not, toss in some cedar or boxes. That should help.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Update: My RH in my Edgestar is down to 71% this morn with temp at 62degs. Moving in the right direction...

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Does the label on a cigar serve any purpose other than identification?

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I believe if you use the search function here there is a thread already about this but if memory served me right, The short of it is back in the day , the band use to help keep the wrapper on.

Noadays, no other use than identifying the stick.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Back in the day they were used to keep the oils off of white gloves the upperclassman used to wear.. Or so i have been lead to believe.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I believe this is correct.

As I recall reading... Smoking with your gloves on was considered bad form. So I'm not sure that this is the reason. I can't remember where I read that, though... nor why it was considered bad form. I may be all wet on this one, though.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Not sure if I've ever heard that one before. Not outright saying it's wrong, but it's not really logical. Cigars were rolled for quite a long time before bands were added, all the cigars prior to the "invention" of the use of bands, held together without them just fine.

As for today, yes, that things related to it.

Also illogical. If there was that much oil it would permiate the bands too, some of which were cloth. Plus, how oily is an "oily" wrapper really? It's not.



I have about ten different books on the history of tobacco and cigars and what's funny is that none of the authors seem to really agree on how bands came about. Some of the theories presented as facts by them include: it was used as a tax stamp, or to keep people's fingers clean from the chickory that some cigars were rolled in for color dying and flavoring, or it was by the order of a noble, or it was an enterprising merchant who wanted to distinguish his cigars from the rest, and so on. No clear consensus that I can recall. It got to be so silly that by about the 4th book, I would just only barely skim, or even just entirely skip that section.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Today, the wrapper serves several purposes. (1) To help allure smokers, (2) to identify cigars, (3) to flex cigar-peen i.e. The Davidoff Leather Cigar Ring, and (4) to keep the wrapper intact on dry, poorly cut cigars.

I mainly use the wrapper to flex my cigar-peen. People know I'm serious business smoking Dominican Cohibas and Gurkhas.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

:r:r:r:r

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

roflmao!

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Most likely a myth. Here is some great info: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...22,755,00.html

On paper bands: Cigar Bands - Hearsay & History

http://pages.ripco.net/~whizstrt/bandinfo.htm

What does the wrapper leaf contribute?
 

I was examining a cigar and realized the wrapper is only the thickness of one tobacco leaf. This made me wonder a couple things. If so little of the cigar is wrapper, how much can the wrapper contribute to the flavor? Does the contribution increase with a thinner cigar since it has a correspondingly greater wrapper/filler ratio? Is the wrapper leaf more powerfully flavored that the filler leaves so it can contribute to the flavor even though there is much less of it?

I've never smoked two cigars where the only difference between them was the wrapper leaf so I can't go by experience.

Re: What does the wrapper leaf contribute?
 

Tim, it depends on the cigar itself, but I would say the majority of cigars gain it's primary flavors from the wrapper. The most upfront tastes and aroma like that come from cigars come from the wrapper. Both the filler and the binder are the backbone of the cigars, and provide the subtle nuances, and probably the nicotine kick.

For a second, consider something like Angostura bitters, although only one or two dashes are put in something like an Old Fashioned, immediately one can distinguish a difference between whiskey with the bitters and without the bitters. The same is true for cigars with a wrapper and without.

The easiest, and probably least fun way is to peel the wrapper off a cigar you're familiar with and try smoking just binder and filler. You'll definitely notice a difference.

Finally, yes most of the time there is a difference between ring gauge and flavor. Those cigars which have thicker ring gauges tend to balance between wrapper, binder, and filler and as a result, tend to be not as bold as thinner ring gauges.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Hello everyone. I found this forum by using Google, so here I am. Smile I am a newbie to cigars. I know some very basic info but that is about it. I have smoked a few cigars but that is all. I got them while on a road trip from JR Cigar in NC. I do not remember what they were exactly other than they were JR Alternative brand. I already own a dual blade SS cigar cutter, but I do not have a humidor. I am a bang for the buck/value for the money kind of guy and want to enjoy a cigar and not spend a lot of money doing it. If I am happy with a $2 cigar then why pay $10? I realize and understand that everyone has different tastes when it comes to a cigar, so I am wondering where is a good place to start? From the little that I know I prefer a medium bodied cigar to a mild. Where do I start and how do I learn? I have read The Idiots Guide To Cigars and it helps with basics. Thanks for the help.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Start here in the Newbie forum. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=7 The stickies here and at the top of each forum section are the best place to find much of the information you seek. Have fun and enjoy what you smoke, if that's a $2 cigar, then great! :tu

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Just remember, whatever size you think you need, triple it.

This is a good place to start. :tu
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

You've found a great resource right here in the Asylum. Stick around, introduce yourelf, and have fun. We don't care what you smoke as long as you enjoy it.

Re: What does the wrapper leaf contribute?
 

Good analogy - especially for me because I was a bartender in a former life.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

There is actually a series of Russian Cigar Clan articles that has been reprinted on another site with permission of the IP owner, that includes some insight into the subject. Basically what has been said is they are id, anti counterfeit and marketing.




The series of articles are actually some of the best about cigars I have ever read. I dunno how the TOE feels about linking to another site. Considering the articles cannot be reprinted without permssion I don't want to copy paste them here though. What say the TOE?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Depends on the site, Jason. PM it to me if you like.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

That's what is said in the article I linked earlier.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Ya I had an senior moment. I was writting in that response originally that what you had said was repeated and backe up. I just left that part out between what my brain said and what my fingers wrote.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

You have that too, huh? :r

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Give the La Trviata by CAO a try. Great flavor with 4 diffrent finishes. I perfer the Toro size

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Quick question: Is the length and firmness of the ash (and, I guess, the amount of time it stays on) indicative of the quality of the cigar?

I ask because through general observation, the cigars that are supposed to be 'higher' quality have their ash stay on longer than budget smokes.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Yes. A quality hand rolled cigar should be able to retain about 1" of ash if not exposed to wind or bumps. The amount of ash depends on the leaves used and mostly the rolling of the cigar. Machine rolled cigars will be much looser in general and ash easier than hand rolled and the more experienced the roller the better possible ash column.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Thanks. That's what I figured.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I'm moving beyond buying whatever cigars I can find here in town and would like to order some cigars online. Which online cigar stores are reputable? I've seen Cigars International mentioned here...even above in this thread...but where are most of you ordering your cigars from?? Thanks for your help.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

This should help you out.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...5&postcount=40

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I'm relatively new at ordering online also. But I've personally had good luck in the last few months with my orders from both CI and Famous. I was also impressed with my recent visit to the B&M Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe in Albany NY. I'm sure their online store would also be a good choice.

Edit:
Or like Jason said

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I just received some Perdomo Fresh Rolled. The blurb at CI says
"tobaccos are already aged yet they’re rolled and shipped immediately"

This makes me think most cigars must receive additional aging after they are rolled. Is this correct? I've seen at least one cigar described as being aged (for a year I think) after rolling and before shipping. But it seems like most cigar descriptions, if they mention aging at all, talk about aging before rolling. I am gradually getting ahead of myself and am keeping some cigars for as long as a couple months. Also I notice that famous dates their cigars with a received date which tells me they have aged at least that long before I get them.

Are there cigars which are well aged after rolling and others which are not? Is it a big deal? And if so how long is long enough to make a difference?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Once tobacco leaf is harvested it is usually air-curred for cigars from 4 to 8 weeks. After that period it can be rolled into a cigar. In general though only the Cubans will roll cigars at this point. Most Non-Cuban manufacturers will age the curred tobacco for another year or more. Some non-cuban manufacturers will roll the cigars and then cure the whole rolled cigar for more time. This is done because a freshly curred then rolled cigar can go through an additional sick period when it begins to self cure. Tasting ammonia and other unpleasant aromas can be seen in this time, but this is an issue only with Cuban Cigars as all Non-Cuban manufacturers age beyound the sick period before they distribute for sale, AFAIK.

In general once a non-cuban is available for sale only the tobacco has been aged but some are aged after rolling, and this is usually indicated in the price of the cigar, higher price in non-cubans can be attributed to more aging time.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

So I found a cigar that i had cut but apparently never smoked, I vaguely remember cutting it around the end of July. My question is, after you cut a cigar does it begin to lose any flavor or anything?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

No negative effects at all. Before the Embargo many Cuban and American made cigars came pre-cut or punched. Many will cut a cigar, put it back in the humidor if the draw is too tight and revisit it in a week or two. :tu

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Awesome, I just wanted to make sure :D

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Had a Troya last night from a tube that came Pre-Cut!:tu

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

What does "predraw" mean?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Been to a couple of B&M shops and when I smoke there they cut with a V cutter. My friend, who doesn't really smoke but pretends that he does, just gave me one.
My question is what benefit is it to cut with a V rather than a straight cut? How do I know which cigars to cut which way?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Drawing on the cigar before lighting. Dry tasting, if you will.

I have found no particular benefit, I think it's mostly preference.

:2

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

[quote=NCRadioMan;978538]Drawing on the cigar before lighting. Dry tasting, if you will.

Thanks!