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The most common reason for this is that the outer layers of tobacco are more humid that the middle most filler. It could be from the cigars having been dried out then rehydrated, just not all the way though. This may even be from the retailer.

How long have they been at 66 and in your possession? Also, are they in an area where the temperature fluctuates? Temperature can affect humidity more than you would think.

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Each over a month. The temperature shouldn't be fluctuating much, though I did take the humidor with me home from college over spring break. Would a 2 hour hot car ride cause this?
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I wouldn't think a 2 hour car ride would affect them at all.

Maybe a FOI could offer some other reasoning. I'm a little stumped. A month in a controlled environment should be plenty of time to stabilize.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Alright, I have a beginner-type question here. I've never smoked a cigar with a cap on the foot before (I'm sure there is a proper term, but I don't know it). I recently picked up a Hemingway Short Story to try on for size and I noticed that it has one of these footcaps. Do I cut it off or light it with the foot intact? If I do cut it, am I going for the same kind of cut that I make on the head of the cigar?

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It is called a perfecto.
No need to cut the foot. Light up and enjoy.

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What is dry boxing and will it help a cigar that is rolled just a touch too tight? Thanks for the help.

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It's putting the cigar in a humidor with very low humidity or no humidification at all for any period from a few hours to 10 days to improve the smoking quality of the cigar (flavor, burn, draw, etc.). Generally yes, it tends to help with tighter draws to dry-box the cigar for a while. Some cigars are just plain tight though.

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I just made a dumb noob mistake or move. I had started smoking a Boli the other day and had put it out only after smoking about 1/4 inch of it because I couldn't taste it because of the cold I have. Well not wanting to waste a cigar I put it in a seal bag and placed it into the coolerdor thinking it will be all right (this was Monday). Well when I went into my cooler today to get some cigars out I smelled a strong smoky odor. I'm emptying my cooler as I type this now and is going to wash it out with mild solution and baking soda to try to get rid of the smell. My question is have I done some damage to my cigars that was in the cooler that can't be repaired. What can I do to lessen the damage that is already done. Thanks in advance for answers :bh:bh:bh:bh:bh:bh:bh:bh The smell is in my beads also so is this a concern I should worry about also

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There are different way for leaves (not rolled cigars)
for CC leaves for premium Cigars we have the Air cure. It is done in the "Casa del Tabaco" where the nautral climate makes the leaves to turn from green to dark.
There is for NC different way for cure.

It is done in rooms where the temperature and Humy are controlled (sometimes with some fires). The process is delicate, a small mistake can spoil everithing.
In this way you can choose even the wrapper colour.

In Cuba they did some experiment with this method for getting the AMS capa colour - aka Capa Candela. This is for the embargo end.

AB

Water pipes
 

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If they were all the same brand and from the same box it could just be the luck of the draw. I remember some Onyx Vintage cigars that had asbestos wrappers. As I recall, one of the new Habana (2000?) wrappers had a burn problem at one time. Just my :2, hope it helps.

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I hear you guys mention MRN a lot and from context I am assuming this is an information resource of some kind, most likely a website. So what is MRN short for?

thanks, :ss

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Here it is
http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?P...ROD&ProdID=248

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Why is a cigar "capped"? Why bother?

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So the cigar doesn't unravel. They have to keep the wrapper on somehow ;)

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******QUESTION******

When storing whole boxes of cigars in a Vinotemp, do you leave the box lid completely open? Do you let the box sit closed? Or do you slightly prop open the lid to allow some air movement? Or does it not really matter?

Thanks in advance! :D

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It doesn't really matter but I store everything closed.

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It depends if they suck or not.
If they're good, I keep cigars all closed up so they'll not change quickly.
If they suck, I open them up a bit to dry them out and get the sick out of them.
I don't "age" anything, because I just smoke them and share them.
I just work to get them smokable, that's all. They get old all by themselves. ;)

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Why are Robustos usually cheaper than other smaller sizes?

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when you say "other smaller sizes" do you mean a lancero for example?

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I believe it's because they're easier to make. They roll one cigar, finish both ends and cut it in half.
I could be totally wrong, but that's my impression.
You couldn't do that with a lancero because your hands wouldn't be able to manage the length.
Should be able to do it with a pc, so although it was a good idea, it may not make much sense.

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**Question**
What does the term "Long finish" mean in the context of a review?

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I believe it refers to when you get the taste longer after you exhale the puff, as opposed to directly after. After you exhale, you get most of the taste IME, but it goes away in seconds. Some cigars you can taste for a while longer. But that's my take - this may (and probably will) vary person to person.

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The above just about hits it on the head, however, with smoking a cigar or whatever, the length of the finish usually refers to how long the aftertaste of the tobacco and other nuances remain with you, after the smoke has ended. An example would be that, after smoking a mild cigar, such as a Gispert, the after taste may remain with you for 15, 30, maybe even 45 minutes, however, after smoking a truly full bodied cigar, such as an Opus-X, the after taste may actually be with you for several hours, and in some cases even longer!

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I agree. To me the finish is the aftertaste of the cigar. I usually notice it when i am finished smoking. Some cigars, the taste goes away shortly after finishing and others, I can still taste the next morning. (and that's not always a good thing.)

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Haha, I know what you mean. Look out for the morning funk...

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I had a bargain label brand (can't remember now what it was) that even after I had shrimp with a little cayenne pepper, zesty cocktail sauce and steak with onions....I could STILL taste the damn thing.

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Thanks guys for shedding some light on this. :tu

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Been on my list for years - Do you leave the cello on the sticks or not when storing? To me it never made a difference...

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its just a personal preference if you want them on of off.but some like to have the cello on so the sticks wont get damaged while handling.

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Some leave it on to protect the cigars from getting damaged when rummaging through the humidor, some (like me) leave it off because it's ugly as all getout. Doesn't make a difference, cellophane breathes.

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while you smoke a lancero what exactly do "they" mean then "they" say sip on the lancero.do you take 1/2 the draw that you would on a robusto ?

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Pretty much. Just take a short puff of a bit of smoke in with the tongue, as opposed to a big puff with the cheeks.

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got ya,thanks.

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I remember that being pretty funny.

I have two questions if I may.

Anybody sell a large informational poster, something with the different types and characteristics of cigars?

Any good thread or recommendations on adult beverager pairings with the Padron 1926 cigars?

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I think I know the answer to this but wanted to ask. I noticed that some of my cigars have a "sparkle" to them when lit. What causes this sparkle?

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By "sparkle" do you mean sheen or do they actually sparkle like glitter?

Sheen is from the essential oils releasing through the wrapper

I hope this helps

~Mark

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Well, there's that but also when a flame is hitting them, it sparkles (think sparklers for 4th of July that kids use -- not as huge but tiny ones).

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Ok, gotcha - like a sparkler when lit

Typically from stems :tu

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@@----##Question##----@@

When the ash falls off cigars when I smoke often the burn starts to tunnel the cigar (inside burning faster than the outside). How do I correct this or keep it from happening?

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Is there a set period of time one should let new smokes sit in the humidor after purchasing?

What works better 65 or 70% humidity?

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Usually people say a few weeks to allow them to adjust to your conditions you prefer. I am more likely to let a cigar from a B+M I trust sit only a day or two whereas internet order sit a bit longer. :tu

This is entirely personal preference, I prefer mine dryer than most, around 61-63%. This too is somethng that you will need to experiment with until you find which you prefer. :2

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Sounds like the humidity may be a little off, probably a little too wet on the outside. As far as touch-up, try a single flame all the way around the outside, kind of like a regular touch-up but all the way around the outside. :tu

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If it always happens, try to adjust your humidity down or let them sit a little longer. To keep it from happening, I usually purge after an ashing to keep the wrapper going, because it happens to me sometimes.

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Just checking to see if I can post yet :) Guess I can.

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Hello Don from MI from Andrew from MI. :we Do you have a question for us friendly BOTL to help answer?

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Hey Don! Welcome to the Asylum! Be sure to check out http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=7 just to introduce yourself.

Colorado and other low humidit areas ??
 

Hi all, A noob here and living in Colorado what suggestions do you have to keep a small (50ct) desktop and at about 65% humidity? I plan on keeping the desktop humi in the basement when the summer temps start spiking to try and maintain an environment below 70 degrees and being new, I'm not sure if I prefer a wetter or dryer stick yet but I think I might lean to something more in line with 65% vs 70%. How fast will a stick dry out once removed from the humidifier during the summer. I plan on using a travel case for the most part as it may be several hours before I get to smoke what I remove from the humidifier. Am I making this way more complicated than it needs to be?

Thanks for the help,
Brett

Re: Colorado and other low humidit areas ??
 

Hi Brett,

It has been my experience that as long as the travel humidor suits the number of sticks that you are carrying (ie 5 cigars in a 5 count and not 5 cigars in a 50 count travel humidor) and that the sticks are of the RH that you desire prior to putting them into the travel humidor, the travel humidor holds the RH fairly steady for a day or so (sometimes longer).

I hope this helps

~Mark

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Thanks N2Adventure for the response. The travel humidor is a 5 count with the foam for humidification so I think I'll be in good shape when I get the desktop set up correctly and the sticks where I want them before transferring them to the travel.
Brett