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I used to smoke a cigar once a week with my buddies. But then I took a trip to Tampa for school and for three days in a row I smoked way beyond my normal, 6-7 a day. Since then I have been unable to enjoy cigars, and get a little nausea. With summer coming, my friends are all itching to try the cigars I brought back from the Caribbean, and I was wondering if there was anything you could reccomend to get back into cigars.

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Seriously, nicotine over dose isn't fun and while I haven't seen any medical reports, I'm sure it's not good for you.

Take a few weeks off and limit your smoking to 3 cigars a day (figure a cigar lasts about 1 hour - 1 1/2 hours, so that's 3 to 4 1/2 hours of cigar smoking a day which should be plenty).

Drink lots of water and if the nausea starts, consume something with a lot of sugar (even pour sugar under your tongue), eat some ice cream...it's helps combat the nicotine.

Just my opinion though.

I hope this helps

~Mark

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At what point do cigars become un-salvageable? I know that all of mine are fine, but I got to thinking when I noticed my humidor had gotten a little dry: is there an obvious point when the cigars can't be saved?

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Sometimes toward the last third of a smoke I start tasting what I can only describe as a "burning plastic" or "acrid" taste. Is this the "ammonia" I see talked about? Does it mean I'm smoking too fast? Anyone else have this happen?

Last night it happened with an 07' A.F. Brevas, from a box I keep in a coolidor. These are usually smooth and mild, but that acrid taste....not so good.

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I would try purging it a few times during the smoke. Also I find that if you give it more time between puffs towards the end, the flavors are nicer.

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Technically there would be no cigar that has gotten too dry recover and to smoke. Are they still going to taste/smoke the same as they did before they got dried out? Likely not, but they will still be smokeable. The flavors are likely going to change and will probably be muted and dull compared to the original cigar. The longer they have been dry, the longer it will take to rehumidify them and the key is going to be taking your time to rehumidify them. Hope that helps :tu

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I want to expand on this...

When a cigar has crystal looking flakes in the wrapper and/or ash. What is that and what effect does it have on anything? A prime example would be the Oliva G Maduro.

Which part is hottest, top or bottom?
 

Which part of the cigar is the hotter, top or bottom?
We're told to rotate periodically, but whats the science behind
it?

Thanks for the knowledge!

Greg

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Sparkly cigars=Good=Plume. Not noticed it on the ash before. But plume manifests itself as crystals, these are the oils which have matured and turned crystalline. Nothing prettier than a sparkly cigar in the sunlight!:tu

Re: Which part is hottest, top or bottom?
 

Hi Greg,

The only reason I know of to rotate occasionally is to help keep an even burn. Honestly, I never pay attention to it. If you store you cigars properly and light it properly (ie evenly) then you shouldn't run into a ton of burn or draw issues.

If you have a burn problem, it's just easier to touch it up with a lighter than it is to worry about rotating :tu

I hope this helps bro

~Mark

Re: Which part is hottest, top or bottom?
 

Hi Mark,

Yes, it certainly does help! Thanks!

The purpose of the question did have only to do with an even
burn.
Well, that and curiousity I suppose...
(Always interested in learning more about "cigar-science".)

While I'll readily admit that I'm only just getting it together
with proper storage/lighting, I'll also admit that I've felt like
a dunce when having to touch it up with the lighter.
I've figured there must be a better way.... or rather, that
I must be doing something wrong.
You've clarified what that is.

Combine that with the fact that just about every "cigar-tips"
FAQ type thing recommend rotation, I felt it must be all about
that.

So much for conventional wisdom, I guess.

Thanks again!!
Greg

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I'm not a big cigar smoker, but I'd like to enjoy them more, as Ih ave been gifted a handful by various BsOTL on the forum.

I've been keeping them in their vacuum packs for a month or two in a filing cabinet, and plan to smoke a few at my brother's pig roast in a few days.

The packs have been opened a few times, but not a lot. Do you think the smokes will be too dry to smoke or no?

It's probably all based on personal taste and whatnot, I'm sure. But being a usual pipe smoker, I don't have a humi of any kind. I would think that the tobacco is probably hardy and fairly resilient to drastic change, right?

Thanks - Kegan

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as long as you keep the zippers closed tightly, they shouldnt loose much if any humidity if you only open it to remove one and close it right up.

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Hi Kegan,

You should consider putting them into a humidified environment now though. I have done some experimenting with vacuum sealing over the years and the 1-2 month is about the longest I have had cigars retain the same humidity that they were put in with. (I've seal hygrometers with the cigars)

This is because most plastic used for bags is still porous.

I hope this helps

~Mark

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I recently had some cigars shipped to me overseas, they have not arrived yet but I expect them after about 2 weeks travel time. The outside temp over here is around 130 degrees. With the temperature fluctuations, and extensive travel time what kind of problems could I expect when I get them in? And how much time should they settle for?

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130 degrees? I'd be concerned about beetles

Keep them isolated from your other smokes (ie: in a separate humidor) and let them acclimate for at least 4 weeks.

I hope this helps

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Storing sticks in my Vino....Should I leave my sticks in plastics bags while in vino or remove them from bags. You can see what I mean in the "Lets see pics of you Humidor" section. I have some sticks loose and some in plastic zip lock bags.. PLease advise....

Thanks George

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George, you might wanna get yourself an empty cigar cab, or box from your local B&M. This way you can keep the sticks in there. Churchill size cigar box should fit most of them.

Ive seen people store their cigars in bags long term, but I personally dont.

If you do keep the cigars in their bags, you might wanna open them to get a little airflow.

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:tpd: Definitely get a empty cab or box. I started to store them in the bags they came in and opened them up. Then I realized how much space the bags alone take up and pulled the cigars out and into boxes and/or drawers. I had more room for more stogies :ss

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Thanks guys...I have them open a bit...I am actually waiting for Chasden to make me some trays....

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Hey!

How long (if at all) should a cigar come out of the humi before smoking it?

Thanks!
Greg

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Dont take them out until you are ready to smoke them. Assuming you are storing at proper RH levels, they are ready to go when you take it out. Keeping them out of the humi for any period of time, unsealed will just dry them out and over a few days to a week can ruin your cigars flavor.

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Hi,
after reading some review here and there... i'm so interested to try those cabaiguan,nub and illusione cigar...so i wondering where should i go or who might i can contact so that i can buy those cigars...i not looking for a cabinet...maybe 5ers for each brand of torpedo or robustos...

another things is.. i'm staying in Malaysia,so i'm looking those company that can ship those cigar to my country...

sorry for the trouble and thank you so much... :)

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http://www.newhavanacigars.com/ Not sure if they ship overseas, but you might give them a call or email.

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Ok, here's a question I want somebody to answer for me. How do you decide when you have enough for the time being and should smoke down your stash before buying more.....or is my problem just that I need another/bigger humidor?

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Answered your own question! :D

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I wish there was an answer for this as I cannot stop buying cigars!! Get a few coolers and keep ordering brother :tu you think you are done and then you find another deal.

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Glad the guest bed is comfy because the wife is not going to be happy with those answers.

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Tell her that you got the coolers on sale.:D

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You can actually buy some cheap pencil/pen holders to hold those loose cigars. I just got 10 at Meijers here for .39 each- don't think you have that store in Mass-but I'm sure you can get similar at Wallyworld or the like.

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Sometimes when my ash falls offf, my next draw tastes bitter.

Should I purge when the ash falls?
Should I be purging at times throughout the smoke?

I normally let the ash fall off naturally. It's usually about an inch long.

Thanks.

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I know guys that do it all the time. I used to then realized I was doing it when I didn't really have to. Try it and see what happens. I would think it would help.

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Here is a question for the thread. How do the makers of the tobacco infuse flavors into the cigar. For instance one may say that a cigar tastes of leather and coffee beans. But how is that flavor added?

Thanks

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The tobacco sits in a room with whatever the infusion ingredient is and tobacco soaks it all up. Or some tobacco is aged in wiskey to other barrels used for alcohol and the baccy picks up those flavors. As for ACIDS, over 200 different natural herbs and Asian oils line the walls of his factory’s cuarto aromatico (aroma room) where the tobacco sits and soaks it up. I also think that some company's will use an extract directly sprayed onto the tobacco.

A non-infused cigars tobacco can have alot of natural flavors like leather or coffee beans, chocolate, spice, etc.

You can infuse your own cigars if you let one sit in a bag or box with a shot of your favorite alcohol and the cigar will pick up that flavor.

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:tpd:

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These flavors are not added, but are natural flavor characteristics of the tobacco. Many different types of tobaccos from many different countries and many different sub-regions are grown and cured in many different ways to offer a huge range of possible flavors found in cigars. The flavors themselves are what we percieve to be similar to other flavors, such as leather and coffee beans, although in actuality the cigar (obviously) just tastes like tobacco.

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I just don't look for deals until I feel a very strong urge to buy. So, like once a month probably. lol

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I am smoking cigars for around 3 years but i have never really tried told the cigars for a longer period with my mouth. The few times that i dit it was really uncomfortable (smoke up my eyes / weird to breath)
is there a special technique (want to try to smoke while riding bicycle)

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Honestly, if you are going to smoke a cigar riding a bicycle, look for some crappy wood tipped cigars. They will solve your problems and will not waste your money. The wind when riding will cause the cigar to burn very hot, fast and crooked, it will turn a good cigar bad really fast.

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jlp petit cazadores would be the cigar that i plan on smoking. I dont think that i am going to do it more than 5 per year but its something that i like to try...

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Here is a question that just came up: how does cigar size affect flavor? I'm browsing Famous Cigars and I see varying customer ratings - some varying to a great degree for the same cigar but different size.

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It all comes down to filler vs wrapper ratio. A smaller ring guage cigar will give you more wrapper flavor plus the blend itself is more concentrated and they are usually a bit stronger and possibly more complex. You will taste more wrapper with a 42 rg cigar than a 58 rg cigar. The blend will vary, slightly, according to the size of the cigar as well. Most blenders will base a blend off the corona. Some the robusto.

I prefer 50 rg and under.

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Why is that one internet service in which you use them to pay others for products or services never called by its real name here?

I see 'poopal' and 'heygal' and things like that...is there a reason?

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They frown on being used for tobacco transactions. And we try not to attract any unneeded attention to ourselves.

They have frozen accounts.

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This partially true. The problem is age verification. There is at least one major tobacco retailer that uses ******, they have an agreement that they will verify ages before sales. This protects PP in case they are accused of enabling minors to purchase tobacco.

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In light of the 2 previous posts, I will heretofore use clever and hilarious substitutes for said internet pay service!

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I always wondered this but just dealt with it. The answers make sense! Thanks for asking!

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How do you properly cut a torpedo cigar?

Never had one, curious if I do buy one.

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There's really no correct way to clip off the top of a torpedo, IMO. I just clip a small piece, enough to where it the tobacco does not unravel. Just my :2

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How do you light a cigar with a torch lighter?

I had been used to using regular flame lighters and tried using a torch for the first time the other day. If I wasn't charring the heck out of it, I was burning the heck out of it. I also couldn't tell whether it was actually lit or just charred when using the torch lighter.

Now I'm not sure if the Oliveros tasted bitter because it was or because of my lighting "technique" :ss.