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i see. so I should worry more about RH after freezing them?

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Not as far as the tobacco is concerned. It get's much warmer than that in the countries were most of the cigars are rolled and cigars are left out in drawers, on counters in rooms lacking air conditioning all the time.

Just maintain correct humidity and the cigars will be fine.

If you have any viable beetle eggs in there, then prolonged temperatures of 80F + are begging from problems.

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There are A LOT of stickies on this forum that can go into much further detail than I can. I would really read those. Great stuff posted by people far more knowledgeable than I.

Ideally it would be good to keep both the RH and Temp between 60-65 at all times. Just for the sake of a long discussion and debatable facts or opinions. But if you do that you won't have any problems at that temperature and RH.

Later down the road you can adjust the RH to something preferred to you specifically. (Some people like 68/68, some 62/62 ETC. ETC) 65/65 is just a comfortable medium.

But again lots of stickies in this area of the forum and the accessories and humidor area will have the stickies about this sort of stuff.

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QFT. Reading is fundamental. :sh

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40 degrees indoors? I don't buy it.

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I wanted to say the same but I left that out.

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A while back ago it was. now whoever has control of the heater turned it on and it stays acceptably warm. a bit drafty though.

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also, what would be a good 5 dollar cutter for large ring guage cigars?

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I'm still learning too, but I have a $2 cutter that I absolutely hate. It gets the job done, more or less, but it never cuts cleanly. I often tear the wrapper with it. I nabbed a silver Palio from cigarbid for $28. Can't wait to toss this plastic piece of crap in the garbage.

I haven't had a lot of experience with a wide swath of cutters to give you better input. Maybe someone else had a good experience with a cheaper cutter who can help you. My 2 cents is that you generally get what you pay for, so why tear up your $8 cigar with a $5 cutter?

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I use a 2 dollar cutter that hasnt failed me yet, but it doesnt cut large ring guages like the nub

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I would ask, how much of the cap are you taking off? The whole thing? You only need to shave the top of the cap off, you leave the "shoulders". So it is still rounded with just enough off the top to smoke out of.

If you're looking to lop the whole thing off you might look into a Xikar X8, they come up on Cigarmonster.com for like $15-$20 from time to time. Also they have a lifetime warranty which is good.

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not much. but it didntt cut any of the nub I smoked

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You can probably find a punch that will get the job done for under 5 bucks

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This is the only cutter you will need....ever
http://www.cubancrafters.com/products.php/item_id/78
As you can see it has a stopper in the back so you cannot make a bad cut ever, this is the metal one for $15 or you can go plastic for $10
http://www.cubancrafters.com/products.php/item_id/5291
This is the one I have, and look it's only $6!!!!!
both of these have a lifetime warranty, so if anything goes wrong, just send it back and they will replace it.

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You are welcome to have mine if you want to pay for the shipping.

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What is meant when it is said that you feel a cigar in the belly?

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I've never heard that expression. But it could refer to the nausea caused by mild nicotine poisoning. :sh

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I hear it sometimes in various reviews, such as, this cigar was strong, but you felt it more in your belly than in your head. Or, it's like an old Cuban cigar, you start to feel it in your belly after a few inches.

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ive also never heard this . maybe you can link the review?

i agree with bob in that it might refer to the strength of the "nic kick".

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I would love to see those reviews. Can you provide a link or two? Especially the latter statement.

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Count me in the never heard it group as well. Nicotine for me is always felt in the head. The disorientation and nausea then settle in something fierce. I never feel anything in my stomach though. :sh

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ive never had a cigar kick my @ss but the few times that i do get a slight nicotine buzz its in the head like bill said.

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Can't remember right off hand where all I've read it before as I've read a LOT of scattered reviews, but here's one link where I've recently read it. (it's in the first sentence of the answer)

http://www.chineseop.com/wine/What-a...s-to-age-.html

Here it is mentioned in a CI product description.
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...sp?item=CS-XXA

I've never had the latter so I can't comment on any effects.

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That's a stupid cheap marketing gimmick to try to get you to buy bulk crap cigars. No Dominicans taste anything like Cubans.

:2

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to be honest i have no idea. the first review is lack luster to say the least for me.

the CI product description is better written but i have never felt a cigar in my belly or made me feel "full". CI is just trying to make a budget bundle smoke sound like its the greatest thing since sliced bread. to me its not really worth reading into phrases like this.

remember what feeling, taste, strength, etc. I get from a certain cigar may vary slightly or completely from what you experience. My best guess is the reviewers are trying to articulate a certain characteristics of a smoke and thats the words they felt best describe it. just my :2

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With some cigars when paired with the tolerance of the smoker, you can feel the effects of the increased nicotine levels. In some people this will result in lightheadedness and others will feel different levels of nausea up to including getting sick. But the same cigar will not have the same affect on all people.

It is also a mistake to pair aging potential with strength. Certainly most strong cigars will mellow with a few months rest in a humidor, but to most this is not aging. Aging is a process that takes many years if not decades. This is not a process that is usually practiced with non-Cuban cigars.

Some smokers prefer fresh cigars and others like to let them rest for a few weeks or months to take the edge off. Its merely a matter of preference and has little to do with the quality or strength of the tobacco. :2

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Greetings all...

A couple of questions; how does the size/shape make a difference for the same cigar, same tobacco and wrapper right? Also, being in Afghanistan, I'm ordering all of my cigars on-line. How long would you all recommend I let my cigars sit prior to smoking them. I noticed that with a batch of MOWs, I smoked one the same day they arrived and it was very, very bitter. Smoked one from the same batch just two days ago (one month later) and it reminded me why I like them in the first place. Thanks for any input...D

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All of the tobaccos blended in a certain cigar should be the same across all size/shapes, but what changes is the percentage that each of the three major types represent in a cigar (wrapper, binder and filler). The smaller and skinnier a cigar becomes the more the wrapper and binder may effect the flavor of the cigar. Size/shape also affect the amount of smoke production and draw characteristics which can alter temperature the tobacco may be burned at depending on your smoking style. You will find that, here at CA, a large percentage of us prefer smaller skinner cigars and will have outright disdain for things that are say 6x60. It is all personal preference at the end of the day. If you like a particular cigar try its other sizes, you may end up with a size you like more.


As for shipping and letting rest, that is dependent on the individual supplier and shipping times and conditions. Cigars can be good, bad or in between when smoked right off the truck. A couple days is not enough time though for a cigar to completely acclimate to your humidor. The process for a cigar to change its rH completely is months if not longer. In your particular case I would say that the wrapper dried out a bit and a little time in the humidor provided enough rH to remove the bitterness from a dry wrapper leaf. OR you just had a shitty cigar right off the truck. Not every cigar is going to be perfect or the same as the last. They are a hand made product from a natural leaf.

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Thank you for posting. I have always kinda figured about the amount of smoke production but never thought about a lancero having much more wrapper and binder involved in each "puff". Makes perfect sense, thanks again!:tu

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Additionally, within the filler, itself, the proportion of ligero, seco and volado leaves will change, which will also have a big impact on flavor.

In the other dimension (length), a longer cigar will develop (ie. have potential to change) more as it is smoked, with a larger volume of smoke, oil and residue being drawn through it over time.

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I have not noticed a corellation between length and complexity. In fact some of the most complex cigars I have smoked have been coronas or smaller. :sh
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Quick question here. For small cigars I have started using my corn holder nub tool to punch a few holes in the cap rather than cutting the cap off. I have been very happy with the smokes that I have tried this with. I am wondering if there are any issues with this method and if anyone else has tried similar and what the results were.

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I was just about to ask this, if smoking a 5 x 50 was any different than a 6 x 50 other than the length of the smoke.

I don't think he's saying that longer cigars are more complex. Period. But that a longer cigar has more time, and therefore more potential to change, not that it necessarily will.

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I like the use of the scientific term "corn holder nub tool". But I'm not a pro, if I had to say, I'd tell you, if it works for you, go for it. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke. I feel like you may encounter problems with a tight a draw, try massaging it out to loosen it up, if that doesn't work you may have to cut it. But if it's working and you enjoy it, don't stop.

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Bob, I'm not referring to complexity, per se, but to dynamic. Perhaps you are, too? In my experience, a shorter cigar is less apt to change radically over the course of the smoke, but this does not mean that a shorter cigar cannot be dynamic. YMMV, I guess.

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Pretty mcuh what flounder said.

People cut there cap all sorts of ways (clip, hole punch, v cut, bite etc, I have used utility knife blades in a pinch too) if it works for you and you get enjoyment out of the time you are smoking your cigar then it's works.

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The only issues you may experience that I can think of is an occasional tight draw and the worst thing that happens to me with some smaller smokes if not cut enough is a tar issue. I hate when tar builds up on the head of the cigar, I hate it soo much I don't even use a punch anymore. I cut everything now. It doesn't happen often but 1 out of 20 is to much IMO.

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What kind of tar issue? I punched for a while, and just recently went back to cutting, but as far as I am aware, I have never had any sort of tar issue? Please explain.

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Some cigars, often labeled as "strong" produce more tar. Tar is a black viscous fluid that can form on the end of the cigar as you smoke it. It tastes bad. You need to recut your cigar to get rid of it -- and it may come back again.

Tar can often appear to build up more when using a punch because the area you draw through is smaller. For me this is one of the biggest advantages of a cutter over a punch.

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Thanks. I know what tar is obviously. But have never experienced this issue, granted I don't smoke real strong cigars.

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I've experienced some pretty heavy tar seepage on a couple of not-very-strong cigars, as well. Be prepared.

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Exactly! Thank you.

It can ruin my night, ussually I have to perge the crap out of it when it happens and then cut it back a little.
If you punch rather than cut it can work a bit like a funnel for the smoke but also for the tar. I don't know enough about why or how the tar forms but I do know it has only happened once to me when using a cutter and maybe a dozen times using a punch.

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If you experience the tar buildup, does cutting the cigar solve the issue?

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Cutting, then purging has solved this issue for me on more than one occasion.

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Yes unless the tar touches your lips, it is horrible!
I was smoking some small mini AFs for a while until I had one that produced all kinds of tar and it got all over my lips before I noticed it. That ruined my night! It doesn't happen often but eventually you will see it if you like to punch!

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"Solve" might be strong, but with a combination of some judicious re-cutting, a strong purge and careful smoking, I can usually whip the sucker back into shape. -(P

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Thanks for the knowledge guys.

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Also, I Still Smoke Way Too Fast Even After 3+ Years Of Cigar Smoking.;) Slow Down & Your Cigar Will Taste So Much Better!:tu Less Tar & Harshness!:)

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I smoke very fast as well. Perhaps I just like tar?:r:sh

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Box question: do most boxes come with dates on them?