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With an emphasis on "most"
Cubans - yes.
Non-Cubans - no.

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This is changing rapidly. I would say most boutique brands do put dates on boxes now.

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Thank you Mr. Lovebiscuit. :)

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Although one of my favorite smokes, I think that the AF Hemingway's are the "tarriest" sticks that I smoke... I almost never have tar on any other stick and I have had tar on many AF sticks... I suspect it may be related to higher nicotine content, but have no data to back this up.

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oh i want to bump this thread and my cousin asked me this and I don't know how to answer it. "how come some smokes make a lot of smoke and some don't"? so what does everyone think here?

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Combustion and the roll. Good burn and lots of air passages will give you a ton of smoke. Restricting either will reduce the total volume of smoke.

Lots of things can play into the combustion - leaf type, how it's packed, how moist it is, how high the ambient humidity is where you are smoking, etc. The roll, or air passages are mostly all governed by how the cigar was bunched, but can also be affected by how moist the cigar is (wet cigars, the leaves can swell and cause a restricted or tight draw).

Might also want to take a look at these comments from Steve Saka (President, Drew Estates), as he talks about his cigars, but explains in a bit more detail than I've given here.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=51516

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Thanks Adam.

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How low does the RH have to go before a cigar is noticeably damaged in flavour? I realize that it's all subjective, but there has to be some sort of general area, such as below 60, below 50, etc. for a week, a month, what-have-you. I don't mean actual wrapper cracking and falling apart, just the point where the oils and sugars begin to dissipate in a way that affects the enjoyment of the stick.

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Flavor is subjective to the person and from cigar to cigar. But, long term storage (read years) below 55% will most like do some damage. The lower from there the shorter it will take because its relative to the differential in the environment to the cigar.

So say its stored at 20% for a month. That would most likely ruin the cigar, but a month at 50% most likely wouldn't, it may alter it but outright ruin is debatable.

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My Cigars Are Lower RH In The Winter: 60-63. They Seem To Smoke Fine, Though. I Prefer 63-65.:tu

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Howdy! Not entirely new here, got registered with CigaryAsylum a while back ... but I'm back! Just wanted to get to know your house rules a bit better regarding reviews. If I were to have a cigar review of a cigar previously reviewed on the forum, would I place that review in the existing thread or make a new one under my name? What is the usual?

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Welcome back, Daniel.

There are two schools of thought on this. Just as you will find varying opinions on the cigars themselves, you will also find opinions differ on this as well.

We have no hard and fast rule on it here so do whatever floats your boat.

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Quick question, just bought a box of stogies with no good place to store them. I put them in a gallon ziploc bag with a humicare pouch. Is this OK or are ziplocs not good for stogie storage? I have several ziplocs being utilized for this purpose.

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No good for anything but mailing. I would suggest mailing them to me. I have room and will keep them for you. :tu

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Short-term storage should be fine. I'd open the bags once a week or so to let them breathe a bit.

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Should be fine. I would open the bag once a week or so to get rid of excess moisture. You can buy a cooler for about $15 at WalMart, throw in a couple of Humicare pillows and you are good to go. When you have some spare change you can get a two-ounce tube of Heartfelt Industries beads that will regulate humidity better than the pillows. Search coolers or coolerdors to find more info. :2

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;) Got one of those, it's in my truck and full of smokes.

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I don't think this has been asked before - so here goes.

Is there any harm in letting the humidity packs physically touch cigars, or can you lay them right on the sticks?

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It's perfectly fine to do that with the Boveda packs, in fact, some manufacturers, most notably Fuente, insert humipaks* into the boxes of cigars at the factory prior to sealing the boxes and shipping them to the US for distribution and sale.

Water pillows, so long as they are in their little ziplock bag or with the permeable membrane facing away from the cigars, it's fine.



*: the manufacturer inserted humipaks are identical to the Boveda packs which you can buy at many B&Ms.

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:tu My Boveda Packs Are Directly Under My Sticks. No Problem! :)

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I've been smoking a lot of cigars lately that seem to mention in their descriptions that the wrapper is a Connecticut Broadleaf. I'm still learning about different tobacco blends, but can't find a lot of info on this type for some reason. Can anyone explain why it seems to be a popular wrapper choice and what characteristics differentiate it from others? Thanks.

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Mark,

A coolidor is easier and cheaper to assemble than you might think. Take a look at my thread (below), and if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I always had trouble with humidity control in my regular humidor before I bought the beads, but with the beads, I can withstand the dry winter and keep my sticks at the "perfect" 65% RH.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=49471

Nick

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Simple/short answer: It's a heavy flavor, leather, spice, earth, some sweetness is possible depending on how it's fermented and cured. And it has no shortage of flavor, it's a beast. It can hold up to some of the fullest-flavored filler blends out there.

Long answer: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfe...ough-Leaf_7042

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Thanks T.G.! Much appreciated! -(P

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Hey guys,

How do you upload a pic from the computer? I can see the button to create a link but is there any direct upload?

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Majority of people use a photo storage site like Photobucket.com, Brett.

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What's the best mag for cigars? Thinking of subscribing to aficionado. Any value in that or is the their website and here better anyway?

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I get aficionado, also get Cigar snob

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IMO, you will get more accurate information and more unbiased opinions here than in any magazine or the Cigar Aficionado forums.
:2

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They have some great golf course and watch reviews.

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I think Catherine Zeta-Jones was on the cover once...

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That's worth the cover price.



Or not. :r

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:tpd: CA is loaded with great pictures but very little information. Check with friends who have magazine subscriptions they often have a free offer for Aficionado. Havent seen any magazines that have any substantive information that is really useful. You will find much more here or by searching Google. :2

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It's always sitting in front of me on the coffee table at the B&M, she looks nice. Not high maintenance at all.

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I'd like to hear from Michael Douglas about that! :lr

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Do I gain access at some point to come up with my own slogan or did I miss it?

It's moot at this point as I haven't thought of anything witty enough but I may get inspired :>)

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Go into user cp and it's in the edit details on the left side.

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I know what "box pressed" is, but what's the point of it?

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According to Cigar Adviser - Originating in Cuba, this was done to save shipping space. As a result, the process causes the cigars to burn longer and with a more consistent flavor, giving the smoker a more enjoyable smoke.

and Cuban Crafters say - What is box-pressed?
A cigar, while fresh and moist, is actually pressed in a wood box and the pressure creates a perfectly square shaped cigar. The box-pressed cigars usually burn long and give a more flavorful taste.

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For the record, that hasn't been my experience, I think cab (round) versions of the same vitola often burn and taste better. :2

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I find most box pressed I've had run up one side.

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I Can't Detect Any Difference In Taste Or Burn Between The Two.:confused:

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:tpd:

As many in the Asylum are fond of saying: Smoke What You Like, Like What You Smoke. It's all good!

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I think cab or box press does have as much to do with taste as much as burn. The construction of a box press seems (to me) to me to have tighter packed "corners " and looser packed sides which always tend to burn uneven for me.

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I have a question that has puzzled me that I couldn't find an answer to... Smoking speed vs flavor vs size vs cigar .
I have noticed that I get a different flavor from cigars with different draws i.e. a light slow longer draw seems to always reveal a sweeter smoke and a more cedar draw on cigars like pepin black labels; however , a shorter draw in time (drawing the same amount of smoke) tends to be less sweet and more spicy than cedar. This technique also brings different flavors in other cigars as well.
Is there any specific way that one needs to smoke specific types of cigars to obtain optimal flavor? For example should you smoke a robusto faster (in ratio of drawing not time) than a corna or lancero and would style matter such as you should smoke maduros faster than claros?

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And are any particular brands meant to be smoked faster (in draw ratio not time) than others?

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You're over analyzing it. Optimal flavor to one person might not be the same for the next person. Just smoke it how you are comfortable;how it gives you the flavors that you find enjoyable and it doesn't burn all wonky. Eventually you'll figure out your own pattern and timing that yields the most enjoyment for you.

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I accept that, however, I ask because there are a million and one different things that can be done to enjoy a cigar. I understand at the end of the day people will smoke how they like but I would like to know as many of these little techniques as possible so I can try news things and iideas out and possibly enjoy my smoking experience more.

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The Faster You Smoke & Harder You Draw, The More Harshness You Get From Your Smokes. Smoke Slowly & Draw Easy!:) :tu