Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

[guitar4001]

Originally Posted by TheFool

I'm still pretty new to cigars, but I've noticed that some cigars don't really get an ember. The end will burn, and you can smoke them, but there's no ember. What's going on here? I think I've also been noticing that these cigars will go out much more easily and don't tend to taste as good. Am I doing something wrong, what is this?

I might be reading this wrong, but...

when you say ember, do you mean like a cigarette cherry? If you expect the end of a cigar to stay bright red, keeping the cigar lit (or do we say lighted instead of lit?) without puffing, it just ain't gonna happen. Handmade cigars are packed too tightly, unlike cigarettes and machine made cigars which are relatively loosely packed - kinda like burning a tightly rolled newspaper vs. a loose page. If I am off the mark, please ignore.

whats one of the best or easiest ways (other than smoking countless cigars) to warm my taste buds up to the minute tastes in a cigar?

i've been smoking for a few months and i can pick up a few of the little tastes in a cigar but havent been able to distinguish some key tastes in different types of cigars.

and lastly, would it help to get into some lighter cigars for a start?

Originally Posted by joeobx

Too wet. I TRY to let mine sit in the humi for a while.....doesn't always work out that way though.

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

I agree that it sound like they are too wet. At what rh% do you keep your cigars?

I tend to keep them between 65 and 70 give or take a little.

Originally Posted by guitar4001

I might be reading this wrong, but...

when you say ember, do you mean like a cigarette cherry? If you expect the end of a cigar to stay bright red, keeping the cigar lit (or do we say lighted instead of lit?) without puffing, it just ain't gonna happen. Handmade cigars are packed too tightly, unlike cigarettes and machine made cigars which are relatively loosely packed - kinda like burning a tightly rolled newspaper vs. a loose page. If I am off the mark, please ignore.

I understand that I need to keep puffing a cigar to keep it lit (i think it's lit), but my problem is with the initial lighting. Sometimes I find that my cigars don't get a cherry at all. Instead the foot get a bit black, and turns to ash (without a cherry) I can smoke the whole cigar like this, but it seems strange.



Seems like people are saying they are too wet, I'll look into dropping the RH to arounf 60? and maybe dry boxing my cigars if I can.

[Flynnster]

Cigars usually won't have an ember, that black that turns to ash is normal. Sometimes when you ash falls of and you are taking a puff they will glow a bit.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

whats one of the best or easiest ways (other than smoking countless cigars) to warm my taste buds up to the minute tastes in a cigar?

i've been smoking for a few months and i can pick up a few of the little tastes in a cigar but havent been able to distinguish some key tastes in different types of cigars.

and lastly, would it help to get into some lighter cigars for a start?

The way I look at it, this hobby is about enjoying yourself and the cigars, being able to name every nuance of flavor is not requisite to that enjoyment. Not being able to describe the taste in exacting terms doesn't mean that you can't/don't enjoy the cigar as much as someone who might be able to name the nuances. Eventually being able to pick out the flavors will come in time, just smoke cigars you enjoy and don't worry about it.

Originally Posted by Flynnster

Cigars usually won't have an ember, that black that turns to ash is normal. Sometimes when you ash falls of and you are taking a puff they will glow a bit.

Hmm interesting. I was curious because I've noticed such a difference. Some cigars get this very nice ember at the end (which get hidden by ash, but is still there) while other don't have it at all. Just made me wonder I guess.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by T.G

The way I look at it, this hobby is about enjoying yourself and the cigars, being able to name every nuance of flavor is not requisite to that enjoyment. Not being able to describe the taste in exacting terms doesn't mean that you can't/don't enjoy the cigar as much as someone who might be able to name the nuances. Eventually being able to pick out the flavors will come in time, just smoke cigars you enjoy and don't worry about it.

Agreed.

[Kreth]

Originally Posted by T.G

The way I look at it, this hobby is about enjoying yourself and the cigars, being able to name every nuance of flavor is not requisite to that enjoyment. Not being able to describe the taste in exacting terms doesn't mean that you can't/don't enjoy the cigar as much as someone who might be able to name the nuances. Eventually being able to pick out the flavors will come in time, just smoke cigars you enjoy and don't worry about it.

I think some of the "experts" go overboard at times: "The initial 64th has a vegetal taste reminiscent of Appalachian moss in early October."
Having said that, you might want to explore pairings. The right drink can bring out flavors. There's several of us that like to pair a maduro with root beer as it complements the flavors very well. For a milder cigar, water might be best so you don't overpower the subtler flavors.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Whee]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

whats one of the best or easiest ways (other than smoking countless cigars) to warm my taste buds up to the minute tastes in a cigar?

i've been smoking for a few months and i can pick up a few of the little tastes in a cigar but havent been able to distinguish some key tastes in different types of cigars.

and lastly, would it help to get into some lighter cigars for a start?

I worried about that too when I started smoking. Listening to people talk about flavors and all I tasted was---well I wasn't sure!

Like anything, practice makes perfect. The more you smoke, the more your palate will develop.

I don't worry too much about the flavors, or at least identifying them as I smoke, but if you want to help develop your palate, write reviews.

I started doing this and jotting notes down for each cigar. If i tasted a flower, I wrote it down, if I tasted chocolate, I wrote it down. Then post 'em up. And read reviews that you find here. Some of the reviews at other sites and in certain magazines may be skewed to present a certain viewpoint.

Now I wouldn't do this for every cigar. You can search for my reviews here. I also did some for another site as well. But every now and then I would set aside the time to really focus on the cigar and what it tasted like. I read other reviews to see if it was a common taste.

You'll find you'll be tasting that "vegetal taste reminiscent of Appalachian moss in early October", in no time.

Keep in mind, if you have never experienced a flavor, it will be hard to identify it. I kept hearing cigars that had a leather taste. Couldn't figure it out until someone described the flavor as "chewing on a ball glove in left field". While not appetizing, it gave me a reference point.


Good Luck

Obviously, cigars from different companies taste different, as well as cigars from the same company. Me, I'm a simple guy, I want a cigar that has a solid tobacco taste. I wouldn't get a rise out of "vegetal taste reminiscent of Appalachian moss in early October".

I do buy cigars that have a different taste than some of my regular favorites. Example, I recently bought some Montecristo Platinum Churchills so I would have something a little lighter than most of my smokes. I sensed a bit of a nut flavor as well as a "woody" after taste. Very pleasant and completely different than that La Flor Dominicana Double Ligeros I smoke all the time.

Its good to try different things, that's what makes cigar smoking so enjoyable. So, I encourage you to try different cigars as time goes on too.


Cheers,


Mike T.

very helpful information guys, i just got a little scared when the taste of the wrapper on an acid cigar tasted just like the wrapper on a completely different category of infused cigar, as well as the smoke. thanks guys

[guitar4001]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

very helpful information guys, i just got a little scared when the taste of the wrapper on an acid cigar tasted just like the wrapper on a completely different category of infused cigar, as well as the smoke. thanks guys

it's always good to separate the flavors from the non-flavored.

[Average Joe]

Originally Posted by Kreth

I think some of the "experts" go overboard at times: "The initial 64th has a vegetal taste reminiscent of Appalachian moss in early October."

My favorites are when someone describes the cigar of having a hint of a manure taste then ends the review by saying they liked it and would purchase again.

hmmmm.... I think my tastes are a little different than theirs.

[pnoon]

Let's try and keep this thread to Q&A and resist the temptation for commentary.

by pnoon:

Let's try and keep this thread to Q&A and resist the temptation for commentary.

Why? Sparkboss just commented on how helpful the answers he is getting were to him. Yes and no answers to questions don't help much.


Cheers,


Mike T.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Miket156

Why? Sparkboss just commented on how helpful the answers he is getting were to him. Yes and no answers to questions don't help much.


Cheers,


Mike T.

Why?
I made the suggestion because I have seen many a useful thread devolve into useless banter and clutter. I don't want that to happen with this one. The post was meant to make folks think before posting.
Posted via Mobile Device

[oooo35980]

So I have 2 questions.

1. I had a cigar today which I think was plugged. It was hard to draw and I got barely any smoke at all. I understand the concept of plugged, what I don't understand is why after 5-10 seconds of sucking for all I was worth the smoke started to billow out the wrong end... Was this cigar plugged or something else going on?

2. I bought a couple humidors (one for flavored, one for unflavored) and I am in the process of seasoning them. I read that I should wrap the Hygrometers in a wet cloth for 5 minutes and then adjust them to read 95-100. Sounds easy enough. But when I put them in the wet cloth they only get up to 85, which makes sense, but they both get to 85, they are different hygrometers, from different manufacturers, and they both read the same thing (85) when wrapped in the cloth. They also both read about 65 when I just leave them on the counter. Do I need to adjust them and just figure they both came from different companies with the exact same degree of inaccuracy? Or is the 95-100 just bad information?

[Trent0341]

Isaiah,
I can't answer your first question. I'm sure there are many on this forum whose knowledge far exceeds mine that can give it a go.

As far as your second question I'm not familiar with that form of calibrating your hygrometer (and it seems fairly inaccurate) but I'd search on this forum for how to do a salt test. That or use a boveda pack.

Good luck in your seasoning. The most important thing I can tell you is don't rush it. And from one noob to another head on over to the new inmate area and introduce yourself;-)

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by oooo35980

So I have 2 questions.

1. I had a cigar today which I think was plugged. It was hard to draw and I got barely any smoke at all. I understand the concept of plugged, what I don't understand is why after 5-10 seconds of sucking for all I was worth the smoke started to billow out the wrong end... Was this cigar plugged or something else going on? That is the definition of a plugged cigar.

2. I bought a couple humidors (one for flavored, one for unflavored) and I am in the process of seasoning them. I read that I should wrap the Hygrometers in a wet cloth for 5 minutes and then adjust them to read 95-100. Sounds easy enough. But when I put them in the wet cloth they only get up to 85, which makes sense, but they both get to 85, they are different hygrometers, from different manufacturers, and they both read the same thing (85) when wrapped in the cloth. They also both read about 65 when I just leave them on the counter. Do I need to adjust them and just figure they both came from different companies with the exact same degree of inaccuracy? Or is the 95-100 just bad information?

Here is a sticky on calibrating your hygrometer. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=619
and seasoning. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=620

[N2Advnture]

What humidity level are your storing your cigars in?

What humidifier are you currently using?

Is this a fairly new humidor or one that's been in use for some time?

What are the interior dimensions of your humidor?

How often do you open and close your humidor?

Have you added new cigars recently?

To troubleshoot, I would suggest doing a proper hygrometer calibration (including replacing the batteries if they are digital).

~Mark