My cigars are boring..did I ruin them?

[sevans105]

So, I kinda took a break from cigars for six months or so and just really started up again this last week. I've burned a good half dozen or so and they all just seem really flat and boring.

I've tried a Cohiba Sig VI, a JdN, a Perdomo, a 601 blue, a Gran Habano, an LFD chisel and they all are boring. No real good flavor notes, no spice really, just kinda blah. The JdN I had today was awful...very sour tasting.

Have I ruined my cigars over the winter? They stayed pretty constant humidity wise. 65-70 humidity with temps in the 60's (basement storage). I did notice a tiny bit of mold on a couple of sticks that were close to my humidification device but I pitched them and carefully checked the rest of my stash...pulled them all out, wiped down the interior with a mild alcohol solution, lightly sanded all my cedar trays to "refresh" them, then reseasoned my cabinet before returning them.

Is this a common thing with extended (some are 3 years old now-in my cabinet) storage? Is it just me needing to get back into it? They smell good, just don't taste good.

Any advice would be much appreciated. I need to send a package off to someone but if I've ruined them, I don't want to send crappy cigars.

[pektel]

I want to say its you, not them. If they've been kept properly, no reason they would suddenly turn "flat" over the winter.

I don't smoke cigars in the winter up here, so my humi hadn't been opened in 6ish months either. Hell, my hygro even had some ungodly rh like 42% or something like that. Scared me for a few days, Til I remembered I don't trust hygros as far as my two year old can throw them. Calibrated the hygro, and I was a little under what I prefer (it was at 59%, I prefer 60-63%) but no harm, no foul.

My cigars taste "flat" to me when the rh gets above what I prefer. I suggest recalibrating your hygro(s), change batteries, and see where they are actually at. All the info you've given could be correct, but I'm guessing some calibration is in order.

Either that, or maybe it's just your palate. Could be a bunch if different things, as I've found that the onset of a cold, change in diet, higher stress levels, even missed vitamins can play a role in how my cigars taste.

Just my .02, and worth about as much.

[pektel]

Also, since you mentioned slight mold on a few, I'd also suggest a fan or two for proper circulation. Last I remember reading, you have a rather large humi. Maybe grab a stick that's furthest from your humidification device, and see how that is?

What are you using for humidification? Just trying to get the info out there, so others who are more experienced than I can help diagnose. As I'm sure those questions will inevitably be asked anyways.

At least, that's what they'll ask in the morning. No idea why insomnia is rearing its ugly head for me tonight.

[sevans105]

Further info, I have three fans running for circulation. I use a Hydra LG electronic humidification device. Always distilled water. I have a tall cabinet similar to this one http://www.cigarsinternational.com/h...power-humidor/ only with more shelves and less drawers. Cigars are on cedar trays for the most part, singled stacked. I have roughly 600 in there. I use three different hygrometers, top, middle, and bottom all of them electronic. I haven't changed the batteries or calibrated them recently, but they all measure within 3% of each other regularly. The top ( furthest from the Hydro system) measures a bit lower but only by a percent or two.

[Weelok]

Some cigars just don't age very well. Or it's possible your tasting them better after your break? I think that in general Nicaraguan's mellow out with age and lose a lot of the pepper and spice. I like that in general since I like them in the Medium range. I've had some where a bitterness also pops up and the Nestor Miranda Special Select Rosado comes to mind when I say that. I recommend you smoke the top shelf cigars and see if your getting the same problem. If so, smoke bottom shelf and snag a good IPA.

[T.G]

Flat, sour tasting, spots of mold... together, these all sound like "too moist" to me.

[macsauce13]

Originally Posted by T.G

Flat, sour tasting, spots of mold... together, these all sound like "too moist" to me.

Completely agree based solely on what I'm reading.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by sevans105

Further info, I have three fans running for circulation. I use a Hydra LG electronic humidification device. Always distilled water. I have a tall cabinet similar to this one http://www.cigarsinternational.com/h...power-humidor/ only with more shelves and less drawers. Cigars are on cedar trays for the most part, singled stacked. I have roughly 600 in there. I use three different hygrometers, top, middle, and bottom all of them electronic. I haven't changed the batteries or calibrated them recently, but they all measure within 3% of each other regularly. The top ( furthest from the Hydro system) measures a bit lower but only by a percent or two.

I'd start there.

[equetefue]

Maybe too many fans running constant dried the wrappers.

[sevans105]

Thanks....I will calibrate today. Ambient humidity is in the 40s today. I'll try dry boxing a couple as well. Hope that is the problem!

[gbum]

try something that is not from your compartment... from b&m maybe... see weather it still taste flat or not... if not... then you know where to begin...

[czerbe]

Best of Luck

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by gbum

try something that is not from your compartment... from b&m maybe... see weather it still taste flat or not... if not... then you know where to begin...

This was my first thought also! Best way to tell if it's you or your humidification.

[sevans105]

No B&M's within an hour or so....downside of small town living...and I'm the only cigar guy around too. White owls and Swishers don't count.

Guess I could try one of those.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by sevans105

No B&M's within an hour or so....downside of small town living...and I'm the only cigar guy around too. White owls and Swishers don't count.

Guess I could try one of those.

That's definitely an option!!! Smoke one or two of those, then your stuff will take on a whole new dimension!!!! Understand the "Small town" problem!

Sorry to hear your problem... but glad to see ya back Scott...

[Remo]

Good to "see" you back Scott, hopefully the sticks or your palate come back around

[Lockspur]

Echoing what Peter said. Hard to assess the situation without properly calibrated tools.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by gbum

try something that is not from your compartment... from b&m maybe... see weather it still taste flat or not... if not... then you know where to begin...

Beat me to it I was thinking the same as I had that happen a few weeks ago. Being caught up in life a humi was over humidified and went to a B&M that is known round these parts as having some pockets of lower humidity in a corner and picked up a few there and it was a 180 degree difference.

I have 10 sticks in an Illusione ~888~ box right now "dry boxing" and have a hygro in there as an experiment to see the daily changes.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by sevans105

No B&M's within an hour or so....downside of small town living...and I'm the only cigar guy around too. White owls and Swishers don't count.

Guess I could try one of those.

Mssg me a list of a few sticks you want and I'll pop into a B&M here in the cities and send em out tomorrow and you'll have them by Friday to see.

Might sound funny but are you puffin too fast getting them too heated? I also found that when I really really want to savor a stick that's something "special" to make sure I'm very hydrated to open up all the taste buds in the mouth. I like to drink a few bottles of Power Aid Zero with the added electrolytes in it to really amp it up and again, might sound funny or over board, but try it and see what you think.