The cigar thread

[Shooter]

Hmm, I used to smoke a pipe back in my college days, a nice smoking corn cob. I never smoked often enough to worry about upgrading to a briar pipe or something fancier. I found I enjoyed it quite a bit and am not really sure why I stopped. I was thinking how nice it might be to enjoy one after a long brew day and started looking into it again. I also thought about looking more into cigars as well. I’ve enjoyed a handful of them over the years, but not sure how SWMBO would take to the concept. Of course, we’re talking an occasional type of thing here and it’s not like I’d be lighting up in the living room.

So, yeah, GREAT, now I’m thinking of heading down to a local tobacco shop and checking out their selection. I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head…

Okay, okay, deep breath, moderation, moderation.

 

[commonsenseman]

Hmm, I used to smoke a pipe back in my college days, a nice smoking corn cob. I never smoked often enough to worry about upgrading to a briar pipe or something fancier. I found I enjoyed it quite a bit and am not really sure why I stopped. I was thinking how nice it might be to enjoy one after a long brew day and started looking into it again. I also thought about looking more into cigars as well. I’ve enjoyed a handful of them over the years, but not sure how SWMBO would take to the concept. Of course, we’re talking an occasional type of thing here and it’s not like I’d be lighting up in the living room.

So, yeah, GREAT, now I’m thinking of heading down to a local tobacco shop and checking out their selection. I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head…

Okay, okay, deep breath, moderation, moderation.

Not too worry, it's not like you'll get obsessed & end up overdoing it........

Here's a picture of my cellar a year after starting to smoke a pipe, I believe it was about 15lbs of tobacco then. Now I have close to 30lbs.

 

[dataz722]

Not too worry, it's not like you'll get obsessed & end up overdoing it........

Here's a picture of my cellar a year after starting to smoke a pipe, I believe it was about 15lbs of tobacco then. Now I have close to 30lbs.

Damn!!! Is that cabinent humidity controlled?

 

[commonsenseman]

A pipe with beer.

 

[commonsenseman]

Damn!!! Is that cabinent humidity controlled?

Nope! The beauty of pipe tobacco is that you store it in an airtight container (either the original tin or a mason jar) so it retains all of it's moisture. No need for any type of humidity control. All it needs is a cool, dark place.

A cigar with some delicious Belgian Ale:

 

[Shooter]

Not too worry, it's not like you'll get obsessed & end up overdoing it........

Here's a picture of my cellar a year after starting to smoke a pipe, I believe it was about 15lbs of tobacco then. Now I have close to 30lbs.

HOLY...!!!!!!

Yeah, I'm still leaning towards the pipe right now for home/patio use. I think it will be a little less offensive to the wife. I think I'll look into cigars a little, might be something nice to take with me when I'm out on the bike.

 

[Shooter]

Nope! The beauty of pipe tobacco is that you store it in an airtight container (either the original tin or a mason jar) so it retains all of it's moisture. No need for any type of humidity control. All it needs is a cool, dark place.

A cigar with some delicious Belgian Ale:

Ah, but see, now that looks like a lovely combo!

 

[Shooter]

A pipe with beer.

Stop it, will you just please STOP it!!!!

 

[commonsenseman]

Heya Shooter, send me a PM & I'll get a little "starter" package sent your way!

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Now that I've had a few, I think I may have gotten some poorly stored cigars or something. Of the 5 I've smoked: the Rocky Patel wouldn't burn evenly and kept getting these 'blisters' (for lack of a better term) near the cherry end, the Fonseca just wouldn't draw worth a damn and I could barely keep it lit. The Pepin burned OK as did the Cohiba but both were a little hard to draw on. Both Olivas were easy to draw on and burned perfectly. So far it's no contest, both Olivas were far and away the best cigars but I'm thinking it's not necessarily a fair comparison of the cigars themselves, could be the storage.

All had the little plastic wrapper around them except the Fonseca, it was just naked.

 

[MX1]

What are you storing them in
What humidity are you storing them at
What are you using to provide humidity
Are you punching or cutting the cigars
if it is blistering, IIRC, it means they may be too wet, also it causes the draw issues.
65-70% humidity is where you should be, and the Pepin should be as close to 65 as you can get it.

Tim

 

[commonsenseman]

As MX1 said, it's all about storage humidity. I use heartfelt beads that keep it at a constant 65%. They all smoke great that way, very few draw/burn issues.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I'm storing them in a small sealed ziplock bag for the few days I keep them but I'm smoking them within a few days of buying them. The Olivas were great that way.

 

[MX1]

Ok, well that helps.

If I may offer some tips.

Run to wall mart, target, kmart, any where and get you one of those nice airtight flip lock type Tupperware, get one twice as big as you thing you need, hell 3 or 4 times as big as you think you need. Then next time your at the cigar store, or if you have a chance to order online get some Beads, I would get 65% RH but that is my preference.

I am sure that the cigar store you are going to should have some sort of answer for maintaining Rh in your new "Tupper-dor" and then you will be off to the races.

Most cigars are slightly too "wet" from the store and that is why they are hard to draw, and burn uneven and blister.

Tim

 

[GeoGirl]

I'm storing them in a small sealed ziplock bag for the few days I keep them but I'm smoking them within a few days of buying them. The Olivas were great that way.

Even if you are smoking them within just a couple days of buying them, I would still invest in at least what I call "A Redneck Humidor" of a tupperware container and a humi pack.

 

[dataz722]

These are the identical beads that are sold at heartfelt but much cheaper. I have them and they work great. Get more than you think you will ever need. Not only will you still have plenty to expand later but the more you have to quicker the humi is able to recover.

The beads are unarguably the best passive humidification device there is. Don't screw around with anything else. I lost probably close to $200 worth of cigars from trying to fight with the gel that the B&M recommended to me.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I really need to go to Corona it's just a bit of a drive and it's downtown.

I got an airtight tupperware-like container plus a little 70% Rh canister from the nearby cigar shop. Instructions say to pour a proprietary propylene glycol solution in it but they said just use water (distilled if possible). It was all they had and it wasn't cheap. I'll try to find one of those cheapo Rh meters.

Also got 4 more cigars and they threw in a torch lighter for free. Tried the Los Blancos Nine last night, burned well and was good not great. Also got a Rocky Patel Decade, a My Father, and another I can't remember (has Magnum in the name).

 

[smakudwn]

These are the identical beads that are sold at heartfelt but much cheaper. I have them and they work great. Get more than you think you will ever need. Not only will you still have plenty to expand later but the more you have to quicker the humi is able to recover.

The beads are unarguably the best passive humidification device there is. Don't screw around with anything else. I lost probably close to $200 worth of cigars from trying to fight with the gel that the B&M recommended to me.

I completely agree with this. I have a couple of tubes from them and they work great!

 

[MX1]

I really need to go to Corona it's just a bit of a drive and it's downtown.

I got an airtight tupperware-like container plus a little 70% Rh canister from the nearby cigar shop. Instructions say to pour a proprietary propylene glycol solution in it but they said just use water (distilled if possible). It was all they had and it wasn't cheap. I'll try to find one of those cheapo Rh meters.

Also got 4 more cigars and they threw in a torch lighter for free. Tried the Los Blancos Nine last night, burned well and was good not great. Also got a Rocky Patel Decade, a My Father, and another I can't remember (has Magnum in the name).

you need to punch your cigar shop guy in the mouth. Do not just use water, water evaporates at 100% Rh and that is too high for your cigars.

Tim

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Thanks, it was the owner of the store. I think that's my last trip to that store.

 

[dataz722]

you need to punch your cigar shop guy in the mouth. Do not just use water, water evaporates at 100% Rh and that is too high for your cigars.

Tim

That and only use distilled water. Using tap water or anything else can lead to problems.

Thanks, it was the owner of the store. I think that's my last trip to that store.

That seems like a good idea with the advice he is giving you and with the hit or miss quality they have.

 

[Shooter]

I hit up a tobacco shop while I was in the city yesterday. Thanks to commonsenseman, I have a couple samples of pipe tobacco on the way. So, I needed to pick up a pipe, as my old corncob is long gone. I picked up a decent quality cob while there and decided to pick up a couple of cigars as well.

Since I've only had limited experience with cigars, I decided to pick up a couple of the infused ACID cigars to see what they're about. There was a lady there from one of the manufacturers. I can't remember which one. She was doing some kind of promo, but she asked if I needed help and I mentioned I also wanted to get just a normal, non-flavored, mild to medium cigar as well. She said there were some things in their line that might work, but ultimatly suggested a Romeo y Julieta cigar. Hopefully she didn't lead me astray. I should get a chance to try them this weekend. I'm planning on taking the new motorcycle out for a spin and will probably bring one along to enjoy.

 

[GeoGirl]

She said there were some things in their line that might work, but ultimatly suggested a Romeo y Julieta cigar. Hopefully she didn't lead me astray. I should get a chance to try them this weekend. I'm planning on taking the new motorcycle out for a spin and will probably bring one along to enjoy.

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with a Romeo y Julieta.

 

[Shooter]

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with a Romeo y Julieta.

Good to hear! When I stepped into that humidor I was suddenly a bit overwhelmed by the choices and was trying desparately to remember some of the names I'd read on this thread. Lucky thing she was there!

 

[stratslinger]

Wait - commonsenseman? Same commonsenseman from Puff?

Absolutely agree with GeoGirl - I've not yet had an RyJ I haven't liked. CAO is similar in that regard.

I'm so glad we're coming out of winter now - I can get outside and light up a stick or two!

 

[GeoGirl]

Wait - commonsenseman? Same commonsenseman from Puff?

Absolutely agree with GeoGirl - I've not yet had an RyJ I haven't liked. CAO is similar in that regard.

I'm so glad we're coming out of winter now - I can get outside and light up a stick or two!

I love CAO (they were the very first cigar I ever had) but I find the draw and the burn to be too inconsistent Avo has turned out to be my cigar of choice though. I have never had a bad one.

Stratslinger, I completely agree - so glad winter is almost over. I want to get outside and enjoy a few

 

[stratslinger]

So... Got any good suggestions for homebrew and cigar pairings? I find a good 60 minute boil goes by much more pleasantly when you've got a homebrew and a stogie going!

 

[commonsenseman]

.....Thanks to commonsenseman, I have a couple samples of pipe tobacco on the way. So, I needed to pick up a pipe, as my old corncob is long gone. I picked up a decent quality cob while there and decided to pick up a couple of cigars as well.....

Well, it looks like you may have a spare cob now!

Wait - commonsenseman? Same commonsenseman from Puff?

Puff? What is a Puff?

J.K. Yep, it's me.

 

[Shooter]

Well, it looks like you may have a spare cob now!

Well, I suppose that's not a bad thing!

EDIT: Actually, the one I bought yesterday is the second cob this week and the first one I would trust to smoke. I picked up an el cheapo at the corner store earlier in the week and, once I really I looked at it, realized just what a piece of junk it was. I knew there was no way the thing was going to work for anything other than part of a hillbilly costume or as a prop for a magical talking snowman. I'm already looking at a couple of briars.

 

[dataz722]

So... Got any good suggestions for homebrew and cigar pairings? I find a good 60 minute boil goes by much more pleasantly when you've got a homebrew and a stogie going!

I was just trying to figure out what all I wanted to take with me to a group brewday tomorrow. I have a little travel humi to fill.