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How high is Too high?
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sketcha Offline
#1 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:02 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
When you start spinning? Oh man, I hate that. Thank God I'm over that level of partying.


I had one of Lim's ISOM Cohibas last night in celebration of 2 Dead bastards. Just when I was about to cut it, I noticed the notorious, Monterey Bay fog was rolling in. I lit it in defiance anyway. The draw was tight and I had a hell of a time getting any smoke out of it. I had to pull on it constantly just to keep it lit. I'm getting an indoor/outdoor thermomter/hygrometer today damnit!


ANY OPINIONS ON WHAT RH IS TOO HIGH TO SMOKE IN?


I know this has been done to some degree, but I'm hoping this post will bring some sort of concensus.


Thanks gang.
Sketch
sketcha Offline
#2 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:09 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
P.S. I forgot to mention one thing. My wife and I haven't gone out to dinner together in a long time. So when I found out I didn't have to work, we found a sitter and went out for some killer Italian. So I had to put off my celebratory smoke and that gave mother nature time to fog my neighborhood. I was determined to have that smoke. I'll never do that again.

A common factor in General Aviation accidents, hurry-up-itis. John jr. started experiencing fog and should've called it off. As a pilot, I should've known better myself.
Slimboli Offline
#3 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:32 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
sketcha --- I seriously doubt that the fog had that much to do with it, in that short of time ... uless it sat ot for awhile ...

... ISOM's are notorious for being rolled too tight, and being plugged ... ;^)
BeatDragon Offline
#4 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:34 AM EST
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Hey Um Sketch...

Santa Cruz/Capitola = Heavy, wet, thick-ass fog. Might as well be rain. Like this is telling you something! I have tried on a few occasions to enjoy a cigar while on the pier after dinner or when Im crabbing/fishing. It dont work...EVER. Shoulda saved that fine cigar and smoked a Backwoods.

Shame on you

Damn bass players
Slimboli Offline
#5 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:34 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Geeze ... uless it sat ot for awhile?

That should have been, 'unless it sat out for awhile' ...
BeatDragon Offline
#6 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:35 AM EST
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Slim,

I will have to disagree with you on this one. Out there it doesnt take long for a cigar to soak up a large amount of moisture.
SteveS Offline
#7 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:39 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
Can't say that the fog rolling in has ever dampened a cigar smoking experience other than to make me uncomfortably cold ... however, I CAN tell you that there does seem to be a humidity problem associated with smoking while taking a shower
sketcha Offline
#8 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:40 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
I would assume that with each pull, I'm drawing in more and more moisture, right?
sketcha Offline
#9 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:44 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Like Beat said, we get some gnarly fog around these parts. It's almost like drizzle, for shizzle dizzle. Sitting on my deck and looking at the porch light (about 25 feet away) I could see the fog moving like the aformentioned drizzle.
sketcha Offline
#10 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:47 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Slim,

The cigar felt moist and extra supple to my fingers and it wasn't that way when I pulled it out of the humi.
SteveS Offline
#11 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:53 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
so, the cigar sat out in the fog for a while before you lit it ?? ...
sketcha Offline
#12 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:56 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
No.
remington850 Offline
#13 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:57 AM EST
Joined: 05-28-2003
Posts: 213
Here is my 2 cents.

I live in FL and it rains almost every afternoon/evening during the summer. I almost always sit outside in my screen room and smoke a cigar in the evening, one of the ways I like to relax, even when it is raining outside and have had no problems with draw unless the cigar its self was plugged or was hard to draw to begin with before it was lit. Just my 2 cents worth.

Remington
BeatDragon Offline
#14 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 8:58 AM EST
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Sketch,

I guess these guys have never experienced that thick coastal fog.

It doesnt have to sit out. Just be exposed to the fog in your mouth for about 2 minutes.

You stand in this stuff for 10 minutes and your hair is wet to the scalp and your clothes are past damp.
Slimboli Offline
#15 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:02 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
sketcha --- drawing on the cigar when lit won't bring any more moisture into the cigar ... unless it can make it through that 1500/2300 degree 'cherry' ... ;^)
sketcha Offline
#16 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:06 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Remi,

When you're under the porch you may be safe. If you're out in the drizzle you're wet.

Thanks for the $.02 though
sketcha Offline
#17 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:07 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Now, I must say that my hair wasn't really wet when I was finished. It wasn't that bad.
Slimboli Offline
#18 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:09 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
BeatDragon --- Several times I've left a cigar out on the deck overnight (in the winter), and it has drizzled a little, and the next morning ... I had no problem with smoking it. Heck ... the wrapper even had noticable water drops on it!

I would attribute it more to the fact that many ISOM's are have a reputatuon of being rolled to tight, and frequently have plugs in them ... at least that is the way it was with the several Cohiba's have that I've smoked. I've got two more ... looks like I'll have to do a little test ... ;^)

But ... I'm sure the fog didn't help ...

BeatDragon Offline
#19 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:14 AM EST
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Overexageration for effect...Kinda like a gratuitous drum solor before the last chorus.

In a gaddadeveda honey....



sketcha Offline
#20 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:14 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Slim,

So you're opinion is that even heavy fog shouldn't have an effect?
SteveS Offline
#21 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:26 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
In my experience, the fog can have a limited effect, but given that the cigar didn't sit out for a while before being lit, I doubt the impact would be as you describe your problem ... I'm guessing Slim's right about it likely being a bit of a tight roll to begin with ...

Oh ... and in response to BeatDragon's conjecture that perhaps I've not experienced coastal fog ... I'm sitting right now in The City where coastal fog was invented ... my office is immediately south of the GG Bridge, a little more than half way to GG Park ... my daily lunchtime cigar is smoked in coastal fog on many a day ...
BeatDragon Offline
#22 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:41 AM EST
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Well, I guess you could call that coastal fog!

All of these points a side, I have had difficulty in heavy fog with cigars. And yes I would attribute it to the ambient conditions.
sketcha Offline
#23 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:44 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
So much for that concensus I was hoping for. :)
BeatDragon Offline
#24 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 9:52 AM EST
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Glad I could help!
ajeroth Offline
#25 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:00 AM EST
Joined: 07-17-2003
Posts: 1,000
Sketcha......

Wasn't a Cohiba Sigolo V was it? HAd one just the other day and it was a really hard draw. I had a much better smoke out of its little brother the Sigolo III a few days before.
sketcha Offline
#26 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:11 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
It was a gift, but if I had to guess, I would say it was an Esplendidos.
SteveS Offline
#27 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:23 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
Do you maintain your humidor at 70%RH ??
sketcha Offline
#28 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:33 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Yes. Using a good digi-hyg. and 50/50 and until I get your magic beans.
remington850 Offline
#29 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:37 AM EST
Joined: 05-28-2003
Posts: 213
Did you puff back through the cigar the other way? The RH of your mouth may have had some thing to do with it also.

Remington
Slimboli Offline
#30 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:41 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
LOL @ remington850 ---

Puffing back through the cigar the other way?!? Interesting way to say 'blow' ... hehehe!
sketcha Offline
#31 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 10:42 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Yes Remi, I did. I usually do after torching to purge any possible butane etc. (maybe overkill). It was already tough to blow out so right away I knew I was in for it.

I rarely have trouble and I always pre-purge, but is this a bad idea?
originalgoat Offline
#32 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 11:30 AM EST
Joined: 01-16-2002
Posts: 74
interesting... the only ISOM cohiba i've ever had was a siglo IV - and it was so tight it was useless. very disappointing for a first cuban experience. halfway through the cigar, and i had emptied my butane lighter re-lighting the sob. when my head imploded, i gave up.
SteveS Offline
#33 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 11:53 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
At the suggestion of a number of guys whose opinions I learned to respect, I switched from maintaining my humi at 70%RH to maintaining it at 65 ... I found doing so to be a big improvement and can tell you that burn and draw problems have all but completely disappeared ... you might wanna give something like that a test ...

I'm gonna start a seperate thread in which we query the group for their experiences ...
sketcha Offline
#34 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 12:13 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
I just posted a photo of the Cohiba in question. It should be up soon.
xibbumbero Offline
#35 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 12:15 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
What Steve said. I have one humidor dedicated to Habanos and I keep it at 64-65%. X
sketcha Offline
#36 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 12:17 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
x,

What about your non Habanos?
limoric Offline
#37 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 12:31 PM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
Try smoking a gar in the hot tub. In the winter this will never work for me. The steam off the water. This could be similar to fog. I find I lot of Cuban's to be a little tight, but I like that. If the smoke started a little tight the fog may have added a few degrees.

Moisture in the air will absolutely become present in the cigar. With a 7" smoke there's plenty of time for this to occur. Will of course have more of an effect on a tightly packed smoke.
SteveS Offline
#38 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 12:42 PM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
some non-Habanos such as Nicaraguans are also much better kept at 63-65 ...
xibbumbero Offline
#39 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 2:17 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
I happen to keep my non-Habanos at 68-70%. That's just my preference. I find most if not all those cigars burn and draw fine. Also,of concern to me is if I keep my cigars at a lower humidity,a sudden drop can occur with out my knowing it. It has happened before. At the 68-70% a sudden drop won't have the same damaging affect. X
Robby Offline
#40 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 2:22 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Slim is right...
Robby Offline
#41 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 2:23 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
one word... draw poker.
BMW Offline
#42 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 3:32 PM EST
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 3,010
I didn't know you could get too high...............................................................oops,I dropped my twinkie.........................Oh, I get it,.....Humidity, nevermind.


Barry
Slimboli Offline
#43 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 4:21 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
sketcha and limoric --- check out this 'Picture Post' ...

http://www.cigarbid.com/...geDisplay=0000000012565

... and notice the 'keyword' there ...

Methinks you just got a plugged one there, sketcha ...
Slimboli Offline
#44 Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2003, 4:26 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Oops ... sorry limoric, that should have been BeatDragon ... ;^)
Natsmoker Offline
#45 Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2003, 5:16 AM EST
Joined: 09-09-2002
Posts: 138
Sometimes humidity can be an asset. I have had some freshly shipped cigars that I tried to smoke too soon. Found them to hot and harsh to enjoy. After a night out on the deck in fairly humid weather - The next morning the cigar smoked flawlessly.

Go figure.

Steve
wer Offline
#46 Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2003, 5:25 AM EST
Joined: 02-13-2003
Posts: 1,633
LOL @ Barry.

Bring some of those munchies to Lonestar tomorrow to go with the rum and Trinidads!
BMW Offline
#47 Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2003, 1:39 PM EST
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 3,010
See ya ther Bill. Rev. Jim from CW sent me mail telling me he'd be ther also. Idon't know if we'll see Bud or not.

Barry
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