Author: sketcha Date: 03/07/2005 05:15 PM Reply
Updated: 3/7/05
I thought I'd start this thread to answer some of the standard suggestions for the newbies in order to save some time. Hope this helps.
WHEN YOU'VE FINISHED READING IT, PLEASE POST A REPLY AND TOP THIS THREAD FOR THE NEXT GUY OR GAL.
First off, Please read the "Forum Rules and Conditions" before posting. This could save you some heartache.
Use the "All Messages" search function before asking questions. Many of the old-timers are a little burnt on answering some of the standard newbie questions.
Bid Low, be patient and let some go. There WILL be more.
Keep Cigar International's site open for price comparison.
Contact Cust. Serv. with any problems before you post them here, they are excellent!
Build a Coolerdor or Tupperdor, you will fill it soon, believe me.
Do an "All Messages" search for...
Coolerdor
Coolador
Coolidor
Colemandor
Igloodor
Tupperdor
Sweaterdor etc.
PG
Propylene Glycol
50/50
Hygrometer
Humidity
Credo
Climmax (better than 50/50)
Season
Seasoning (Humidors)
Cello (cellophane) on or off, doesn't matter. They may breathe a little better and age a little faster with 'em off. They are delicate and prone to damage if handled improperly though, so use your judgment. The links below expand on this. Also, if you like, do a search.
BOTL, SOTL = Brothers/Sisters of the Leaf
Don't worry about over-bidding, zealous morons. They're the ones who pay to keep this site up and running for you and me to steal the rest.
Don't know what to buy???
Everyone has different tastes so it is extremely difficult to tell you what you are going to like. The best thing to do is to get some Ideas and begin sampling for yourself. Here's a recent excerpt of a response to a newbie by Slimboli...
***"The choices out there are so numerous (thousands of cigars and factories to choose from) ... it would be hard to narrow it down, without you first providing a few parameters.
1) Light, medium or full-bodied smokes ...
2) Lengths and ring guages you prefer ...
3) Particualr shapes your like, ie. Corona, Torpedo, Robusto, Perfecto, etc.
4) Wrappers that you prefer, ie. Sun-Grown (Shade Grown), Maduro, Cameroon, etc.
These are just a few ... and once you provide us with a few guidelines, it will be a lot easier to guide you in the direction of a cigar (or cigars) that would be more to your liking!"***
Do an "All Messages" search for...
favorite
favorites
daily
everyday
special
premium
super premium
etc. etc. etc.
A little secret:
Keep an eye on the "Cigars and Related" forum. Once in awhile, one of us will post a favorable review of a cigar that they might not normally let slip for fear of bidding competition. Often times the prices will go up for a few weeks after. Be patient and get some when the gettin's good.
When you have an idea what you want, buy 5-packs.
Let them acclimate in your humi for 2 weeks or more if possible (especially boxes).
Sample at least 2 before critiquing.
Keep a journal.
Most of us here have been and will continue to buy 5-packs forever. Nothing like always having new cigars to sample.
A contribution from Smelly4tay...
A little info on cigar aging....copy & paste.
.... the cigars go to the aging room, where the media-ruidas are placed in cedar cabinets called escaparates. Each factory ages their cigars for a certain amount of time. The Fuentes typically age their cigars for at least a year, with the Don Carlos and Hemmingway lines undergoing a eighteen month period of aging, and the Opus X, Anejo, Diamond Crown, and Ashton VSG lines undergoing an aging period of two years. Most cigars made by Altadis undergo an aging period at the factory of six months, and end up undergoing about a year's aging by the time they hit the shelves, as they are first transported by ship from the Dominican Republic, and then transported to the stores by ground. Carribe's cigars undergo an aging period of six weeks, which is sufficient to dry out the cigars, as the cigars straight off the bench are somewhat wet, and will burn and taste differently. Carribe’s cigars also get a good deal of aging in during transport by ship from Honduras to Florida... Furthermore, cigars need to age at least a year. Cigars are best smoked during the first three months after they are rolled, or a year after they are rolled. During that nine-month period, known to aficionados as "the sick period," cigars are relatively tasteless compared to the brash young cigars, and the much more refined cigars that have been aged a year or more. From the one-year mark on, cigars will get more refined as time goes by. Typically the flavor peaks after about five years for cigars from the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and peaks at fifteen years for cigars from anywhere other than the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Practically every single cigar available on the shelves of tobacconists in the US has been properly aged, and "the sick period" is something that only people who smoke Cuban cigars should worry about.
Seasoning Humidors
Any new Cedar lined Humidor will require "Seasoning" before you can place your precious babies inside. This is the process of slowly bringing the humidity inside up to the desired humidity of 65 to 73% (I prefer 68. Most wouldn't go over 70).
"Here's an excerpt from the...
http://www.cigargroup.com/faq/
***I can't get the humidity in my humidor high enough!***
Be patient! A new wooden humidor will take up to 3 weeks to stabilize. Misting the interior lightly with distilled water can hasten the process in a new box, but only patience will stabilize it. Don't try to rush a new humidor....
Also, is your hygrometer calibrated correctly? 70% is the "correct" storage level, but since many new analog (dial-type) hygrometers are as much as 20% out of calibration when received, you should verify its accuracy before trusting it.
Check the lid. Is it a tight seal? looking along the "crack", can you see daylight through it? In dry weather, this small crack can result in enough moisture loss to limit the humidity...
If you've checked the cal and the lid, the problem's almost gotta be in the way the exterior wood is finished and sealed. You see, the moisture must be going somewhere.... Moisture will readily seep right through the wood of a poorly sealed humidor - especially in the dry season. Be sure the bottom is properly finished (and sealed)!!! This is a common oversight of home-finished boxes. You can check if poorly sealed wood is your problem simply enough. Put the whole system into a tightly sealed plastic bag (with wet credo and hygrometer inside), and let it sit for 3 days. Did the humidity come up? If so, you'll have to seal the exterior of your box better. (See section on humidor finishing)
If you're looking to make some trades, there is a Newbie Trade Info thread on the trade board. May not answer all you questions, but should get you started.
A few informative links...
Cigar 101
http://www.cigarsinterna...om/html/cig101_main.asp Acronyms (From Slimboli)
http://www.cigarbid.com/...geDisplay=0000000009396 http://www.cigarbid.com/...geDisplay=0000000029078 http://www.cigargroup.com/faq
EXCELLENT SITE!!!
http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/cigarstorage/index.html
ANOTHER EXCELLENT SITE!!! ***Stolen from Slim***
http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/cigarstorage/index.html
Another Slim ripoff
Slim's new Humi Guide link...
http://www.cigarbid.com/...geDisplay=0000000005114 Viper's Bead post...
http://www.cigarbid.com/...geDisplay=0000000034179 Slim's Lighter FAQs post...
http://www.cigarbid.com/...geDisplay=0000000034522 Watch out for E-Chick! She's a bad, bad girl! { ;^ )
Above all, just have fun.
That's all I can think of for now.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO POST A REPLY AND TOP THIS THREAD FOR THE NEXT GUY OR GAL.
Thanks
