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Last post 2 years ago by IronResin. 40 replies replies.
Seeking Advice: My Freshly Delivered Cigars Need Some TLC
SteelGlaze Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 08-07-2020
Posts: 5
Hello all. I'm a n00b here. I just received my first order from CigarBid.

The order included some five packs of one of my favorite smokes, the CAO Brazilia Gol!. I just smoked one of these sticks yesterday from my local cigar shop. It was super enjoyable. Great flavor, very smooth, and very consistent burn. All as I would expect from this cigar.

Fast forward to today: My CigarBid order arrives, and the first thing I do is reach in and snag a 5pk of Brazilias. I noticed the cigars were packed very tightly in cellophane. Further inspection revealed they were packed so tight that they have a slightly 'boxed pressed" effect near the cap ends. I'm not really bothered by that per se, just an observation.

So the next thing I do is fire one up. About a third of the way in, and I've already had to relight it a couple times. This is very unusual from my experience with this particular cigar. Also, while the flavor was good, there is a bit of harshness that I don't experience from the same cigar when I get them from my local cigar shop. These aren't as smooth. At least not this first one.

I assume these CigarBid cigars have too much moister in them, causing the need to frequently relight. I'm hoping some time in my humidor will fix that. Also, I'm hoping with some time in humidor camp they'll smooth out a bit.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any tips or advice from you cigar veterans out there. Thanks in advance!
KingoftheCove Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Anything you get from should sit in your humidor, or whatever you use for storage, for a month.................minimum.
Even the best cigar in the world.
Whistlebritches Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
First thing I recommend is never smoke a cigar right off the truck(ROTT).Place all cigars bag and all in a freezer that will freeze below 0 f for 72 hours.If your other sticks have not taken the deep freeze nap I suggest you freeze all of them.Once you've bug proofed your sticks place them in your humidor and let them acclimate for a few weeks........I usually wait months to even years before smoking a new cigar.

If you'll follow these directions you will have a completely different experience I assure you.You can thank me later.


Ron
KingoftheCove Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
bugs are no fun........freezing is a good idea
opelmanta1900 Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
2 fogs, one of em chimed in twice, and neither had the decency to tell you to buy better cigars...
Notthe1 Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 06-01-2020
Posts: 860
After all that good advice, go to the general discussion and properly introduce yourself.

We like fresh meat. Take you coat off, stay for a while.
ZRX1200 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
FU Opel....

Brazilia Gol! Is the premier cigar on the planet.
Notthe1 Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 06-01-2020
Posts: 860
opelmanta1900 wrote:
2 fogs, one of em chimed in twice, and neither had the decency to tell you to buy better cigars...


Brazilia's are some pretty good smokes.

That being said, I am still a NooB, on this forum.
ZRX1200 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
Steel I can’t say your whole handle with a straight face....

Serious answer is they (CBid and those who share the warehouse) keep their cigars over humidified. Not mold over humidified, but mourn funny over humidified. Like the wise kingofthecove said let them rest they’ll be fine.
Sunoverbeach Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2017
Posts: 14,583
I prefer serious mourning. I don't like it when people mourn funny
SteelGlaze Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 08-07-2020
Posts: 5
Thanks guys. I will let them sit for a good while in my humidor. Should I remove the sealed cellophane from the 5pks? Also should I also remove the cigars from their individual plastic tube wraps for storage?

The whole deep freeze treatment isn't something I've heard of before. Seems a bit extreme, but then again I have heard of the horror of cigar beetles. Freezing doesn't hurt the cigars?

I the past I had build up a decent collection over some time in my coolidor. I used beads and distilled water to keep it humidified. I don't smoke very often in the winter but would periodically check the humidity etc every so often as needed. On one particular unseasonably warm early spring day, I went to grab a smoke and step outside. To my horror, everything had a thin while film of mildew in it. My cutters, punch, and each and every cigar. It was a total loss.Crying
BuckyB93 Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 07-16-2004
Posts: 14,110
I don’t typically do the freeze thing since I haven’t had any big beetle problems. I store most of mine in a basement where the temperature is rather cool and stable so no worries of hatching. One time I did get signs of some on a couple of cigars so I did the freeze thing. There is some variation of the “right way” to do it but basically they’re all similar.

Here’s what I did. Place all suspect cigars and those stored in the same tuperdor in a few gallon ziplock freezer bags. You want to remove as much air as possible (ambient moisture) to help prevent frost and freezer burn. I’ve done this two different ways.

1) Zip seal the bag almost entirely, stick a straw in and suck out excess air then complete the seal.
2) Zip seal the bag almost entirely, submerge the bag in a bath of water careful not to go past the ziplock seal. This pushes out excess air then complete the seal.

Freeze for a few days, then a few days in the fridge, then unzip the seal and toss them in their own tuperdor with your desired humidity level for a while to finally equilibrate (few weeks, months).

What you’ve experienced with smoking right after you get them is not unusual. Most mail order places tend to store and ship their cigars at the high end of the humidity window. Some people smoke one right of the truck to get an initial sampling then put them down for a rest to acclimate to their preferred humidity level. Some cigars benefit from long term aging some not so much. You’ll see tips and advice from folks on the boards about when they think certain ones hit the sweet spot. Use it as advice based on their experience, findings and preferences. Take it or leave it, everyone’s tastes are different and only you will know what works best for you.

Removing the cellophane: Cellophane is porous and allows for humidity transfer in and out, although not as fast as if the cigars were naked. Boxes I tend to take off the outer wrapping. 5 packs maybe, maybe not – usually not until I go to smoke one. Cellophane on the individual cigars I leave on until I’m going to smoke it. It helps protect them from damage and offers a little bit of a barrier to mold and beetles if this ever becomes an issue.
ZRX1200 Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
Take the 5pack packaging off, leave the individual cellophane.

#cliffnotesforbucky
delta1 Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,753
so you noticed Steel's glazed look too...
BuckyB93 Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 07-16-2004
Posts: 14,110
ZRX1200 wrote:
Take the 5pack packaging off, leave the individual cellophane.

#cliffnotesforbucky


Yeah, I can swing either way on the outer cello for the 5er's.

If there's room in a loose singles or Etc box, I'd bust them open and they'd go in there. If not, I'd just slit the outside cello in a couple places so they can breathe but keep them bundled rather than loose.

Was it you that asked about the LGC Serie R having a strange artificial sweet taste on the cap? If so, I got my 5er in a shipment last week after they verified my age. The ones I got don't have a strange taste. Haven't smoked one yet, just slipped it the tongue to see if it tasted funny.

Although I prefer maduro, I won a 5er of the natural: LGC Serie R #5 (robusto). Pretty dark natural wrapper though.
Palama Online
#16 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,450
ZRX1200 wrote:
Steel I can’t say your whole handle with a straight face....

Serious answer is they (CBid and those who share the warehouse) keep their cigars over humidified. Not mold over humidified, but mourn funny over humidified. Like the wise kingofthecove said let them rest they’ll be fine.


Mourn funny how?
Stogie1020 Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 12-19-2019
Posts: 5,226
BuckyB93 wrote:
Yeah, I can swing either way on the outer cello for the 5er's.

If there's room in a loose singles or Etc box, I'd bust them open and they'd go in there. If not, I'd just slit the outside cello in a couple places so they can breathe but keep them bundled rather than loose.

Was it you that asked about the LGC Serie R having a strange artificial sweet taste on the cap? If so, I got my 5er in a shipment last week after they verified my age. The ones I got don't have a strange taste. Haven't smoked one yet, just slipped it the tongue to see if it tasted funny.

Although I prefer maduro, I won a 5er of the natural: LGC Serie R #5 (robusto). Pretty dark natural wrapper though.


That was me, thanks for the update on the LGC. Weird, I still have one or two, may need to get them tested. Is the Wifey trying to collect my life insurance policy?
Pudding Mittens Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
I've been doing the cigar thing for well over 20 years now and have built up an enormous collection. I've never frozen anything and have never had any beetle problems whatsoever.

I never even saw a beetle hole in person or knew what they looked like until I visited a cigar shop down in Florida, picked up a cigar and thought, "oh, so THAT'S what they look like!" Then I quickly left without buying anything!
.
BuckyB93 Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 07-16-2004
Posts: 14,110
Well, ethylene glycol (antifreeze) is a common use poison that does have an artificial sweet taste to it. Buy don't worry, just a little on the cigars ain't enough to kill you. However, if she offers you jello you might want to pass. And unless you make it yourself maybe drink the coffee black and the tea unsweetened.
Stogie1020 Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 12-19-2019
Posts: 5,226
She puts this special seasoning on only my food, wears a glove when she opens the bottle, too... Also, everything always smells like burnt almonds.

I should put all my CAO Brazilia cigars into my will.


For realz, though, what the hell did CBid send me?
SteelGlaze Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 08-07-2020
Posts: 5
Thanks for the replies. I just got a locking acrylic jar and some Boveda packs. I'm going to move most my existing cigars(not from cbid) into that. I needed some more cigar storage anyway. I will open up the 5pk's and leave the existing individual cello on, and leave the Brazilia's and other new cbid cigars in my wood humidor, and let them rest.

I'm going to skip the freezer camp process for now, but consider myself warned.

I'm more concerned about mildew, as I mentioned before I lost a bunch of cigars from mildew in the past in my coolidor with beads and distilled water setup.
KingoftheCove Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
SteelGlaze wrote:
Thanks for the replies. I just got a locking acrylic jar and some Boveda packs. I'm going to move most my existing cigars(not from cbid) into that. I needed some more cigar storage anyway. I will open up the 5pk's and leave the existing individual cello on, and leave the Brazilia's and other new cbid cigars in my wood humidor, and let them rest.

I'm going to skip the freezer camp process for now, but consider myself warned.

I'm more concerned about mildew, as I mentioned before I lost a bunch of cigars from mildew in the past in my coolidor with beads and distilled water setup.

What kind of beads?
Your RH must have been waaaay to high.
SteelGlaze Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 08-07-2020
Posts: 5
I went cheap and bought some of those clear Exquisicat kitty litter beads the interwebs claimed they were fine for controlling the RH for cigar coolidors etc. Worked great for me. Until they didn't. Argh!

I'm now using Boveda packs. I'm still slightly concerned using these in air tight containers. But right now I have a lot less to lose.
benja123 Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 03-09-2015
Posts: 1,269
Notthe1 wrote:
Brazilia's are some pretty good smokes.

That being said, I am still a NooB, on this forum.

I was not a fan of CAO but the Brazilia you sent was actually decent. What blew me away was the Orellana Stinger sent me in a PIB, I could smoke those all day long if I could get them.
benja123 Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 03-09-2015
Posts: 1,269
SteelGlaze wrote:
I went cheap and bought some of those clear Exquisicat kitty litter beads the interwebs claimed they were fine for controlling the RH for cigar coolidors etc. Worked great for me. Until they didn't. Argh!

I'm now using Boveda packs. I'm still slightly concerned using these in air tight containers. But right now I have a lot less to lose.

KITTY LITTER OUTRAGE ram27bat ram27bat
heartfelt bead and boveda have been working for me but in a small canister, one boveda is enough.
corey sellers Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 08-21-2011
Posts: 10,338
heartfelt beads check them out
engletl Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 12-26-2000
Posts: 26,493
I second the Heartfelt beads

Been using them for about 15 years. 1 pound and a large sterilite tub and never an issue.

Also, like Pudding, I have never frozen my cigars and have never had a beetle.
SteelGlaze Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 08-07-2020
Posts: 5
I'm aware of the Heartfelt beads. The kitty litter was a cheap substitute. They worked great for years. I probably should have replaced them every year in hindsight. Regardless, I'm sticking with Boveda for now. If I get a large humidor I'll consider adding Heartfelt beads to the mix.
frankj1 Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
Palama wrote:
Mourn funny how?

excellent
borndead1 Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 11-07-2006
Posts: 5,215
What's the humidity in your humidor?
calluci Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 01-29-2014
Posts: 14
i remember one of my experiences like that with an Alec Bradley Tempus maduro. Got my first one from a B& M and it was a fantastic smoking experience. I ordered a box and when i first got em the first couple did not burn good snd the flavor was not great .....i left them lay in my humidor for literally months and then they started to smoke alot better. Certain cigars i’ve noticed need time to rest and others will smoke great right when you receive them. With time you will know which ones need a long rest and which ones do not but i would also say almost all will benefit from some time in the humi.
cacman Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
Say NO to kitty litter!

All the posts above and not one recommendation to PM CelticBomber with your customer service questions and concerns. Jeesh! He has all the answers.
Pudding Mittens Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
A couple more things for SteelGlaze and other n00bs reading this:

1. A lot of cigar guys use the (expensive) silica beads plus Boveda, I instead use (dirt-cheap) superabsorbent polymer and Boveda. I have used this combination for many years in a dozen large containers, and it works great. It's cheap, reliable and very easy!

2. Learn about, and experiment with, dryboxing cigars before smoking. This can be as simple as removing cello and setting the "bare" cigar on an end table for a few hours, a day, two days, etc. before smoking it. This tends to greatly improve many cigars, particularly if you store at the higher end of the usual RH% range. Dryboxing seems especially helpful with maduro-wrapped cigars, where it often means the difference between a badly-burning, tight-draw, overly-moist and bitter mess and a good-drawing, nicely-burning, delicious and well-behaved cigar with no excess moisture ruining the experience. Dryboxing seems less important with Habano, Connecticut and other wrappers, but still usually helps noticeably. Maduros are where I've seen the huge improvements though.

3. Experiment with running not-yet-cut cigars under a stream of running tap water, rotating the cigar along its long axis so the whole wrapper leaf gets covered in water, but always keeping the cigar pointed upward so no water gets in the foot. Then shake the excess water off, roll the cigar along a towel to remove more excess, then either wait a few minutes if you like, or immediately light up (your choice, both work). This changes the dynamics of the smoke quite a lot, often for the better. Burn tends to be better, wrapper cracks/flakes are essentially eliminated (because the wrapper leaf is much more pliable). This is especially good for winter smoking in cold, dry air, but try it in the other seasons too! It seems to somehow "amplify" the flavors with many (but not all) cigars. It can also be useful if you forget about a cigar you're dryboxing and it gets too dry. Wet, cut, light and you might have a heck of a good cigar.

Hope some of this helps!
.
DavidinSC Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 11-13-2020
Posts: 1
instead of water, use Tequilia
Jakethesnake86 Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 12-29-2020
Posts: 3,938
Superabsorbant polymer? Help me out here puddin ??
tonygraz Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,173
Puddin ain't here Jake.
Jakethesnake86 Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 12-29-2020
Posts: 3,938
I see. I didn’t realize that…
delta1 Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,753
Palama wrote:
Mourn funny how?




kinda like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pap7PV_6lqA



or this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs
bgz Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
Didn't pudding get cancelled?
IronResin Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 08-14-2018
Posts: 189
bgz wrote:
Didn't pudding get cancelled?


Bill still gives out Jello puddin pops. Butt I'm not sure if were talking the same pudding?
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