Wondering what, if anything, I could be doing wrong here.

I had a Drew Estate Java Mint cigar as part of a sampler over a year ago. It was great. A couple months ago I decided to bid on a bunch of them here. Won. Got them. Put them in their own humidor. Using a HumiCare. Kept it in the 60's. And no, I didn't store them in the humidor with other cigars. They were all by themselves in that one humidor.

So, last week I pulled one out and found it had no flavoring at all. Just a "cigar". Yesterday I tried again. Same thing.

Wondering what could have happened? Just a bad run? The two I smoked had zero hint of any special flavoring. I was tempted to toss it after a while...didn't have the heart to do it.

Ideas/suggestions?

I think the infusion wears off after a while. It may have even transferred itself into the wood in a humidor. I’ll be honest. Every once in a blue moon I’ll smoke an acid kuba kuba. I keep them in plastic. Double bagged in ziplocks and such. I’d imagine if they were mine I’d try to keep them that way. They might have just aired out so to speak.

You might find that your tastes will change anyhow. Infused cigars are a way to get started with smoking. I haven’t had a kuba kuba in quite some time. I may buy one just to see if I still like them

[quote=Jakethesnake86]I think the infusion wears off after a while. It may have even transferred itself into the wood in a humidor. I’ll be honest. Every once in a blue moon I’ll smoke an acid kuba kuba. I keep them in plastic. Double bagged in ziplocks and such. I’d imagine if they were mine I’d try to keep them that way. They might have just aired out so to speak.

You might find that your tastes will change anyhow. Infused cigars are a way to get started with smoking. I haven’t had a kuba kuba in quite some time. I may buy one just to see if I still like them [/quote]

I suppose that's possible. I *do* have some Cuban Honeys that are still fine though. Got them before I got the Java Mint. I have them in a Gurka Warpig box. They are still in their wrappers. I would like to think that they wouldn't go flat so quick.

I have about 28 or so more of these. Maybe they aren't all bad. Should that be the case, next time I get some I'll keep them wrapped.

Just checked. I got 20 Java Mint in December and won 10 more on Jan 10th.

could be the Covid....loss of taste:-k 🤔 🤔

Why don’t you just chew on a urinal mint...

It’s possible those cigars are older than you realized when you got them. Maybe they need to be fresh. I don’t know much about the infused sticks. I have heard on the internet they can loose the infusion with time though. I guess I’m just thinking it’s possible they were well aged and sold off here on cbid. I’d imagine they sell old inventory considering the discounts here that I can’t find elsewhere.

I have ordered some pepin boxes here that were from 2020 (pepin has dates on the box). I’ve also ordered some five and ten packs that are dated 2017 recently. With non infused cigars that is typically a good thing. So it may be possible the ones you received were older. I’m pretty confident the infused cigars aren’t as popular as a whole.

Izonfire that comment made my day lol

Or it’s COVID

[quote=Jakethesnake86]It’s possible those cigars are older than you realized when you got them. Maybe they need to be fresh. I don’t know much about the infused sticks. I have heard on the internet they can loose the infusion with time though. I guess I’m just thinking it’s possible they were well aged and sold off here on cbid. I’d imagine they sell old inventory considering the discounts here that I can’t find elsewhere.

I have ordered some pepin boxes here that were from 2020 (pepin has dates on the box). I’ve also ordered some five and ten packs that are dated 2017 recently. With non infused cigars that is typically a good thing. So it may be possible the ones you received were older. I’m pretty confident the infused cigars aren’t as popular as a whole.

Izonfire that comment made my day lol[/quote]

I shot an inquiry off to customer service at Drew Estates. I'm not expecting a lot but it's possible that they might replace them. Something is up, my Cuban Honeys are older and still fine. And yes, they may be older than I would expect. I tried to look up where I got the first one in a sampler. Might have been CI, don't know and the order history doesn't go back that far.

[quote=Jakethesnake86] I think the infusion wears off after a while. It may have even transferred itself into the wood in a humidor. I’ll be honest. Every once in a blue moon I’ll smoke an acid kuba kuba. I keep them in plastic. Double bagged in ziplocks and such. I’d imagine if they were mine I’d try to keep them that way. They might have just aired out so to speak. [/quote]

I tried a couple acid cigars and I couldn't get through half of em.
Each one tasted like I was chewing through a bar of soap; they made me sick.
I haven't tried a kuba kuba, I assumed they were just as bad.
What did you like about it? taste?

If you’re looking for consistency, a Rocky Patel cigar blended and rolled by Drew Estates wouldn’t be my first choice.

Good luck guilting DE

[quote=ZRX1200]If you’re looking for consistency, a Rocky Patel cigar blended and rolled by Drew Estates wouldn’t be my first choice.

Good luck guilting DE[/quote]

Not trying to guilt anyone.

They got back with me. They are rolled by Rocky Patel and so I have contacted them. If nothing else, it's a learning experience.

Thanks,

Tim

[quote=Jakethesnake86]I think the infusion wears off after a while. It may have even transferred itself into the wood in a humidor. I’ll be honest. Every once in a blue moon I’ll smoke an acid kuba kuba. I keep them in plastic. Double bagged in ziplocks and such. I’d imagine if they were mine I’d try to keep them that way. They might have just aired out so to speak.

You might find that your tastes will change anyhow. Infused cigars are a way to get started with smoking. I haven’t had a kuba kuba in quite some time. I may buy one just to see if I still like them [/quote]


Yes. Next time I'll not unwrap them. Keep them wrapped like the Cuban Honeys I have, which have been consistent. Next time, just get a few and see if the story ends differently.

Thanks...!

[quote=CheapPrick]I tried a couple acid cigars and I couldn't get through half of em.
Each one tasted like I was chewing through a bar of soap; they made me sick.
I haven't tried a kuba kuba, I assumed they were just as bad.
What did you like about it? taste?[/quote]
It’s been a little while but I remember it just had a taste of it’s own. I’ve never tried any other infused cigars it had a pleasant room note. I will grab another one now. Just to see if it’s still the way I remember it. I think it would be a good change of pace when your palate gets muted out. Last time I couldn’t find my groove with cigars I smoked a couple Gurkhas that I honestly already knew I didn’t like. Then when I smoked somthing I know I like it was great again.

I haven’t tried any of the other acid sticks to compare though.

[quote=timbrown527]Yes. Next time I'll not unwrap them. Keep them wrapped like the Cuban Honeys I have, which have been consistent. Next time, just get a few and see if the story ends differently.

Thanks...![/quote]

Errrrrrtttt (breaks skidding) Wait a minute! You unwrapped them? Like.. Took off the cello?

No wonder they lost flavor! You're not supposed to take off the cellophane until you're ready to smoke em.

[quote=CheapPrick]Errrrrrtttt (breaks skidding) Wait a minute! You unwrapped them? Like.. Took off the cello?

No wonder they lost flavor! You're not supposed to take off the cellophane until you're ready to smoke em.
[/quote]

Well, that's news to me -- I had done plenty of checking and heard "yes" and "no". Since I was concerned about humidification, it made sense. And, keeping them in their own sealed humidor so they wouldn't be effected or effect my Warpigs, V660s, etc.

The Cuban Honeys I left wrapped because it had a mix of flavors.

The rep at Rocky Patel got back with me. He wants me to send them to him. I can run this by him. If it's my fault, I can eat it. I don't expect them to cover my mistake.

Thanks for the head's up. Appreciate it!

[quote=CheapPrick]Errrrrrtttt (breaks skidding) Wait a minute! You unwrapped them? Like.. Took off the cello?

No wonder they lost flavor! You're not supposed to take off the cellophane until you're ready to smoke em.
[/quote]


[update]

Just got an email reply back from Nimish Desai at Rocky Patel.

"Removing the cello should not make a difference. I just want to inspect the cigars and replace them for you."

So, that's what will happen. Still, in the future, I'll probably leave the cello on. My Cuban Honey's seem to be doing ok that way.

Again, thanks. I'll follow up when things conclude with this.

Don't see a way to attach a picture here, but today I received a box of 24 replacement Java Mint cigars from Nimish. I must say I'm impressed with the way he took care of this. And yes, when I opened the box, I could tell the difference.

[quote=timbrown527]Don't see a way to attach a picture here, but today I received a box of 24 replacement Java Mint cigars from Nimish. I must say I'm impressed with the way he took care of this. And yes, when I opened the box, I could tell the difference.[/quote]

:-k Ok maybe they were schite to begin with...
It's great you got replacements, congrats.

Just for the hell of it...

"Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and water makes it useful for food packaging. Cellophane is highly permeable to water vapour, but may be coated with nitrocellulose lacquer to prevent this." Wikipedia

In other words, it's a natural material (not plastic) that protects the cigar and still allows humidity to pass in and out.
I just leave it on, why not?

[quote=CheapPrick]:-k Ok maybe they were schite to begin with...
It's great you got replacements, congrats.

Just for the hell of it...

"Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and water makes it useful for food packaging. Cellophane is highly permeable to water vapour, but may be coated with nitrocellulose lacquer to prevent this." Wikipedia

In other words, it's a natural material (not plastic) that protects the cigar and still allows humidity to pass in and out.
I just leave it on, why not?[/quote]

Ya, I don't think anyone would fault me for leaving it on. Worst anyone could say would be something like "You're wasting your Bovida". I doubt that. I *could* pull a couple aside and let them age separately and see for myself.

He included a card of apology with it, which was not necessary: "Sorry for the inconvenience!!!"

He had emailed me yesterday to ask if I had gotten them yet. They got here today. I returned his email with my gratitude for his help and did ask if he could tell me what, if anything, was wrong with them. Of course, I added that if it was my imagination I wouldn't be offended if he said that.

If/when I hear back I'll pass his diagnosis along.

I am new to the technicalities of cigar storage. So, I can learn. Besides, I added that I knew about mildew, bugs, etc., ruining them as well as bad runs.

When I shipped them back, I overlooked one on the corner of the table. It's in my humidor so I can compare it directly if I so choose. Buy my first impression, just by smell, is there is a difference.

Just be extremely careful with anything that you receive from Nimish.
He has been known to send his packages with "extra love" in them, if ya catch my drift...