I just bought a Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970, thinking it would be a cigar that could possibly rival the greatness of Partagas Black and CAO Brazilia.

To my great dismay I unwrapped the cellophane on it and it is dry and ashy as a black mans skin in winter who ran out of cocoa butter. The only flavors Im getting from it are some soapy and empty flavors. It tastes dry as all hell!

The store I bought it from has a big deluxe humidor, but Im thinking the cellophane wraps must not let any moisture get to the cigars. Really sick of it, why cant we go back to the days of cigars being naked so they can absorb the moisture of the humidor??

David

Or, just a retail store that happens to have a cabinet humi.....or, is it actually a walkin?

Many explanations as to what could have happened. Answer my questions, and I may be able to shed some light.

I am however surprised, that a botl with your "experience" didn't notice how dry it was BEFORE you lit it up.

That way you could have stashed it in your humi for a while to let it get back to a proper RH.

But, it may already have dried out to a point of no return.

I knew it looked a little dry but right now my humidor isnt stocked up so it was my only choice, Damn

That is why it is extensively used in the processed food industry...

If cello was indeed as permeable to air as many cigar 'aficionados' incorrectly write about online, then crackers, cupcakes, etc. would all be dry as a rock and stale before they were sold...

If you are one of those people that continually rearrange, and fondle your 'sticks', then Cello on cigars in a humidor can somewhat protect the wrapper leaf from damage...

All IMNSHO, of course...

There's other factors......namely....the thickness of the cello.

Cello on versus off is an old debate.

True that a cello on cigar will respond slower to a given rh in a humi, compared to a naked cigar.

But sometimes, that can be a good thing, especially for the noob who doesn't know what he is doing, and hasn't figured out how to control his storage rh.

And, cello does quite a bit more than "somewhat" protect a wrapper imho........I would say it protects it very well.

And, then there's the beetle factor...

There's your answer.

And what exactly is that?

Humidity over time, or in this case low humidity over time. It sat there and as dry as the outside was, it was likely also dry on the inside. Would take a long time at 68% to get it up to equalize, maybe a month. Cello to me has never been an issue either way. I have 20 year old cigars with and without cello, all age beautifully.

Cello is breathable...

It's a good thing somebody finally discovered this!

You should contact all the manufacturers of the cigars you like and demand that they top using that cellophane crap!

🍺

I thought everyone already knew how this worked! The cellophane sleeves block all air and water vapor from reaching all cigars EXCEPT the King Of All Cigars, the CAO Brazilia. Science has not yet determined definitively whether or not the air and water vapor is also blocked from getting through to the serious contender to the crown, the Partagas Black, but experiments are ongoing.

.

🇨🇮

Funny you should say that. Last night I smoked one of those from a box I've been aging for 7.5 years. Wonderful experience.

.