brett1920
7 years ago
Hello everyone! I'm new to the cigar game and am hoping you guys can give me some advice. I dipped Copenhagen for 15 years, but gave it up about a year ago. On my last deployment (USMC) we got a huge box of cigars shipped to us and I got hooked. I have a friend who's given me some good advice, but his tastes are quite expensive. I've tried the Opus X (loved it), Wise Man (didn't care for it), Tabernacle (my current favorite), Liga Privada No.9 (fantastic), the Diesel Whiskey Row (pretty good), just to name a few. I'm tired of going into the cigar shop and not knowing what I'm looking at or how to ask what for what I'm wanting. I don't know anything about origin, binders, fillers, etc. When I go to the shop, I tell the guy that I like bourbon, medium to full cigars, the cigars I've tried and liked/disliked...but they keep pushing me to their own in-house hand rolled selection, which I do not like. Lastly, my wife bought me a humidor, seasoned it with a Boveda Xikar pack, but the damn thing sits at about 80%. Any advice you guys could give me on cigars and the humidor would be greatly appreciated!
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delta1
7 years ago
welcome to the madhouse, brett...here's a suggestion...look up the cigars you like, to discover what tobacco leaves are used to construct them, and where they were made...use that info to find similarly made cigars...for example, the LP9 is made in Nicaragua, wrapped in a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro leaf, with Brazillian binder leaf, and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers...since the wrapper is the most important leaf for the flavor of the cigar, start your search there...
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brett1920
7 years ago

welcome to the madhouse, brett...here's a suggestion...look up the cigars you like, to discover what tobacco leaves are used to construct them, and where they were made...use that info to find similarly made cigars...for example, the LP9 is made in Nicaragua, wrapped in a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro leaf, with Brazillian binder leaf, and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers...since the wrapper is the most important leaf for the flavor of the cigar, start your search there...

delta1 wrote:



Makes perfect sense, kind of embarrassed I didn't put two and two together there. Thanks!
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dstieger
7 years ago
As delta said, that's a 'start'. Wish it was easier from that point, but it really isn't. There's a couple few huge variables and you're likely going to have to try more than a bunch, even if it looks like they have similar recipes

Ring gauge - thinner cigars generally get more flavor from the wrapper -- its geometry....just don't ask me to explain it

Type of leave and fermentation - two wrapper leaves from the exact same plant can be very different based on whether they are from top of the plant, middle or bottom...and even then, they can vary based on how long they are allowed to ferment

Cigar manufacturers are notoriously coy about what kinds of leaves are in their cigars and where they were sourced

Non-Cuban cigar packaging is almost never dated -- so you generally have zero clue how much age a cigar has before you smoke it

delta is correct that similar wrapper and origin is a great place to start -- but don't get disillusioned right out the gate...it may take a while

Last year I found a cigar with identical description to a couple of my favorites...same wrapper, filler, factory...I was thrilled because it was somewhat unknown and cbid auction prices were half what I pay for the ones I love......and it absolutely sucked
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dstieger
7 years ago
as to the humi, what sort of hygrometer are you using? If it isn't digital, it means nothing. If it is digital and you haven't calibrated it....well, it still might not mean much
what's the humidity in the room that your humi is in?
what are you using for humidification now?
is the seasoning boveda still in there?
how full is it? how big is it?
are you confident that it is sealing well? try sliding a dollar bill through the door?
glass top?
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Pudding Mittens
7 years ago

as to the humi, what sort of hygrometer are you using? If it isn't digital, it means nothing. If it is digital and you haven't calibrated it....well, it still might not mean much

dstieger wrote:



Caliber IV, properly calibrated using a Boveda pack (using the average of multiple readings, etc.).

Don't bother with anything else.
.

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brett1920
7 years ago

As delta said, that's a 'start'. Wish it was easier from that point, but it really isn't. There's a couple few huge variables and you're likely going to have to try more than a bunch, even if it looks like they have similar recipes

Ring gauge - thinner cigars generally get more flavor from the wrapper -- its geometry....just don't ask me to explain it

Type of leave and fermentation - two wrapper leaves from the exact same plant can be very different based on whether they are from top of the plant, middle or bottom...and even then, they can vary based on how long they are allowed to ferment

Cigar manufacturers are notoriously coy about what kinds of leaves are in their cigars and where they were sourced

Non-Cuban cigar packaging is almost never dated -- so you generally have zero clue how much age a cigar has before you smoke it

delta is correct that similar wrapper and origin is a great place to start -- but don't get disillusioned right out the gate...it may take a while

Last year I found a cigar with identical description to a couple of my favorites...same wrapper, filler, factory...I was thrilled because it was somewhat unknown and cbid auction prices were half what I pay for the ones I love......and it absolutely sucked

dstieger wrote:




SOunds like a whole lot of science goes into this lol. I'm going to have to do a lot more research, thanks for giving me some things to look into!
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brett1920
7 years ago

as to the humi, what sort of hygrometer are you using? If it isn't digital, it means nothing. If it is digital and you haven't calibrated it....well, it still might not mean much
what's the humidity in the room that your humi is in?
what are you using for humidification now?
is the seasoning boveda still in there?
how full is it? how big is it?
are you confident that it is sealing well? try sliding a dollar bill through the door?
glass top?

dstieger wrote:




I have not picked up a digital hygrometer yet, but that is on my to-do list. I live in the South, so there's always about 150% humidity in the atmosphere. The Boveda pack is still in it, guy at the shop told me it all I'd need to leave in it...is that flase info? It's a solid wooden 100 count box, and it does seal nicely.
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dstieger
7 years ago
What number is on the boveda? Their seasoning packs run, I think around 84....if so, get it out of there

If it is a number between, say 62 and 70, you can leave it in

I'm not sure there is such a thing as an analog hygro that is worth anything, even if calibrated....however, it can maybe tell you a little bit, at least as far as trends, if you do calibrate it...google salt test....won't be dead on balls accurate, like PM suggests, but it will do until you get a digital
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USNGunner
7 years ago
[quote=dstieger
I'm not sure there is such a thing as an analog hygro that is worth anything, even if calibrated....however, it can maybe tell you a little bit, at least as far as trends, if you do calibrate it...google salt test....won't be dead on balls accurate, like PM suggests, but it will do until you get a digital



Funny thing is, I have an old analog from a generic house brand Tomsomeones humidor I bought 10 years ago. That thing is dead on at 70% humidity. I use it to confirm the digitals. LOL.
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brett1920
7 years ago

What number is on the boveda? Their seasoning packs run, I think around 84....if so, get it out of there

If it is a number between, say 62 and 70, you can leave it in

I'm not sure there is such a thing as an analog hygro that is worth anything, even if calibrated....however, it can maybe tell you a little bit, at least as far as trends, if you do calibrate it...google salt test....won't be dead on balls accurate, like PM suggests, but it will do until you get a digital

dstieger wrote:




It's a 79. I'll pick one up in the range you mentioned, thanks!
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tonygraz
7 years ago
To determine who you are and decide upon your forum worthiness, please answer the following simple questions:

Pancakes or waffles ?
Do you like long walks on the beach ?
Daisy Mae or Ellie Mae ?
Do you like camping by the river ?
Cello on or cello off ?
Ginger or MaryAnn ?
David Lee or Sammy ?
Warner Oland or Sidney Toler ?
Have you been in a Turkish prison ?
Do you like gladiator movies ?
dogs or cats ?
Men or women ?
Wad or fold ?
Sit or squat ?



Oh and 79 humidity is only good for cigar beetles.
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Sunoverbeach
7 years ago
Definitely ditch the 79. It's doing exactly what it was made to holding at 80. Like USNG I've got an against the odds accurate analog too, but a few Caliber IVs to be sure

As far as smokes, I highly recommend you try them all. Discovery's a helluva good time. Don't be too quick to buy boxes. You'll be amazed at how your tastes can change along the way
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brett1920
7 years ago

To determine who you are and decide upon your forum worthiness, please answer the following simple questions:

Pancakes or waffles ?
Do you like long walks on the beach ?
Daisy Mae or Ellie Mae ?
Do you like camping by the river ?
Cello on or cello off ?
Ginger or MaryAnn ?
David Lee or Sammy ?
Warner Oland or Sidney Toler ?
Have you been in a Turkish prison ?
Do you like gladiator movies ?
dogs or cats ?
Men or women ?
Wad or fold ?
Sit or squat ?



Oh and 79 humidity is only good for cigar beetles.

tonygraz wrote:




Pancakes if I'm sober, waffles if otherwise intoxicated.
Not particularly.
Ellie Mae
I like camping anywhere I can.
Cello on.
Maryann, is there any other answer?!
Hagar
I may be too young for that one...
Not Turkish, but I can tell you Japanese jail ain't fun.
"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?"
Dogs
Women
Fold...who wads?
I guess it depends on the situation?
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izonfire
7 years ago
Well well well.
Brett born in 1920.
Gettin to be an old fugger, aren't you?

At this point your life, I would try everything.
Including Crack, meth and angel dust.
I mean seriously, whaddya got to lose?
It's time to taste everything that this life can serve ya.
Start with hookers and blow, and see where that crazy train take ya.

Do somethin' crazy.
Get a militia together, and go take over a third world country.
Start a cannibalistic cult and crown yourself King.
Smoke the limbs of your kidnapped hostages.

What are you waiting for???
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RMAN4443
7 years ago
Judges Please....8-[
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Sunoverbeach
7 years ago
I'm all for cutting loose when I'm too old for it to matter but I don't know that cannibalistic cult is on the bucket list

[-(
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ZRX1200
7 years ago
Only season your humidor with lettuce.

Gurkhas are the Rolls Royce of cigars.

Never lose a bid, it’s a sign of weakness.

Never trust analog hygrometers.

Always trust the leader of your CBid camping trip and do as he says, remember safe words are for homos.

Learn how to use the search function.

Any questions private message jaderose.

If you want to talk to the owner of CBid call him, Dave is an awesome BOTL who loves talking to us. (214) 914-3337

The noob trade thread is a great starting point on your journey:

http://www.cigarbid.com/mobile/forum/cb_postst380264_CAT-Challenge-The-Thonginator.aspx 
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steve02
7 years ago

welcome to the madhouse, brett...here's a suggestion...look up the cigars you like, to discover what tobacco leaves are used to construct them, and where they were made...use that info to find similarly made cigars...for example, the LP9 is made in Nicaragua, wrapped in a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro leaf, with Brazillian binder leaf, and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers...since the wrapper is the most important leaf for the flavor of the cigar, start your search there...

delta1 wrote:



Not really. The filler is the cigar/smoke flavor. The wrapper is simply what your lips taste. Depending on how the filler is constructed/wrapped is what gives you different tastes throughout the burn.
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izonfire
7 years ago

Not really. The filler is the cigar/smoke flavor. The wrapper is simply what your lips taste. Depending on how the filler is constructed/wrapped is what gives you different tastes throughout the burn.

steve02 wrote:



OK Steve02, pucker up that sphincter and prepare for some retribution.
Steve01 didn't last too long, and it appears that you're hot on his heels...
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