Cigar Answers
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Cigar Answers
Does aging really make a difference?
Ummm, yeah. OK, that doesn't say it well enough. So how about, hell yes!
Yesterday, I smoked a CAO Cameroon from 1997. I remember when I bought the box of them. I smoked a few, loved them, and then forgot about them as I bought more cigars. The aged cigar is so much better. The subtle flavors show through now, and the bitterness of the nicotine is almost completely gone. I am drooling as I think about it right now.
Aging cigars allows them to ferment more completely. The process continues on so long as cigars are stored properly. The aging ...<< MORE >>
Yesterday, I smoked a CAO Cameroon from 1997. I remember when I bought the box of them. I smoked a few, loved them, and then forgot about them as I bought more cigars. The aged cigar is so much better. The subtle flavors show through now, and the bitterness of the nicotine is almost completely gone. I am drooling as I think about it right now.
Aging cigars allows them to ferment more completely. The process continues on so long as cigars are stored properly. The aging ...<< MORE >>
What is the "Sick Period" for cigars?
The "Sick Period" is a stage when cigars have a distinct ammonia smell and even a nasty taste in most cases. This is the time when tobacco is fermenting and releasing ammonia. Normally,
this stage lasts a fairly short time, but it will vary depending on the age and fermentation length of the tobacco used in the cigar. This smell/taste will go away as the tobacco is aged and the
ammonia is allowed to be ventilated away from the tobacco.
Most commonly, this stage is most noticeable in Cuban cigars. It will generally run from few months to a year ...<< MORE >>
Most commonly, this stage is most noticeable in Cuban cigars. It will generally run from few months to a year ...<< MORE >>
Is the Big Smoke Worth the Money?
The Big Smoke is fantastic and well worth every cent I paid.
Each year, there are several Big Smokes around the country, but once a year, there is a special Big Smoke weekend in Las Vegas. This is the 5th time that I have gone and it was the best one yet.
Even Las Vegas has been bitten by the smoking bans that have hit the rest of the country and even around the world. What has happened out there that suddenly makes it impossible for a person to enjoy a fine product made to help people relax? I think the world ...
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Each year, there are several Big Smokes around the country, but once a year, there is a special Big Smoke weekend in Las Vegas. This is the 5th time that I have gone and it was the best one yet.
Even Las Vegas has been bitten by the smoking bans that have hit the rest of the country and even around the world. What has happened out there that suddenly makes it impossible for a person to enjoy a fine product made to help people relax? I think the world ...
Can I Save Dried Out Cigars?
It depends. In most cases, absolutely not. After all of the oils are gone, then it is impossible to recondition or save your cigars. If they have been left out a few days or even possibly a
couple of weeks, then they can probably be saved.
Be careful when trying to save these dried out cigars. Don't put them right into our humidor. If you do, they will end up cracking and the wrapper leaves will be ruined. If you want to save them, you will need to put them in a separate container and slowly add humidity so the entire ...
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Be careful when trying to save these dried out cigars. Don't put them right into our humidor. If you do, they will end up cracking and the wrapper leaves will be ruined. If you want to save them, you will need to put them in a separate container and slowly add humidity so the entire ...
Do I Smoke all of the Culebra at Once?
First, for those that are not familiar with Culebras, they are
three panatela cigars that are intertwined together.
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What Should I do if my Cigar Starts to Burn at an Angle?
Ummm, keep smoking?
It happens to many cigars because of the way that we smoke. Many people, including myself, don't rotate our cigars as we smoke them, so one side will tend to burn faster than the other because of the physics of the smoldering ash and heat transfer within the cigar.
To fix the problem, turn the side that is burning faster so that it faces up. This doesn't sound logical to many people, but it works out. As you pull air through the cigar, the unburned bottom will start to ignite and will provide the smoke while the top, with ...
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It happens to many cigars because of the way that we smoke. Many people, including myself, don't rotate our cigars as we smoke them, so one side will tend to burn faster than the other because of the physics of the smoldering ash and heat transfer within the cigar.
To fix the problem, turn the side that is burning faster so that it faces up. This doesn't sound logical to many people, but it works out. As you pull air through the cigar, the unburned bottom will start to ignite and will provide the smoke while the top, with ...
Should I Take off the Band or Leave it on?
I love this question because, as with many such questions,
there is no set answer.
Take off the band - One group of people says you should take off the band because it is considered pretentious to show off the brand of your cigar when smoking it. Many Europeans follow this practice.
Leave on the band - This group basically states that taking off the band can harm the cigar's wrapper leaf and cause it to tear. Americans, in general, keep on the band.
Band Collecting - Many cigar smokers keep the bands and write short notes on them. If you just ...
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Take off the band - One group of people says you should take off the band because it is considered pretentious to show off the brand of your cigar when smoking it. Many Europeans follow this practice.
Leave on the band - This group basically states that taking off the band can harm the cigar's wrapper leaf and cause it to tear. Americans, in general, keep on the band.
Band Collecting - Many cigar smokers keep the bands and write short notes on them. If you just ...
I bought a Humidor, now what?
Well, first off, you need to immediately order a much larger one because the cigars will start to multiply. Believe me, it happens to all of us serious cigar smokers. You start off with a humidor to hold 20-50 cigars, you then upgrade to one that will hold 100 or so, and then next thing you know, you are building a walk-in humidor and making one of the kids sleep in the hallway. ...<< MORE >>
What is Bloom? Or is it Plume?
OK, first off, both terms mean the same thing.
The common problem is that sometimes it is confused with just plain old mold, which is a very bad thing.
Plume, or bloom, is a light white/gray crystal like powdery substance that will appear on some well aged cigars. During the aging process, the oils in the cigar will form these small white/gray crystals. The plume on a cigar is a sign that it is being properly stored and is aging well. This picture, taken from one of the cigarbid.com forums, is an excellent example of plume. Normally, bloom will be equally ...<< MORE >>
The common problem is that sometimes it is confused with just plain old mold, which is a very bad thing.
Plume, or bloom, is a light white/gray crystal like powdery substance that will appear on some well aged cigars. During the aging process, the oils in the cigar will form these small white/gray crystals. The plume on a cigar is a sign that it is being properly stored and is aging well. This picture, taken from one of the cigarbid.com forums, is an excellent example of plume. Normally, bloom will be equally ...<< MORE >>
How Should I Light My Cigar?
OK, now that we know how to cut a cigar, it is time to light it. Lighting a cigar is not like lighting a cigarette or a candle. It is more of a religous experience, and if done right, it sets the tone for the rest of your smoking experience.
First, you inspect the cigar. Feel the wrapper and its light oils, feel the firmness and notice the nice give when lightly squeezed. Smell the cigar. Hmmm, at this point you might want to eat it, but get control of yourself. It is smoking time.
We need to discuss the items you ...<< MORE >>
First, you inspect the cigar. Feel the wrapper and its light oils, feel the firmness and notice the nice give when lightly squeezed. Smell the cigar. Hmmm, at this point you might want to eat it, but get control of yourself. It is smoking time.
We need to discuss the items you ...<< MORE >>