A hello and a question

[MichaelW]

Hello all. I'm new to cigars and have been enjoying the wealth of information on this site.

After reading some reviews I've ordered a few cigars and have been keeping them in an airtight jar with a Boveda 69% pack as a short term storage option until I get a proper humidor. The first cigar I smoked when they first arrived was great but the next two have been pretty awful. I found them hard to light and could hardly get any draw from them (all Upman coronas juniors). I suspect they are over humidified but wanted to run this by some of you experienced smokers. If they are indeed to wet what's the best way to dry them out?

Cheers

[Emaresee]

yo.... welcome. 'dry boxing' is what some do. this is putting them in a spare cigar box for a few days... it keeps them protected and allows a gentle drying out.

Or if you only have a few sticks, leave the lid of your jar open a shade for a day or so...

Plenty of folk smoke wetter sticks... they should be springy and resilient to a gentle squeeze. Could be you just had a duff stick... so dont rush into anything. I keep mine up at 69 -72 which is too much for some, but then the boveda is plus or minus 2% of its badged humidity ( i think)... so dont stress about humidity too much. \This is supposed to be relaxing!!!!

[MichaelW]

Thanks. I'll try leaving the lid loose for a couple of days and see what happens. Just ordered a digital hygrometer too....

[TJCoro]

I'm all stuffed up, ahuh-huh!

Thanks. I'll try leaving the lid loose for a couple of days and see what happens. Just ordered a digital hygrometer too....

Welcome aboard, chico. Sounds like you're off to a good start.

Regarding draw, as se?or Emaresee noted, often (far too ofter) fine puros, or Cuban cigars, are rolled too tight making 'em difficult or impossible to smoke. A good test for this is to lightly finger ....or press the stick between your thumb and finger to see if it gives in a wee bit, as it should. If it feels hard and knotty, it's over filled - commonly known as a plugged puro!

But don't loose faith, mi amigo - there is a new tool for healing plugged cigars and you can read all about it on the PerfecDraw thread. It's a bit of a advanced tool and expensive, but well worth it and something you may want to consider as you continue on your journey. For now, I'd give the sticks a gentle squeeze before buying.

PS - I moved this thread to the "Newbie Greets" forum.

Have fun!

Bag Boy

[grumpybaldy]

Welcome aboard Michael!

[Johnny Thunder]

Welcome to the forum.

[MichaelW]

Thanks gents. Yes the infamous plug had crossed my mind but I thought the odds of having two duffers in a row where very slim, but apparently not. Are there particular cigars to avoid or is it totally random?

[PeeJay]

Thanks gents. Yes the infamous plug had crossed my mind but I thought the odds of having two duffers in a row where very slim, but apparently not. Are there particular cigars to avoid or is it totally random?

Welcome aboard Michael, Cuabas can be prone to plugging but it can affect any cigar. I recently had a Cohiba Robust Supremo that was unsmokable. Before I bought the tool that TJ was promoting.

[WDave40]

Hello and welcome Michael!

Sorry to hear of your cigar troubles. Does sound like they were plugged unfortunately. It is entirely random - I've been smoking a few years, albeit not regularly and I've still never had a plugged stick!

Plenty of loose ones though!

[TheMonk]

Welcome to UKCF!

[gojira]

Welcome aboard.

[mcdee]

[TonyN]

Welcome to the forum.

[TJCoro]

Thread Starter...

Are there particular cigars to avoid or is it totally random?

Hmmm...interesting question. Thread worthy? (Hint-hint.)

Bag Boy

[handlebarpipe]

Welcome to this forum. Hopefully future cigars that you smoke will not have such problems and you will enjoy your journey into the wonderful world of cigars.
Marc