Questions from a greenhorn

[Alan-cr]

I'm new to cigars and have a couple questions I was hoping you guys could help me with.

I picked up a couple perfectos on the way home today (an A Fuente Hemingway Short Story & a Don Tomas Cameroon Perfecto #1) and I was wondering if there was a special way to light these.

I've got a b&m not too far off my commute on weekdays so I'm able to pick up a cigar or two whenever I want (but at this rate it won't be long before I can't afford to ). I leave them in the plastic bags and cello and keep them in a dark place.
How long are these in smoking condition? How long are these in an enjoyable condition? Is a small humidor (10-20 cigars) worth the money? Is using an airtight container a good substitute if I get a humidifier?

What is the best way to save a cigar to finish it later?


Thanks for the help in advance

[JAX]

With regards to Perfectos, nope, nothing special about lighting them. Just make sure you light the correct end! Beyond that, put a torch to it and enjoy.

Cigars will generally last up to a week if just kept in a plastic bag; ofcourse the weather around you may increase or decrease that period. A temporary way to fix this would be to use a tupperware container, but I'd strongly recommend you invest in a humidor. A 25-50 count would be a good "starter" but you'll find yourself quickly out growing it.

Save a cigar to finish later? Not sure. My experience is once I light it, I should enjoy it. The few times I've tried to smoke the rest later didn't work out. Turned nasty and bitter. If kept outside, the cigar would swell with the humidity or dry up. Not a good idea IMO.

Hope this helps Greenhorn.

[Tater]

I made a mistake when buying my first humidor. I purchased a 12ct and then bought a 16 cigar sampler right after. I outgrew mine the day I bought it. Definitely go a little bigger than you feel you need.

I had a Hemingway Short Story not too long ago and really enjoyed it. I will definitely look into getting more one day, but being so new I am trying all that I can still.

[Denahue]

Welcome Alan, 50 to 100 count hummie, or you will outgrow it in no time, especially around here....
[size=7]
"WARNING"
[/size]
Do Not give out your snailer too anyone around here.....

[KevinG]

Originally Posted by Alan

What is the best way to save a cigar to finish it later?

Putting Out & Discarding Your Cigar

If for any reason you have to put out your cigar, do not crush it out like one would a cigarette. Doing this causes it to smolder and give off a foul smell. Just let the cigar sit in the ashtray, and within approximately two minutes it will go out by itself. If you aren't finished, and want to re-light the cigar later, you must do it within an hour or the tars that collect at the end will become too bitter to enjoy the smoke. When you are finished with your cigar, it is best to discard the butt right away, as it becomes bitter and gives off a bad odor after it sits for a while.

Here's some good articles to read.
http://www.cigar-review.com/index.php?o ... 5&Itemid=2

[HeavyMetal-cr]

Alan,

As the others noted, I wouldn't waste money on a small humi. You will outgrow it immediately. You can use a piece of tupperware with a humidification element. Many of us here have "tupperdors". Shoot, I don't even have a regular humi anymore - just a really big storage container. Up to a medium tupperware container (say 8x10) you can use the "humi-paks" available at your B&M. Cigars will keep indefinitely in that as long as you periodically refresh the humi paks. Larger than that you'll need a humi element that uses 50/50 humi solution or humi beads and distilled water. I and many others prefer beads.

BTW, welcome.

[wilsondude]

My first 50 ct. humi seemed great at first, and it was. Then I found that it was easier to fill than I ever thought. It worked really well for me, but then I started buying in larger numbers, and it became pretty inadequate. I'd say you should buy what you can afford, but a larger humi gives you more freedom to both store and age your cigars. I'd recommend a 150-200 ct. unit.

[Brianthecigarwhore]

Alan trust me, buy as big as you can afford. It still won't be big enough. I bought a 40 about 4-5 mths ago. I just got a 120 and it's full. I have full boxes waiting for a new humi. This is an addiction the sooner you accept it the better

[Alan-cr]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think for now I am just going to set up a tupperdor seeing as I have quite a few Lock & Lock containers like this one sitting around in ranging sizes.

This should give me some more time to try quite a few more sticks without committing to a humidor the wrong size or worrying about wasting cigars if my week gets busy.

OH....I learned about the horrid smell of a partially smoked cigar the hard way....before I asked about saving a cigar here I tried to save one not knowing. I let it burn out, clipped the end, and put it in a zip-lock in my bag....still letting my back pack air out.

-Alan

[slowburning]

1. Perfecto like Hemmingway may give you some burn issue upon lighting due to its shape, i.e. tunneling. However, it will most likely correct itself after about a minute or two later. It not, a touch up maybe needed.

1. a. On the other hand, if it's a double perfecto, I'd suggest a punch cut at the center of the cigar, and light both ends. Just like James Bond swims with a four-minute oxygen supply in his mouth.

2. Humidors, get as big as you financially and space-wise tolerate, believe me, like others said, you will need it.

3. Cigars should be fine in 7-10 days even without humidifcation, unless you live in a low humidity area, beyond that, they maybe too dried and burn hot and bitter.

4. Airtight container is not good for cigar storage, unless you open the lid to exchange air periodically, say every week or two weeks the most. If not, amonia (gas released by cigars) will make cigars smell and taste bitter.

5. If you plan to save your cigar for later, it is a good idea to cut about half to an inch from the burning end before storing it, and smoke the remaining as soon as possible or it may become bitter. Upon relighting, purge the cigar (blow a few puffs of air through the cigar barrel), this will rid the un-pleasant smell and tast remained in your cigar.

Lastly, if you are planning to use tupperware, be sure to find some Spanish Cedar to line the interior before storing singles, or place your cigars in wooden cigar boxes (ask your B&M for free emptied ones) before put them in tupperware.

Hope this helps.

[HeavyMetal-cr]

Originally Posted by Alan

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think for now I am just going to set up a tupperdor seeing as I have quite a few Lock & Lock containers like this one sitting around in ranging sizes.

That'll work. Just make sure you've aired them out, espcially if they're new. Sit outside for a couple days and wash out w/ baking soda and water. That gets rid of the release agents from molding (the stinky plastic smell).

You can get yourself some humi beads and a hygrometer here: http://www.heartfeltindustries.com. By a pound of 65RH and split it btwn the boxes. You can use their mesh bags, wifey's/gf's old nylons or glass jar with a plastic lid with holes drilled in the lid.

[CRider]

Looks like a good choice for storage there. As mentioned, let it air out ever 2 weeks or so...air exchange is important. As to humi's...go at least 300ct. They almost never hold that many anyhow unless all your sticks are robusto sized or smaller. My 300ct is packed right now with about 175-200. My 100 is full with about 80-90, my 50 with about 40 and my 2 20's with about 20 each. My end goal is to have 1, maybe 2 nice humidors and the rest of my storage will be tupper/coolerdors.

I've never had any luck relighting a cigar that sat longer than an hour myself. If I can get back to it within that hour, exhale through the cigar as Kevin noted to push the "bad air" out and light as normal. It still doesn't work for all smokes...some just don't handle it at all apparently

[JAX]

Originally Posted by CRider

They (humis) almost never hold that many anyhow unless all your sticks are robusto sized or smaller.

This probably the most important detail about humis. NONE of mine EVER hold the amount advertised.



I'm leaning heavily towards setting up a coolador myself (as soon as the wife frees up funds), although I've read tupperware works well for long term storage.

Either method is relatively inexpesive and both offer the benift of hold a butt load of stogies.

[armod]

not sure if I'll get shot for admitting to this...

I don't have a humidor.

I use a cigar box that holds about five (high tobacco tax in australia means that I'm not outgrowing it like I should )

I keep it in the bathroom and open it up once a week while I shower (steam = humidity and the air here is dry)

and I also use spare cedar sheets and strips that I soak now and then and place them in with the stogies.

I keep it all in a ziploc bag that does get opened all the time.



another trick I learned is that if your tobacco dries out you can put a thin slice of apple in the container for a week and it's as good as new

[dartstothesea]

^^^
Thats awesome, dude. Way to be resourceful