wrap it or unwrap it

[prophetic_joe]

I just leave em how I get em unless of course they come tubed. I like wrapped better though for when I rummage around in my Humi.

[ilovecl-cl]

Does not matter, it is just personal preference. I leave the cello on because of possible damage!!!

[Jughead]

If the sticks come with cellophane then I leave them on if not then it's off.

[Shelby07]

If I want to age something long term and they are wrapped, then I remove the cellophane, put them somewhere where they will not be disturbed and let them age as a bundle. Otherwise I leave them on until I movethem to my go to humi.

[Labman-cl]

Originally Posted by architeuthis

The *wrapper* should stay on the stick though... <G>

Damn and I've been talking them off all this time!

In all seriousness, the guys have explained the crap out of this and they probably know more about aging than I...so I'd say listen to those guys!!

[happy1]

I perfer on because of trading and if you trade and get beetles it keeps the damage down and protects the wrappers

[Dave-cl]

Originally Posted by AragornElessar86

I also leave them on just in case any mold or beetles develop. The cello will help keep it from spreading.

Beetles can and will chew through the cello. The cello is porous, so air is exchanged, however at a more limited level. This is one of the most debated questions in all of cigar smoking hobby and touches on another highly debated topic "marrying of flavors".

Un less you are really interested in trying to age your cigars for considerable time frame (30+ years), there won't be a noticable difference between a cello wrapped and naked cigar. Although the cello does keep the cigar from being damaged if you handle them frequently.

[Marlboro Cigars-cl]

"You just made a big cigar purchase and rushed home to put your new sticks in the humidor. Now the age old question: do you or do you not take the cigars out of the cellophane before putting them away? This has plagued cigar collectors for years. From online forums to industry publications, the proper way to store cigars has been a topic of heated debate. For years I have experimented in storage concepts and have done extensive research on the subject. In all my experimentation, I have arrived at one truth when it comes to the cellophane debate: it is a matter of preference!

Leaving the Cellophane On:
Contrary to popular belief, humidity will reach your cigars when you leave the cello on. The plastic used by cigar manufacturers is permeable, enabling a certain level of moisture and air to circulate in and out of the protective cover. Otherwise, a micro-climate would be created inside the cellophane, and the cigars would be more susceptible to mold. Since humidity will reach your cigars with or without the cellophane, there are many reasons to leave it on.

Protection From Other Cigars: Tobacco gets its flavor and characteristics from oils that escape from the leaf and remain on the surface. The oils from the various tobacco leaves inside the cigar meld and marry with each other to create balance and give each blend a unique profile. Storing different brands without cellophane right next to one another can produce the same marrying effect on a much larger scale. The result is that over time, many of the various brands will start to change and take on one uniform taste.
Protection From You: The oils that form on each of your cigars are also at risk from over-handling. Every time you pick up a cigar and come into direct contact with the tobacco, the oils rub off on your skin. Once lost, these oils can take a great deal of time to replenish, and will affect the overall smoking experience when the time comes to enjoy your cigar.

Protection From the Elements: As you can see, cigars that have been removed from their cellophane are at higher of losing both flavor and aroma. However, aside from these changes, cellophane also protects against physical damage that can occur when moving your cigars from place to place or dropping them in your pocket as you head out for the night. After tobacco ferments, it becomes much less pliable, and it takes very little to tear or damage the delicate wrapper. Any damage changes the way a cigar burns, resulting in a dramatically altered taste.


Taking the Cellophane Off:
At this point, you are probably asking yourself, "Why would anyone ever want to take the cellophane off their cigars before storing them?" Well, the cellophane can actually inhibit the aging of your favorite smokes.
Aging: Once rolled, cigars complete their final fermentation in aging rooms, then are boxed and shipped to retail stores around the world. Next, the cigars begin the first of as many as three maturation periods that are characterized by the breaking down of tannins and the marrying of oils. During these stages, the cigar settles into a more refined taste. Depending on the tobacco used to make the cigar, this process can take as long as 50 years. However, if cigars are kept in cellophane, this process is slowed by as much as 60 percent. Additionally, after several years in cellophane, the emitting oils and by-products of the maturation can make the cellophane less breathable, and your cigars will be susceptible to mold.

Maintaining Steady Humidity: While cellophane is breathable, it is not ideal for maintaining the best possible climate for your cigars when they enter your humidor. Once a cigar levels out at a constant humidity, the tobacco absorbs and releases moisture in an effort to maintain equilibrium and consistency in your humidor. This can be more difficult with an added layer of cellophane encasing your sticks.
Tradition: Cellophane is relatively new to cigars, as it was first introduced by JC Newman (makers of Diamond Crown and Cuesta Rey) in the 1930’s. Prior to that time, only a small handful of cigars came in packaging, which ranged from foil to tissue paper. In fact, to this day, no hand-rolled premiums are imported from Cuba in protective cellophane.
Which method is right for you? In the end, it all depends on what type of cigar smoker you consider yourself to be. If you anticipate traveling and handling your cigars to some degree, then you should keep your cigars in cellophane. However, if you intend on aging a limited variety of brands for an extended period of time and want them at their best, it is smarter to remove the cellophane before storing them. Nevertheless, keep in mind that aging requires patience and organization because the cigars should not be over-handled and must be separated to avoid cross-marrying of the different blends in your collection. This does not necessarily have to be a black and white issue. Many aficionados will buy a box of cigars and store half of them "naked" for aging, and keep the remainder in cellophane for added protection. Just keep in mind that regardless of your preference, each method has its advantages."

|Taken from cigar.com|.

[dHUTCH]

some of these threads lately..........i'm like are we on a dating forum or something?! neways....

I think whether they stay in the cello or not is totally up to the person who own the sticks. I have some in cello and some not.....mainly I'm too lazy to unwrap them and/or I think the cello offers good protection during handling.

[Tha Criddler]

Originally Posted by Maduro PiPs

Unwrapped if they are either in a humi with their family (same brand), in a box in a cooler or if you will be smoking them soon.

Cello on if they are grouped in a humi with multiple different cigars/brands. Over time the flavors will marry and you wouldn't want that.

I agree w/ this statement 100%
It's the rule not an option!

[FoZzMaN-cl]

Originally Posted by Maduro PiPs

Unwrapped if they are either in a humi with their family (same brand), in a box in a cooler or if you will be smoking them soon.

Cello on if they are grouped in a humi with multiple different cigars/brands. Over time the flavors will marry and you wouldn't want that.

Agreed - tho not necessarily about the Marrying of Flavors thing...

If I'm grabbing one out of a bunch of the same, I'll just grab off the top - not pick through them.

If I have 1s & 2s all mixed together, I'll end up jostling them around trying to decide which one I want. Uncello'd, they'd take too much damage.

[tobacmon]

[SIZE="6"]Huh!!!![/SIZE]

Originally Posted by dHUTCH

some of these threads lately..........i'm like are we on a dating forum or something?! neways....

I think whether they stay in the cello or not is totally up to the person who own the sticks. I have some in cello and some not.....mainly I'm too lazy to unwrap them and/or I think the cello offers good protection during handling.

[discdog-cl]

Originally Posted by FoZzMaN

Agreed - tho not necessarily about the Marrying of Flavors thing...

If I'm grabbing one out of a bunch of the same, I'll just grab off the top - not pick through them.

If I have 1s & 2s all mixed together, I'll end up jostling them around trying to decide which one I want. Uncello'd, they'd take too much damage.

I'll agree with this one so I don't have to agree with Pips. lol
Also, as Squid stated, cello will not in any way,shape or form even slow down a beetle from decimating your stash. Vigilance is the only thing that can do that, and even that is not guaranteed.

[Maduro PiPs]

Originally Posted by discdog

I'll agree with this one so I don't have to agree with Pips. lol
Also, as Squid stated, cello will not in any way,shape or form even slow down a beetle from decimating your stash. Vigilance is the only thing that can do that, and even that is not guaranteed.

CLOWN!