Dry Box orders from internet retailers?

[Ndimarco]

Sorry if this has been posted before, ( I could have thought it was), but I searched "dry boxing" and didn't find it.

I have started buying boxes, and I usually give the boxes a few months in the coolidor (65%) before cracking into them. However, I find myself wanting to try one or two when I first get them. I guess its the little kid at christmas syndrome.

My question is, does anyone on here dry box a cigar or two when they get them directly from an online retailer? If so, for how long?
I currently have a humidor that is around 50% and was thinking about using this to get the humidity down on a few sticks. Whats your guys' thoughts?

Thanks and sorry for the possible repost in advance!

[madurolover]

I drybox almost everything I smoke. When getting a shipment I feel it is best to wait a couple of weeks to let the cigars "settle down" from their journey. I would probably suggest against dryboxing shipped cigars right away as the huge change in humidity could cause some wrapper issues such as cracking. Remember that most online retailers ship much wetter than we smoke at.

[scottw]

I'm with Donnie here as well, I let them rest for about 3 weeks before smoking but will do so in a humi at about 65 Rh. Then if i want to get into them after the rest, I'll dry box one or two for 2-3 days and fire up.

[Cyber]

The last 2 shipments I got from CI, the cigars were so dry that just gently squeezing them was enough to crack the wrapper. I smoked one from the first shipment and it was like smoking dry grass, they vastly improved with a week in the humi.

[Herf N Turf]

This is actually a very good question. By overwhelming margains, the sticks I buy online are over humidified. However, it's summer and it's blinkin' HOT! Eight months out of the year, I'd say, "Yeah, dry box that new stick for 2 days and fire it up!" Summer shipments are a different kettle of fish.

The best rule of thumb is basically what Donnie said. Give everything you buy around 2wks to settle into its new home. Then decide whether you humi and climate are compatible, or you need to dry box.

Anymore, when it comes to storage, I trust no one but me.

[MrMusicMan1]

Originally Posted by madurolover

I drybox almost everything I smoke. When getting a shipment I feel it is best to wait a couple of weeks to let the cigars "settle down" from their journey. I would probably suggest against dryboxing shipped cigars right away as the huge change in humidity could cause some wrapper issues such as cracking. Remember that most online retailers ship much wetter than we smoke at.

I find CI, Cigars.com ship much wetter than we smoke. Even getting down to FL in the heat parts of the cigar are too wet others are good. They need to acclimate. But, gradually acclimate usually anything too fast will cause the wrapper to crack. I open all my boxes then store. Sometimes I can't resist the Christmas morning feeling!

[Architeuthis]

With box purchases, I usually let them sit in my Squid-A-Dor for about six months before I smoke any of them. I've just gotten into a method of purchasing/storing that lets them sit for that long before I smoke them...

[Sigarz]

when I buy a box I usually put them into my humi at 70% but I try not to smoke them for a few weeks at least. usually I buy cigars for future smoking.

[Phantom57]

With a few exceptions, most cigars I get online are dry, not wet. I let them rest several weeks in the humidor anyway, so doesn't matter.

[Cyber]

Thinking about what was said, I am in Texas and it is 100f+ out side with a RH in the 20% - 30% range and the postman does not get to my house tell around 5pm so I guess all day in a truck that can get to 120f with a low RH can really dry them out fast.

[Ndimarco]

Well thanks for all the BAD news guys! I was hoping I'd get the Yeah! Sure! Dry box em for a day or two and they will smoke fantastic! LOL. Honestly I knew this answer before I asked, but couldn't help it.

A lot of good points were brought up, and I feel safer letting the sticks sit for a week or two. I guess that just means I have to buy MORE often so I have sticks to smoke on a rotating schedule.... now if I could only convince the wife....

[Phantom57]

Originally Posted by Cyber

Thinking about what was said, I am in Texas and it is 100f+ out side with a RH in the 20% - 30% range and the postman does not get to my house tell around 5pm so I guess all day in a truck that can get to 120f with a low RH can really dry them out fast.

A lot of smokers put a new box of cigars in the humidor and see the humidity jump, and think the cigars were wet. In fact the volume of air in the humidor has suddenly been reduced and the humidifier becomes more effficient short term, raising the humidity. Over a few days the humidity will drop.

[Ndimarco]

Well I went against the advice here and tried it on a Rocky Patel Summer Collection 08 lancero. Picked up a box of devil site and they looked so good I couldnt resist. Now the wrapper did crack slightly when I cut it but it wasn't horrible.

The cigar smoked good, and was really tasty. If anyone hasn't tried one, I'd recommend them. Its mild to med bodied, with some really good flavors of sandlewood, and something slightly sweet I can't put my finger on.

I won't be touching the rest of the box for a few weeks, because I think these are gonna get really good with some age on em and will do better after they settle down for a few weeks in proper humidity.

[eyesack]

Sandlewood you say? Sounds very interesting! I've been meaning to grab some RP's but haven't had the cash as of late. They'll def be my next purchase.
Oh and grab yourself a bundle of La Vieja Habanas off of CI for 30 bucks or whatever they go for nowadays. They're what I smoke while my cigars are acclimating. Can't beat a ~1 dollar smoke! and they're satisfying! i have corojo coronas hehe