paindoc70

?Exactly. Condensation is the main concern. Cigars left on my doorstep in 90 degree heat placed in the freezer directly has led to this. If they slowly equilibrate over several days, no harm done and my sticks come out great. May not be an issue for those in colder climates.

My concern with straight to freezer is condensation developing. The goal is to gradually lower to freezing temps and gradually raise to storage conditions. Fridge, Freezer, Fridge, Coolidor for me. Rapid freezing may cause condensation that freezes and then upon the thaw, damages your sticks or may cause mold to develop. 4-6 weeks to your door, so what's a few days more for the RH changes to gently equilibrate?

Exactly. Too afraid I will cause damage in a vacuum bag. 2 days in fridge at 37 degrees, 2 days at zero F in freezer, fridge for 2 days then coolidor at 65 thereafter. No science behind it but I open coolidor and fan in fresh air once or twice a week. Boveda packs at 65% and cedar shelves keep RH in a good range. Anyone else feel their sticks need to breathe?

Been there several times when in NY. Shame. Not easy to smoke at Nat when visiting and got to where you couldn't even smoke outside in NYC. But now weed is everywhere which seems to be OK. Crime now increasing and with COVID etc., it will be some time before I will visit again. The pleasure of a good cigar will be something for my back porch only and the occasional trip to Vegas.

? It happened to me! Bolivar Royal Coronas from European LCDH store 8 years ago. Desktop humidor got a little too warm and little too humid. Suddenly the "plume" I was examining moved. Little white dots moving all around. Hatching beetles. Fridge for 24 hrs, froze to 0 degrees F for 3 days then fridge for 24 hrs then room temp. Wiped down humidor with alcohol and dried. Never had another problem and those sticks smoked great for years. I now freeze all my stock before introduction into the general population and store in a coolidor at 65 degrees and 65 %RH. All good now. Its worth the small effort for your peace of mind IMO. The box tells no tales of its various insults suffered in transit.

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."- Winston Churchill

Wow. Those last few pix...Think I have a chubby...

Ask your wife, Girly Man!!!

Gorgeous. Intrigued. I'm in.

Had to chuckle about the Manzanilla comments Rob. Tried and tried to like it but I agree, awful stuff. Hate it. Much like NY Broadway if you ask me. Fashionable to say you like it but really, no one does if they are honest. A relic from an era when we didn't have television or movies. Manzanilla is terrible with cigars of all types. Now Pedro Ximenez can really sing with a cigar, so not all bad in the Sherry department for me. Cheers from the ATL.

I have had all three. The 20 is fantastic but a bit pricey. Amazing complexity and one of the best boubons around. If you can swing it it is well worth it and it is apparently all Stitzel Weller stock instead of the new Buffalo Trace version. The 15 is also fantastic. more vibrant and a bit less wood on the palate, but a better value. Stay away from the 12. It is decent but overpriced and quite average for having the Pappy Label.

Yes, and the basic principle is that they don't dilute your whiskey as ice does. Personally, much of the whiskey I collect and drink is in the 107 to 120 proof range, which I find much more flavorful if you can take the heat. In most cases, you can find ice molds for large cubes (approx. 3X3 inches) at wine shops/bed & bath shops etc. If you go to this trouble, please also use filtered or spring water so it doesn't affect the nose or flavor of the spirit in any way. This gives you as much ice volume with as little surface area as possible, cooling your drink, but melting much more slowly than multiple cubes. Also, as a fine cigar evolves in flavor profile as you smoke it, many fine whiskeys change flavor profiles as they dilute. In other words, gradual dilution in SOME whiskeys (good ones) can actually evolve and develop new flavors and thus complexity as the proof diminishes. Of course in many lower proof offerings, dilution simply leaves it flaccid and weak. These are the ones where I think the stones makes sense. Hope this helps.

Just joined FOH mostly based on some great information learned from the forum and the entertaining but spot-on reviews by Rob, Ken and Smithy. Tired of the overly biased Cigar Aficionado reviews that cater to advertisers instead of the customer. Hopefully I can contribute as well. Outside of cigars, I enjoy rare American small batch bourbon/whiskey collecting as well. Maybe if acceptable I will post some reviews? Recently set up a Vinotemp 28 Coolidor which is AWESOME and holding 68 degrees and 70% humidity. Finally, prior to the Coolidor, my desktop humi had some unwelcome visitors (bugs) and I have some experience in dealing with these critters. If anyone needs advice I think I successfully saved the cigars. Love the video reviews, guys, and keep 'em coming. Cheers!