Reevzy Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 Going back a little while ago, I snagged myself a PSP box of San Cristobal El Principe AME MAR 13. I've smoked a couple and to me they are like a little black forest cake, rich! However, about a month ago I took a couple around to smoke with a mate and they went out on us God knows how many times. I was just about to go and grab one now to see how they are and they just feel soft and spongy and well...... wet. They've got plenty of those dark splotchy bits on them but they don't have a sheen on the wrapper. I keep an esky (cooler if you will) at 65% and I've never seen it above 22 degrees. I've got 9 boxes of cigars in there and everything else, including the D4 I'm smoking now are performing great. Nothing of tremendous age, they're all around one or two years old but these Principes are as if they're living in a different environment. Any ideas? Should I dry box them for a while? It's tricky lately here in Melbourne cause the humidity is up and down like a yo yo.
polarbear Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I'd try dry boxing them for around 24 hours for a start. If your esky and the beads are doing their job then the ambient RH shouldn't matter but the extreme fluctuating temp you poor Melbourneites are dealing with ATM might have something to do with it
Reevzy Posted February 8, 2014 Author Posted February 8, 2014 Well going back a few months now, some kind gentleman on these forums suggested the idea of Techni ice eskies if I wanted to go down that path. Last summer my poor desktop humidor was getting as high as 35 degrees in there. So the techni ice (60L I think) has seen temps between 16 and 22, I'm pretty happy with that so I have faith in this esky but as you said, with the crazy Melbourne temps and humidity lately, it's very hard to pick your times to dry box, it's almost like putting your cigars in a sauna if you get your days wrong. 40 degrees in the arvo and bang, a cool change can drop it down to as low as 17 degrees. I'm trying to smoke cigars here!!
Maplepie Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 if i didn't know better, i'd say the 'wetness' is caused by oils and the sponginess is underfilling...... but yea, like the above says: dry box them and see what transpires
Reevzy Posted February 8, 2014 Author Posted February 8, 2014 Yeah that's what I was thinking. I've only just been lucky enough to recently get my hands on my first few boxes of PSP so I thought it might be oils but we'll see what happens. 1
Rye Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I have an idea! Ship a box to a worthy Canuck that is going through the absolute, and complete opposite right now! We have -27c and my hygrometers read "---EE---" when I leave them out for a night! Ahh, whether it's weather, or young cigars, I'm sure they will get delicious in no time for you!
CaptainQuintero Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I just picked up a cab of RASS that while not wet, have that freshly rolled moisture to them. I wouldnt do anything too drastic humidity wise, take it slow and let them adjust to your humi fir a month or so, keep an eye out for mould just in case. Treat them carefully and they should be fine and you'll end up with a superb juice cigar down the road! PSP tend to have a lot of oil too, more oil tends to need longer rest in my experience but means you should have a lot richer cigar down the road
Smallclub Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 if i didn't know better, i'd say the 'wetness' is caused by oils and the sponginess is underfilling...... PSP selection, underfilled? I doubt it…
Maplepie Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 PSP selection, underfilled? I doubt it… ergo: 'if i didn't know any better' but then again, habanos quality control IS starting to get shittier and shittier. fake bands in cohiba boxes, RYJ reserva not being what it's worth, even some underfilled D4s in the past few years. or maybe it's just the batch that's sent to Canada that has those issues (damn us and our crap end of the stick eh?)
Orion21 Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 This is just my observation, but the darker the wrapper the more flame retardent they seem to be. It used to be that the EL cigars had these wrappers that were notorious for being fireproof. It now seems they have trickled all the way down to the little guys. However, some cigars seem to hold more moisture than others. Also, if you are smoking in a humid environment - taking all of this and adding it together - could lead to the issue you have been having. Cheers and happy smoking!
Maplepie Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 This is just my observation, but the darker the wrapper the more flame retardent they seem to be. It used to be that the EL cigars had these wrappers that were notorious for being fireproof.! Yes. Scientifically as well. Maduro holds more oils and as a result, it's smoother and less harsh. More oils = less flammable. Try setting cooking oil on fire! Cohiba Maduro 5s are evidence of this. Needs so much dry boxing to have a good burn... I also agree with the LEs being darker. Not sure why that even is. Perhaps something to do with the fermentation whilst ageing in Cuban environments?
johnhenry Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Open the box and let it rest in your humi for a month,there was a vendor that I used to buy from that always over humidified his cigars for shipment . That would do the trick for me.
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