Cigar knowledge


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It seems that some of the old ways are being forgotten.

I remember my great grandpa use to always lick the wrapper of his cigar. The whole thing... for what seemed several minutes. Not sure why, I can guess, but never heard it from the horses mouth - I was just knee-high to a grasshopper back then so didn't really care.

Also, I see a bunch of antique humidors that are lined with copper. Again, not sure why.

Two examples of old ways that are no longer seen. Any ideas on these? Any other old-timer cigar tricks no longer used?

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Are we really doomed to suffer these endless "Monica" jokes in every thread about cigar's wetness, 15 years later?

Anyone else look at that and thinking chamber pot stand? Wilkey

I'm guessing the licking thing achieves the same result as "rinsing" a cigar before smoking. I rinse my cigars before I smoke them if I get the chance.

As for the copper, I imagine it was for availability of the metal and looks more than any real science.

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I'm guessing the licking thing achieves the same result as "rinsing" a cigar before smoking. I rinse my cigars before I smoke them if I get the chance.

Mmm could you explain what you mean by "rinsing" cigars? I don't know that I've heard of that before.

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Mmm could you explain what you mean by "rinsing" cigars? I don't know that I've heard of that before.

In cool and/or dry weather, smoking a cigar outdoors can result in cracking or splitting of the wrapper especially if it is fine and thin. This occurs because as the tobacco on the inside of the cigar, the filler bunch, heats up, it will expand. If the wrapper can't adjust in time, it will break.

Running a cigar under clear water and then patting dry in a paper towel for 15-30 seconds is often enough to dampen the wrapper such that it gains a bit of elasticity and so can stretch along as the cigar starts to burn.

Since I have been employing this technique, I've never had a wrapper split on me.

As for the copper, aside from repelling garden slugs that might get into your humidor, it's probably just for decorative purposes.

Wilkey

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Hi all,

The reason why they licked the cigars,In the early days of 1900's, was to take off the chemical glues they used In those

days. The reason they used Copper to line their humidors was because they though that It was better to have Copper to

better keep their cigars.That was over In the 40's.

Guy

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In cool and/or dry weather, smoking a cigar outdoors can result in cracking or splitting of the wrapper especially if it is fine and thin. This occurs because as the tobacco on the inside of the cigar, the filler bunch, heats up, it will expand. If the wrapper can't adjust in time, it will break.

Running a cigar under clear water and then patting dry in a paper towel for 15-30 seconds is often enough to dampen the wrapper such that it gains a bit of elasticity and so can stretch along as the cigar starts to burn.

Since I have been employing this technique, I've never had a wrapper split on me.

Interesting. You run it under your faucet or pour out some distilled water on it? Any reason why you wouldn't just wet the paper towel and use that instead? Not criticism, it's curiosity.

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Trying to keep it PG 13 but if memory serves me correct it wasn't her mouth ole dirty Bill was using for a humidor and I've said enough!

He was absolutely using a different orifice on Monica to "wet" his cigars.....

Does that stay within the realm of PG 13?

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What about dipping your cigar in cognac (or brandy).What was the purpose of that?

I almost always do this with the cap before cutting. I like my cigars on the dry-isn side, so to prevent creating a crackhead I simply moisten the cap with the dram of choice.

I have been told it helps to blend the pairing... but I am not so sure this is accurate.

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It seems that some of the old ways are being forgotten.

I remember my great grandpa use to always lick the wrapper of his cigar. The whole thing... for what seemed several minutes. Not sure why, I can guess, but never heard it from the horses mouth - I was just knee-high to a grasshopper back then so didn't really care.

Also, I see a bunch of antique humidors that are lined with copper. Again, not sure why.

Two examples of old ways that are no longer seen. Any ideas on these? Any other old-timer cigar tricks no longer used?

I smoke cigars with a friend in his seventies once a month ...he licks the whole cigar because he thinks it helps with the burn I tell him he is just a very sick old man ..lmao.gif

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A friend said her grandfather simply kept apple cores in his small box style humidor. The natural amount of moisture and the sweet aroma did the trick for him. Dead fruit would not be my way but sounds interesting, especially in the Depression or on "the farm" or whatever.

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Interesting. You run it under your faucet or pour out some distilled water on it? Any reason why you wouldn't just wet the paper towel and use that instead? Not criticism, it's curiosity.

No worries, always happy to expand.

I use the flow from my countertop dual filter water system. What I actually do is as follows:

  1. hold cigars head up at a slight angle
  2. move the cigars gently under water stream for 10-ish seconds making sure the entire wrapper is washed over
  3. wipe off beaded or bulk water with fingers
  4. roll up gently in paper towel for 30 - 60 seconds, a little more is no problem
  5. unroll, let surface dry out just a bit, usually setting things up, getting a drink, etc. does it
  6. Light and smoke as usual

Wilkey

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My wife picked up a copper lined antique humidor for me several years ago.

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Not sure of the practicality as the door does not seal well and there is a hole in the top which held a recessed ashtray.

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Also no apparent humidification device.

My thought on the use of copper is that there may have been a belief it would be more impervious to moisture than wood thus better retaining moisture as it wouldn't be absorbed by the wood.

I haven't as yet actually tested if it would provide any stability so may run a couple of experiments, one in current state and another where I seal the door and hole.

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Anyone else look at that and thinking chamber pot stand? lol3.gif

Wilkey

It would have to for very small children or as just a pissoir, the handle on top would get in the way and the hole is not that big!

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