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Posted

could not agree more. surely they have been done to death.

But... then again... 'Merica.

It's one of a few curses we have to suffer through.

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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

Posted

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!

"Oh piss boy!"

"It's good to be da king."

Wilkey

  • Like 1
Posted

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

I think it was to inject a little moisture into cigars that were on the dry side as humidity wasn't that easy to regulate. But I'm guessing a lot of it was just down to copycatting and trend more than any hard practical reason.

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Posted

Lick 'em if you got 'em...

In extremely dry climates this is probably a good approach to avoid wrapper explosions.

Posted

I know people used to cut a potato in half and put that in their Humidors back before gels and beads and the like.

Sort makes you wonder about all the arguments about the correct storage RH when you think that for most of the time cigars have been around humidification consisted of what ever was cheap, moist and plentiful

  • Like 1
Posted

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

Wilkey

First thing that came to mind!

Posted

No worries, always happy to expand.

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

  • hold cigars head up at a slight angle
  • move the cigars gently under water stream for 10-ish seconds making sure the entire wrapper is washed over
  • wipe off beaded or bulk water with fingers
  • roll up gently in paper towel for 30 - 60 seconds, a little more is no problem
  • unroll, let surface dry out just a bit, usually setting things up, getting a drink, etc. does it
  • Light and smoke as usual
Wilkey
I'm finding this a little hard to reconcile. Isn't it counter-intuitive to apply any rapid changes in humidity ( or Temp for that matter)!

Do the cigars really still smoke ok after soaking them?

Posted

I concur with the opinion that the copper is all about 'sealing' the humidor. Lots of other kitchen cabinets (remember the old built in flour bins?) were tinned lined for the same purpose. Of course the poor (or no) door seals and leaky seams made the overall seal very inefficient, but it was still better than putting your cigar (or flour) next to the bare wood itself. If they'd had cheap and available humidistats they likely would have done even more, but this was in the day before flexible silicone seals and such so a copper lined box was better for maintaining freshness in bread, flour, or cigars than nothing at all.

Posted

Tin/copper for cigars , flour bins , fridges etc ... Just a guess ... Would have been to keep out insects/mice or whatever .

The idea of keeping cigars fresh and for that matter aging ... Is a fairly recent idea .

However I am just speculating and may be wrong

Derrek

Posted

I'm finding this a little hard to reconcile. Isn't it counter-intuitive to apply any rapid changes in humidity ( or Temp for that matter)!

Do the cigars really still smoke ok after soaking them?

If you search the forum for watering your cigar loads should come up.

Basically the wrapper is still water proof, you run it under the tap making sure no water gets in the foot for about 4 seconds and dab dry. It sometimes does nothing, sometimes it makes the cigar taste freshly rolled, sometimes you get a better burn.

It's hard to make concrete claims due to the individual nature of cigars. It's a fun little experiment though with no downsides (As long as you don't get water in the foot).

Posted

I'm finding this a little hard to reconcile. Isn't it counter-intuitive to apply any rapid changes in humidity ( or Temp for that matter)!

Do the cigars really still smoke ok after soaking them?

It is not counter intuitive if you consider the direction of change and not just change per se. if you expand the internals but leave the skin brittle, the cigar will pop upon warming. if you make the skin pliable first, then it will accommodate expansion of the internals as the cigar heats up from combustion.

Wilkey

Posted

It is not counter intuitive if you consider the direction of change and not just change per se. if you expand the internals but leave the skin brittle, the cigar will pop upon warming. if you make the skin pliable first, then it will accommodate expansion of the internals as the cigar heats up from combustion.

Wilkey

Makes sense to me. The little things a guy picks up off this site is just amazing.

Posted

It is not counter intuitive if you consider the direction of change and not just change per se. if you expand the internals but leave the skin brittle, the cigar will pop upon warming. if you make the skin pliable first, then it will accommodate expansion of the internals as the cigar heats up from combustion.

Wilkey

But isn't a brittle wrapper a sign that it has been stored too dry? Surely, if it has been stored correctly then you shouldn't need to run it under a tap?

Or is it more of a construction issue? If crap wrapper has been used then you can counter that with some added water?

Cheers

Posted

But isn't a brittle wrapper a sign that it has been stored too dry? Surely, if it has been stored correctly then you shouldn't need to run it under a tap?

Or is it more of a construction issue? If crap wrapper has been used then you can counter that with some added water?

Cheers

Too dry is really a matter of taste until you start getting in the 40 rh zone where I've found.

Flavours have been more and more intense right down to around 50-52 for me, at which point I stopped going lower as the wrapper were becoming too delicate.

If you can keep your smoking stock at a very low rh to your tastes, and keep your wrappers supple by watering then you have the potential for the best of both worlds.

Posted
If crap wrapper has been used then you can counter that with some added water?

Yes to a certain extent. I do it systematicaly with Piedra and Quinteros, and both taste better and burn slower. The difference can even be spectacular with the smaller Petit Cazadore.

Posted

 

Yes to a certain extent. I do it systematicaly with Piedra and Quinteros, and both taste better and burn slower. The difference can even be spectacular with the smaller Petit Cazadore.

Do you do it with cigars that are top quality? Or just with the lower quality ones to bring their quality up?

Posted

Do you do it with cigars that are top quality? Or just with the lower quality ones to bring their quality up?

When I do it with a Monte PE, for instance, I can't notice a difference in taste.

  • Like 1
Posted

Perhaps if you do any of these sudden moisture apps but smoke right away you may get the results you want. I found that once in a while trying to revive a cigar and returning to a small box humidor, the thing would split up the side (this was a while ago before I had a set up like I have now). Even still, when I do this sometimes, the side of the cigar go wonky as I smoke it after applying moisture.

One time, in a fit of hippy creativity we ran a finger of port along the side on one and rum on the other. I think it was more the aroma from the outside, not the burn. Not bad. A bit on the Backwoods style perhaps but WTF.

Posted

But isn't a brittle wrapper a sign that it has been stored too dry? Surely, if it has been stored correctly then you shouldn't need to run it under a tap?

Or is it more of a construction issue? If crap wrapper has been used then you can counter that with some added water?

Cheers

If a cigar is in poor condition, no amount of water rinsing may turn it into something enjoyable. I was speaking in the context of preventing a well-kept cigar, especially one with a delicate wrapper, from exploding when smoked in a cold/dry environment. Either side of winter here in the Mid-Atlantic region is when this applies.

Yes to a certain extent. I do it systematicaly with Piedra and Quinteros, and both taste better and burn slower. The difference can even be spectacular with the smaller Petit Cazadore.

I quite enjoy JLP and Quinteros as is but have found the Petit Cazadores to be occasionally metallic. Will have to give them a rinse to see if this helps. The wrapper is pretty rugged thus I've never considered rinsing these short little things.

Wilkey

Posted

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

Yes!

If it is bothersome, please contact BJ Clinton (Bill Jefferson) C/O Little Saint James Island home for relocated teens and ask for Jeff.

-Piggy

  • Like 2
Posted

I don't see how rinsing the wrapper of the cigar would have an impact on the taste of the cigar. Are we talking the taste of the tobacco on the lips/tongue or are we talking taste in the smoke?

Posted

I don't see how rinsing the wrapper of the cigar would have an impact on the taste of the cigar. Are we talking the taste of the tobacco on the lips/tongue or are we talking taste in the smoke?

The smoke. My thought is that the additional water has two linked effects. First, it slows down the heating of the wrapper leaf. Second, more moisture means more capacity to carry and slow down the dissipation of aroma components.

You can demonstrate this for yourself by taking a strip of paper towel and lighting it on fire. Note the way the smoke smells and carries. Second, take a same-sized strip of paper towel and dampen it before lighting. How does the smoke seem?

Wilkey

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