Half assed Half hearted Half done, Was Zino Right After All?

[PapaDisco]

Man I have been having a run of bad second halves the last 60 days or so. It seems like the majority (vast majority) of my cigars are going harsh/bitter in the second half.

My beloved Punch Punch go from delightful to bitter, burnt rubber in the back half. My R&J Churchills just go blah then bitter, good 'ol PSD4's make it to the final third before lighting my lips up like I've been sucking on a Scotch Bonnet!

The only sticks I've been able to nub in recent memory have been a PL Encanto, one lone 2009 Punch Punch, and the better part of a 2012 Siglo IV, but otherwise everything else has turned into a spicy, burning attack on my tonsils.

Was Zino right after all? Only smoke it half way?

[Rye]

Try purging the cigars as soon as they show signs of bitterness. I've recently been using the flame purge method and it has been working stellar for me.

After knocking off the ash, gently, but with fair force, blow through the cigar for a long duration. After a few seconds, bring the flame from your lighter to the tip of the ash and continue blowing. As the built up tars & moisture are being pushed out, they ignite and oh the pretty colours! I keep the lighter there for a couple seconds, then remove the lighter and continue to blow until the flame (similar to the flame that comes from a torch) extinguishes itself. I also try to rotate the cigar during this process, but that can take some practice. Be sure to hold on to the cigar. I blew one right into a beer once, but that was after several wobbly pops.

Once done, set the cigar down for about a minute to cool, then continue to smoke. Usually the first draw is spectacular and right back on course.

[...]

Seasonal changes can run havoc with cigars. I went through it last spring and have modified my setup to try and curb it. As of now it seems all is good but will wait another month to celebrate

There is hope for you still... all my cigars that had been affected eventually went back to their normal profiles with no perceptible permanent damage.

I'd suggest you take your time and carefully study your setup and find out how susceptible to temperature/moisture fluctuations it is and how to minimize the negative consequences of it. Once fixed, only patience can bring back your cigars to their normal self

[cigaraholic]

I can't get to my copy of Zino's book, it's burried behind a houseguest's things......I'll use my memory...

I think he said you shouldn't relight a cigar that's gone out over halfway smoked.....easy to say when you own a cigar store and sell them for a living. I believe he also said never let your cigar go out. So if you keep it lit you have nothing to relight.

Since this is happening all the time it could be you not the cigars...I don't know how heavy a smoker you are, maybe your palate is hitting a nicotine saturation point and everything goes to crap. Maybe you've changed what your drinking with your cigars since it's Spring.

I'm a very heavy smoker and a bit of a nicotine sissy, so I'm always balancing palate overload with when can I light my next cigar.....a tuff job but.....

For me, halfway thru the last third is usually where I put my cigar down. If it's really tasty the band comes off and hello hot lips.

We all relight cigars we're enjoying...otherwise Rob wouldn't have to remind people not to burn their face off with torch lighters

[PapaDisco]

There's definitely an environmental component to this. It's the start of the hot, rainy season in Vietnam and high humidity/high temps are always tough on our fickle stogies. Usually that manifests itself in difficult burns and bitterness. And of course in the States it's summertime now as well, so I'm guessing most of this is down to the change in seasons.

I'm gonna try Rye's Flaming Purge technique though . . . that sounds like a lot of fun at a party!

[Orion21]

I purge after every ash drop. I haven't tried the flaming variety, but that sound fun!

[FLB03TT]

Smoking environment absolutely affects the experience. We live in Florida most of the year and spend a few months of the summer in Colorado. Cigars NEVER taste as good in Colorado. Temperature doesn't enter into this, since the temperature in each location is quite similar when we are there. I think it's an ambient humidity issue, with altitude, i.e. air density playing a part, as well.

Extremely high humidity also screws up the smoking experience. Colorado frequently has relative humidity in the 30%+/- range in the summer. At 7500 ft. of altitude this combination with 30% humidity turns all cigars a little harsh. All the flavor profiles are still there, but there's just an added level of harshness that doesn't happen in FL. Give me 65%-70% relative humidity at 80 degrees and I find I have the optimal smoking environment.

It seems that predominant conditions similar to those found where the tobacco is cultivated are optimal for smoking the finished product.

[MIKA27]

After a few seconds, bring the flame from your lighter to the tip of the ash and continue blowing. As the built up tars & moisture are being pushed out, they ignite and oh the pretty colours!

.....what are you smoking exactly?

[Rye]

.....what are you smoking exactly?

You mean that wasn't plume dusted all over my cigars???

[CaptainQuintero]

Try purging the cigars as soon as they show signs of bitterness. I've recently been using the flame purge method and it has been working stellar for me.

After knocking off the ash, gently, but with fair force, blow through the cigar for a long duration. After a few seconds, bring the flame from your lighter to the tip of the ash and continue blowing. As the built up tars & moisture are being pushed out, they ignite and oh the pretty colours! I keep the lighter there for a couple seconds, then remove the lighter and continue to blow until the flame (similar to the flame that comes from a torch) extinguishes itself. I also try to rotate the cigar during this process, but that can take some practice. Be sure to hold on to the cigar. I blew one right into a beer once, but that was after several wobbly pops.

Once done, set the cigar down for about a minute to cool, then continue to smoke. Usually the first draw is spectacular and right back on course.

I feel out of breath just reading that! If I pass out giving this a try I'm blaming you!!

[CaptainQuintero]

I've found that the older the cigar the longer you have before the cigar turns hot/nasty

It doesn't have to be decades, 5 years seems to remove it mostly for my tastes.

Sometimes I enjoy it though, eg PLPC

[Optic101]

There's definitely an environmental component to this. It's the start of the hot, rainy season in Vietnam and high humidity/high temps are always tough on our fickle stogies. Usually that manifests itself in difficult burns and bitterness. And of course in the States it's summertime now as well, so I'm guessing most of this is down to the change in seasons.

I'm gonna try Rye's Flaming Purge technique though . . . that sounds like a lot of fun at a party!

Supporting your suggestion PD.

Had the same during Dec/Jan time here when we had a lot of rain and RH went above 80% (outside smoking)

With most of my cigars problems at half way point. Went out, tasteed different, often bitter.

Rye's technique works for me as well, helped to save a lot of smoking time and turned cigars to the better and it is fun.

Unfortunately not all as you can't blow the RH away, and believe me I tried ....

My safest bet was the RASCC during that times.