How often do you hit a "dud"?

[Joshtupps]

I had an absolute nightmare last week.

It was the first day off in a run of 9 for me. I wake up with the house to myself as the Mrs. has gone off to work.  With my morning coffee I decide that today is going to be a cigar day, I'll sit in the sunshine and smoke as much as I can.  So I naturally reach for a CoRo from a recently purchased box (JAN), out comes the OBM SEP15 box of CoRos and I pick the first one that I can reach. I sit back, relax and start on what I'm hoping will be a beautiful 45 minutes.  How WRONG I was, now I've had young cigars before, but this was just dreadful....dry smoke on the tongue, bitter flavours.  It was so bad that I questioned if they were even genuine.  I pulled another out and "dissected" it, no issues there and the box codes all check out.  Very frustrating indeed.  I put it down to the "dud" in the box (Cuban QC?).

I needed a positive off the back of that.  So I made another coffee, and pulled out a ULA MAY15 BBF which have been smoking beautifully recently to lift my spirits.  Within seconds of lighting it I knew something was wrong, horrible bitter flavours and mouth drying smoke just like the CoRo! I couldn't believe my luck..  I checked my wineador and it was sitting at a stable 20c and 65%, as it has been since I got it.  It put me off my cigars for a week or so...

Until today, when I pulled out an RAE AGO14 RASS, and it was spot on! As it should be. I followed it with another BFF, and it was exactly how it should be again.

Am I going crazy or did I just have a "bad day" as far as luck of the draw goes? Has anyone else had experiences like this!?

Tupps

 

[planetary]

Including plugged cigars and wind tunnels, about 5%, I'd guess?

[Orion21]

Sometimes it just happens.  I remember last summer I had a run of about 4-5 disappointing cigars.  All different marcas etc.  I chalk it up to a body chemistry issue for me because when all these different cigars taste "bad" in the same way most likely it's "us" vs the cigars.  This has been discussed sparingly in the past, but I absolutely think is plays a role in our cigar smoking.  Taste buds are fickle things and a lot can affect them in a positive or negative way.   

[PigFish]

Just now, Orion21 said:

Sometimes it just happens.  I remember last summer I had a run of about 4-5 disappointing cigars.  All different marcas etc.  I chalk it up to a body chemistry issue for me because when all these different cigars taste "bad" in the same way most likely it's "us" vs the cigars.  This has been discussed sparingly in the past, but I absolutely think is plays a role in our cigar smoking.  Tasty buds are a fickle thing and a lot can effect them in a positive or negative way.   

I think you are right on the money here my friend. I think people can get smoked out! I don't think it is a term relative to the amount we smoke either, while it certainly can be.

I see these events as smoking low spots and whether it be body chemistry or sun spots, I think that these random cycle changes in taste exist, both in and outside of cigar smoking.

Great point! -R

[luv2fly]

I agree with the Pig and Orion.  Maybe there is a "bad" cigar in the box but in my experience it has been ME that was the problem.  According to the wife that is a fact!!!

Taste buds fried, sinus issues, cigs, that time of the...., well you get it.  

[skalls]

The first and last cigars in my 10ct box of Lusi's were amazing cigars.  Only 2 to 2 1/2 years old when they were smoked but amazing, easily 96 pointers.  The middle 8 were all over the place.  But only one was a legit dud.  Overfilled to the point the draw was like trying to suck air through a 2x4.

My box of HDM EEs has been maddening.  Good cigar but have some that are underfilled which just straight up don't want to burn properly.

[wade1979]

I get hit every 6 months with a bad case of palate fatigue. Every stick I taste just seems to be at 60% of potential. I often go back to basics with a Monte 2. My palate and mind seem to always remember  and then agree on those classic monte flavors. Palate fatigue seems to fade after. 

[MrGlass]

Construction issues aside, I agree with the others that often the issue is me.  And sometimes it's my own expectations of what the cigar will be.

I can remember when I was just getting started and I bought some singles to take away for a weekend.  I had been gifted a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 2 before leaving, and that cigar turned out to be one of the greatest cigars I have ever had (even to this day).  It was cigar nirvana, so creamy and full of flavour, and I immediately thought I had mastered this whole cigar smoking business.  But then the three cigars I took away that weekend, a Punch Punch, Vegas Robaina Unicos and an El Rey del Mundo Choix Suprême all ended up terrible disappointments.  They weren't bad cigars - the problem was me.  I smoked each of them with the expectation they would be that Epicure as well, something they could never live up to.

I know better now, but I've still had days like you described where my expectations got the better of me, and when that happens even an old faithful can do nothing but let me down.

[NSXCIGAR]

Somewhat related, the phenomenon I've been finding over the last several years is that out of the average box, 15-20 sticks are standard good/very good, 1-5 are a bit worse or  total "duds", and 1-2 are WAY better than the rest. The one that really struck me in recent memory was a box of 2014 Monte 4. 1 stick out of that box was tremendous--an easy 95/96 pointer--the best Monte 4 I've had in a decade. Those are the ones that make me wonder what the hell HSA is doing down there.

But as for straight "duds", they happen all the time. Can't recall a box that didn't have at least on stick that was significantly worse than the rest or seriously lacking objectively.

[JohnS]

In late February-March of this year, Sydney had a record run of 34 days in a row where the temperature reached 26°C (79°F) every day. There was one mid-week night towards the end of March where I pulled out 3 cigars (San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe, Trinidad Reyes and Montecristo No.4) all were terribly bitter, unsmokable. Then again, I didn't think the 90+rh would have such an effect on my smoking experience, but it did!

[planetary]

On the topic of body chemistry, I have had bad allergies this spring (and was taking Zyrtec). I noticed that 7 or so cigars I smoked over a 4 week period in particular were bland and shallow. 

The allergies receded a bit (and I stopped taking the Zyrtec) and though I've been a little bit more stuffy or sneezy, cigars have tasted much better!

[Joshtupps]

To be fair, living in Hong Kong it often reaches 32c and 90% humidity, probably not the best conditions for smoking outdoors!  I'll have to persuade the girlfriend to let me start smoking indoors, anyone have any hints and tips on how to approach the subject? Shopping?

Cheers for the replies guys.

Tupps.

 

[PapaDisco]

On June 15, 2016 at 2:59 AM, Joshtupps said:

To be fair, living in Hong Kong it often reaches 32c and 90% humidity, probably not the best conditions for smoking outdoors!  I'll have to persuade the girlfriend to let me start smoking indoors, anyone have any hints and tips on how to approach the subject? Shopping?

Cheers for the replies guys.

Tupps.

 

Ha ha . . . you're so screwed!   Maybe just find a way to work the Red Divan into your weekly schedule.  Expensive I know, but it is indoors and they keep their stock (cigars and drink) in fine order.

I have a similar problem in Saigon (temp and humidity-wise, not wife-wise  ) and smoking outdoors there is problematic because of the conditions.  Fortunately there are many indoor cigar lounges and they often will let you smoke your own without a cutting fee (but I always buy drinks at the very least).  Saigon is where I experience most of my cigar fails, and they are very common there: 25-40%.  In San Francisco I almost never get a harsh cigar or a plug.  Some of that is owing to the friendly local conditions, but much of it is also due to smoking almost entirely Rob-inspected stock.  

If it's got Rob's fingerprints on it, you know it's got to be good!  

[semifan1]

Had a bad run with some Hoyos. decided I would leave them alone for awhile. decided to try  a San Juan and it was the same had to keep relighting it. Pain in the ass, but the last 2/3 came on and was able to enjoy it.

[eswary]

I exclusively smoked CC's in and around 98-2001. I found a lot of inconsistent cigars within a box and even whole boxes that didn't smoke well/plugged/poor construction. Needless to say I decided to give up CC's and started smoking NC's.

The past 3 yrs I am back to purchasing and smoking CC's. They are so good now. I rarely run into anything like back when I first got into them. I feel as a whole the island is KILLING IT! Im really enjoying this new experience of getting back into them. Much better in every aspect of the smoking experience(aside from RE prices at times, J/K).

These are solely based off my opinions and my own personal experiences. Which mean nothing...lol

Eric

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[TomF]

On 6/14/2016 at 4:07 PM, Orion21 said:

Sometimes it just happens.  I remember last summer I had a run of about 4-5 disappointing cigars.  All different marcas etc.  I chalk it up to a body chemistry issue for me because when all these different cigars taste "bad" in the same way most likely it's "us" vs the cigars.  This has been discussed sparingly in the past, but I absolutely think is plays a role in our cigar smoking.  Taste buds are fickle things and a lot can affect them in a positive or negative way.   

I have had this experience. Just recently I had a 2 day stretch when nothing I tried tasted good. Just hot, bitter and dirty. That was about a week ago. I took a break from smoking for a day and ever since then it's all been sunshine and roses. Nothing has been bad. Had to be my palate.