FOHrensics: Send Us Your Cases!

[MoeFOH]

Many would adhere to the notion that science can set us free, remove all doubts, dispel ancient myths, old wives' tales, furphies, straight out garbage, and just generally clear the hullabaloo over the confusion of it all—everything!

Well, we don’t know about all that. But we do know that when it comes to some of the intricacies of cigars—mould, plume, fakes, humidors, beetles, and so on—there’s a great deal of mystery and conjecture out there.

We feel that science can help.

And so FOHrensics is here to do just that. Yep. We’re going to attempt to solve any mysteries you have surrounding cigars and the cigar culture. So give us your tired-unanswered questions, your poor frustrations, your huddled masses of bewilderment, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your humidor experiences gone awry… Throw everything but the kitchen sink at us. And, like an episode of CSI, we’ll do our best to solve the case. Just without Ted Danson.

To get on-board, simply reply to this topic with your case details, and we’ll select the best one to run with first up. We’ll endeavour to get to them all, but we’ll of course need to priortise them and work through them based on the greatest benefit to the community. Thank you.

[El Presidente]

Love the logo Steve 

[MoeFOH]

35 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Love the logo Steve 

Cheers, Rob. 

[Naug]

Cool!

[99call]

10 hours ago, MoeGreene said:

 

Hello Steve,

We had a recent thread on trying to work out the history the regional (off-shore Spanish) Sancho Panza (vitolas being Ducales, Hidalgos, Escudos). Although we managed to work out the broad stokes, if someone happened to know anyone in Tabaclara, that could shed light on how they came into production, where they were rolled, Cuba or Tenerife? I, and I'm sure a few others would find what you unearth, very interesting.

Cheers, Stefan

 

[Fuzz AI]

What's with Ken's lack of footwear and Rob's shirts?

[Fugu]

What about making the quest for wives tails the first case?... 

[MoeFOH]

8 hours ago, Fugu said:

What about making the quest for wives tails the first case?... 

Ha ha... Dear God. As someone who prides himself on being a spelling nazi, this is mortifying. I'm going to say I was drunk, just testing everyone, and also legitimately interested in the case of married women who grow tails. I might even know one or two of those... Anyhow, thanks for the pick-up. I'll fix that now, and solve the first case.  

[MoeFOH]

9 hours ago, Fuzz said:

What's with Ken's lack of footwear and Rob's shirts?

This is receiving high priority. However, solving it might be beyond any scientific method currently available. 

[MoeFOH]

10 hours ago, 99call said:

Hello Steve,

We had a recent thread on trying to work out the history the regional (off-shore Spanish) Sancho Panza (vitolas being Ducales, Hidalgos, Escudos). Although we managed to work out the broad stokes, if someone happened to know anyone in Tabaclara, that could shed light on how they came into production, where they were rolled, Cuba or Tenerife? I, and I'm sure a few others would find what you unearth, very interesting.

Cheers, Stefan

 

Hey Stefan. Thanks for submitting. I'm meeting with Rob tomorrow, so we'll table whatever we have then. It'll probably take a week or two to get all the cases in, etc., then we'll start delving into them. Cheers! 

[99call]

7 minutes ago, MoeGreene said:

Hey Stefan. Thanks for submitting. I'm meeting with Rob tomorrow, so we'll table whatever we have then. It'll probably take a week or two to get all the cases in, etc., then we'll start delving into them. Cheers! 

Cheers mate, would be interesting to see what you guys come up with, if this makes the list. Looking forward to this thread in general. Great work FOH!!

[dominattorney]

I mentioned this idea elsewhere but I am curious to get an answer on necessary ventilation for cigar smoke. To all who commented on my thread regarding basement exhaust fans, I have had two fantech 450 cfm inline duct fans installed and am waiting for the holes to be patched in the ceilimg on Thursday. Even with the gaping holes around the duct opening ruining the efficiency of the system, I am fairly certain 900 cfm is overkill. Overkill is nice, since too much clean air beats not enough, but all the calculations I've seen bandied about suggested 900 was way too little for the large space I was attempting to ventilated. My assumptiom, which hopefully proves correct, was that the ventilation space was less important than fam placement and smoker location in the room. I wonder whether an experiment could be devised that might better inform people setting up a home cigar lounge regarding the proper equipment needs. I think it is far more asceetainable than existing literature would suggest. 

[Corylax18]

Lets put the "Wrapper Debate" to rest. Some say the wrapper drastically affects the flavor, others say it has zero affect. It seems relatively easy to test

I know Rob experimented with a Maduro 5 and a Siglo a few years back. I love that idea, but lets take it to the next level. Why not put a Cuban wrapper on a Nicaraguan puro, and the opposite, maybe mix in some Dominican or Honduran puros as well?

I don't know if there is a way to "Blind" test this, or if thats even the best way to do. If you need help procuring the NC's let me know! 

[MoeFOH]

1 hour ago, dominattorney said:

I mentioned this idea elsewhere but I am curious to get an answer on necessary ventilation for cigar smoke. To all who commented on my thread regarding basement exhaust fans, I have had two fantech 450 cfm inline duct fans installed and am waiting for the holes to be patched in the ceilimg on Thursday. Even with the gaping holes around the duct opening ruining the efficiency of the system, I am fairly certain 900 cfm is overkill. Overkill is nice, since too much clean air beats not enough, but all the calculations I've seen bandied about suggested 900 was way too little for the large space I was attempting to ventilated. My assumptiom, which hopefully proves correct, was that the ventilation space was less important than fam placement and smoker location in the room. I wonder whether an experiment could be devised that might better inform people setting up a home cigar lounge regarding the proper equipment needs. I think it is far more asceetainable than existing literature would suggest. 

On the list! Thanks for submitting.

[MoeFOH]

1 hour ago, Corylax18 said:

Lets put the "Wrapper Debate" to rest. Some say the wrapper drastically affects the flavor, others say it has zero affect. It seems relatively easy to test

I know Rob experimented with a Maduro 5 and a Siglo a few years back. I love that idea, but lets take it to the next level. Why not put a Cuban wrapper on a Nicaraguan puro, and the opposite, maybe mix in some Dominican or Honduran puros as well?

I don't know if there is a way to "Blind" test this, or if thats even the best way to do. If you need help procuring the NC's let me know! 

Nice one. Thanks for the submission. 

[fitzy]

Hmmm how about the idea of dry boxing cigars. I have no clue how long to dry box for or if it really helps cigars that are already kept at 65rh or less.

Maybe some kind of blind taste test. 

[mrretrohale]

The quantifiable effects of ageing a cigar, maybe a gc analysis of flavours? Is there a way to hasten the effects of ageing?  The level of upset of a SO with relation to an increase in cigar stockpile? 

[MoeFOH]

Hmmm how about the idea of dry boxing cigars. I have no clue how long to dry box for or if it really helps cigars that are already kept at 65rh or less.
Maybe some kind of blind taste test. 

Good one. On the list! Thanks.


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[MoeFOH]

The quantifiable effects of ageing a cigar, maybe a gc analysis of flavours? Is there a way to hasten the effects of ageing?  The level of upset of a SO with relation to an increase in cigar stockpile? 

Thanks for that one. Meeting with Rob today. FOHrensics is on the agenda!


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[zeedubbya]

Hello Steve,

We had a recent thread on trying to work out the history the regional (off-shore Spanish) Sancho Panza (vitolas being Ducales, Hidalgos, Escudos). Although we managed to work out the broad stokes, if someone happened to know anyone in Tabaclara, that could shed light on how they came into production, where they were rolled, Cuba or Tenerife? I, and I'm sure a few others would find what you unearth, very interesting.

Cheers, Stefan

 

While on the subject of Sancho Panza I would really like to know how they get that trademark “driftwood” down so well on the marca. Every time that woody saltiness surprises me. Since driftwood is a Robism it would be a fun experiment!

 

 

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[IMAMonster]

What about rh? Is a cigar enjoyed more at a specific humidity?

[Vitty]

How about the mystery of the Añejados.  What are they really?

[El Presidente]

 

• We can set up a dry boxing experiment fairly quickly. I will start a thread on it so that we don't miss anything. 
• Wrapper impact study is a little more challenging but I can get the wheels in motion. it is best that we do it on Puntillas as Alex can control the blends. This is one we can roll in say July for our visit in  November. We can get a crew of say 8 together for the tasting (complete with tasting sheets).  Again I will start a thread on this so that we don't miss anything. 
• Palate mapping and taste differences is a little more challenging. I have some questions on this that I will ask later on a dedicated thread. 
• Questions such as those in regards to Anejados and Ducales  need to be given to a third party. they can be researched but may or may not be able to be answered. We can certainly try. 

 

[GWG]

Flavor pickup when storing cigars together of different types? Does it make a difference or not? 

[GWG]

A couple of other questions I have wondered, do tubes improve aging or not. Loose, wood box or presentation box is there any difference in the aging process between them?