So I got these free cigars...good, bad, ugly?

[Invasion]

*Warning--pictures of cigar butchery

Once in a while I get free cigars from folks who stopped smoking or received them as gifts a "while ago". Usually all of them are NC and need varying stages of recovery, today was a bit different. 

My neighborhood has an annual garage sale and I usually wander around at the crack of 11am to look for trinkets. This time I was at my neighbors place eyeing a $5 kitchen gadget, after deciding to purchase it I talked to my him about actually participating one of these years and thought it would be funny to sit out front and sell cigars. The idea of sitting out in the driveway making an makeshift "patio lounge" for those obligated to frequent garage sales all day sounded amusing. My neighbor definitely thought I was joking.

He mentioned he had some cigars he's had forever and stopped smoking a while ago. I visibly winced as he pulled the bundle of ziploc bags out of the refrigerator. I was surprised to see CC in the mix and asked him a bit about them. He didn't have much to offer other than getting them from various places or friends--the usual vague answers when you get free sticks. I mentioned they look a bit dry and I could put them in my humidor and try to breathe some life into these tortured souls. He gave them to me after paying the full $5 price tag for the mandoline and joking about how I'm going to lose my fingers cutting vegetables. 

Since I'm a bit new to the CC game just wondering if anybody has any insight on these sticks or maybe a rough idea how old some of these are? Also if I should give any of them an honorable death?

 

 

 

[BeerPimp]

It looks like you might be able to salvage the Bolivar and Upmann.  How do the Monte Mini's look?

[Invasion]

Not too bad

[shrink]

Coincidentally, right now I am smoking a 2003 Upmann Monarch AT. Mine was stored at 65/65 all these years. It has the classic Upmann profile, softened by the years. I hope that yours is equally satisfying. 

 

[Habana Mike]

Tubos can take a fair bit of abuse. At least the capas aren't shredded on these!

Smoke them and see...

[teamrandr]

The Upmann Monarch was discontinued in 2009, the Bolivar Churchill 2002.  

[Invasion]

Thanks for the info, excited to try them once they've rested a bit.

[nKostyan]

If tobacco crumbles and breaks when compressed, cigars are a direct way into the trash. Cigars in tubes it is possible to restore - put them with the Boveda low humidity (60-62%) at a temperature of 16-18 Celcius. This can take up to a year. Then you can put the cigars in the humidor. You can also make a bondage on the leg, so that there are no cracks.

[ac031898]

Some of those look pretty rough, but hey - even if you can salvage one or two it’s a win! Unless you factor in the ER bill to get your fingertips/knuckles reattached after using the mandolin...somehow the single-most dangerous cooking utensil on earth. I end up bleeding just getting mine out of the box!