Resting period after International shipping testing?

[Partyshrts]

I know the common recommendation is to rest cigars shipped internationally for a month but has anyone heard if this has ever been tested with a humidity probe? Let's say checking in intervals to determine how long it takes to equalize? I recently got a box I'd love to try but it's only been in my coolerdor at 70% for a week and a day or two in my dry box desktop at 65%. Patience isn't my strong point.

[Chitmo]

Depends you taste, there are no rules only guidelines. Try one and let it sit, try another...when they taste good to you smoke 'em. 😊 

[Shakey]

Proper food moisture test equipment is expensive (~$5000 USD) and destructive (you will sacrifice cigars for the tests) so I don’t think anyone has done it. 

Plus, there is so much variability in shipping that you don’t have a consistent starting point. A bare box that spends a week at 90F/20% humidity in shipping is entirely different from a box that is vac sealed with a moisture pack and never experiences excessive hot or cold temps. 

[Havanaaddict]

I have no patience at all. I always crack the box as soon as it lands and pick on out for smoking later that night. I have never really been disappointed, do I think they get better in a month or so sometimes. But like was said it is a matter of taste, sometimes that first cigar ROTT has more sweetness and body. Remember you still have 24 more 😜

[RDB]

If it’s bugging you… 🔥

[Jaks93]

Good things come to those who wait, so if you can hold back it will be well worth the wait. I usually have a rotation and get to it once properly acclimated.

I guess you can always dry box to 'speed up' the process but then run the risk of split wrappers. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Smoke right away for some, not smoke for years on others. Few cigars I get, I am hot to smoke right away, but would without question.

[Ford2112]

90 days seems to make a big difference for my environment and taste.

[bmac]

I try one and if it’s good I smoke a fiver over the next few months. Or I smoke through the whole box and buy more.😀

[Chibearsv]

A few years ago, some of us tested cigars ROTT and then at 30 and 60 days. Maybe a mod can post the link. Results were dramatic for me. I won’t touch a shipped cigar for 90 days minimum unless it’s relatively local.

[Jimmy2]

Just smoke one. No rules. They are cigars…

[usleepicreep]

Light one up now!


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[Habanoschris]

Kinda weird...I've actually found pretty routinely that after shipping (7-10) days the first 1-2 from most boxes are usually tasty, even younger cigars. Then they usually change. Occasionally, more then 1-2 smoke well. Then of course, occasionally they taste too young or terrible after shipping. 

[rcarlson]

Min. 90 days is essential.  

[Jerryvonkramer]

My view is that the 90 days is overrated. I’ve found about 30 days down and most smoke great with some exceptions.

[La_Tigre]

On 5/30/2024 at 6:37 PM, Chibearsv said:

A few years ago, some of us tested cigars ROTT and then at 30 and 60 days. Maybe a mod can post the link. Results were dramatic for me. I won’t touch a shipped cigar for 90 days minimum unless it’s relatively local.

Anyone have a link to this thread? Having trouble searching it to add. 

[Chibearsv]

5 hours ago, La_Tigre said:

Anyone have a link to this thread? Having trouble searching it to add. 

 

[Uwiik]

For me, I don't smoke ROTT anymore. 30 days is absolute minimum where it is starting to be OK, 90 days being optimal and where I would start. 

[Elvis]

My own preference is 30 days just to let them acclimate to my environment. Then again, I might wait five or ten years. You'll develop your own rules according to your environment over time. I'm not sure what a humidity probe will tell you. My own experience is that new cigars (less than 1 year old) are over humidified but that has nothing to do with shipping.

Bottom line: Go ahead and  smoke it now and another in a month or so. You'll create your own 'readiness' baseline for that box. No one else can tell you what that will be.

 

 

[SUP8333]

I'm glad you asked! I thought I was the only one doing it with a humidity probe instead of using days as a measurement - I just can't wait it out.

The boxes usually arrive with about 55% in general and I rest it in the humidor up to 68%, I then take those I want to smoke out to drybox to about 62-64%, there are times where closer to smoking I make the cut and also test the other end just to make sure as I have had instances where it shows 64% on one end and 72% on the other so that's going to get clogged. I just leave it to dry again. 

All in all, the rest is about 1 week and dry another few days. This is truly the minimum for me so whatever rocks your boat!

[Partyshrts]

I tried a H.Upmann Half Corona after resting for a week after shipping. Burnt great. I wish it was an inch longer. Great cigar for the price. I see more Upmanns in my future.