Partagas Connie #3 question

[jwm8592]

Hey guys need some help, I attempted to smoke a Partagas connie #3 over the weekend. It had a great taste & smell but the draw was horrible. There actually seemed to be a tunnel developing right down the center of the cigar, which impeded the draw. Air would flow outward if tried, but inward was very difficult, to the point that it was unpleasant to smoke. This was the first cigar out of the box, box code JUL 06. I've seen in some of the post to wait 30 days after arriving before smoking, I waited 17 days, pretty good I thought. So do you think I should be concerned, is this somewhat prevalent in young cigars or is the worst yet to come. Opinions requested.

[BigSlick]

What humidity level are you storing them at?

[jwm8592]

Humidity is 66.5%, temp is 68-71, granted I just rec'd them about

2 1/2 weeks ago. So I guess what I'm unsure about is whether or not the tunneling is a storing issue, a rolling issue or an aging issue.

[tigger]

» Humidity is 66.5%, temp is 68-71, granted I just rec'd them about

» 2 1/2 weeks ago. So I guess what I'm unsure about is whether or not the

» tunneling is a storing issue, a rolling issue or an aging issue.

Could be any or all of those. And it may just be that one cigar. The rest may be fine. Though IMO they'll be much better in a few years.

[tandblov]

I would wait AT LEAST 30 days (known affectionatley as the "Van rule") after receipt before smoking. Many times, I wait 90 days. It takes time for cigars to adjust to the conditions in my humidor. With humidity differences and temp difference being sometimes quite dramatic, it takes time to adjust. Also, while I have no evidence to prove it, I believe that even something like barometric pressure changes that occur during shipment effect the cigar and its flavor. I prefer to wait as long as possible. I just have had too many cases where the cigar is sub-par in that first 30 days-60 days and then pull out of it after that period of time.

Also, I keep my humidor at 63 %. I find that in my region of the world, my cigars tend to smoke better at that level. Much more than that, and I have had issues with how the burn.

Just my experience...

[jwm8592]

Yeah tigger I would totally agree the longer the sit the better, I usually just like to try one or two to get a feel for the cigar before putting them into hibernation. I was just a little excited when these arrived after reading all the good reviews on them.

[BigSlick]

Smoked an 03 one night and an 06 the next. The difference in these two cigars was vast!

The 03 was very sophisticated and organized in it's tastes.

The 06 was a lot like the wild kitten I caught and brought into my grandparents house to show off when I was a kid.

I lost a little blood in that battle. :-D

[tigger]

» Yeah tigger I would totally agree the longer the sit the better, I usually

» just like to try one or two to get a feel for the cigar before putting

» them into hibernation. I was just a little excited when these arrived

» after reading all the good reviews on them.

I hear you there. I have very few "full" boxes, but more than a couple 24's and 49s.

» I lost a little blood in that battle. :-D

LMAO!!!

[shrink]

I must say that all of the 2006 Series du Connaisseur are the best in many, many years (perhaps ever), but they are nowhere near ready to enjoy yet. Unless, of course, you like your lemons dredged in cracked peppercorns! Actually, they are quite good for young smokes. Put 'em away for several years and you will have what is arguably the finest of all the shorter small ring cigars going.

[smokum]

»Also try dry boxing for a while before you smoke the next one.

[Mel]

» Unless, of course, you like your lemons dredged in cracked peppercorns!

»

Sounds great I like lemons and peppercorns.

I doubt that one is a travel or storage issue. Sounds like a construction problem to me and may be limited to the one cigar of the box. A plugged, twisted, tunneled or open cigar will always be just that and can only change somewhat with time or better conditions. I have had both old and young cigars that could not be smoked well no matter how much drying, poking, drilling, aging or any other witch doctoring could cure.

[jwm8592]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I'll let them sit and get comfy for a time. I also agree that dry boxing before the next smoke is probably in order. No lemons please!;-)

[CoryOllis]

» Smoked an 03 one night and an 06 the next. The difference in these two

» cigars was vast!

»

» The 03 was very sophisticated and organized in it's tastes.

»

» The 06 was a lot like the wild kitten I caught and brought into my

» grandparents house to show off when I was a kid.

»

» I lost a little blood in that battle. :-D

Apparently, this cigar was more akin to the wild mole the wild kitten was chasing! :-P