That’s how they are made. Watch how he keeps stuffing more into one end. If they dry out or are rolled too tight that end can get really hard and won’t draw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckqzMgWGzaY
Get a Macanudo, any size you like.
Get an Arturo Fuente of a size you like
If you don’t like either of those I would just stick to drinking. If you do like them, the rest of journey will be like trying to find a beer that compares to say a Stella Artois and a Guinness. There will be a load of variety and then some but really only the Stella and Guinness are going to taste like themselves. It’s not like buying Vodka to mix a drink with.
Where do you get the shelves and what is holding them in the back? also are your boxes sealed boxes or do you keep opened boxes in there as well. … and their humidity stays correct too.
You are right about those small dresser top humidors… not worth a damn
The shelves are just an 8 foot section of wire rack shelving I bought at homedepot for 10 bucks or something and cut to fit. nothing holds them in the back, the cooler has a slight inward angle, so the back of the shelves are slightly narrower than the front. I think I have around $110 to 120 into my entire cooler, shelves, humidification and hygrometer. There is a guy that makes spanish cedar drawers for these coolers, but they end up being like $300 for a whole cooler full of drawers, which IMO, defeats the purpose of the coolidor in the first place. If I build a Wineador in my new house, I will have the guy build me cedar drawers, but that will be something worthy of spending the money on.
All of my boxes are un-sealed except a box of Fuente Anejo’s I just bought, but those have a humidipack sealed inside. Everything is porous, especially wood. The wood that cigar boxes is typically made of retains a bit of moisture and helps even out the humidity level. You would think that cigars sealed in their cellophane would dry out, but thats not the case either. But to answer your question, yes, unseal your boxes of cigars, unless you buy something like Fuente that contains a humidipack(I dont know any other brands that do this).
The online shops I recommend are cigars international and cigarbid.com aka the devil site. Never found great deals on places like JR’s and the like.
The only Olivia I’ve had was the Conn. Reserve, which I thought was so mild it had no flavor at all. The MUWAT and I have a funny history. I’ve recommended them to several people. The last person I mentioned it to and had a brief conversation with at the tobacco shop left a $50 store credit for me, which was awesome and made my day. Next time I go I’ll be paying it forward. I smoke so few cigars that it’ll last my the whole year, as I mostly smoke a pipe (about as often, too). I figure I’ll share them with some friends over some fine scotch.
This Oliva V was OK, not great, not bad, OK. It had a tight draw, I cut it a second time after I got it going, figured it was a figurado, it needed to burn a little to open up. It didnt, second cut didnt help much. Could feel the tight spot in the head(last 3rd) and I tried to work it out. Smoked about 2/3 and put it out. Nicotine was getting to me anyway giving me the sweats.
I dont have my humidor down here with me yet so had to go to a shop. One thing I ALWAYS forget is that most shops keep their humidors WET, like 70%+, which isnt really ideal smoking humidity, for me. 62-65 is about perfect for me. I like em a little dryer so they smoke better. Also cigars with tobacco with higher nicotine content tend to be more sponge like. That can attribute to the marginal cigar I just smoked. I bet if I had bought 2, smoked one tonight and one tomorrow or Sunday, the second one would have been about perfect.
I occasionally smoke cigars. You gotta try them all to see which you like. I’m a fan of Padron. Otherwise I’ll buy a cigar every once in a while to try something new. I smoked one called “My big fat UZI” in May and thought it was pretty good. Obviously I bought it cause of the name. I smoke maybe 3 or 4 cigars a year so spending a few bucks on a good cigar doesn’t bother me
I’ve been a part time, on and off cigar smoker for years, and I appreciate all the excellent advice that I’m going to take with me from this thread. Thanks much.
To the OP, all I can add is I generally like milder cigars and some my favorites have already been mentioned, but I’d strongly suggest an Auturo Fuente 8-5-8 as a great cigar thats readily available. It’s the one I buy when I’m traveling and decide to burn one after dinner. Generally easy to find and they are very consistent.
I’ve tried a few Macanudos and liked most of them. A buddy gave me an Arturo Fuente that was awesome. I’ve tried some of the DSG Cigars and thought they were decent too, never heard anyone’s opinion on them that actually knows anything about cigars though.
For your first foray into leaf burning, try a Montecristo White. They are expensive, but offer great construction and a mild taste. Use a punch cutter, take your time smoking it, and light it with a butane lighter. Do not retrohale until you have been smoking for awhile. Enjoy!
Yes, but only certain sticks. The 1875 are popular because they are cheap, but they taste awful. The RyJ Reserva Real are the poor man’s MC White and taste/burn great.