Cigar Tips and Tricks you believe really work?

[chewbacco]

And I'm not talking about Swisher Sweets :laugh:

I'm a newbie...and am starting to learn things here and there.
But, I want to hear it from cigar lovers everywhere...what tricks and tips do you swear work or doesn't?


You know...

"If you use a punch cutter, you'll get tar build-up"
"Make an angled cut, it'll reduce tar build-up"
"Maduro's are sweeter than Naturals"
"70%...not 65%"
"Large ring gauge cigars have cooler smoke (temperature-wise)"


Alright, let the flood-gates open!
Or a can of worms!

 

[bresdogsr]

And I'm not talking about Swisher Sweets :laugh:

I'm a newbie...and am starting to learn things here and there.
But, I want to hear it from cigar lovers everywhere...what tricks and tips do you swear work or doesn't?


You know...

"If you use a punch cutter, you'll get tar build-up"
"Make an angled cut, it'll reduce tar build-up"
"Maduro's are sweeter than Naturals"
"70%...not 65%"
"Large ring gauge cigars have cooler smoke (temperature-wise)"


Alright, let the flood-gates open!
Or a can of worms!

[snapback]250822[/snapback]​

Im not a fog by any means, only 3 years into cigars, but here goes:

Every time I use a punch cutter, I don't get a good draw.

I like an angled cut on torpedos, I think I get more flavor/smoke.

Maduros taste different than nats, sometimes sweeter sometimes stronger sometimes like a great big dark chocolate bar.

I switched to 65% beads and my cigars all burn/taste better.

I like a more narrow ring gauge 38-48 vs big fat smokes. Smoke slow for a cool burn.

Took me all of the 3 years to learn this which all wrapped up means go experiment and try what works for you.

 

[Shibumi]

Here's one I've observed. I like the angle cut for torps also, but for some reason it gives me uneven burn issues. Anyone else get this?

 

[natejustice]

Heres one that I have kind of noticed as of late:

Whenever I use a punch cutter my smokes seem to last longer, as far as length of time spent smoking..

When I use a guillotine cutter, I feel as though they burn much faster..

 

[JimK]

Purging works.

JK

 

[Rod]

Never cut a cigar in half, it will alter the true flavor of the cigar. Instead, smoke what you can...

If you're mixing substantially different types of cigars in a humidor, leave the cello on.

If you plan on letting your cigar sit for any period of time, blow out all the smoke and let it go out naturally.

Never stub out a cigar, always let it go out naturally. Stubbing it will create a foul aroma.

Don't cut anymore than necessary when cutting the head off your cigar. Cut as little as possible.

Never use a cigarette lighter to light your cigar. Use long wooden matches or a good torch lighter.

Rotate your cigar as you smoke it, in order to create a good even burn.

There's a few...

 

[Zeebra]

If you're mixing substantially different types of cigars in a humidor, leave the cello on.

Why is this? Is this just a personal tip or is there some reason behind this?

 

[chewbacco]

Never cut a cigar in half, it will alter the true flavor of the cigar. Instead, smoke what you can...

Ha Ha Rod...I'll keep that in mind :blush:

 

[Wurm]

If you're mixing substantially different types of cigars in a humidor, leave the cello on.

Why is this? Is this just a personal tip or is there some reason behind this?

[snapback]251235[/snapback]​

Its to help keep the "Marriage" of the cigars from affecting the taste. Without the cello they all mix flavors alot faster with sometimes very bad results.

 

[Zeebra]

If you're mixing substantially different types of cigars in a humidor, leave the cello on.

Why is this? Is this just a personal tip or is there some reason behind this?

[snapback]251235[/snapback]​

Its to help keep the "Marriage" of the cigars from affecting the taste. Without the cello they all mix flavors alot faster with sometimes very bad results.

[snapback]251250[/snapback]​

Crap, I just got those 8 CAO cigars yesterday, took all the cellos off and put them all in my humidor along with the Cohibas I have there. Should I be concerned?

 

[marcsheldon]

Never use a cigarette lighter to light your cigar.

[snapback]251180[/snapback]​

why? not that i use these, but just curious.

 

[junkman_56]

Its to help keep the "Marriage" of the cigars from affecting the taste. Without the cello they all mix flavors alot faster with sometimes very bad results.

[snapback]251250[/snapback]​

This is myth...
You just need to make sure that flavored cigars are never in the same humidor as regular ones.

 

[Zeebra]

Its to help keep the "Marriage" of the cigars from affecting the taste. Without the cello they all mix flavors alot faster with sometimes very bad results.

[snapback]251250[/snapback]​

This is myth...
You just need to make sure that flavored cigars are never in the same humidor as regular ones.

[snapback]251256[/snapback]​

I dunno, I just found it in the cigar faq: (section 4.1 aging cigars)

http://www.cigargroup.com/faq/

 

[junkman_56]

And from The Ultimate Cigar Storage Manifesto! :
Q: Will my cigars "marry" if they are sitting side by side in my humidor without dividers or cellophane?

A: No. I understand the concept of marrying, and have witnessed claro cigars that have been slightly stained with oils from a dark, rich EMS cigar that was sitting beside it, but that was only after MANY years. Honestly, I do not consider the marrying of different cigars to be a problem for those who smoke from their humidors on a semi-regular basis.

I have been storing singles side by side for well over a decade with no impact whatsoever. Personally, I find the concept of marrying flavors between differing cigars to be an issue that "cigar wonks" banter about, but has little basis in reality and does not warrant any concern on your part. You have to keep in mind, when you read all the recent advice printed about cigars, that quite a bit of it is far too reaching and overtly scientific without cause.

I have kept a wide variety of smokes crammed together for long periods (5+ years) in my "smoke from someday" humidors without this ever occurring. My only concern would be to always keep flavored (i.e.. rum soaked, Acid, etc.) separate. Also, for long-term aging in quantity, I believe in leaving the cigars in their original boxes if possible.

Bottom line: the concept of cigar flavors marrying/blending is over hyped.

 

[mrjinglesusa]

Never cut a cigar in half, it will alter the true flavor of the cigar. Instead, smoke what you can...

Unless it's a Churchill and you would rather smoke two petit robustos...

 

[Wurm]

This is myth...

[snapback]251256[/snapback]​

No I'm sorry to say its not... I have found out the hard way sadly enough.

The "ACID" brand also proves tobacco absorbs the flavors around it.

And don't worry about your smokes Zeebra just space them out a bit. You mostly have to worry when you mix really mild smokes with really powerful ones.

 

[junkman_56]

By Acid brand, are you talking about flavored cigars?
Flavored cigars should NEVER be mixed with regular cigars.

 

[Zeebra]

Great we have 2 camps: junkman saying it's myth and providing some solid background info on this, then Wurm saying it's true and giving some example.

What do I do???

 

[Wurm]

By Acid brand, are you talking about flavored cigars?
Flavored cigars should NEVER be mixed with regular cigars.

[snapback]251265[/snapback]​

No lol I just used Acids as an example that tobacco absorbs flavors from the enviroment.

People shouldn't buy Acids let alone put them in a Humidor with good smokes IMHO.

Let me give you my example Junkman so you understand what I am talking about. I had some really mild cigars that were at the time my go to sticks, I purchased some power-house smokes and dropped them on top of them to let them sit. And after a few months of neglect. I went and grabbed one of the mild cigars and it tasted TOTALLY different, but not in a nice way, they had piced up some of the flavor of the stronger cigars and tasted really nasty. I tried another and it tasted the same way, I ended up throwing them away.

Now I agree with you that normally it doesn't make much of a difference as long as your careful to put the cigars of simular tastes together in the humidor and leave them either in the box or leave the cello on if you don't have alot of room.

And I think Zeebra shouldn't have a big problem, hes mixing med/strong with med/strong.

 

[junkman_56]

It's all about personal preference.
I take off the cello because they will age a little faster.
But, I do separate my isom's from non-isoms. :whistling: