Dried out 'gars....

[Swissy]

Help!
I inherited a humidor from a guy at work, and inside were some great smokes!! 4 hemingways, an opusX, and 2 ISOM's!!!!!!

Problem is, they have been in the humidor with no humidity at all for probably a year. They are QUITE dry... i'd say VERY.

Is there hope? I have read up on the methods they say to use, but is it really worth it? will it work, or should I toss them (Waaaaaaaaaaaa!) and forget them?

Jim

 

[bfreebern]

Don't toss 'em. Bring them back up to your acceptable % slowly. If that doesn't work, then toss 'em. Always worth a try. Either that or use them as sapositories for your dog :laugh:

 

[Swissy]

Don't toss 'em. Bring them back up to your acceptable % slowly. If that doesn't work, then toss 'em. Always worth a try. Either that or use them as sapositories for your dog :laugh:

[snapback]175886[/snapback]​

Umm... did you see the SIZE of my dog??

(that's Standing up taking the picture....)
I might be able to use all the 'gars at once I suppose... :laugh: if they'd stay still that is.

Thanks- I'll give it a try. I have nothing to lose (but a couple of ISOM's!)
Jim

 

[bfreebern]

How big is he? I have a female GD and she's is 35 inches at the wither and weighs 130. It's a pretty dark pic, but here she is.

 

[ggiese]

I had the same problem with a box of Monte 2 ISOM's I was gifted. Several of the cigars wrappers were falling apart - there was no hope for those. But the others I brought up to humidity and they were fantastic smokes!!!

If you're going to do it, bring them to humidity VERY slowly!!! It can take six months or more to do it. Bringing them up to humidity too quickly will cause the wrappers to split and the cigars to burst!!!

Good luck - it will probably be worth the effort...

 

[Swissy]

I have TWO actually... GSMD

Little boy is only 29" but weighs in at #127 VERY stout build... He's my avatar pic

big girl is 26" and is #98 - also very stout build (but still a dainty lady... NOT! she's my viva girl)

:whistling:

 

[Swissy]

I had the same problem with a box of Monte 2 ISOM's I was gifted. Several of the cigars wrappers were falling apart - there was no hope for those. But the others I brought up to humidity and they were fantastic smokes!!!

If you're going to do it, bring them to humidity VERY slowly!!! It can take six months or more to do it. Bringing them up to humidity too quickly will cause the wrappers to split and the cigars to burst!!!

Good luck - it will probably be worth the effort...

[snapback]175898[/snapback]​

Thanks... the wrappers are all intact, and no other problems noted. But can I wait 6 months for a taste of an ISOM? Boy, I dunno.... ???

I'll give 'er the old noob try!
Jim

 

[ggiese]

I had the same problem with a box of Monte 2 ISOM's I was gifted.  Several of the cigars wrappers were falling apart - there was no hope for those.  But the others I brought up to humidity and they were fantastic smokes!!!

If you're going to do it, bring them to humidity VERY slowly!!!  It can take six months or more to do it.  Bringing them up to humidity too quickly will cause the wrappers to split and the cigars to burst!!!

Good luck - it will probably be worth the effort... 

[snapback]175898[/snapback]​

Thanks... the wrappers are all intact, and no other problems noted. But can I wait 6 months for a taste of an ISOM? Boy, I dunno.... ???

I'll give 'er the old noob try!
Jim

[snapback]175902[/snapback]​

... you have no idea!!! I smoked one of them shortly after I got them and thought it was going to be a total waste of time. I followed others advice and let them sit, slowly bringing them up. And then one day... DAMN, what a fine smoke!!! I still have a couple left - I'm saving them because they are such an awesome smoke!!! (one is "willed" to my son when he turns 18 - about 1 1/2 years away).

 

[Swissy]

... you have no idea!!! I smoked one of them shortly after I got them and thought it was going to be a total waste of time. I followed others advice and let them sit, slowly bringing them up. And then one day... DAMN, what a fine smoke!!! I still have a couple left - I'm saving them because they are such an awesome smoke!!! (one is "willed" to my son when he turns 18 - about 1 1/2 years away).

[snapback]175914[/snapback]​

Hmm... well, never having had the pleasure of an ISOM, I suppose I can force myself to wait. I may have to put them in my safe and forget the combo tho!! If I can buy cases of my favorite winter seasonal beer (Alaskan Smoked Porter...Mmmmmmmmmmmmm), and enjoy them thru the year I guess I can do this. ???

Only question now is, will this count towards aging them?!?

 

[opusxfiles]

ok...first of all, it's true, I'm a newbie, so take my advice as such...but I have smoked a pipe for many years, and one of the best tricks ever for bringing pipe tobacco back to form is to seal it in a bag with a small sliver of apple. The reason is because the apple will introduce it's natural humidity very slowly and the natural sugars in it are very good for tobacco. Now, I have heard that the apple does not flavor the tobacco at all, but as pipe tobacco is very strong, I can't swear to it. Start with a small sliver of apple and work your way up. Just a suggestion from your pal opusxfiles.
And also, congrats on the new smokes!

 

[KayakinBoy]

that's different rob. Someone try that! Sounds like it would work! :thumbs:

 

[Swissy]

that's different rob. Someone try that! Sounds like it would work! :thumbs:

[snapback]176057[/snapback]​

Heck, I'm game! I got a bunch to try with! Probably not the ISOM's or the Fuente OpusX/Hemingway, but there are also a number of other 'lesser' 'gars (like one of my fav's, AF Chateau's)

Question is, how long in the ziplock with the apple? And does the kind of apple make a difference?

'course, with my 'lesser knowledge' (being a n00b and all...) I dunno if you guys wannatrust my taste buds! :whistling:

Swissy

 

[KayakinBoy]

I would say thing biggest thing you'll miss out on are the oily wrappers. If you can bring them back, they'll be great, but not all they were before. It's worth giving a try, hell if you don't want to waste the time, PM me and I'll set up a trade and bring them back myself! lol Anyway, good luck. Try a couple of dfferent ways, so we have a test we can refer back to.

KB

 

[opusxfiles]

that's different rob.  Someone try that!  Sounds like it would work!  :thumbs:

[snapback]176057[/snapback]​

Heck, I'm game! I got a bunch to try with! Probably not the ISOM's or the Fuente OpusX/Hemingway, but there are also a number of other 'lesser' 'gars (like one of my fav's, AF Chateau's)

Question is, how long in the ziplock with the apple? And does the kind of apple make a difference?

'course, with my 'lesser knowledge' (being a n00b and all...) I dunno if you guys wannatrust my taste buds! :whistling:

Swissy

[snapback]176061[/snapback]​

I always used a red apple..the kind you put on a teachers desk, you know? As far as for how long to do it, that will depend on how dry they are. you start with a small sliver of apple. as the tobacco sucks the moisture, the apple will shrivel up. When the small sliver is gone, move up to a slightly smaller one. The best thing about this approach is that you are re-hydrating the cigars naturally using organic methods instead of chemicals. Now I have done this several times with pipe tobacco with awesome results, but never with gars...so go slow!

 

[cigardawg]

that's different rob. Someone try that! Sounds like it would work! :thumbs:

[snapback]176057[/snapback]​

Heck, I'm game! I got a bunch to try with! Probably not the ISOM's or the Fuente OpusX/Hemingway, but there are also a number of other 'lesser' 'gars (like one of my fav's, AF Chateau's)

Question is, how long in the ziplock with the apple? And does the kind of apple make a difference?

'course, with my 'lesser knowledge' (being a n00b and all...) I dunno if you guys wannatrust my taste buds! :whistling:

Swissy

[snapback]176061[/snapback]​

I always used a red apple..the kind you put on a teachers desk, you know? As far as for how long to do it, that will depend on how dry they are. you start with a small sliver of apple. as the tobacco sucks the moisture, the apple will shrivel up. When the small sliver is gone, move up to a slightly smaller one. The best thing about this approach is that you are re-hydrating the cigars naturally using organic methods instead of chemicals. Now I have done this several times with pipe tobacco with awesome results, but never with gars...so go slow!

[snapback]176106[/snapback]​

I have a friend in San Antonio that has actually used this method to great success with dried-out cigars. And, it does not change the taste of the tobacco. Give it a try.

 

[Swissy]

ok... test run in progress!
I have 3 cigars in a zip lock with apple slices - a AF Chateau, Hemingway and a Padron 3000. Time will tell! Hope it works well... I have almost a box of the Chateau's and Padron's that are all dried up, and 4 more Hemingways, an OpusX and 4 ISOM's!

I'll keep y'all posted
Swissy

 

[opusxfiles]

Glad I could help man! I bet those cigars will be smokin in no time!!!! Make sure to let me know how it turns out!

 

[Eshaw99]

Here's a method I've used successfully to bring back dried out cigars. Take an empty humidor (if you've got one) and season it. Fill the humidifier and put in inside the box as well. Leave it until the humidity stabilizes at around 70% or so. Then remove the humidifier and place the cigars in. Leave it that way for 3-4 weeks. Then put the humidifer back in the box, but don't refill it yet. Leave it that way for 1-2 weeks. Then, fill the humidifier and place it back in the box.

The reason that you want to bring them back slowly is because the filler tobacco will absorb moisture than the wrapper will. If you put a dried out cigar in a moist humidor, the filler will expand faster than the wrapper can expand and stretch to hold it. The result is a split wrapper. So, have patience my man.

Eric

 

[ree ree robusto]

Swissy, what breed is your dog? GSMD? They're beautiful.

ree

 

[Swissy]

Swissy, what breed is your dog? GSMD? They're beautiful.

ree

[snapback]176683[/snapback]​

Hey Ree,
Thanks... GSMD stands for Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, a rather uncommon (some say rare) breed of dog. Alot of people are familiar with the Bernese Mtn Dog- these guys are the short haired version of them. Awesome temperments, loyal and loving to the bone. I've always had pound rescue pups, but I'm a Swissy fan for life now! We're even talking about a third already. Amber, the Viva pic girl, is just over 3 y.o. and 98#, Porter (my avatar) the boy is 2½ y.o., 129# and still growing! Both are so gentle and loving they are certified Pet Therapy Dogs, meaning we can take them into hospitals, old folks homes and places like that for visits. Just an overall, awesome dog. Bred for pulling wagons and farm work in old time Switzerland. VERY strong as well as loyal, and somewhat protective if there is a reason. No moose will come near my house anymore!!

Swissy
(prolly way more info than you needed, but I do love these guys! :laugh: )

PS... in case no one figured it out, they're named after my fav beers- Alaskan Amber and Alaskan Smoked Porter