• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

Johnny-O!

Kid Montana

Kid Montana

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
1,346
A few weeks back I bought a Johnny-O! combination of some XBMFs, torpedos, baby salomons and some other stuff and have been enjoying them immensely, but also have a couple comments and questions for the gallery.

I noticed that they tend to ash fairly quickly, after less than an inch of burn, and the cherry isn't the normal cone shape; when they ash the cherry is flush with the edge of the burn on the wrapper. Are Johnny-Os short filler? I've also noticed that they like to try to go out pretty promptly if you don't mind them. I'm not sure if this is because they are so fresh, and I should age them for a while or if its something else, and was wondering if anyone else has noticed this. I keep them at about 68% RH and feel like I need to keep chugging at them to keep 'em lit. Also, on the perfecto/salomon/XBMFs that have the sharply tapered foot down to what appears to be about a 20 ring guage, they draw tighter than shit and its not until after it burns for a quarter inch or so that the draw opens enough to consider "normal." Any thoughts?

I have ZERO complaints about the flavor, appearance, or evenness of the burn, which are all absolutely superb.
 
68% is a little high in my experience with JO's. They are often pretty moist when you get them so you might want to try dry boxing one for a day before you smoke it. They are long filler, at least the one's I've disected were. I had one that I didn't store well so I decided to cut it apart. Anyway, it was long filler. I have found that many Cuban cigars that I've smoked have similar ash experiences. It doesn't tend to hang on as long as a NC of the same ring gauge. This could be a characteristic of the tobacco of that origin. I can't really say.

I'd recommend letting them dry out a bit. I keep mine around 65% and don't usually have problems. I will often let them sit out for an hour or two before smoking it just to be sure.
 
DirtyDave said:
68% is a little high in my experience with JO's. They are often pretty moist when you get them so you might want to try dry boxing one for a day before you smoke it. They are long filler, at least the one's I've disected were. I had one that I didn't store well so I decided to cut it apart. Anyway, it was long filler. I have found that many Cuban cigars that I've smoked have similar ash experiences. It doesn't tend to hang on as long as a NC of the same ring gauge. This could be a characteristic of the tobacco of that origin. I can't really say.

I'd recommend letting them dry out a bit. I keep mine around 65% and don't usually have problems. I will often let them sit out for an hour or two before smoking it just to be sure.
Click to expand...

I certainly hear you about them being pretty moist. The first week I had them they dragged my humidor RH up four points until they settled down.
 
I specifically asked John what RH would be best when I bought a bundle from him. "Most of my cigars start out pretty wet and may take a while to settle, 65% is good."
 
Kid Montana said:
Also, on the perfecto/salomon/XBMFs that have the sharply tapered foot down to what appears to be about a 20 ring guage, they draw tighter than shit and its not until after it burns for a quarter inch or so that the draw opens enough to consider "normal." Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

That's not uncommon for most perfecto shaped cigars. I've experienced the same thing with Best Sellers, WOAM, Hemingways, etc.
 
Appreciate the info, I just bought my first bundle of them and am excited to try them out. So these are CC tobacco? If I read it right..
If anyone has tried the shorts, let me know some info - mild, medium, full?
 
Matthew Adam said:
Appreciate the info, I just bought my first bundle of them and am excited to try them out. So these are CC tobacco? If I read it right..
If anyone has tried the shorts, let me know some info - mild, medium, full?
Click to expand...

I've heard that they are Cuban but I really can't figure out how that would be true. The logistics and risks smuggling non-brand name tobacco from Cuba to the US doesn't add up. I was contemplating whether they might be rolled in the US, from Cuban tobacco, but that still doesn't explain the logistical hurdle of getting the bales of tobacco from Cuba to the US. There is just WAY to much risk involved compared to the reward. Johnny-O aren't cheap, but they're not super pricey either, certainly not Cohiba expensive. I am extremely skeptical of any claims that they are Cubans; perhaps Cuban-seed, grown and rolled in Florida maybe, but I don't care. They're delicious.
 
Kid Montana said:
Matthew Adam said:
Appreciate the info, I just bought my first bundle of them and am excited to try them out. So these are CC tobacco? If I read it right..
If anyone has tried the shorts, let me know some info - mild, medium, full?
Click to expand...

I've heard that they are Cuban but I really can't figure out how that would be true. The logistics and risks smuggling non-brand name tobacco from Cuba to the US doesn't add up. I was contemplating whether they might be rolled in the US, from Cuban tobacco, but that still doesn't explain the logistical hurdle of getting the bales of tobacco from Cuba to the US. There is just WAY to much risk involved compared to the reward. Johnny-O aren't cheap, but they're not super pricey either, certainly not Cohiba expensive. I am extremely skeptical of any claims that they are Cubans; perhaps Cuban-seed, grown and rolled in Florida maybe, but I don't care. They're delicious.
Click to expand...

Don't ask, don't tell. ;)
 
Macion Grey said:
Kid Montana said:
Matthew Adam said:
Appreciate the info, I just bought my first bundle of them and am excited to try them out. So these are CC tobacco? If I read it right..
If anyone has tried the shorts, let me know some info - mild, medium, full?
Click to expand...

I've heard that they are Cuban but I really can't figure out how that would be true. The logistics and risks smuggling non-brand name tobacco from Cuba to the US doesn't add up. I was contemplating whether they might be rolled in the US, from Cuban tobacco, but that still doesn't explain the logistical hurdle of getting the bales of tobacco from Cuba to the US. There is just WAY to much risk involved compared to the reward. Johnny-O aren't cheap, but they're not super pricey either, certainly not Cohiba expensive. I am extremely skeptical of any claims that they are Cubans; perhaps Cuban-seed, grown and rolled in Florida maybe, but I don't care. They're delicious.
Click to expand...

Don't ask, don't tell. ;)
Click to expand...

And according to the big red letters, don't discuss.
 
I was worried we were going to have to resort to Caps for a moment there... :whistling:
 
I just smoked an SMBF this evening and found it to draw rather tight. I'm going to take all my Johnny O out of the humidor and dry box them for a day and put 'em back. I think they are quite fresh. And quite delicious.

I'm also sorry for doubting those who allude their origin. I came to discover some information about where the leaf comes from and am humbled though not without questions but I don't care if they are answered because I feel so damn lucky to even know they exist.
 
Kid Montana said:
Matthew Adam said:
Appreciate the info, I just bought my first bundle of them and am excited to try them out. So these are CC tobacco? If I read it right..
If anyone has tried the shorts, let me know some info - mild, medium, full?
Click to expand...

I've heard that they are Cuban but I really can't figure out how that would be true. The logistics and risks smuggling non-brand name tobacco from Cuba to the US doesn't add up. I was contemplating whether they might be rolled in the US, from Cuban tobacco, but that still doesn't explain the logistical hurdle of getting the bales of tobacco from Cuba to the US. There is just WAY to much risk involved compared to the reward. Johnny-O aren't cheap, but they're not super pricey either, certainly not Cohiba expensive. I am extremely skeptical of any claims that they are Cubans; perhaps Cuban-seed, grown and rolled in Florida maybe, but I don't care. They're delicious.
Click to expand...
I kinda figured the same. The likelihood of getting bundles of tobacco to the US is quite low, simple logic. Still, I've heard some real good things about some B&M cigars from the Keys, and obviously there are some great FL products out there, so I am excited to give the JOs a try. Thanks for the info
 
But who's to say it can't go somewhere else first?

Simple fact, just enjoy. :)
 
Dry boxing really was the trick. I let them sit in a box for about 30 hours and lit one of the torpedos up tonight. Perfect burn, perfect draw, perfect ash, fantastic flavors... dry boxing did the trick; the were too moist. Thanks for the help guys!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top