Newbie needs some advice

[elvergun]

Hi all…

I need some advise.

Yesterday I received a box of Juan Lopez #2s…and I made the mistake of smoking one right after I opened the package. Needless to say, the thing was harsh, and bitter, and just all-around nasty.

Barf. ???


What the heck is a newbie to do? I don’t have that many ISOMs - I’m just starting my collection. I'm not sure what to buy...and when I do, I can't sample them. But I like Cubans and I want to smoke them…so I came up with a plan. I want you guys to tell me if it will work…


I imagine the reason the JL#2s were so bitter has something to do with humidity changes that might have occured during transport. I’m thinking of placing an order for RyJ N.2 that come in tubes. I hope that these guys are better protected against humidity changes and will be more smokeable upon arrival. I know I should let them sit in my humidor for at least a month, BUT I WANNA SMOKE THEM NOW.

Am I on the right track with the RyJ or will they also be harsh?

What other choices do I have (besides waiting and smoking my NCs)?

If I buy some cigars with an older box code, will that help? Is it age that removes the harshness...or is a bitter cigar the result of storage conditions (changes in storage).

Thanks...

 

[junkman_56]

First off, you should let them rest for at least a week before trying them.

Secondly, what is the box date on the cigars you got?

 

[smallg]

Hey.... might want to fill out your profile info.

The RyJ N.2 tubo was the first ISOM I ever had (on my honeymoon) and I absolutely loved that cigar. I'm pretty sure it was from a fresh box as well. I just thought it was the perfect newbie smoke at the time. Easy on a young palate, tasty, smelled great and my wife even commented on it and wanted to try it.
In fact, I just HAD to try a Siglo II the next day and I thought (for whatever reason could have been fake even though it was from a reputable resort) it tasted inferior to me. Try the numero dos tubo! :thumbs:

 

[elvergun]

First off, you should let them rest for at least a week before trying them.

[snapback]245959[/snapback]​

Noooooooo.


Really? Even cigars that come in tubes?

Secondly, what is the box date on the cigars you got?

[snapback]245959[/snapback]​

Jan of 05

 

[junkman_56]

As some of the FOGs on this board can better describe, ISOMs benefit from aging.
These are still considered young cigars.

On your next purchase, look for cigars that are at least a couple of years old.

And yes, after cigars are shipped to you (any cigar), they should rest in your humidor for at least a week to recover from the journey.

 

[elvergun]

And yes, after cigars are shipped to you (any cigar), they should rest in your humidor for at least a week to recover from the journey.

[snapback]245966[/snapback]​

Right...but will cigars in tubes recover faster? Are they more protected from the journey?

I was so exited about the Juan Lopez order...and then so disappointed (it seems that I will not be able to smoke these for a long time)…that I'm ready to place the order for the tubos right now. But it the tubes do not make any difference, I might just as well take it easy and order a cigar that I will really enjoy (or perhaps these RyJ are good...I'll have to look up some reviews).

 

[junkman_56]

Just take it easy and order cigars that you really want...
Look for box codes that are a few years old and you won't be disappointed.

 

[elvergun]

Just take it easy and order cigars that you really want...
Look for box codes that are a few years old and you won't be disappointed.

[snapback]245973[/snapback]​

Ok. I believe that they will also have to sit in the humidor for a while after arival. So does this mean that a well aged cigar will recover faster?

Is the following correct?

Journey + Age of Cigar = Intensity and duration of harshness




Thanks for the help junkman.

 

[junkman_56]

So does this mean that a well aged cigar will recover faster?

No, always let them rest.
It is a function of the travel itself, not the age of the cigar.

 

[Great King Rat]

I think tubes or no tubes they need to rest. Temp swing from sea level to 40000ft in a cargo plane is huge. With temp swings there is major shift in humidity. Let them rest for four weeks and try them again. I do not think AL203 tube will portect against shipment harshness.

JL #2 is a great tasting cigar when they are young and with age. I had one not to long ago. I prefer them over PSD4, RASS and CoRo - Just let them sit.

My first box of ISOMs was Monti #4. They were harsh and I was ready to give them away. After few months in humi they became smooth and much tastier. I have 5 more sticks left from that batch. Now I can not smoke them because they are sick. :laugh:

 

[Lumberg]

Right...but will cigars in tubes recover faster? Are they more protected from the journey?

Tubos are definitely more protected from the journey.

So we are talking about two completely separate things here: a cigar's age and whether it has reached equilibrium with its environment.

It takes 1-2 weeks for the cigar to reach equilibrium with the environment of your humidor, more or less. Most would say 2 weeks to be on the safe side.

It takes months for the effects of aging to be apparent, and some cigars don't reach their peak for several years.

So let the cigars rest for at least 2 weeks, and then try another one. If it's better, problem solved. If it's not, then I'd put them away for 6 months, then try one a month until they start tasting good.

Cubans are a PITA and that's why I usually don't deal with them.

Anyway, with the tubos, you can be prety sure they won't need much rest, but you won't be guaranteed that they are properly aged, unless you buy a box that is 1+ years old.

Make sense?

 

[elvergun]

So let the cigars rest for at least 2 weeks, and then try another one. If it's better, problem solved. If it's not, then I'd put them away for 6 months, then try one a month until they start tasting good.

The cigar I smoked was so harsh that I don't think 2 weeks is going to do the trick.

Crap…six months to smoke the cigars that I had to wait three weeks to get. Oh well…

Anyway, with the tubos, you can be prety sure they won't need much rest, but you won't be guaranteed that they are properly aged, unless you buy a box that is 1+ years old.

I think I’m going to go for it then. The N.2s are not that expensive…I just hope they are tasty.

I doubt that I will be able to find a well aged box of these cigars. It seems that the cheaper they are, the less likely it is to find them aged.

Make sense?

Err…nothing makes sense when it comes to cigars…especially Cubans. :blush:

 

[lucasbuck]

I've found eight weeks rest time is more like it especially if they arrive too dry or too wet which is usually the case. It takes a long time for cigars to acclimate to your preferred rh.

 

[cigardawg]

BUT I WANNA SMOKE THEM NOW.

[snapback]245958[/snapback]​

Patience little grasshopper.

 

[elvergun]

BUT I WANNA SMOKE THEM NOW.

[snapback]245958[/snapback]​

Patience little grasshopper.

[snapback]247046[/snapback]​

Yeah...I'm slowly coming to grasps with that realization.

I guess that's what NCs are for...to fill in the gaps between ISOMs.

 

[junkman_56]

BUT I WANNA SMOKE THEM NOW.

[snapback]245958[/snapback]​

Patience little grasshopper.

[snapback]247046[/snapback]​

Yeah...I'm slowly coming to grasps with that realization.

I guess that's what NCs are for...to fill in the gaps between ISOMs.

[snapback]247049[/snapback]​

Have some Arturo Fuente Hemingway's while you wait...

 

[elvergun]

BUT I WANNA SMOKE THEM NOW.

[snapback]245958[/snapback]​

Patience little grasshopper.

[snapback]247046[/snapback]​

Yeah...I'm slowly coming to grasps with that realization.

I guess that's what NCs are for...to fill in the gaps between ISOMs.

[snapback]247049[/snapback]​

Have some Arturo Fuente Hemingway's while you wait...

[snapback]247060[/snapback]​

When I smoke NCs, I prefer maduros...perhaps I can have some 858 maduros while I wait.

 

[cigardawg]

BUT I WANNA SMOKE THEM NOW.

[snapback]245958[/snapback]​

Patience little grasshopper.

[snapback]247046[/snapback]​

Yeah...I'm slowly coming to grasps with that realization.

I guess that's what NCs are for...to fill in the gaps between ISOMs.

[snapback]247049[/snapback]​

Enlightenment comes quickly. :thumbs:

 

[Sunward]

yep, agree with the posts ... LET THEM SIT... be patient... my first day on this forum, i was told that is what cigar smoking is all about! :thumbs:

relax... and smoke something from a tobaconnist thats been resting.

btw... RyJ are nice and mild IMO

 

[mhortsch]

There are plenty of good shops in SD that can supply you with some sufficient tasting non-ISOMs to tide you over while your sticks neutralize.