Time to find a better source?

[DadnLex]

Okay, I'm not totally stupid but maybe I need to find another source to buy my cigars... I went to my local B&M and I assume they not only know cigars but how to store them as it is their source of income. I bought two Punch Rothschild cigars, one a Maduro and the other an English Market Selection.

I asked the guy at the counter what the difference was between them and got told "different kind of plants". Wow great answer, so I buy them and cut the Maduro, soon as I cut it the wrapper starts to unravel and I show it to him and ask what the deal is as I cut it no where near the cap line. He proceeds to tell me all about cutters and takes my EMS and proceeds to "show" me how to cut a cigar. I smiled said thanks and went on my way. When I got home I see the EMS is coming unwrapped as well...

Is there any way to fix it or do I just suck it up. I have never had a Punch before so I don't know if they are good bad or indifferent.

Tom

 

[B.HOBS]

• Which side of the cap did you cut through? You only need to clip a tiny bit off the head of the cigar. Enough to get a good draw.
• What cutter are you using?
• Is it very sharp?
• Was the cigar crunchy or supple (dry or moist?)

These are only the first questions. There are too many variables that we cant see or know to tell you 100% what the issue is.
Try some different B&M's around your area to see if there is a difference in the care, look, feel, taste, and burn of the cigars. As far as B&M's go, dont assume that they actually have a passion for the hobby like us. It is a source of income only for a lot of folks, and they could care less about quality, history, caring for cigars, etc. Only $ signs to them! That being said...There are A LOT of Cigar shops who will actually will treat you right, as well as the cigars, because they would love for you to bring them business on a regular basis and build a good rep. Find that place for you and when you do.... buy, buy, buy!

Good luck to you.

 

[w00ts!te]

Bad humidity possibly. Was there a RH monitor in the humidor?

 

[jfields]

What's the name of the B&M?

 

[Devil Doc]

Let's not make this anymore complicated than it is. First of all, NC Punch cigars, like all of General Cigar Co. cigars, are one step above yard gars. Two, it sounds like you or the clerk didn't wet the cap before cutting. You have to moisten the cap before you put the cutter to it, otherwise, it's apt to do what it did to you.

Doc.

 

[DadnLex]

• Which side of the cap did you cut through? You only need to clip a tiny bit off the head of the cigar. Enough to get a good draw.
• What cutter are you using?
• Is it very sharp?
• Was the cigar crunchy or supple (dry or moist?)

Yeah, I only clip off what is needed to smoke the cigar, as far as the cutter it was a siscors type cutter that was on the counter. As far as dry or moist I can't say that I know exactly how dry or moist a good cigar looks like so I can't say for sure.

Bad humidity possibly. Was there a RH monitor in the humidor?

As a matter of fact I did not see one. As far as humidors go the store has a bunch of cases with glass doors that slide to open. Again not enough expirence to say how a good store stores them.

What's the name of the B&M?

Olde Towne Tobacconist

Let's not make this anymore complicated than it is. First of all, NC Punch cigars, like all of General Cigar Co. cigars, are one step above yard gars. Two, it sounds like you or the clerk didn't wet the cap before cutting. You have to moisten the cap before you put the cutter to it, otherwise, it's apt to do what it did to you.

Doc.

Okay, I'll put you down as one who doesn't like Punch cigars or any from General however I am sure there are an equal number of people who would be apt to disagree. I have a four pack of El Rey De Mundo cigars coming tomorrow that I am going to try regardless of the fact they are from General.

As for moistening the cap I will say that is a new one for me. I have been searching the net but haven't found a reference for it. Interesting never the less.

Tom

 

[jfields]

That's what I thought.

Like I said in your intro............. Really great place to start, but hang around here, visit some other B&M's and you will see that there is so much more out there.

I never was a fan of those old glass display cases they have, plus the fact that I'd often go in there and the hygrometer's would read 68% on one case and 59% on another. Go in a month later and they all would read 70 - 72%.

There's another shop not too far from you in Stafford just off of 610 in the Doc Stone area. The guy that runs the place does not have much of a personality, but the cigars he has have been taken care of properly in a walk in humidor. Let me know if you need a name or directions.

 

[Devil Doc]

• Which side of the cap did you cut through? You only need to clip a tiny bit off the head of the cigar. Enough to get a good draw.
• What cutter are you using?
• Is it very sharp?
• Was the cigar crunchy or supple (dry or moist?)

Yeah, I only clip off what is needed to smoke the cigar, as far as the cutter it was a siscors type cutter that was on the counter. As far as dry or moist I can't say that I know exactly how dry or moist a good cigar looks like so I can't say for sure.

Bad humidity possibly. Was there a RH monitor in the humidor?

As a matter of fact I did not see one. As far as humidors go the store has a bunch of cases with glass doors that slide to open. Again not enough expirence to say how a good store stores them.

What's the name of the B&M?

Olde Towne Tobacconist

Let's not make this anymore complicated than it is. First of all, NC Punch cigars, like all of General Cigar Co. cigars, are one step above yard gars. Two, it sounds like you or the clerk didn't wet the cap before cutting. You have to moisten the cap before you put the cutter to it, otherwise, it's apt to do what it did to you.

Doc.

Okay, I'll put you down as one who doesn't like Punch cigars or any from General however I am sure there are an equal number of people who would be apt to disagree. I have a four pack of El Rey De Mundo cigars coming tomorrow that I am going to try regardless of the fact they are from General.

As for moistening the cap I will say that is a new one for me. I have been searching the net but haven't found a reference for it. Interesting never the less.

Tom

You won't find them here.

We've had a lot of newb know- it- alls latley and to be honest my patience is wearing thin, but if you've found no reference to moistening the cap and a general disdain for General Cigars, you're looking in the wrong places for your information. You can smoke whatever you like and I could care less. Some people need and want to make their own mistakes and that's just fine. Empirical learning, although expensive, can be very effective

Doc.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I'm surprised that no one has pointed out the great vendors we have here in these forums. I could rattle off some names but I'd likely forget one of them and that's not my intention.

If you browse the Retailer's forum, you'll find the guys that know their stuff, won't screw you, and support CP by supporting us with great deals and solid service. While it'd be great to have a solid B&M locally worth supporting, you won't go wrong with the guys that are frequent posters here.

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[tmoney2007]

Let's not make this anymore complicated than it is. First of all, NC Punch cigars, like all of General Cigar Co. cigars, are one step above yard gars. Two, it sounds like you or the clerk didn't wet the cap before cutting. You have to moisten the cap before you put the cutter to it, otherwise, it's apt to do what it did to you.

Doc.

Okay, I'll put you down as one who doesn't like Punch cigars or any from General however I am sure there are an equal number of people who would be apt to disagree. I have a four pack of El Rey De Mundo cigars coming tomorrow that I am going to try regardless of the fact they are from General.

As for moistening the cap I will say that is a new one for me. I have been searching the net but haven't found a reference for it. Interesting never the less.

Tom

You won't find them here.

We've had a lot of newb know it alls latley and to be honest my patience is wearing pretty thin, but if you've found no reference to moistening the cap and a general disdain for General Cigars, you're looking in the wrong places for your information. You can smoke whatever you like and I could care less. Some people need and want to make their own mistakes and that's just fine.
Doc.

The fact is that there are a disproportionate number of people that like General cigars... that's why they sell so many, but that doesn't make them good cigars. I hate to sound elitist, but I have never met an experienced cigar smoker that really liked them. They are mass produced, and as such they make serious compromises in their production processes (the biggest of which is not naturally curing the tobacco) and that makes a difference, any one who has smoked both can attest to that.

If you wanted to make the argument that Rocky Patel makes great smokes, you would have a leg to stand on (I don't like them, personally, and I don't support some of his business practices), but you are going to get laughed out of here if you seriously try to argue that General makes cigars on the same level as any number of boutique cigar manufacturers. General and Altadis are kind of considered drugstore cigar manufacturers.

 

[w00ts!te]

The fact is that there are a disproportionate number of people that like General cigars... that's why they sell so many, but that doesn't make them good cigars. I hate to sound elitist, but I have never met an experienced cigar smoker that really liked them. They are mass produced, and as such they make serious compromises in their production processes (the biggest of which is not naturally curing the tobacco) and that makes a difference, any one who has smoked both can attest to that.

If you wanted to make the argument that Rocky Patel makes great smokes, you would have a leg to stand on (I don't like them, personally, and I don't support some of his business practices), but you are going to get laughed out of here if you seriously try to argue that General makes cigars on the same level as any number of boutique cigar manufacturers. General and Altadis are kind of considered drugstore cigar manufacturers.

I think there is alot of legitimacy to this statement.. but then again, to each his own.

 

[DadnLex]

I tell you what since your paitence is wearing so thin I just show myself to the door and leave you to your board. I'll go try and learn what I can on my own.

 

[DirtyDave]

I tell you what since your paitence is wearing so thin I just show myself to the door and leave you to your board. I'll go try and learn what I can on my own.

Wow, 7 posts and you're already taking your ball and leaving?!? :0

People offered you good advice, even an alternative B&M to try out. Wow. Take care I guess. I'd recommend using the search feature though. You can learn a lot. In the 10 years this board has been running, most questions have been answered many times over. But hey, good luck. :thumbs:

 

[Wisco]

Your profile even states that you don't know much but you are willing to experiment and learn. You also stated you have never had a Punch. Doc gave you some great advice and his personal opinion and you might as well have told him to pound salt. Stop giving noobs a worse name.

I don't post this to try to run you off. I put my foot in my mouth every day in any number of communities (not just cigar related) I hope you read this and evaluate how what you wrote may have come off to others. I highly suggest laying low, reading, and keeping an open mind to what others have to say. There are people here who know more about cigars than I probably ever will (Doc being one of them).

You don't learn by standing up and telling the teacher she doesn't know what she's talking about. You stay quiet, take notes, and test it out for yourself. If I do run across a Punch you better believe I will try moistening the cap before I cut it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[DirtyDave]

You don't learn by standing up and telling the teacher she doesn't know what she's talking about. You stay quiet, take notes, and test it out for yourself.

Great post Brent. I like this line in particular.

ETA: It reminds me of one of my favorite quotations: "Always learn from the skillful. He who teaches himself hath a fool for a master." Ben Franklin.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I'd sent a PM offering some sources, and got a "no thanks I'm leaving" reply.

Dissapointing. His loss, to be sure.

B.B.S.

 

[Rural Guy]

Doc's really being a dick this week. This'll be the second member he's run off today and working on a third. Just ignore him DnL he's just a grumpy old Navy guy.

 

[Bsneed51]

I tell you what since your paitence is wearing so thin I just show myself to the door and leave you to your board. I'll go try and learn what I can on my own.

F*ck you. Goodbye!

 

[Franco593]

Doc's really being a dick this week. This'll be the second member he's run off today and working on a third. Just ignore him DnL he's just a grumpy old Navy guy.

Boy I hope this is a not a serious comment. Doc's insight on smelling out trolls is impeccable.

 

[Mr Peat]

Having smoked many cabs of the Punch Rothschild and when I say many, I'm talking at least 10 50 count boxes of them.
I can say they have always had a problem unraveling. I know my cigars and how to store them. After such a extensive background with them, the source you bought them from could be fine. I've also toured their factory down in Danli, Honduras and the QC on them is pretty bad. I still love a Punch Rothschild till this day. I will bash any cigar if the QC sucks. Just look at some of my Opus X reviews and I don't know anyone that is a big a whore of Opus X than myself. I've bashed plenty of Opus X and I will still buy them.