A couple questions from a newbie
Completely new cigar convert here with a few comments/questions. Started cigars maybe a month ago. I've made a tupperdor (tall and round lock-n-lock lined with cedar sheets, with a gel stick and a Boveda packet @ 72% rH) along with 2 tough-box travel humidors. Been casting about and enjoying straight from the store, but ready how putting them in the humidor would help them..
So I take some, place some of them in my tupperdor and a few in one of the tough boxes, also with a Boveda. (I like not having to fiddle with things, heh) I try one about a week later, and the stick smells almost like rotten fish and tasted almost as bad! I thought I'd ruined my cigars, but then it clicked. It's not fish I'm smelling, but ammonia.
Now to the questions.
Is it normal for the ones at the store not to have that smell/flavor until throwing them in a humidor? If not, what have I loused up?
Also, been enjoying some backwoods and swisher sweet "outlaws" while waiting for the cigars.. been keeping them in a humibag to keep from drying out, and noticed after about a week, they develop that same smell/flavor. Has anyone tried aging these to see what happens? Yeah, I know that's like asking someone to cellar MD 20/20, but if they are still 'alive' enough to produce the ammonia.... will likely try with a set just to see myself..
So I take some, place some of them in my tupperdor and a few in one of the tough boxes, also with a Boveda. (I like not having to fiddle with things, heh) I try one about a week later, and the stick smells almost like rotten fish and tasted almost as bad! I thought I'd ruined my cigars, but then it clicked. It's not fish I'm smelling, but ammonia.
Now to the questions.
Is it normal for the ones at the store not to have that smell/flavor until throwing them in a humidor? If not, what have I loused up?
Also, been enjoying some backwoods and swisher sweet "outlaws" while waiting for the cigars.. been keeping them in a humibag to keep from drying out, and noticed after about a week, they develop that same smell/flavor. Has anyone tried aging these to see what happens? Yeah, I know that's like asking someone to cellar MD 20/20, but if they are still 'alive' enough to produce the ammonia.... will likely try with a set just to see myself..
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Comments
ammonia is the smell of youth in a cigar. it means that fermentation of the leaf has not stopped. this happens from time to ti me to cigars that did not spend enough time in the aging room at the factory.
OR
it means that fermentation has restarted. 72% is a bit high for the Rh but that shouldnt be enough to start the fermentation process.
what brand are they? did they come into contact with high amounts of moisture recently? in that humi bag is there a humidification system?
if so, take it out. a Zip-loc will be enough. thoswe cigars are made a bit differently and dont need the humidification of premium handmades.
Okay.. hmm, what rH would be best? As far as brands, one was a Drew Natural, a couple Perdomo Reserve Champagnes, and a Brickhouse Maduro. And no big moisture changes as far as I know. kept them in the house and in their humidors
No humidification in the bag, just the slender bag they use for someone to cart home a couple sticks from the cigar store.
Take that DE Natural out and put it in a separate tupperdor. Try to keep infused cigars separate.
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
Can you name the one that you smoked that had the bad ammonia taste?
Also, not everyone who runs a cigar shop keeps proper humidity in their humidors. Usually if there's a humidity problem it's because they are keeping their stock over humidified. If you bought any from a cigar shop that over humidifies their cigars and bring them home and put them in a tightly sealed tupperdor or even a baggie, I'm wondering if, like Kuzi said, the fermentation process would start again.
Also, how are you measuring rH? Is there a calibrated hygrometer here or just the number on the Boveda pack?
I have some backwoods that have been jarred up for some time and I can say I liked the change. I did too notice the smell but it did pass over time. With some regular "burping".
I would agree what we smelled was a very young leaf. It seems to be more common in the cheaper the cigar. Atleast, in the machine made junk i love regularly. Just give it some time if you want to continue juicing up your machine mades. Also you should be storing your machine mades away from the premiums if doing this cause the probablity of mold goes way up.
I also, run my humidors at 72. BUT its my enviroment that requires it. I have to keep my humidor wood a little extra wet so it maintains its seal in my typically bone dry DESERT enviroment. (This year being the friggin exception) I would agree a drop to a 67% Boveda Packet would be a good idea.
Aj