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The Cigar Adviser
Published in: December 1, 1995
Published Winter 1995
The Cigar AdviserQ: I recently purchased some Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas from a dealer in Miami. I thought they were unsmokable, but your ratings say they are the best cigar made. What gives?
Mark K.
Westport, Connecticut
A: Thanks for sending us the Double Coronas. The problem was immediately evident: They are counterfeits. We compared them with legitimate stocks of that cigar. Yours had wrappers of different colors, the construction was mediocre and, you were right, they didn't smoke well. They are not real Hoyo de Monterreys.
We've warned readers many times over the last few years that counterfeiting is a growing problem, especially with the most sought-after and most expensive Cuban cigars. If you buy what are supposed to be Cuban cigars illegally in this country, or from unknown sources, you stand a good chance of getting burned. I'm sorry to say that you did.
Q: How do I properly store my cigars so they do not dry out? Since I am on a budget and cannot afford to purchase a humidor, I would like to know what would be the next best way to store my cigars so that they will retain their freshness.
David Solis
San Diego, California
A: There is a simple solution in a kitchen supply store. Buy a large plastic container with a sealable top, like Tupperware. Ask your local tobacconist for a Credo humidification device (there are now copycat units available although we have not tested them), which should run about $40. You will need to allow space so that your cigars don't touch the Credo, but this system will keep your cigars in reasonable condition. Since this will mean cigars are in a plastic-only environment, you should use some cedar such as the dividers commonly found between layers of boxed cigars. Remember that this type of storage unit is, in fact, airtight; therefore, if you leave them unopened for an extended period, your cigars can develop a musty aromA: Open the container every few days. You should also know that these days you can buy relatively inexpensive humidors, made with Lucite or pressboard, for under $300.
Q: How do you smoke a culebra? Do you unbraid it and smoke each cigar singularly? Do the curly braids burn evenly? Or do you smoke all three cigars like one giant spliff?
Todd Baker
Los Angeles, California
A: Culebras have become increasingly rare. But if you find one, smoke each piece separately. They will smoke fine.
Q: What type of wood are cigar boxes made of?
R.J.B.
Pompton Plains, New Jersey
A: Traditionally, cigar boxes were made of cedar. Today, you will often find types of mahogany because cedar is increasingly expensive and rare. Additionally, young cedar has a tendency to exude sap or resin, which can damage uncellophaned cigars.
Q: Since there are conditions, albeit strict ones, under which Cuban cigars can be brought into the United States, does that mean that possession of them by anyone in the United States is legal?
Peter Flihan III
Briarcliff Manor, New York
A: In our reading of the law, there is no sanction against possessing a Cuban cigar in the United States. The law specifically stipulates that it is illegal to purchase a Cuban cigar and bring it into the United States.
Q: I am particularly fond of exhaling the smoke through my nose. This seems to enhance the flavor. Are there any health risks from this practice?
John Ramsay
Belmont, Massachusetts
A: Since getting the smoke deep enough to exhale through your nose would probably cause some of it to be inhaled into the lungs, it is not without risk.
Q: I have a new Daniel Marshall "Ambiente" humidor that I now carry with me during my many moves as a member of the U.S. Army. But, it only holds about 100 cigars. Do you have any suggestions on how I could pack and move my growing cigar collection so as to reduce the risk of cigars drying out?
Kelly V. Norman
Major, United States Army
Fort Lewis, Washington
A: Unless it is specifically designed as a travel humidor, you are placing all your cigars at risk to ship them in your desktop humidor, no matter what the brand. For purposes of moving, you should adapt the Tupperware/Credo solution mentioned above with the added step of bubble wrap or some other odorless packing material positioned so that the heads of the cigars are protected and immobile. But if your household goods are going to be in transit for longer than two weeks, I'd airfreight your collection to your new destination rather than subject it to the extremes of temperature likely to occur in a moving van or ship.
Q: I have purchased cigar "seconds" on numerous occasions and have found most of them to be extremely good smokes--especially for the money. What is it that makes a second a second?
K. John Lee
Sherman Oaks, California
A: There are a number of "flaws" that result in a second cigar. There may be a blemish on the wrapper. The cigar may not have been cut straight when it was being sized, or the length or ring gauge may be slightly off. The most common reason for a cigar being labeled a "second" is the lack of uniformity in the color of the wrapper; i.e., too green at one end. Serious flaws, such as cigars that during inspection are thought to be too tight or plugged or have some other noticeable defect, are disassembled and thrown away, or the filler leaves will be used in a different cigar.
Q: I recently found a humidor, circa 1940, that is completely porcelain-lined. I have since been told, in a mall tobacco shop, that new ones are lined with cedar because cedar helps preserve flavor better than porcelain. Is this true? If so, are there any advantages to porcelain?
Frederick Ginsberg
Morristown, New Jersey
A: It's not that cedar preserves flavor; instead, it enhances the flavor and aroma of most cigars. The slightly sweet woodiness of a good cedar lining helps improve most cigars as they age, although if you've ever had a cigar that spent too many years in a strong cedar environment, you'd know there is a point at which the cedar can get too strong. The porcelain won't hurt the taste of a cigar in any way because presumably it has an entirely neutral aromA: But while providing a safe aging environment, it won't enhance the cigar over the long term.
By the way, take a close look; your humidor may be lined with milk glass, not porcelain. It was made during an era when many humidors came without any humidification and relied on a tight seal to preserve the moisture level of the cigars when they were placed inside.
Q: I have heard and read much conflicting information on the proper way to store and age cigars. When stored properly in a humidor, do cigars continue to age or do they just continue to marry? What is the best way to store (time, temperature, and humidity) and if possible to improve the cigars that I own?
Jon Greenberg
Carlisle Place, New York
A: The only proper way to store and age cigars is in a humidified and temperature-controlled environment with 70 percent humidity at 70 F to 72 F.
The proper time to age a cigar is debatable. Some people like fresher cigars that have been rolled within the previous six months. Others, especially many cigar lovers in the United Kingdom, like to age their cigars five or six years before consumption. Some connoisseurs love ci-gars that are 20, 30, or even 40 years old. Properly humidified, cigars will continue to evolve in a humidor.
Q: When I smoke, I see very tiny white spots, like needle heads, on the ash of the cigar. Actually, I think I see them on the wrapper as well, but they are more apparent on the ash. What are they and what do they indicate about the cigar?
Cenk Kiral
Istanbul, Turkey
A: You are no doubt smoking cigars with Cameroon wrappers. Cameroon and Central African Republic tobacco, which are both Sumatra seed, sun-grown tobaccos, typically have "tooth," which are tiny pockets of oil. In fact, this is where the flavor is. Fine grain usually means a smooth, rich flavor.
Q: I am allergic to alcohol, so I am unable to enjoy a Cognac or fine wine when smoking a cigar. Instead, I usually drink some sort of fruit juice-- grape, apple, etc. I was curious about what types of nonalcoholic drinks you can recommend for those of us who cannot enjoy alcohol with our cigar.
Randall Reilly
Plover, Wisconsin
A: Your preference for fruit juices is appropriate. The slight sweetness combined with some acidity cleanses the palate. Try cola drinks, too. Although extremely fizzy ones may not suit you, the sweetness and the fizz work to keep the palate clean. Another choice is bottled water with carbonation.
Q: What percentage of the flavor in a premium cigar is contributed by the wrapper?
Jovan Weismiller
Lawrence, Kansas
A: This is one of the great debates in the cigar industry. Some experts, especially Cuban tobacco men, contend the wrapper contributes less than 10 percent of the overall flavor to a cigar. Other experts outside of Cuba firmly believe that it constitutes up to 50 to 60 percent of the flavor. In strict volume terms, of course, the wrapper represents a fraction of the tobacco in a cigar. But in taste tests that I have done with cigars using the same filler blend with different style wrappers, I would say the 50 to 60 percent estimate is closer to reality. Try this taste test at home and see for yourself.
Q: Can you recommend to me any books, literature, or information on the art of making humidors? What are the best humidification systems and selection of materials?
Eddie R. Exposito
Pearl River, Louisiana
A: I don't know of any books specifically dedicated to building cigar humidors, nor do I have any blueprints. For someone with home woodworking skills, however, any good cabinet- or box-making manual would provide the basic construction tips. There is one primary material for the storage compartment of humidors: Spanish cedar. Any wood that polishes to a nice sheen can be used for the exterior, provided it has been properly seasoned. Otherwise you will risk warpage and/or delamination.
The most readily available and portable humidification system is made by Credo; all other systems were researched and developed by humidor manufacturers for proprietary use. Ask your tobacconist if he carries the Credo system.
Q: I have kept H. Upmann robustos in the humidor for approximately a year and a half and they have recently developed what appears to be a light gray mold. I carefully wiped this material off the cigars, but it eventually came back and spread to a number of Avo Belicosos that were in an adjacent compartment of the humidor, separated by a piece of cedar. Is this mold? How can it be treated if it is, and if it is not, what is it?
Thomas Foxall
Lee, New Hampshire
A: If it was mold, it would leave spots on your cigars. It's more likely a sign that you are providing a proper aging environment for your cigars. The light gray, mold-like substance is known as bloom or plume, which is oil that wrappers exude as cigars age. It does not harm the cigars in any way. Just be careful brushing it off.
Q: There is a small compartment in my humidor incapable of storing the large-sized cigars that I prefer. Since my favorite cigar tastes are cinnamon and nutmeg, I have thought about filling this small compartment with these spices to enhance the natural flavors of the cigars over time.
Is there any validity to this reasoning or will the intrinsic taste of the tobacco be unaffected by external aromas?
Joseph G. Whelan III
Lawrenceville, Georgia
A: All tobacco products readily absorb aromas and flavors, often with unpredictable results. You would most likely end up masking the subtle nuances of flavors that you enjoy.
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