My First Czar Order

[Guest robusto101]

Hey guys-

I received my first order from the Czar today. A box of 10 Montecristo Petit Edmundo with a date of Sept 10. I am super excited to try these out after they've mellowed a bit in my humidor. Only issue is that I can't seem to keep my humidor lower than 66 RH.

Oh well, maybe I'll inquire about that in another thread but for now I'm very pleased with both Lisa, Diana and everyone else at the Czar. You guys provide great service and hopefully great cigars as well. They look terrific!

Thanks again!

[ZAZ]

Great looking cigars! Thanks for sharing the picture.

[gsmoke]

They look great. Let us know how they smoke.

[riazp]

great cigars those petit edmundos, love em! enjoy!

[Guest robusto101]

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to trying one of these in a few weeks.

Shlomo, I keep hearing about the magical 62-65 range for Cubans. Is this vastly overrated? Doesn't seem like there would be a noticeable difference between the upper bound of 65 and where it currently rests at 66 so maybe I'm over thinking it.

[j0z3r]

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to trying one of these in a few weeks.

Shlomo, I keep hearing about the magical 62-65 range for Cubans. Is this vastly overrated? Doesn't seem like there would be a noticeable difference between the upper bound of 65 and where it currently rests at 66 so maybe I'm over thinking it.

I think it boils down to two things: personal preference and the climate you live in. I live in a pretty dry area, so keeping my cigars between 65-70% works perfectly for me. If you live in a more humid area, then a lower rh% may work better. See how things go at 66%, if you try one in a few weeks and it seems too wet, then you can try to get it down a few points. You're not going to hurt the cigars, so play with it a bit.

[Guest robusto101]

Thanks, j0z3r. I'll keep that in mind.

I'm a bit confused as I've just purchased a cigar oasis and I thought that it would automatically adjust the humidity level for you. I suppose if the air surrounding it is too humid then the oasis can't take anything away in that case.

My desktop humidor usually hovers around 68-69 and it seems like every cigar stored in there encounters some mild burn issues. That's why I was looking forward to keeping them at a lower RH.

[docbp87]

I think it boils down to two things: personal preference and the climate you live in. I live in a pretty dry area, so keeping my cigars between 65-70% works perfectly for me. If you live in a more humid area, then a lower rh% may work better. See how things go at 66%, if you try one in a few weeks and it seems too wet, then you can try to get it down a few points. You're not going to hurt the cigars, so play with it a bit.

What Joe said. I live in a really humid climate, so I keep my cooler down around 62% most of the year (and during the summer this can be tough some times) to keep them smoking properly. It doesn't take much for the ambient relative humidity, even in my apartment, to shoot up to the high 70's during the summer, here in swampy ass Virginia.

[Guest robusto101]

Well I guess living in SoCal I shouldn't complain too much. The temp will be cooliing down in the next month and that should drop the humidity as well.

If I can maintain 66 or lower, I'll take it. Taste in a cigar is more important to me than anything else. I'm sure the RH will not alter that aspect all that much.

Thanks again for all the opinions.

[Fuzz]

If your humi is sitting at 66RH and you're experiencing some burn or draw issues, you can always try dry boxing for 24hrs beforehand.

A mate uses his desktop humi for dry boxing and an esky for storage. Every Sunday he takes some cigars from the esky and put them in the desktop for that week's smoking pleasure.

[Cigar Connoisseur]

Well I guess living in SoCal I shouldn't complain too much. The temp will be cooliing down in the next month and that should drop the humidity as well.

If I can maintain 66 or lower, I'll take it. Taste in a cigar is more important to me than anything else. I'm sure the RH will not alter that aspect all that much.

Thanks again for all the opinions.

Great buy! Monte PE are great! But I'm sure that is the 1st box of many that you will buy..

Your cigars will smoke fine in CA @ 66%. We live in a dry state and humidity is usually in the 40s year round. I prefer my smokes @ 69+ for smokeing and 65% for ageing. You really only need to worry about the temp here. Also, try Boveda packs, they work great! I had 2 cigar oasis and felt that they struggled to maintain humidity. Once I tried the Bovedas' I was hooked.... A lil more expensive, but for the ease of never having to worry about over moistening or maintenance it's the way to go. Hope this helps....

Manny

[thechenman]

I use Boveda packets as well in the winter time here in the northeast. One thing I would caution you on though is to check on them from time to time. I've had a few Boveda packets kind of explode and ooze all over my humidor and cigars.

[Guest robusto101]

Thanks for the added suggestions, fellas. I've got half a dozen boveda packs for a 65 RH. I'll stick with the oasis for now; I'm sure once it cools down a bit the humidity will drop and I won't have too much worry about over humidifying.

[randomhero1090]

Nice pickup! The Monte PE in the 10 box is a sexy presentation.

If I gave you a cigar stored at 65% and the exact same cigar but stored at 66%, you would NEVER be able to tell me the difference. 65% vs 70%, probably. Remember, most hygrometers aren't perfect. Even with a salt calibration of the digital they can still be off slightly.

My cigars spend 1/2 the year in the basement where I need to work to keep the humidity DOWN, and 1/2 the year upstairs where I need to keep the humidity UP. The Northeast PA is hot and humid in the summer, cold and dry in the winter. Not a fun battle. However, learned two things...

1) To bring humidity down, Heartfelt beads.

2) To bring humidity up, boveda or gel tubs.

[Guest robusto101]

Hey Random, you're right. I would never know. I'm not too concerned about that actually since I've been talked down from everyone else

Thanks for the info though. Good stuff.

[CanuckSARTech]

Thanks, j0z3r. I'll keep that in mind.

I'm a bit confused as I've just purchased a cigar oasis and I thought that it would automatically adjust the humidity level for you. I suppose if the air surrounding it is too humid then the oasis can't take anything away in that case.

My desktop humidor usually hovers around 68-69 and it seems like every cigar stored in there encounters some mild burn issues. That's why I was looking forward to keeping them at a lower RH.

The other guys have given you some great suggestions. But I'm thinking of something else to try....

From your posts, I'm gathering that you "used" to have draw/burn issues due to higher humidity in the 70% range, and so you got your Cigar Oasis to get you down to the low/mid 60's. So, you're not having burn issues at that lower range now though, correct? Or, you still are, and want the RH to be lower, closer to 60%?

Either way, I have a potential answer.

Set your Cigar Oasis down to the RH level that you want. And don't touch it. Yes, you're correct in that it can add, but not take away - it's an active system, but only one way.

So, buy some RH Beads. Depending on the ambient RH level that you want (be it 65% or 60%), get the beads that are designed for that particular/exact RH level. Then, put those in there, dry and uncharged, and let them soak up the excess humidity. Put in exactly the amount that's required for whatever size of humidor you have (no need for massive amounts of beads, due to also having the Cigar Oasis in there for humidity addition, unless your humidor is excessively moist [and it doesn't sound like it] and you just want extra beads for additional moisture absorbtion).

But having the beads in there act as the "takeaway" measure in the closed environment, while both the Cigar Oasis and the beads then add when needed, to balance out the equation.

The 65% RH Beads should be fine for what it sounds like you want. Even if your digital hygrometer reads at that percentage about, 66% or so, it may take up to a month or so until your cigars match that evenly, and start smoking better again. Get the RH Beads from Mark Neff (n2adventure, a member on here), over at Cigarmony.com - good stuff available there.

Hope this helps some. Cheers.

[Guest robusto101]

Canuck-

You're correct. I used to have burn issues but I have a new humidor and have my oasis in that one but have yet to smoke one out of my new humi.

I like the beads idea; I'll probably explore that thought.

Thanks for the info, brother.

[Ghabanos]

Hey guys-

I received my first order from the Czar today. A box of 10 Montecristo Petit Edmundo with a date of Sept 10. I am super excited to try these out after they've mellowed a bit in my humidor. Only issue is that I can't seem to keep my humidor lower than 66 RH.

Oh well, maybe I'll inquire about that in another thread but for now I'm very pleased with both Lisa, Diana and everyone else at the Czar. You guys provide great service and hopefully great cigars as well. They look terrific!

Thanks again!

The first box is just the beginning of a very very slippery slope my friend... Welcome

Box looks delicious btw

[BobKincaid]

I've a feeling you'll be lovin' those in short order, especially coming from the Czar. The service and quality is above and beyond any other purveyor of which I'm aware. You'll see.

Cheers!

[Guest robusto101]

Ghabanos, are you referring to the buying boxes in general or these particular cigars?

Either way, I will happily slide down this slippery slope

And yes, the box looks downright scrumptious!