Smoking from a "hot" box

[ElPuro]

Just curious how many people smoke consecutive sticks from the same box. I've heard of folks saying that they'll quickly go through a box that's "on," but I sometimes hesitate to do so because I am reluctant to then run out of them. A seriously first-world problem...

[HavanaSunday]

I'll keep them in my rotation but seldom smoke the same marca consecutive. Sometimes that's harder to do than you think.... Especially when you come across a rock star box.

I plowed through a box of HdM Petit Robustos years ago.... Lasted just about three weeks.

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[CigarSeeker]

I think I have the same issue which then leads to too many half boxes and not enough room in the humidor to restock.

[JohnS]

I find I do a bit of both. I'll go through a box I'm really enjoying is 'on' (such as the EML Feb 15 San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe or AUM Jul 14 Montecristo No.5) and then when there's around 10 left I'll make sure to leave them for awhile to (hopefully) age them a little and come back and compare them down-the-track, so to speak.

[Akela3rd]

I tend to hammer a box I like and then, once I realise that I've got through maybe half I make a conscious decision to move on. Then I'll dip in occasionally, knowing what's waiting there is good and improving with age. Consequently, I've now got quite a number of boxes of 3 or four cigars which I'm very selective about.

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[Shrody234]

If they are 'on' I have no problem tearing through a box quickly. Doing it now with a box of Boli RCs.

On the contrary I worry that if I leave the box to age they will lose whatever about them that I am enjoying so much. There are plenty of great boxes out there to get after that one is done. Also, it leaves your other smokes untouched and allows time for (some) aging.

[JamesNYC]

I would not smoke multiples of the same great cigar- unless I am on vacation.

I like to hold onto something good and be able to have some at a later date.

I have multiple bottles of single malts with only a few drams left in them.

I'm the same with cigars unless I'm on vacation when I'll bring 3-5 of a really great cigar. Even then I don't necessarily smoke all of them.

[NicPac]

I find I do a bit of both. I'll go through a box I'm really enjoying is 'on' (such as the EML Feb 15 San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe or AUM Jul 14 Montecristo No.5) and then when there's around 10 left I'll make sure to leave them for awhile to (hopefully) age them a little and come back and compare them down-the-track, so to speak.

This is what I do as well.

[stigmata]

All smokes are there to be smoked sometime.

That's why they were born.

So smoke them and don't lose them.

I have a couple from 1985 I'm holding for an occasion.

Basically everything is going to be smoked they're not am heirloom

[Notsocleaver]

I'll usually grab a few from that box and put them in my 'special occasions' humidor then smoke the rest as fast as I want.

[LLC]

I like a lot of variety and often have many boxes open that are "on" so I will not typically go back to back.

[Eric E]

I smoke on a "rotation" that is vitola/marca based, so I will not burn right through a box. That will usually take a year. That doesn't mean all my boxes are in my rotation, but once one is, I will smoke one every three to four weeks. To get into my rotation, I randomly smoke from full boxes; if the cigar peaks my interest, then into the rotation it goes. If it doesn't, then I will try one again in a few months.

There is nothing scientific to my method. In fact, it has led to some of the worst cigars in my humidor being aged the longest, as they never get into my rotation.

[avaldes]

I get in moods and will crave the same cigar. So I will pound through multiple boxes in the course of a couple months. There is not a particular pattern, I just feel like smoking something and that's what I want. When I moved I found a ridiculous amount of empty Monte#2, CoRo, Bolivar GM, RACF and Sir Winston boxes! LOL!

[QuaiDorkay]

Smoke them when they are on! So many factors have to line up to make them shine so best to smoke with abandon when they hit the sweet spot. No regrets, smoke em like it's your job.

[demer]

I've had the last 3 sticks of my last dip 4 box in my humidor for like 7 years because its the mentality of "if I smoke them I wont have them anymore." its real dumb but its how I've always been lol.

[PigFish]

I smoke like this. Give it a few goes and you will quickly find out about 'brand profiles' consistency and the like.

To me a cigar is like any other food group. If you want more, go get more, or have a bigger piece. I choose a cigar based on a time frame and look to an open box to get it from. I could care less what band is on the cigar as long as the cigar has a past reputation for a solid delivery.

Cheers! -Piggy

[dicko]

I like to keep at least 5 from any given box to "age" but I will have no qualms in smashing consecutive sticks if they are smoking well.

[oliverdst]

I like to smoke few in a row to feel the nuances ans get used to the stick.

After that having another same size cigar in a different brand makes easier to me compare them.

[MnBrian]

I do something strange compared to what I'm seeing here. I save an empty box that I like (something that is big and looks nice) and over the year if I hit a box that is on, I set aside 2 sticks into that empty. This creates a sort of "best of" box each year. So far I've got three of these and eventually on a special occasion and after enough years have passed, I'll hit those mixed best-of boxes for a trip down memory lane. That way if I'm cruising through a box, I know I've got two stashed and don't feel bad finishing boxes.

[JohnInCleveland]

I smoke completely across the board, with some predisposition to hang with a specific marca if I find they suit my fancy. But I'm fairly new to the arena and I enjoy being able to compare and contrast, so I just all over the place. None of my stock is aged enough to start digging deep, I've got the long-term aging stockpile and I've got the separate wineador full of what I'm smoking presently. I'm sure I'll get a better rotation going once I've dipped into all my vitolas.

[Onelove]

I usually just have whatever matches the time available but about a year ago, I smoked through a near full box of racf's as I think they hit their peak I started having to make time for these and each one was fantastic . I think I'll do the same with some other aged sticks as once they're really good I can't see the point in holding on to them for no real reason.

[fabes]

Like others have said, smoke through the box. You can make up reasons to save for later or ration them or the illusive FOMO of "maybe it will get better if I wait..." (Fear Of Missing Out = fomo).

All that said, smoking straight through a box is a great learning experience. You will better understand construction, consistency, "brand identity" and variance that all coexist in a single box.

[RijkdeGooier]

I am a simple man.

For my normal stock I have simple procedure.

My boxes go into my humidor and I note the box date amongst other characteristics in a spreadsheet. This is my resting stock.

Every 6 months I look through the spreadsheet and if a box has hit 3-5 years since boxing date, depending on vitola they are transferred to my smoking humidor.

The smoking humidor holds enough boxes that I can pick and choose from for my daily rotation. Boxes in my rotation last from a year (perlas) to a decade depending (prominentes) on vitola and box size.

As a result I am never short of amazing smokes to smoke in most vitolas I like.

If I am unsure about a vitola's potential I sample once a year.

[eswary]

This is what I do as well.

I too have the same practices. Once I get below half a box they get transferred to my drawers or sometimes I occasionally combine two half boxes of the same brands if they are the size(when drawers are top heavy)

Eric

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[over29]

I tend to go through a box if it's good.