Disappointing weekend - bad luck or something else?

[Hangfire]

I received my first sampler of CCs 30 days ago today and, after letting them recuperate from their travels, last week thoroughly enjoyed a Ramon Allones Specially Selected. So, I was especially looking forward to Thanksgiving and the weekend. Thursday arrived and I enjoyed a mild NC about mid morning with coffee. Made a point of not smoking anything else that day, wanting my palate clear for the glory of my post dinner CC.

Around 5:30PM I started the traditional Thanksgiving lobster dinner. Absolutely terrific with a very nice Pinot Grigio recommended by the local wine shop. (must thank him). Coffee and a bit of apple pie and a bit later I repaired to the cigar room with a glass of port to savor what should be a great experience. What to choose? Someone had suggested the PSD4 but I opted for the Monte #2. I'd read so many great things about this stick that I could not let it sit any longer. As it turns out, I should have. While not technically plugged, this cigar had such a hard draw as rto be unsmokeable. I figure if getting smoke out of a cigar feels too much like work, its not worth it and this one was not. So, I went back to the PSD4 and found very little flavor. Needs more time? Don't know but, all in all the evening was a bust. I had thought to treat this small stash of CCs as special occasion cigars but, no more. I've decided its best to smoke them as I would any of my NCs but I will hold off any further purchases until I've tried more of this initial group.

[KB24]

I feel the pain Steve. That's why I never got into ordering samplers and you might receive that bad sample from the box. I just dove right in and only ordered and still only order full boxes. I have had some bad Monte 2's but I have also had some great ones. Not all CC's are gonna be out of this world. Don't let this experience bring you down. Also let Rob know about the Monte and the D4 as he most likely will make good on it for you.

-Patrick

[aavkk]

Sorry to hear the evening didnt go as planned. Are you keeping the cigars at 65% RH? Having both non cubans and cubans I find that the NC's actually smoke better at 70 and the CC's at 65%. For some reason at 70 the CC's I have smoked seem to be a bit muted in flavor and dont draw as well. I like the way they look and feel at 70% but they just dont smoke as well. 5% sure seems like a meaningless difference but I can tell you that it certainly does matter.

Even still a bad cigar is a disappointment and can be very frustrating. Best of luck with the rest of the sampler.

[Van55]

I was disappointed with my first genuine Cuban cigars as well. Perhaps it was that my expectations had been inflated by all the hype surrounding what is to we U.S. citizens, the forbidden fruit. Or perhaps it was that I was so used to smoking non-Cuban cigars that I didn't at first appreciate the unique tastes and aromas of Cuban ones. Or perhaps it was the fact that I took the box from my porch on a 100 degree F. plus day in July and smoked a RyJ Exh. #4 the same day.

Whatever, after a few months of tasting and trying, I found that I actually prefer Cuban cigars over non-Cubans and it is rare for me, some 6 years later, to light up a non-Cuban as my daily smoke.

[Tampa1257]

aavkk,

You beat me to it, the problem sounds like the cigars have been kept at 70rh or higher. The vast Majority of Cuban cigar smokers I have communicated with have found that Cuban cigars smoke better when stored between 63%rh and 65%rh. Higher rh causes Cuban cigars to draw tighter and not provide the flavor or complexity they could.

[Colt45]

Just to add to what's already been relayed, if they were fairly young cigars, it can take longer than the acclimatization

period to start to show true flavor.

Often times much longer.

[Hangfire]

In answer to the questions/suggestions, the Cubans were kept at between 60 and 65% for the full 30 days. I purchased a puck humidifier (65%) at the same time as the sampler.

In the interests of full disclosure, I tired the second PSD4 today at lunch and really enjoyed it. Excellent flavors (leather, sweet spice and some others I can't quite put a finger on but, enjoyed the changes throughout the smoke. I am wondering if the first date with the PSD4 might have been impacted by the work I had to put in on the Monte before I gave it up?

[Trevor2118]

I've found that a plugged cigar seriously spoils ones day

Nothing worst than selecting a fine Cuban and then finding you have to be a level 9 glass-blower to even get the hint of smoke

[kjellfrick]

I've found that a plugged cigar seriously spoils ones day

Nothing worst than selecting a fine Cuban and then finding you have to be a level 9 glass-blower to even get the hint of smoke

Couldn't have said it plainer than that! I just almost killed myself with a plugged ERdM Elegantes. It was my first one out of the box, so I persisted out of pure stubborness.

[Hangfire]

Couldn't have said it plainer than that! I just almost killed myself with a plugged ERdM Elegantes. It was my first one out of the box, so I persisted out of pure stubborness.

I have to admit to being a bit thick headed myself. I did hope that the draw might improve some after a bit but it did not. I even tried cutting it a second time but alas............

[El Presidente]

I have to admit to being a bit thick headed myself. I did hope that the draw might improve some after a bit but it did not. I even tried cutting it a second time but alas............

Piramides/Belicoso's can have a restrictive draw due to a twisted roll of the leaf near the cap. It is a rookie rolling error but common enough to frustrate. It also almost impossible to quality check for.

There are days to me where every cigar tastes flat or below par. It can last 2-3 days. I am not sure why but I am simply not at the top of my tasting game.

Keep at it. Take your time and have no real expectation. One day when you least expect it you will have a cigar experience which will hit like a train.

[harryleech]

I am wondering if the first date with the PSD4 might have been impacted by the work I had to put in on the Monte before I gave it up?

Very possible. I had a similar experience with 2 x cigars I was very much looking forward to after a "gentlemen's dinner"* with 3 x buddies. I had been gifted 2 x Por Larananga Lonsdales (Germany RE 2006) that I had been very much looking forward to trying.

After dinner (and a lot of red wine) I sparked one up, but smoking it was like trying to suck a golf-ball through a hosepipe: Not enjoyable! After that I immediately lit up a RyJ Short Churchill (always guaranteed to give a good draw, if not a lot of substance) and although it was enjoyable, my tastebuds were shot after the prior experience. Still haven't tried the second RE, but perhaps soon...

That said, I've had an occasional bad experience with a PSD4 but it's the exception that proves the rule.

And IMHO, el Prez is right re torpedo's: Occasionally (very, I think) you'll get one that's ridiculously plugged. Monte No.2 is the most prodced, so possibly more likely to find it there, though perhaps more people are just smoking Monte No. 2's than other Piramides.

* Requirement's for a 'gentlemen's dinner':

1. 
   
   1. 
      
   2. Guys (preferably not actually gentlemen. The conversation is generally more fun that way.)
      
   3. Red meat. Lots of it
      
   4. Red wine. Many, many bottles
      
   5. Desert
      
   6. Cigars. Many, many cigars
      
   7. Stout. Lots of it
      
   8. Whiskey (Irish, Bushmills.) Multiple bottles
      
   9. More cigars!
      

[mbrody]

"Keep at it. Take your time and have no real expectation. One day when you least expect it you will have a cigar experience which will hit like a train."

Hit it on the head. I've now been completely flattened by that train. I started off with mixed feelings, and was really wanting to love the habano. Very recently I was reminded to savor a cigar instead of power smoke (which I got into a rut with all smokes). What a difference...let that smoke fill your mouth, roll it around, gently exhale with a bit through the nose. Slooooowwww doooowwwwnnn.

I now get it. Really get it (but I don't have a whole lot of experience or knowledge yet). Do not give up Hangfire. The reward is an experience that makes you wish the smoke did not end. Although not all are so dramatic, I've found each stick to read like a book with an opening, plot changes, suspense and a conclusion. More so ever than a NC delivered.

I'm sure you did enjoy that second PSD, but hopefully you will be able to find another level of enjoyment. I'm lucky I did...

BTW Harry, that sounds like one helluva dinner!

[aavkk]

aavkk,

You beat me to it, the problem sounds like the cigars have been kept at 70rh or higher. The vast Majority of Cuban cigar smokers I have communicated with have found that Cuban cigars smoke better when stored between 63%rh and 65%rh. Higher rh causes Cuban cigars to draw tighter and not provide the flavor or complexity they could.

I learned from the best Chuck

[harryleech]

"Keep at it. Take your time and have no real expectation. One day when you least expect it you will have a cigar experience which will hit like a train."

Hit it on the head. I've now been completely flattened by that train. I started off with mixed feelings, and was really wanting to love the habano. Very recently I was reminded to savor a cigar instead of power smoke (which I got into a rut with all smokes). What a difference...let that smoke fill your mouth, roll it around, gently exhale with a bit through the nose. Slooooowwww doooowwwwnnn.

I now get it. Really get it (but I don't have a whole lot of experience or knowledge yet). Do not give up Hangfire. The reward is an experience that makes you wish the smoke did not end. Although not all are so dramatic, I've found each stick to read like a book with an opening, plot changes, suspense and a conclusion. More so ever than a NC delivered.

I'm sure you did enjoy that second PSD, but hopefully you will be able to find another level of enjoyment. I'm lucky I did...

BTW Harry, that sounds like one helluva dinner!

Mike! Great to see you here, I've been meaning to email you for ages.

Our home renovation is taking even longer than I thought and I haven't been on any of the forums/smoking that often/enjoying myself in any way! But an end is in sight at last, I hope to move in this weekend.

I'm off to finish some painting, but I'll send you a proper mail in the next week.

By the way, in about 2 x weeks we're planning another dinner. We only get to them about once every 3 x months, as even though they're very relaxed affairs, they take a lot out of us

[Wiley]

I'm sorry to read about your bad experience. As you can tell, we all have them occasionally. I strongly recommend you purchase one of those little cigar drills if you plan to stick with Cubans. More often than not that fixes the cigar right up for me.

I was a reluctant convert to Cubans, but since then I find (almost) everything else to be too boring to waste my infrequent smoking times on. Some people on this board still like to mix it up, though.

I'm sure there's people who never grow to prefer Cubans. You may end up being one of those people. Who knows?

Good luck!

P.S. I don't agree with the "no expectation" thing. Cubans are expensive. I only smoke one or two cigars a week, at most. I have very high expectations.

[Hangfire]

P.S. I don't agree with the "no expectation" thing. Cubans are expensive. I only smoke one or two cigars a week, at most. I have very high expectations.

I would tend to agree with this. If you have no expectations, why bother going to the trouble and expense?

I have smoked a representative of each of the marques in my first sampler at this point as well as the second sample of the Cohiba, Monte and Partagas (bought two of each). So far, the RASS is the clear winner and over and above any NC I've tried. The PSD4 ran a close second followed by the Cohiba in 3rd. I'll have to think about putting together another sampler sometime after the holidays - would love to take the Prez up on one or more of the samplers offered now but the kids and grandkids have to come first so it must wait for another day.

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions.

[mbrody]

Hangfire, the problem I had with my initial expectations was that I thought that the habano was going to blow my head off when compared to a NC. I psyched myself over the top and became somewhat dissapointed when that did not happen. I then later had a plugged stick, like you, and tossed it (not fun). Since then, I smoke them for what they are...cigars (albeit harder to get, more precious cigars). My revelation of slowing down simply opened up new flavors and complexities which just increased my like for all cigars. I noticed this revelation most with the habanos. I hope you get the chance to try some more when things calm down a bit.

Sorry to be OT, but Harry I had a dinner like that this summer. I'll email you soon as well. Been hellishly busy at work...

[Hangfire]

Hangfire, the problem I had with my initial expectations was that I thought that the habano was going to blow my head off when compared to a NC. I psyched myself over the top and became somewhat dissapointed when that did not happen. I then later had a plugged stick, like you, and tossed it (not fun). Since then, I smoke them for what they are...cigars (albeit harder to get, more precious cigars). My revelation of slowing down simply opened up new flavors and complexities which just increased my like for all cigars. I noticed this revelation most with the habanos. I hope you get the chance to try some more when things calm down a bit.

Sorry to be OT, but Harry I had a dinner like that this summer. I'll email you soon as well. Been hellishly busy at work...

My expectation was not one of strength but of better and not necessarily stronger flavor - more complex. As I mentioned, I had had one CC some months prior to my order. When I say expectation, what I mean is that I have an expectation of a good cigar - better than what I have been smoking - plain and simple. Thanks for the good wishes.

[mbrody]

I totally understand your point. I would suggest trying again in the future when you are not rushed. I have found much more complexity in some habanos, but not all so far. Hell, the plugged ones I tossed. The favorites so far were not extremely strong in body. And to not ruin the expectation, as I am a Noob, the complexity gain I have experienced was about 35% better/new flavors not yet experienced in a cigar and 50% in change/development of different flavors throughout the smoking experience of the stick. Not all the sticks I have tried have had this same experience. There has also been an adjustment time needed to re-tune my palette to the new found experience.

Just one noob's experience FWIW.

[jjrj77]

Nothing worst than selecting a fine Cuban and then finding you have to be a level 9 glass-blower to even get the hint of smoke

Now that right there is funny!!!