Plume Shmume. Cigars dry out in the mail!!!

[canadianbeaver]

Not a topic for the Battle zone but an issue I find, especially in winter. We here in the great white north, and maybe if cigars are ordered from a brother delayed for a few days: cigars are arriving quite dry?

Not so much the fault of sellers, but perhaps they could include more hydration. But they add cost and this is not included in our private sales where we already ask to cover PP fees?

I have had wrappers uncurl in my hands and the cigars feel like wooden sticks. I am pretty sure rehydration changes the property and taste of the cigar, no?

Comments?

[lamadama]

I would communicate with seller or trader and ask for humdibag or humdipack depending on size

I don't think any real BOTL would deny this request ... I've personally thrown in Paks at no cost (leftovers from fuente's).

Ask and you shall receive.

[Treinenwj]

Yup, just ask the seller. Also, it's a good idea to let any cigars you get in the mail rest in the humi for a while before lighting up, if you're not doing that already. I've heard various opinions on how long to let them rest. I like to do it at least 2x as long as they were in transit, or 2 weeks, whichever is longer.

That said, rehumidification shouldn't affect the taste at all, if you're just talking about drying out from shipping. If the cigars sat out for an extended period of time (weeks, months), then you may have issues with taste.

[lamadama]

Many will argue about Resurrecting dried out cigars ect.

I have experimented with this in the past/recent and found mixed results.
I will cello age loose and recently learned better to let cello'd age opened if in box or bundle

I've rescued a dunhill that was to chit and a davidoff that was dry but not brittle with amazing results (1 year for dunhill and 6 months for davidoff) I have top say the dunhill while it still looked undesirable ... was heaven.

Expectations from your stick pre-light, affects outcome so many times.
Sick periods come and go esp. if conditions change rapidly. Best advice is ...

1) ask for a humdipack
2) rest the cigars in a stable humidified atmosphere for 3 days-week or more.
3) Enjoy

ps. this is an opinion as I am no expert and have still yet to find an absolute rules/advice/guidelines.

[canadianbeaver]

Thank you for the input. I am not talking about bone dry months here, just a couple of weeks. Just happened to me again with a Casa Fuente this afternoon when I removed the band and there was some wrapper splittage.

No big deal but I did come up with a bit of a solution. I took a bit of water with my finger and put it lightly on the cigar. Not enough to wet the thing too much, but enough to just get some minor dampness back onto the outer wrapper. Seemed to work like a charm.

Probably horrifying to some of you but whatever.

CB

[tksamtec]

[quote author=canadianbeaver link=topic=12249.msg64748#msg64748 date=1325171034]


I have had wrappers uncurl in my hands and the cigars feel like wooden sticks. I am pretty sure rehydration changes the property and taste of the cigar, no?

Comments?

[/quote]
I include a small humipak if its going to take more than 5 days for my smokes to get to their destination...they are reusable and I have plenty of them. I usually get them back at some point with other 5 packs I buy from members here.

As far as getting dry cigars...I usually have the opposite problem. Cigars from my local shop are too wet and they burn like crap and are tough to keep lit. So, I made it a habit several months ago to not smoke anything I get from anyone or my local shop for a month or 2 after its been stored and has "equalized" to my humidity settings (69 for Nics/Doms and 66 for CCs). I know its tough for some people to wait for 2 months to smoke cigars that they just received, but I find its worth the wait not fighting unravelling wrappers or cigars that do not stay lit...

Its only a month...you can do it !!!!
:bait:

[Gee-Man]

I've heard of holding an uncut cigar under running water from a faucet. I'm spooked to try it. Anyone here try this method?

[SeeGars]

[quote author=Gee-Man link=topic=12249.msg64942#msg64942 date=1325380099]
I've heard of holding an uncut cigar under running water from a faucet. I'm spooked to try it. Anyone here try this method?
[/quote]

Here is an interesting read on that topic ...

[url=http://www.internationalcigarclub.com/forums/showthread.php?21504-Why-Wetting-the-Wrappers-Improves-Taste.-My-New-Theory.]http://www.internationalcigarclub.com/forums/showthread.php?21504-Why-Wetting-the-Wrappers-Improves-Taste.-My-New-Theory.[/url]

[canadianbeaver]

Brilliant read! Thank you Seegars!!

CB

[SrsMiscer]

Ive sent cigars in the mail one time. They were headed to a brother up north. I included humipacks without a mention from the buyer. I knew it was going to take a 10-15 days which is why I included them. I would hope any seller would do this knowing the transit time is over a week.