Introduction and question about humidors, RH, etc..

[hp-^]

Just so you know where I'm at: I smoked my first cigar yesterday, a Romeo Y Julieta, and enjoyed it quite a bit even though the smell stuck with me for the entire evening and the roof of my mouth is burnt this morning(it may have been the pizza I had before too).

I'm interested in buying a humidor, but there are several aspects I am unfamiliar with and some general information I'm aware of.

Info. I'm aware of (correct me if I'm wrong):

-RH around 70%, as low as 65%, probably around 68%
-do not put flavoured cigars in
-use 50/50 solution at first, then distilled water

I need help understanding:

-how to tell how fresh a cigar is when you buy it or want to smoke it
-can you mix factory-made (I'm interested in Swisher Sweets) with premium cigars? Or any other combinations?
-is there going to be a hefty customs charge for having this shipped from the U.S.?

If you could lend me some of your experience it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[BigMacFU]

Welcome to the boards HP.

First off, no you don't mix machine made with hand rolled because you don't want to buy machine made cigars, they're crap.

Secondly, you're not going to buy a humidor, you're going to buy a cooler, 60qts. and up. Then, you're going to buy humidity beads from this website heartfeltindustries and get the 1 lb. bag.

Thirdly, cigars are a product similar to wine in that you don't have to worry about freshness, age is a wonderful thing for a tobacco, what you have to worry about is whether the cigars purchased have been properly maintained at a good temperature and humidity level. Almost all cigars purchased on-line come from vendors who maintain their stocks well.

Finally, as for the customs charge, I don't know, Roham and some of the other guys are fellow Hosiers, so they'd be able to tell you more.

[TheyCallMeManiX]

and by the way swisher sweets and stuff like that have a chemical inside them that detiriorate spanish cedar . . . its a freak of nature kind of thing but if you put those inside your humidor they will eat it up faster than mexican termites on a hairless beaver!!! . . . same effect on plastic just fyi . . . you know

[Lopaka]

Aviod Swisher Sweets in all honesty. When you smoke good quility smokes....SS taste like

[mithril]

welcome to the board. take the advise of these guys, they (and others) haven't steered me wrong yet.

[Mazeman]

As for the humidifying "solution", follow the manufacturer's instructions for your humidifier.
Some humidifiers, as well as the humidity beads, require ONLY distilled water.

[MMAB]

Listen to me.....

Keep your eyes on the swinging watch.....you are getting sleepy....sleepy.....you are going into a deep trance........when I count to five you will be under my complete control.........

1.....2......3.......4.......5

Now....you will not buy a cooler to make a cooler-dor....it will only cause you to spend silly amounts of money on cigars to keep for yourself.

Tomorrow after work you will go to the nearest cigar shop and buy the 29.95 special humidor and a pack of White Owls for yourself.......in addition....you will buy a box of Fuente Anejo #55 Sharks and you will retain them for me. I will provide you with a shipping address later.

At the count of five you will awake feeling totally refreshed and will not remember this thread.

1.....2......3.......4........5

[Lopaka]

ROFL

[hp-^]

A chemical in Swichers eats away at wood and plastic? Maybe I will avoid them. But before I do anything, I must age some white owls, and send some Fuente Anejo #55 Sharks to a dear friend before he provides me a shipping address. Indeed, it is the magic of cigars that allows such things to happen.

Coolidor, eh? Will have to read up on those - sounds cool. Ha ha. Get it?

[TheyCallMeManiX]

so we STILL havent added that smiley that smacks itself in the head and shakes it afterwards?

[JakeKnight]

Uh, whoever said avoid SwisherSweets ... just listen to that guy.

Here's a simple rule: if you can find the cigar at your local gas station, you DO NOT want it.

Go to your local cigar shop. Ask that guy. He knows. Buy the good stuff. Buy a halfway decent humidor. Buy hand-rolled "premiums" only. There are plenty of good cigars at $5 a smoke. There are plenty of great cigars at $10 a piece. They are worth it.

Avoid all else. Trust me.

[TheyCallMeManiX]

hell there are some 3 dollar padrons! and other really good cigars in the 4 dollar range as well!!!

[Jonsey5484]

Welcome to the board. Take everyone's advice and stay away from the Swisher Sweets and other gas station cigars...especially if you have smoked a RyJ as your first cigar. Do not subject yourself to that cheap crap.

P.S. Thanks for not asking for Cuban Cigars!

[SuperChuck]

Yeah, it was the pizza. I did EXACTLY the same thing the other day.

Yeah, what everyone else says. Stay clear of gas station smokes.

If you find a good cigar shop in your area, they should be able to hook you up with some inexpensive smokes (until you get completely sucked in and HAVE to have more expensive smokes).

I suggest a 40-50 stick humidor to start with. That should be enough to get you through the "testing different brands" stage and will serve as an attractive desktop humi when you eventually break down and buy a coolidor.

[Island Epicurean]

Not to be a real Kill Joy or anything, but Federal Tobacco Regulations forbid the buying/selling of tobacco products from other Provinces/Countries. (As per my reading of the Federal Legislation.) I think Customs may confiscate them if they process them.