New from MN

**quazy50** · 08-01-2007, 11:17 AM

Hello,
I have been lurking for a couple weeks and decided to join and post up. I went to a cigar shop with a coworker and ended up getting a free cigar from a Tatuaje(I think) sales rep. Needless to say I had to learn how to care for it and hence brougth me into the world of cigars and to this forum. I have not smoked it yet but I am trying to learn what I can.

I have a few questions that were not answered by my searches.

First how common is the beetle problem in general and in MN?

Can the beetles move onto other things such as books?

If I am paranoid about beetles would putting my cigars in the freezer after I buy them, then properly thawing them damage them in any way?

I am going to buy a humidor soon but for now I have my two cigars (the tatuaje and a macanudo) in a humidibag I bought from a local smoke shop.

I think that is all I got for now.
Thanks

**koolhandk** · 08-02-2007, 09:30 AM

I wouldn't worry so much about the bettles. Bettle eggs will hatch when the environment that your cigars are placed in is at 80% humitity or more. Buy yourself a humidor with a spanish cedar lining (keeps the bugs out) and season it properly, then get yourself some beads or boveda packs and a digital hygrometer and you will be just fine. Do not, I repeat, do not place your cigars in your refrigerator or freezer. Your humidibag will do just fine until you receive and season your humidor (check out www.tampahumidor.com) they sell humidors, seasoning packs, boveda packs, beads, cigars etc. They have good prices and are a perfect choice for new humidor owners and new cigar smokers (check out their new house blend "conquista"). In answer to your other question, cigar bettles are a household pest they can sometimes be found munching on books, patstas, grains, etc. Don't freak out though just follow the steps above and your cigars should be relatively safe.

**ReV** · 08-02-2007, 11:09 AM

the only time i've frozen cigars was when they were lost in the mail and show'd up a week late... after sitting in those temps for that long i decided not to risk it, but i've never bothered any other time... If you don't prepare them just right, the freezer could ruin your sticks... beetles only really happen when your temp and humidity are up, if you keep your temp decent and humidity at a normal level, the risk is slim... doesn't mean it wont happen.... but either way, big name cigar companies take precautions themselves, so most of your cigars shouldn't have any major beetle risks involved. And smoke the tatuaje first, so you can see what a real cigar should taste like... what kind of tatuaje is it btw? if you don't know the type, just say wat color band it has.

**quazy50** · 08-02-2007, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I am going to order a Humidor and beads and a digitla hygrometer tonight I think.

The tatuaje has a red band on it I beleive. I can look when I get home. I have read stuff about the 65% humidity beeds but my coworker says its best to keep the humidity at 70%. what would the difference be?

**ReV** · 08-02-2007, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by quazy50

Thanks for the replies guys. I am going to order a Humidor and beads and a digitla hygrometer tonight I think.

The tatuaje has a red band on it I beleive. I can look when I get home. I have read stuff about the 65% humidity beeds but my coworker says its best to keep the humidity at 70%. what would the difference be?

personal preference.... but beads fluxuate.... the question is, would you rather your sticks be between 63-67% or 68-72% ... i keep all my humis around the 68 mark, and the cooler rides around 66 rh... but like i said, its up to you, some people feel 70 is too wet despite the fact that most websites will quote "70% rh is ideal".... if you're paranoid about beetles, i'd opt with the dryer conditions.... but i guess i'd opt with the dryer conditions either way... how moist do you like your sticks?

**koolhandk** · 08-02-2007, 01:08 PM

I agree with ReV I like to keep mine between 65 and 67, I find that the cigars burn much better (for me) when they are in that range. Like ReV said it really is a matter of preference.

**cigar no baka** · 08-02-2007, 01:12 PM

I keep my cigars at a constant 64-65% and they smoke great. I think 70% is a little too wet and leads to burn issues in my experience. Have kept my cigars at 64-65 for several years now using beads an other methods, and its been smooth sailing so far.

**quazy50** · 08-02-2007, 01:33 PM

After reading a bit more I was leaning towards the 65% ones and I just wanted to ask to make sure.

**ReV** · 08-02-2007, 01:53 PM

oh yeah, the tatuaje is probably a havana VI... very good stick and mid range priced, that was a good score on your part.

**quazy50** · 08-02-2007, 02:01 PM

good to hear. I read about people not likeing macanudo's but I can not find why. Why is this?

Any good mild cigars I should pick up once I get the humi set up?

**ReV** · 08-02-2007, 03:02 PM

trust me.... i started with mac's first... and i thought they were great... i recently went back and picked one up, tried smoking it and had to put it out it was so bad... given the oportunity, i'd probably still smoke a mac vintage 2000, its not bad... however, i wont pay the near $20 they ask for it to get one at my B&M... the mac vintage is a great $5 stick, but cost as much as super primo's... the rest are just no good, most i've tried have bad flavor, and the caffe has NO flavor... i mean, if you really like em, smoke em... but i thought the same thng when i started here, 'why does everyone hate macs'... give it a few months smoking nice cigars then pick up a mac again and you'll undstand why...

go pick up a Casa Torano, Chateau Fuente, Don Kiki green or red lable, rocky patel vintage 99 Conn., Oliva Serie G, or Hoyo de Monterrey.... those are all great mild smokes, smooth and creamy.

**koolhandk** · 08-02-2007, 03:26 PM

I would also suggest anything in the Arturo Fuente (hemingway or don carlos series), Rocky Patel (90's, 92's or like ReV said 99 Conn.) or Ashton Classic.

**quazy50** · 08-02-2007, 04:25 PM

thanks. You guys are awesome. My last question is about the beads. Should I wait to order them after I get my humi to measure it or should I order them at the same time? I want to get like a 50ct humi. how many beads for that?

i looked at my tatuaje and its a white band with red lettering and such.

**ReV** · 08-02-2007, 04:59 PM

thats a series P... its also a very nice stick, but then again most of what tatuaje makes is good. They are a bit cheaper than the havana VIs but a great smoke none the less... on www.heartfeltindustries.com they have a bead calculator... but like most people will tell you here, just order more than needed, you can never have too many beads and before long you'll be swiping some from your main humi to keep other humi's stable...

**BigMacFU** · 08-02-2007, 05:21 PM

Welcome to the boards, if you're a football man, and as a Sad Minnesotan who has to cheer for the Vikings, I know you are! You many want to join up with the fantasy football league of the board. It'll give you a chance to beat me, a BEARS FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t8613-20...ll-league.html

**quazy50** · 08-02-2007, 05:36 PM

I am lookin at these humis

What do you think?

http://www.premiumhumidors.com/compo...id=66&vmcchk=1

http://www.premiumhumidors.com/compo...art/Itemid,66/

I like the first one best I think.

**Kass** · 08-02-2007, 06:02 PM

Welcome.
I would get the biggest humidor you can. You'll need the space sooner than you think!

**BigMacFU** · 08-02-2007, 06:14 PM

Don't waste the money, go right for a good sized cooler, they should start going on sale about now. They're air tight and can hold a ton of cigars. Just search the forum for coolidor or cooledor.

**quazy50** · 08-02-2007, 07:21 PM

I know every one says Ill need more room but I do not have enough time to smoke them so I wont be smoking much. So a 50 ct will be ok but I think I just might go for the 100ct just for good measure. Again I won't be smoking much. MAYBE once a month. twice on rare occasions.

**koolhandk** · 08-02-2007, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by quazy50

I know every one says Ill need more room but I do not have enough time to smoke them so I wont be smoking much. So a 50 ct will be ok but I think I just might go for the 100ct just for good measure. Again I won't be smoking much. MAYBE once a month. twice on rare occasions.

Famous last words...