Am I Killing My Cigars?

[Cigar_Addict]

Most of the cigars I've smoked in the last few months havent tasted great. It's happening too often to think I'm getting duds. Even cigars that loved before (CAO Brazilia Samba) are now tasting a bit bitter. They're not completely unsmokable, but they're not like they used to be. I store all in tupperware with Boveda/Integra Boost packs and the humidity is stable, and are kept in the coolest room in the house.

I have occasionally rehydrated bovedas with distilled or deionised water & singles are largely kept separate from boxes. I check humidity before I smoke & all are around 63-65% at the foot

I use the same jet lighter filled with butane (albeit a bit old) as I had a couple of cans of it. I've tried occasionally lighting with long matches but no difference. I've tried dry boxing some to sub 60's also

Either my palate is completely shot (I can taste all other flavours in food & drinks), or I'm doing something wrong. Maybe cigars are just not for me.

[BullittBoy]

I am going to be very honest.. when I smoke cigars I taste smoke.. and not much else. Sometimes I like it and sometimes it is bitter and like a bonfire. But I don’t smoke very often - once a month unless on holiday.

Weird if your palate has changed though.. may cut out the rehydration of pack just in case something is going wrong.. and maybe light using a yellow flame (difficult sometimes I know) but I also find they taste better with matches etc instead of a scorching torch.. do you toast it first, retrohale etc.?

Also what are you pairing them with? How are you cutting them? I now only V-cut Piramides and punch cut everything else as I find I get a better draw.

Probably none of this will help - but I am sorry to hear you are not enjoying them!

[Hookmaker]

I don't smoke any sticks above 60-61 rH, a more humid cigar doesn't taste good to me. I never use a V cutter, a V cut tends to concentrate smoke in an unpleasant way to me. When you smoke, it's got to be in a relaxing environment where you settle down and can contemplate the cigar. Try first to get a feeling of basic tastes like wood, earth and chocolate and not least pepper/no pepper secondary and tertiary notes come later. But not with one cigar a month.
Try also to start retrohaling, that'll for sure give you more taste.


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[Cigar_Addict]

I am going to be very honest.. when I smoke cigars I taste smoke.. and not much else. Sometimes I like it and sometimes it is bitter and like a bonfire. But I don’t smoke very often - once a month unless on holiday.
Weird if your palate has changed though.. may cut out the rehydration of pack just in case something is going wrong.. and maybe light using a yellow flame (difficult sometimes I know) but I also find they taste better with matches etc instead of a scorching torch.. do you toast it first, retrohale etc.?

Also what are you pairing them with? How are you cutting them? I now only V-cut Piramides and punch cut everything else as I find I get a better draw.

Probably none of this will help - but I am sorry to hear you are not enjoying them!

Appreciate any reply tbh. I don't smoke all that often either due to family & kids (maybe one a week if I'm lucky) so don't think my palate has burnt out? If I drink anything with it it's either a coffee or a soft drink. Nothing that I would think would change it that drastically. I toast the foot, but try and do it in a sheltered area if it's a bit windy

There's still hints of what I'm expecting out of a cigar but they're so small they get drowned out by the bitterness. First puff is ok, but then nose dives.

I straight cut most things, and apart from some cubans they all have decent draw & construction. If they get a little wonky I try to gently touch up to get the burn as equal as possible for it to deliver correctly.

Think I'll order fresh Bovedas and start there. Maybe a new cheap lighter & new butane

[Cigar_Addict]

I don't smoke any sticks above 60-61 rH, a more humid cigar doesn't taste good to me. I never use a V cutter, a V cut tends to concentrate smoke in an unpleasant way to me. When you smoke, it's got to be in a relaxing environment where you settle down and can contemplate the cigar. Try first to get a feeling of basic tastes like wood, earth and chocolate and not least pepper/no pepper secondary and tertiary notes come later. But not with one cigar a month.
Try also to start retrohaling, that'll for sure give you more taste.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea I retro almost every puff (unless it's really peppery), and the taste is better, but there's just bitterness on my tongue that just overpowers everything else. Most of the time I get to smoke is when the kids aren't about, so pretty relaxing 😂

[PeeJay]

Try smoking mild cigars, I've included one with your Valientes. Even though its a churchill its very mild.