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Cigars/Rehydrate Trinidad Coloniales...

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Expert: - 6/10/2011


Question
Hi James...
I just received a 5-box trinidad coloniales as a present. They havenīt been properly stored. The consequence of this is that 3 or 4 of them exploded (wrapper at the foot is severed by the expantion of the filler - not too alarming... about 1cm on the worst case). I have put them on a tupper-ware not completely sealed with a Boveda pack 72 and some cedar wood on a side. Do you think this the way to go? Can you recommend an better strategy?
Thanks in advance, F.-

Answer
Hi FedeU,

If the cigars are extremely dry, I would suggest that you start with a lower humidity level;  maybe 60-65%.  Let your cigars sit in the Tupperware container (not completely sealed) for at lest 4 weeks.  After 4 weeks, increase the humidity level to 70% and let the cigars sit at this humidity level for at least another 4 weeks before you attempt to smoke them (if you're not in a rush to smoke them, let the cigars age in your humidor for as long as possible).  The reason for this is because dry cigars can crack and split when they're introduced to high humidity too quickly.  To avoid further damage to your dry cigars, introduce your cigars to a lower humidity level and gradually increase the humidity back to a normal level.

I hope this helps.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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