Quote Originally Posted by Billb1960 View Post
Ammonia is one of the byproducts of tobacco fermentation. This is commonly called the "sick period" for cigars. It's not common on NC sticks but it can happen.
Nail on the head.

It could be(and probably is) the cigar itself being in the sick period or it could be the storage conditions(not enough fresh air flow). If you get it with other sticks stored along-side it, try airing them out for an hour...then close the humidor up and do it again every few days until it's gone(pay attention to RH% throughout). It shouldn't effect the long-term smoke-ability of the cigars because it's natural to the fermentation process.