Some questions from a frustrated newbie

[Zeede]

I set aside some time after lunch today to enjoy a Sam Leccia White that sparky426 sent me. Usually I smoke cigars after dinner, but the kids were at a visitation with their mom, and the forecast said rain starting at 5 pm. So, here are my questions:

1) It was really windy. My house is shaped somewhat like a U, with my outdoor table in the crook of the U, so I wasn't getting too much wind, but it was windy. My lighter (Xikar ELX) was having issues too. Do any of y'all smoke outdoors in windy conditions?

2) I had to relight the thing three times. It was also tunneling, which was apparent because I used my pocket knife to knock off as much loose ash as possible, and the wrapper was unburned a good 1/4" past where the loose ash was inside the cigar. My OXOdor is at a steady 68-69%, so it shouldn't be over-humidified. I take my puffs roughly every 30 seconds. Perhaps this was because of the windy conditions?

3) I may look into getting an ashtray and smoking in my spare garage. It's an empty two-car garage (well, empty of cars. Plenty of shelves and assorted junk in there, hehe), so that will eliminate any environmental issues.

Thoughts?

[Horseshoe]

If it was windy enough to affect the lighter it was probably windy enough to affect the cigar. It could have even been a dud cigar as well.

[UncleFesterESQ]

How long had you had the cigar before smoking it? Perhaps the rh had not yet settled??? Certainly wind could have been a factor, but I have enjoyed many a successful smoke out on windy days at the golf course and have not had a problem. I have some cheap Obsidian Blacks that have a tunneling problem and I smoke in windless conditions. I'm just going to let them set for a few months and see if they improve any. Also, Horseshoe could be right and you simply got a dud cigar. Happens with even some of the best. Unfortunately, this hobby we imbibe in is not an exact science. You can do everything right and still end up with a dud.

[Zeede]

Horseshoe: I thought my lighter was running low on fuel at first (the level was below the bottom of the fuel window) but when I got back inside the lighter worked just fine.

UncleFesterESQ: I've had it for five days. How long does it take for a cigar to acclimate?

[UncleFesterESQ]

UncleFesterESQ: I've had it for five days. How long does it take for a cigar to acclimate?

My understanding is that it takes 1 week to see a 1% change in cigar rh acclimation. Without running a bunch of pre-tests on the entry level rh point of the cigar to it's new environment, I think most would be close at the 1-2 month point. AGAIN.... whether or not this was the problem is almost impossible to say. I have smoked plenty of cigars ROTT and had very enjoyable experiences. You said you were gifted this cigar. How long had the previous owner had it? So many factors... so many cigars to smoke.

[Lynn]

my understanding is that it takes 1 week to see a 1% change in cigar rh acclimation. Without running a bunch of pre-tests on the entry level rh point of the cigar to it's new environment, i think most would be close at the 1-2 month point. Again.... Whether or not this was the problem is almost impossible to say. I have smoked plenty of cigars rott and had very enjoyable experiences. You said you were gifted this cigar. How long had the previous owner had it? So many factors... So many cigars to smoke.

now see>>>>this is why this place is so great>>>>info you get nowhere else.....i learn so much here every day>>>>

I JUST WISH I COULD DO MORE THAN JUST THANK YOU ALL....FOR THE INFO YOU PUT FORTH....

[Lynn]

Unfortunately, this hobby we imbibe in is not an exact science.

WHAT THAT'S NOT WHAT I KEEP HEARING...("this is settled science") am I to believe the President or a CIGAR BUM???????????? CIGAR BUM FOR SUREhttp://www.cigarbum.com/forum/images/smilies/pipe_smiley.gif

[bluenoser]

I'm still a noob at this too so take my advice as it is. I've had the odd tunneling issue, usually on cold windy nights but I think it's usually related to smoking too fast vs the wind itself. I try to keep it to a puff sequence a minute, especially when windy because that seems to create a drag on the cigar itself. Smoking in the wind (which there always is here) has caused uneven burns for me but that's about the only issue. If I had the opportunity to set up an inside place to smoke I'd be all over that right away. Nice to sit outside on the nice days but winter's here suck. Just another noobs 2 cents worth.

[Nature]

A number of factors could be at play here or combination thereof.
Being where I live, I contend with the wind frequently.
Usually, the wind causes the opposite; the wrapper, particularly on one side, burns faster than the core and becomes lopsided.

• Could be humidity? Many here prefer to store cigars at lower RH than 68-69. I Keep mine more around 64-66, and sometimes a bit lower. In some eyes, 68-69 is too high. You just need to find what is right for you.
• If it was kept at a lower humidity prior and you have been storing at 68-69, there could be a greater differential between the core and the wrapper/binder leaves resulting in tunneling. Maybe it wasn't quite acclimated/even in RH yet. I don't know how long you've had this cigar in your possession. A rule of thumb often stated is 1% in RH per week acclimation rate.
• Prematurely knocking the ash off could also cause uneven burning. The ash acts as a buffer and insulator for burning temperature.
• A puff every 30 seconds or so seems a bit fast which could also result in uneven burning issues. Again, more experience will guide you to the optimum rate, which may vary from cigar-cigar or conditions. A guideline is one puff every minute (with some variability in what is defined as a "puff".)
• OR, it could just be the cigar specimen.

Don't get too frustrated though, there's always another cigar!

[Bruck]

Wind'll do that.