anyone ever smoke a Kahlua cigar
i know they discontinued them but i always wanted to try one and never got around to buying them even when i would see them at cigar stores when i was getting dutches
so i was wondering how they ended up tasting

and if there are alternatives

it's more cost-effective if you buy a big bag of rolling tobacco rather than buying a pack of cigarettes and tearing them up

haha, ya....

Hey Guys, I'm having a hell of a time trying to calibrate my hygrometer. I was hoping for some advice. I recently bought this humidor:

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...ingid=44908871

Seasoned it, rubbed it down, shot glass of distilled water for 3 days, everything was fine. Added about 70 cigars, humidity dropped big time, wasn't concerned, figured it would take a couple days.

Panicked a little bit, was using both included humidifiers with activator solution, an extra humidifier puck included in a cheap 20-count humidor, a pillow, and a jar of crystals with distilled water poured in:

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/Merchan...Category_Code=

Is this overkill or is it necessary in the extremely dry winter?

I put in this digital one I bought awhile back:

http://www.amazon.com/CALIBER-DIGITA...2287041&sr=8-2

The digital and the included analog one were way off so I decided to try the salt test. I used a plastic bottle cap for the salt. If you're supposed to use a beer bottle cap, then I screwed up. I put the digital in a pickle jar (which my results suggest was not what I was supposed to do) and the analog in a plastic bag because it didn't fit in the jar.

I ran two tests, one with distilled water and one with tap. Both tests had the same results: Digital- 79% humidity and Analog- 69% humidity

I thought I was set and was just going to have to adjust to get an accurate reading so I put them back in the humidor for about 24 hours. When I next checked, they read: digital- 58% and analog- 64%

Thinking the pickle jar was a mistake, I ran a 3rd test with both in separate plastic bags and got the results: Digital- 66% and Analog- 68%. If the 3rd test was accurate, then it seems I'm right where I want to be in the 67-71 range.

I removed and replaced the battery from the digital (hopefully resetting it) and I'm currently running a fourth test. I'm going to record the results and let them sit in the humidor again and see where I'm at and I will update the results in a couple days.

Sorry I ranted so long and whoever had the will to read this is a saint. If anyone can provide answers or suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Did two more salts tests. The analog officially records around 69% everytime. After resetting the digital hygrometer, the next two tests recorded 72% and 69%. Should I stop worrying and just accept a general number with around a 5% error as long as it doesn't appear to go grossly over 75% or below 60%?

you are just fine, they arent really that tempermental, get it to homeostasis with the elements you plan to use, and then just let it chill, consistency is way more important than the difference between 65 and 72, imho.

I just aim from something near 70. If you get 72 and 69, then your smokes are fine. LIke Adam says, you just don't want too high or too low. But anything between 65 and 75 is acceptable. If you leave the humidor alone, it should stabilize.

I'm with everyone else. I think it's fine. I think people get way too paranoid about their cigars, especially the humidity number. I actually use 65% beads in my humidors and would much prefer my cigars to be at 60% rather than 70%. In fact, I'll often let my humidors get down to 55% before adding water (more out of laziness than anything else). Cigars are much more versatile than people think. Don't worry about it. Again, the biggest concern is too much humidity b/c of mold and beatles, imo.

I got a this humidor for Christmas.

http://www.simplycigars.co.uk/classi...ew-p-1329.html

Along with these cigars.

http://www.simplycigars.co.uk/beginn...ler-p-524.html

But I because I had Xmas in country C but live in country A I didn't receive them physically only in spirit. And since I went straight from country C to country B for uni I will have to wait for this term to end before I can smoke them.

idk about tobacco prices in the UK, but that stuff seems rather expensive for what it is.

Yeah. I thought so too. Tobacco tax is exceptionally high here (50-100%) but even so I think its a bit steep. Still it was a gift so I couldn't very well point that out.

Been doing some research and as far as I can make out most places with good prices wont ship outside the US despite selling cubans (explain?). As a result I have to buy them at European prices and the places I've found are expensive. Although prices do drop off sharply for non-cubans. So...

1) Recommend me some online vendors (or maybe B&M is cheaper?) that ship to the UK.

2) What so you think of the cigars and prices for this (one of the better deals I've been able to find.
http://www.havanasamplers.co.uk/inte...er-p-3290.html

3) Recommendations for non-cubans cheapest, best value and just best all round.

Ordered the deluxe humidor from the FTP store and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with it. New to the world of cigars, but have been given a few recommendations which I'll be trying out in the next couple weeks.

What type of cutter do you guys prefer? How about lighters? I'm pretty much starting my collection from scratch.

I have not found a cutter I like so I'm interested in this.

I like lighting cigars with matches. I have a couple nice Xikar and Bugatti torch lighters, but like the old-school feel of matches.

I have this Cutter

http://www.cigarmony.com/xikarxistsc...umnitride.aspx

Lifetime warranty from Xikar for anything. If it gets Dull, you send it in and they replace it for free. If it breaks, you send it in. I have sent mine in twice with no hassle.

I bought this cutter for my stepfather and it felt really nice when I was testing it out.

http://www.cigarmony.com/paliocigarc...berfinish.aspx

I generally prefer punches though. I have this punch, which I like.
http://www.amazon.com/Xikar-Black-Ma.../dp/B001CZLNQ2

i like scissors for torps and punches for the larger gauge sticks, with the guillotine being kinda always there if i dont have a strong opinion.

highly recommend Xikar, most retail stores that sell them will just exchange broken/dull items for brand new ones on the spot.

lighters... butane makes it really easy to scorch the wrappers, matches are really my preference except outdoors in the wind, then a nice windproof multi flame butane lighter is nice.

Where do you guys get your cigars from on the 'web??

Currently waiting on a box (RyJ Exhibicion #4) from a swiss retailer so I can't yet comment on their service. Also have a friend in Cuba who's supposed to be bringing me back a box each of Cohiba Robustos and Partagas Serie D No.4's, so needless to say I'm JUST a little excited

I've used these guys here in Australia a couple of times and they seem reasonable: http://www.corporatecigar.com/shop/

ive used these guys in the past, their prices have gone up some since i last ordered but what i got was well worth it

http://my-cuban-cigars.com/

I get all mine from cigarsinternational.com. Realiable and good prices

I'm assuming your a european customer if your ordering from switzerland which means almost everywhere online seems more expensive than the American only sites that seem to e popular on this thread. I did find one place that ships from portugal which has good prices called www.puros.pt I have yet to make an order from them though so I can't comment on the service.

If anyone is interested in the humidors from the FTP store, I now have a couple of each and can offer the following reviews.

The Walnut Glass Top one for ~30k points is quite spacious, much bigger than I expected it to be. Wood on the outside is nicely finished and the interior cedar was flawless, The FTP logo is only on the top of the metal piece and definitely not out of place. The external hygrometer is a nice touch, so you don't have to keep opening the unit to see how your humidity is keeping. A very nice piece...my only issue with it is the humidification unit. It only comes with a peel-and-stick sticker to attach it to the unit, as such I've just left it sit on the bottom, which for now cuts down on the number of cigars you can store in it.

The Callaway 6-ball humi for ~15k points is what I would call a value humidor. For the price it is a great package. You get the humi, 6 callaway big bertha golf balls and a callaway branded double guillotine cutter. Size wise, this one is probably half the size of the walnut one. The exterior is a glossy black, almost like a piano. Inside, I'd say the cedar is definitely a lower quality than the wood in the more expensive one. Just doesn't smell as nice and wasn't as smooth, if that makes sense. The Callaway and FTP markings on it are VERY prominent and really somewhat gaudy. The hygrometer and humidification units both come with magnets attached to them, and snap in to pre-drilled holes in the lid, definitely a nice touch.

All in all, go with the walnut one if you're looking for a showpiece or storing nicer cigars, take the extra golfballs and cutter if all you need is storage for your every day sticks.

If anyone has any questions about either of them, feel free to send me a pm since I don't check this thread all that often.

If you are looking to sell either one, PM me with a price.

easier to just buy them for points from the marketplace thread. The callaway ones can be had for around $45 shipped direct to you from ftp. That's how I ended up with one of mine.

i really like the o series Olivia or the #4 Excalibur.