Box-press drives me nuts

[bdc30]

I love box pressed cigars personally

 

[HTML5 Gordon]

Fwiw, all the cigars mentioned are not actually "box pressed" but rather the are cuadrado aka trunk press.

Box pressed are cigar that are aged round, but are then packed slightly too moist in a slightly to small a box intentionally aka like a dress box of Habana Punch Punch. The press is typically far gentler

Trunk Pressed cigars are instead typically slightly under filled during the bunching and are then pressed in a tray immediately after they are rolled to achieve their shape and are then wicked and aged prior to being boxed pre-pressed. The degree of their press can very drastically depending on the cigar's girth to the pressing trays depth or their side walls (if they have any). They range from a gentle press to a true square to almost like a thick tongue depressor.

There is wide variety of methods of tray/trunk pressing that gives you different results.

BR,

STS
CEO, DE

ps: JLB - you are not alone, I would guestimate that about 30% of the cigar consuming public is adverse to pressed cigars for a variety of reasons.

Thanks for the clarification Steve, I often see the terms box pressed and trunk pressed used interchangeably, and wasn't sure about the differences in the process (or if there was one).

 

[ascrivner]

Love the box press, I generally think that draw is normally great when a cigar box is box pressed, and great draw improves everything.

 

[JLB]

Thanks Mr Saka! Great info. I was wondering what the differences were between the 2. Ive also heard the term square press, which I am now to assume is more a a pronounced trunk press. Again, thanks for the info. I will def have to try some more tho, before I write it off completely.

 

[scarlin]

I read a review on the Santos de Miami by Jameson cigars. This thread reminded me about their super duper box press. Looks insanely sharp edged. Haven't tried one but dang. Also those Acid Wafer things look like candy bars..

 

[Alwayslit]

Variety is the spice of life.

 

[ssaka]

Almost all makers and cigar people use the terms box pressed and trunk pressed and square pressed and cuadrado interchangeably however it is not technically correct to do so...

At least this one doesn't drive me nuts - the one that kills me is when makers use the terms "fermenting" and "curing" as though they are interchangeable...

Curing is the part of the process where we hang the freshly harvested leaf in the barn and through the process of oxidation the leaf undergoes a control necrosis to convert it chlorophyl ions to sugars.

Where as Fermenting aka Bulking or Sweating is the enzymatically controlled transformation of the organic compounds of the leaf under VERY controlled conditions.

BR,

STS

 

[mdwest]

some great info youre providing steve... thanks!

 

[TopsiderLXi]

I think the box press adds something to the flavor. I LOVE a box press.

I'm with ATL, love a box pressed cigar.

I really like box pressed as well. I have heard it changes the flavor in a good way but I forgot where I saw it. My first box pressed was a RP Decade which I always enjoy!

 

[theillestshogun]

I forgot to mention, that I find it almost a pain in the ass to cut! I probably over analyze it, but I never seem to get it right on a box-press. I also find some of them to be packed looser. Like I had one of those San Lotano Ovals awhile back, and it seemed real loose. And I never got the appeal of the oval shape being "perfect" for the mouth. I dunno.

Use a punch, I use to have the exact same frustration.

 

[zlc410]

Loved the box press, but not really sure why I do.

 

[tylernim]

I've always liked them. The Tatuaje TAA 2012 are great!!

I think those are actually a trunk press. Sort of a rounded box. Semantics...

 

[Rider1]

I don't like box press or trunk press - it just doesn't feel right to me. I stay away unless I really like the cigar (601 Blue for example) and then I find myself biting on it as I smoke it to get it to more of a normal cigar shape.

 

[Rupe]

I've found box pressed cigars to be a little looser in the draw so I have to remind myself to cut the cap a little thinner to compensate. Even then they're usually a little on the loose side. Not sure that it really affects much since there are plenty of cigars that are box pressed that I've liked. I do like that I can set them down for a moment and not worry about them rolling off and I have found them to be slightly more comfortable to hold in the mouth in the larger ring gauges as well. My $0.02.

Dan

+1 on this ^^^

I find them easier to set down and not worry about them rolling away. I also prefer the box / trunk press for larger ring gauges. It feels more comfortable and doesn't break my jaw.

For cutting, I use a V-cut. It is easy to cut them this way and gives me a good draw.

 

[CigarGavin]

My favorite stick for the golf course; place it on the Cart, round, back to stick easy

 

[mistaforty]

Ill second the at least it won't roll away sentiment lol I smoke outside a lot so sometimes a breezy day = rollage lol. I don't dislike em but they feel odd/awkward but so do pyramids and some belicosos to me. I just take it as a characteristic of the smoke and it is what it is

 

[JoshF]

I think the box press adds something to the flavor. I LOVE a box press.

Im no expert so someone help me out here. How could squeezing a cigar into a square shape after its rolled do anything for the flavor? My daughter says the same thing about sandwiches I cut out into shapes for her. The only thing I could figure would be that the air flow changes the burn leading to a different flavor?

 

[Monte]

If the box pressed are packed with sufficient tobacco and not underfilled they can be quite good IMHO.

 

[ciggy]

I'm indifferent as long as the cigar is tasty.

^^^100%^^^

I think if a cigar is an epic smoke it simply doesn't matter. I will say I totally understand your mental issue with this because I have an issue with Lancero's. Even though I love them I get a little irritated because it reminds me of holding a cigarette which I quit smoking almost 14 years ago. It's a reason I don't go out of my way to buy these.

 

[elderboy02]

I like box pressed cigars