Completely weird aging question...

[ElectricMayhem82]

So It's time to upgrade to a bigger humidor and my old one is small. I was thinking of doing an experiment with humidity.

I've been toying with the idea of infusing my own cigars by taking a few "meh" sticks and aging them a couple months with a crystal humidifier mixed with 50/50 distilled water and bourbon (or brandy/fortified wine).

I was planning on trying one after a week, then a month, and then couple and trying to get the time right.

Here are my questions:

1. Have you ever heard of such a thing?

2. Am I going to make an exploding cigar with the alcohol vapors (I'm guessing it will at least effect the burn)?

3. Am I stupid for trying this??




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[GoldenLeaf]

From what I've heard/read, it does very little to nothing to the cigar in terms of flavor.

 

[navyvet]

i don't think anyone is stupid for trying.. but i think the infusing process is a little more indepth might read up i am sure there is some place on the interwebs that goes though the process

 

[ElectricMayhem82]

Oh I'm sure there is lots that go into it. I'll do some research. I'm just wanting to add a little flavor or spice; nuances really. I usually can't do infused cigars. I've tried several when I was younger and found them horrible. Makers Mark Bourbon Barrel is the only one I can remember even finishing.


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[navyvet]

yeah, not only that but it is a hassle having seperate storage and everything as well. cause infused can't or shouldn't be stored with reg cigars

 

[CVAC085]

If you're going to experiment, I'd say a tupperdor would do good for something like this as you won't drop alot of $$ for something that might fail.


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[Cigary43]

I've done this years ago and tried various methods using tupperware as the humidor of choice...it's sealed. The problem is that you need a ton of time to get the tobacco infused with whatever you choose...by time I'm saying at least a year. Months won't do it and while tobacco is porous and some have said it only takes 4 weeks are smoking some other kind of tobacco. Some tell you to pour the liquid material over the tobacco ( dont do this ) while others have other exotic ways to get a particular flavor into their cigars......I've used some whiskeys in a glass and left it in the tupperware. I used a medium cigar ( 5 ) so that I could test them after 1 month...3 months....6...9 and finally a year. At one year I could tell a real difference and depending on the brand of cigar is what is going to be a success for you. I actually used a complex cigar that I love...Quesada Corona Espana and after a year it was very good.

 

[braden]

I've never tried this but my understanding of infusing was that it had to be done during production of the cigar?

Either way best of luck and please post your findings!

 

[ElectricMayhem82]

I've done this years ago and tried various methods using tupperware as the humidor of choice...it's sealed. The problem is that you need a ton of time to get the tobacco infused with whatever you choose...by time I'm saying at least a year. Months won't do it and while tobacco is porous and some have said it only takes 4 weeks are smoking some other kind of tobacco. Some tell you to pour the liquid material over the tobacco ( dont do this ) while others have other exotic ways to get a particular flavor into their cigars......I've used some whiskeys in a glass and left it in the tupperware. I used a medium cigar ( 5 ) so that I could test them after 1 month...3 months....6...9 and finally a year. At one year I could tell a real difference and depending on the brand of cigar is what is going to be a success for you. I actually used a complex cigar that I love...Quesada Corona Espana and after a year it was very good.

Didn't think it would take a whole year, but it doesn't surprise me. Maybe I'll do a few small batches of cigars in small Tupperware (as a few above suggested). Maybe a 5-pack and instead of doing it by weeks space it out in 3 month increments. I'll keep people informed here how it goes.

I'll try a bourbon batch, a brandy batch, and then maybe a really dry Cabernet or fort. The more I think about it, the more I like try idea. As I mentioned above, the infused are just too strong and kill the cigar for me. I'd just like a hint of subtle flavor added...and then have it with my booze!


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[jimmypa]

Not sure how/if that would work out but I have thrown little non-infused cigars into my infused cigar humidor (for Acids and such) and if I let them sit in there long enough they did smell and taste mildly of Acids/infused cigars.

 

[Cigary43]

I've never tried this but my understanding of infusing was that it had to be done during production of the cigar?

Either way best of luck and please post your findings!

Exactly and I should have pointed that out. Rolled tobacco is going to be dense and in order to infuse any flavor into the tobacco it should be done before rolling the tobacco...or as you said during production. Since most of us don't work in a tobacco factory or roll our own we have to settle for osmosis when it comes to infusing and that's why I said it will take months...at the very least 6 to get a decent flavor out of it. RG will help in this endeavor to get the flavor...lancero would probably be the cigar size to use rather than a larger RG cigar. Remember that during this infusion phase you'll have to ensure that you have a RH that is right and I kept my RH at 65% with KL and used a shot glass to put my whiskey in. Funny thing was that during my experiment I had to refill the whisky glass once every 2-3 months ( I used 1 ounce ) and that told me that the tobacco was indeed taking the fumes from the whiskey.

After thinking about this for the last few days I'm going to try this again only with a libation I love...Drambuie. I'll use a Lancero size ...Quesada Espana.

 

[StogieNinja]

Would be a lot faster to just dip your tip in the alcohol, I would think.

 

[braden]

Would be a lot faster to just dip your tip in the alcohol, I would think.

I've tried that before and it stings like a sunofabitch.

 

[Cigary43]

Would be a lot faster to just dip your tip in the alcohol, I would think.

For people like me in the "old guard"....been there done that and after the third dip the tip tends to get so mushy you can't draw smoke anymore. I just take a sip of my drink....roll it around my mouth and then take a draw or two.