Cigar Bar Question

[MichiganM]

I have occasionally visited a cigar bar here in town called Maduro Cigars. When I visit the place and have a cigar that I'm very familiar with the taste profile just seems "off" and not as pleasing as normal. They don't store their stock in a separate walk-in style humidor...everything is in the open...so you smoke around the cigars that are backed up against a couple walls. The smoke basically wafts around the open boxes. I've never seen anything like this before and they have all the high end stuff you could ever want, so it's not some small hole in the wall place. They have leather couches and a plasma in the lounge, it's very nice. You guys ever seen anything like that and what are your thoughts? It's concerning because it's the only place in town really and it's quite nice and the prices are competitive, but the taste profiles just seem harsh. What say ye?

 

[Wink]

A Jay,

Sounds like maybe the humidification is off, maybe the temp also if there stored in open boxes. That sounds kinda odd if it's a high end place with high end smokes, are you sure they don't store them at night then showcase them in the morning. Taste is everything!

 

[Tony Large]

Cigars International is an open environment at their retail store. When I was there and had a smoke it seemed fine. Maybe their ventilation sucks and the stale smoke is affecting the cigars...could be a number of factors.

 

[Mirrorlure7m]

I have been to Maduro Cigar in Sarasota serveral times. I personally have not had any issues.

But next time your going up to Maduro's Please shoot me a PM and we will meet up.

 

[ChazHollywood]

There was a whole thread here about smoking in the humidor, which covered a lot of the concerns about this sort of setup. The thread is worth a read, but I believe the main takeaway was that it's generally not a good idea, though places with a very effective ventilation system can get away with it.

Do the cigars have a stale smoke smell on them when you get them?

The degree to which they're humidified can also have a large impact on taste. How do you store your smokes at home?

-Charles

 

[Cigary43]

It seems a lot of Florida B&M's have this open style of humidor...I know when I lived in Palm Beach Gardens there was a B&M there that has an open store where every cigar is exposed to the elements but they have a great humidification system.

 

[MichiganM]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Maybe it's just my taste, and perhaps they keep the humidity a touch higher than I like it. I can't help thinking the open environment has at least a small amount of influence over the taste, but overall I like supporting the place and the owners seem really nice.

I'll shoot you a PM or give you call next time I go up there Joel.

 

[vperlman]

Buy a couple of extra sticks the next time you are there. Take them home, and put them in a humidified container (probably separate from your regular humidor and stash, to prevent possible odor transfer, if that turns out to be the issue). Let the humidity stabilize, then smoke them at home or wherever you usually smoke and see how they are. If they are OK, the problem is the humidity. If not, it could be the exposure to smoke, or something else.

Also, I often find that the problem with the flavor of some cigars is me, not the cigars. I.e., what I have been eating or drinking beforehand, whether my allergies are affecting my senses of smell and taste, etc. JMO, YMMV.

 

[InspektorGadget]

Also, I often find that the problem with the flavor of some cigars is me, not the cigars. I.e., what I have been eating or drinking beforehand, whether my allergies are affecting my senses of smell and taste, etc. JMO, YMMV.

I have found that also. Certain foods and drinks seem to enhance my cigar smoking experience while others may detract from it.

 

[Jwrussell]

I've never seen this kind of setup, but I can't possibly imagine that the smoke doesn't affect the cigars out in the open somehow. You'd have to have one HELL of a ventilation system pulling smoke out for it to work, and even then I'd still be suspicious. Also, when you are talking about an open storage like that where basically the entire place has to be controlled to the desired RH, that's gotta be difficult to keep consistent. It's one thing to control the humidity in a walk-in, no matter how large and even if people are in and out of it, but controlling an entire Cigar Bar with people sometimes there, sometimes not, people in and out constantly, etc, etc. Just seems odd to me.

 

[Alwayslit]

It seems a lot of Florida B&M's have this open style of humidor...I know when I lived in Palm Beach Gardens there was a B&M there that has an open store where every cigar is exposed to the elements but they have a great humidification system.

.....same thing with Corona cigars in Orlando. I've never had any problems with their cigars.

 

[vivalanation734]

.....same thing with Corona cigars in Orlando. I've never had any problems with their cigars.

Corona's smokes are too wet. Whenever I go there, I always bring my own smokes and then purchase something to take home and dry out. Everything in there is at like 75% RH.

 

[CWS]

I've never seen this kind of setup, but I can't possibly imagine that the smoke doesn't affect the cigars out in the open somehow. You'd have to have one HELL of a ventilation system pulling smoke out for it to work, and even then I'd still be suspicious. Also, when you are talking about an open storage like that where basically the entire place has to be controlled to the desired RH, that's gotta be difficult to keep consistent. It's one thing to control the humidity in a walk-in, no matter how large and even if people are in and out of it, but controlling an entire Cigar Bar with people sometimes there, sometimes not, people in and out constantly, etc, etc. Just seems odd to me.

Didn't Holts used to be open smoking util the law changed and everyone had to go to the lounge? They were very well ventilated and I never noticed an issue. A heavy smoke cloud would have to affect the cigars.

 

[Fourtotheflush]

Do you always eat something particular before going to that place? Say stop by wild willys and have hot wings? Or a sushi joint? It could be what your having before hand is affecting the flavor. Maybe its the drink your pairing it with there. At home, do you pair it with the same stuff? Maybe a scotch or burbon at home and a beer at the cigar bar? dark beer at home and light beer at the bar? Could be any one of those things. Is there another Cigar Bar you can check out down there to do a comparison?:fencing:

 

[BrandonP]

We have several places here in Phoenix like what you described and one thing I will say is they always seem off to me too. When you buy a cigar, put it in a bag, seal it and walk outside with the bag. Open the bag and smell and the cigar will smell like stale smoke. I think it has a pretty steep effect on the flavors myself.