[Experiment] Infused cigars stored with traditional cigars

[Joe333x]

I have took it upon myself to do a little experiment with storing infused cigars like acid and nub cafe cigars with traditional cigars. I have read about how some people suggest to keep a separate humidor just for infused cigars since they are toxic to traditional cigars and will end up contaminating them with their flavor. I competed step one of my experiment tonight. I stored a Alex Bradely Maxx Black cigar in the same humidor as Acid and Nub Cafe sticks. I placed the Alec Bradley cigar in the humidor on October 15 and smoked it November 13. The cellophane wrapper did have some essence of acids when i removed it but the smell dissipated shortly after. The cigar wrapper itself had no scent of infused cigars at all. After smoking it I could tell no difference from any other Maxx black cigar that I had smoked which has been at least 5 that had been stored soley with traditional cigars. I have also placed other cigars that I regularly smoke in the same humidor and have kept the dates that I have placed them in it and will post updates with those as I smoke them. So far from what i can tell is that as long as the cigar is in cellophane it will not retain any flavors from the infused cigars atleast within one month of storage.

[UPDATE] 12/3/17
I Put a Don Pepin Cuban Classic in my infused humi October 25 and smoked on December 3rd. The Cellophane had the typical acid incense smell. Wrapper leaf had no infused smell to it. I did not notice any nuances of infused cigars during the smoke, it did seem to differ slightly from the past couple Don Pepin Cuban Classics I had smoked but no more than how some sticks differ from each other once in awhile depending on what you're drinking. It was a great smoke none the less.

[UPDATE] 1/13/18
I smoked a 601 La Bomba that had been in my infused humidor since 11/14/17 that had been on top of the humidor further from the infused cigars and the cellophane did not retain any infused scent and the cigar it self smoked the same as many of the other 601 La Bombas I have had from my non-infused humidor.

[UPDATE] 2/3/18
Black market vandal Nov14 placed in infused humi smoked on Feb 3, slightest smell of acid on the cello, otherwise no effect on the cigar

 

[Boudie]

I'm willing to bet that if you store a traditional, mild to medium bodied cigar with something like a Groovy Blue the results would be different. Coffee infused cigars may actually complement the flavors of full bodied maduros

 

[ATL827]

Out of curiosity, are the infused cigars and the traditional cigars touching? Or separated but within the same humidor? Report back your results as you go as it would be interesting to see how time of exposure plays a role in this experiment.

 

[Joe333x]

I'm willing to bet that if you store a traditional, mild to medium bodied cigar with something like a Groovy Blue the results would be different. Coffee infused cigars may actually complement the flavors of full bodied maduros

I do mostly only smoke full bodied sticks so thats mostly what I put in but I did place a Romeo y Julieta 1875 in there which is the mildest stick I smoke but I only put it in there on October 25 so its needs more time. The infused cigars that are in there are 14 Acid Blondies, 1 Acid Kuba Kuba, 4 Acid Deep dish, 1 Acid One and 5 Nub Cafe Macchiato.

Out of curiosity, are the infused cigars and the traditional cigars touching? Or separated but within the same humidor? Report back your results as you go as it would be interesting to see how time of exposure plays a role in this experiment.

Yes the humidors are two large Lock&Lock containers that hold 60-70 cigars with the cigars laying on each other. Im curious as well, I mostly am doing this because I dont smoke infused cigars often at all anymore and the container I had for them was only a 3rd full while my traditional cigar container is at capacity so I wanted to see if I can safely use the other container for my overflow. Here is a pic of my set up. Left is the infused and right is the traditional.

 

[ras_oscar]

Everybody has their own opinion. Here's mine. I mix infused and non infused cigars freely in the same humidor. If I have it its because I liked the flavor. Otherwise why would I be keeping it?

 

[NPLopez]

In my experience, certain flavored cigars will transfer a very light aroma/taste to short filler cigars but only after about 6+ months and it has to be in a small air tight container. Larger long filler cigars the transfer seems to be almost nil when you keep everything in cellophane.

I bought some Don Rafael Fumas Sweets (short filler) for fishing and stored some of them in a humi-jar with various Acids and CAO flavour cigars. I use a vacuum jar as my flavored cigar storage and i place it on top of my larger humidors. My guest will naturally go for the "easy pickings" instead of my more expensive stash below. I have two Jars filled with infused sticks and Fumas with each having about 12-16 fumas and 8-14 infused sticks per jar.

Here's a couple of links to the Vacuum jar:
https://www.famous-smoke.com/starter jar humidor kit/item 53323
https://www.amazon.com/Coffeevac-Ultimate-Vacuum-Sealed-Container/dp/B0046JB136

The Fumas started to pick up some interesting flavours after several months. Its crazy but the super fragrant CAO Moontrance, and CAO Kamasutra Splash gave them a slight cinnamon taste while the Acids seemed to have a lesser effect. For what its worth they are super popular with my fishing buddies and no one has ever said anything but good things about them. The none infused fumas that i have are quite decent and they're almost as popular as the ones that have been marinating with the CAO flavours/Acids.

If you want to infuse a cigar, go with a mild short filler that you enjoy (It's important to go with a decent mild short filler cigar) and give them 6 months at least.

 

[NPLopez]

In my experience, certain flavored cigars will transfer a very light aroma/taste to short filler cigars but only after about 6+ months and it has to be in a small air tight container. Larger long filler cigars the transfer seems to be almost nil when you keep everything in cellophane.

I bought some Don Rafael Fumas Sweets (short filler) for fishing and stored some of them in a humi-jar with various Acids and CAO flavour cigars. I use a vacuum jar as my flavored cigar storage and i place it on top of my larger humidors so that guest will naturally go for the "easy pickings" instead of my more expensive stash below. I have two Jars filled with infused sticks and Fumas with each having about 12-16 fumas and 8-14 infused sticks per jar.

Here's a couple of links to the Vacuum jar:
https://www.famous-smoke.com/starter+jar+humidor+kit/item+53323
https://www.amazon.com/Coffeevac-Ultimate-Vacuum-Sealed-Container/dp/B0046JB136

The Fumas started to pick up some interesting flavours after several months. Its crazy but the super fragrant CAO Moontrance, and CAO Kamasutra Splash gave them a slight cinnamon taste while the Acids seemed to have a lesser effect. For what its worth they are super popular with my fishing buddies and no one has ever said anything but good things about them. The none infused fumas that i have are quite decent and they're almost as popular as the ones that have been marinating with the CAO flavours/Acids.

If you want to infuse a cigar, go with a mild short filler that you enjoy (It's important to go with a decent mild short filler cigar) and give them 6 months at least.

 

[icehog3]

So far from what i can tell is that as long as the cigar is in cellophane it will not retain any flavors from the infused cigars atleast within one month of storage.

Based on a total of one cigar smoked under these conditions so far, correct?

 

[Joe333x]

Based on a total of one cigar smoked under these conditions so far, correct?

Thats correct, that's why I had said "So far". I'll be smoking another from the same humidor tomorrow. I had thought about waiting until I smoked more cigars from the same humidor to post results but figured I'd post my first one that was a month into the experiment and then continue from there. By no means should any of my findings be considered fact or as instructions. I just figured I would do my own experiment with my own cigars since most information out there just says not to store anything not infused with infused but not much actual data or experience doing so backing it up. I plan to continue this experiment for many months since I have two separate humidors and do not smoke infused cigars very much anymore so I will continue to add more cigars to my infused humidor and post the results when I smoke them. This is definitely an experiment that is going to take a lot of time to come to any final conclusion but my first post was just to start showing my finding "so far".

 

[icehog3]

Interested in your experiences going forward, Joe.

 

[Joe333x]

[UPDATE] 12/3/17
I Put a Don Pepin Cuban Classic in my infused humi October 25 and smoked on December 3rd. The Cellophane had the typical acid incense smell. Wrapper leaf had no infused smell to it. I did not notice any nuances of infused cigars during the smoke, it did seem to differ slightly from the past couple Don Pepin Cuban Classics I had smoked but no more than how some sticks differ from each other once in awhile depending on what you're drinking. It was a great smoke none the less.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

take the cello off a couple cigars and put them in there.
they will be redolent with infusion in a week, and you will have a better idea of the damage it can do .

 

[Cigary43]

This Experiment started around the last of Sept/first of Oct. of this year...I have had others from another Forum verify this experiment is working for them as well and are getting same results. This is more than just sharing space in any humidor...it's all about the process of pressurizing and marrying of the tobaccos over time.

I've indulged myself in "experiments" in the last couple of decades as far as "infusing" cigars with different things...whether it be coffee or things that might enhance the flavor and after a couple of months have hit paydirt. Since taking up pipe smoking again I have several "flavors" that I love and thought....let me take specific cigars that I love with a certain profile and marry them with a specific pipe tobacco and see what happens. Last night I took one such cigar ( JR Ultimate Cab Series ) and put it with Paladin Black Cherry into a pressured tupperador container...much like the FoodSaver type where it's a vacuum sealer infusion process. I smoked it last night....and when I took the cigar from the container I was already excited because I could smell the aroma on the wrapper before I ever brought it up to my mouth. Letting it sit a minute or two I took a few 'dry draws' and could tell that the experiment was successful because this cigar had indeed been infused with the pipe tobacco. When I lit it up the taste was significant...we have ignition and lift off! The first couple of inches were pretty good but it wasn't until the 2nd third that I knew I had something special going on and with the help of a nubber I smoked this sucker down to the ground and it just kept getting better in the last 2 inches.

The recipe of Cigar to Pipe Tobacco is something that I can play with virtually any combination and that's the part that has me excited beyond comprehension....I'm all about complexity in cigars. There are some cigars that I like but lack that one piece of the puzzle as far as another ingredient of flavor that is missing....this is the missing link I have looked for over the years and now I can become the Mad Scientist of marrying tobaccos. This may not be something that blows everybodys dress up but for me....it's a great day and I'm smoking an Oliva V Melanio Maduro tonight that has been infused with some Frog Morton Cellar to which I thought long and hard about as far as what my own tastes drift towards. I'm hoping the Frog Mortons deep earthy taste is gonna put the Melanio into deep space.

***Addendum....this was a great experiment for this particular exchange of the Frog Morton and the Melanio as well....11/29/17 smoking date with at least 40 days of time on it.

 

[Joe333x]

take the cello off a couple cigars and put them in there.
they will be redolent with infusion in a week, and you will have a better idea of the damage it can do .

Yeah thats a given, a cigar without cello with marry what ever its next to. The point of my particular experiment is to see if its safe to have cigars in cello in a humidor with infused cigars. Do you happen to have a story where infused cigars "damaged" your other cigars?

This Experiment started around the last of Sept/first of Oct. of this year...I have had others from another Forum verify this experiment is working for them as well and are getting same results. This is more than just just sharing space in any humidor...it's all about the process of pressurizing and marrying of the tobaccos over time.

I've indulged myself in "experiments" in the last couple of decades as far as "infusing" cigars with different things...whether it be coffee or things that might enhance the flavor and after a couple of months have hit paydirt. Since taking up pipe smoking again I have several "flavors" that I love and thought....let me take specific cigars that I love with a certain profile and marry them with a specific pipe tobacco and see what happens. Last night I took one such cigar ( JR Ultimate Cab Series ) and put it with Paladin Black Cherry into a pressured tupperador container...much like the FoodSaver type where it's a vacuum sealer infusion process. I smoked it last night....and when I took the cigar from the container I was already excited because I could smell the aroma on the wrapper before I ever brought it up to my mouth. Letting it sit a minute or two I took a few 'dry draws' and could tell that the experiment was successful because this cigar had indeed been infused with the pipe tobacco. When I lit it up the taste was significant...we have ignition and lift off! The first couple of inches were pretty good but it wasn't until the 2nd third that I knew I had something special going on and with the help of a nubber I smoked this sucker down to the ground and it just kept getting better in the last 2 inches.

The recipe of Cigar to Pipe Tobacco is something that I can play with with virtually any combination and that's the part that has me excited beyond comprehension....I'm all about complexity in cigars. There are some cigars that I like but lack that one piece of the puzzle as far as another ingredient of flavor that is missing....this is the missing link I have looked for over the years and now I can become the Mad Scientist of marrying tobaccos. This may not be something that blows everybodys dress up but for me....it's a great day and I'm smoking an Oliva V Melanio Maduro tonight that has been infused with some Frog Morton Cellar to which I thought long and hard about as far as what my own tastes drift towards. I'm hoping the Frog Mortons deep earthy taste is gonna put the Melanio into deep space.

***Addendum....this was a great experiment for this particular exchange of the Frog Morton and the Melanio as well....11/29/17 smoking date with at least 40 days of time on it.

This is awesome! I was a pipe smoker before cigars and still smoke my pipes sometimes. I'm tempted to do the same experiment as you but with some 1Q since I have a ton of it on hand.

 

[StogieNinja]

I️ think there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Different palates have different sensibilities. Some people can tell minute differences, others have more blunt palates. I️ don’t know how sensitive Joe’s palate is, but his probably differs from yours in some way. Taste is a pretty subjective thing and YMMV.
2. Some people like infused and therefore won’t mind a little infusion in their traditional cigars, while others will be very disappointed to find cross contamination. To each their own.
3. The one thing for sure from this experiment is that infused cigars transfer their aromas. In Joe’s case he says they definitely transferred to the cellophane of his non-infused; he feels that the cellophane prevented the aromas from getting into the cigar itself. However, over time that wouldn’t hold true because we know that over time cigars in cello acclimate to the ambient rh, which means there has to be some air exchange, even if it’s small. To what degree that transference will affect flavor is up for argument, but the point is they will to some softer. So if you want to avoid any transference, you need to keep your infused cigars separated from your non-infused cigars.

 

[Joe333x]

This Experiment started around the last of Sept/first of Oct. of this year...I have had others from another Forum verify this experiment is working for them as well and are getting same results. This is more than just sharing sp ace in any humidor...it's all about the process of pressurizing and marrying of the tobaccos over time.

I've indulged myself in "experiments" in the last couple of decades as far as "infusing" cigars with different things...whether it be coffee or things that might enhance the flavor and after a couple of months have hit paydirt. Since taking up pipe smoking again I have several "flavors" that I love and thought....let me take specific cigars that I love with a certain profile and marry them with a specific pipe tobacco and see what happens. Last night I took one such cigar ( JR Ultimate Cab Series ) and put it with Paladin Black Cherry into a pressured tupperador container...much like the FoodSaver type where it's a vacuum sealer infusion process. I smoked it last night....and when I took the cigar from the container I was already excited because I could smell the aroma on the wrapper before I ever brought it up to my mouth. Letting it sit a minute or two I took a few 'dry draws' and could tell that the experiment was successful because this cigar had indeed been infused with the pipe tobacco. When I lit it up the taste was significant...we have ignition and lift off! The first couple of inches were pretty good but it wasn't until the 2nd third that I knew I had something special going on and with the help of a nubber I smoked this sucker down to the ground and it just kept getting better in the last 2 inches.

The recipe of Cigar to Pipe Tobacco is something that I can play with virtually any combination and that's the part that has me excited beyond comprehension....I'm all about complexity in cigars. There are some cigars that I like but lack that one piece of the puzzle as far as another ingredient of flavor that is missing....this is the missing link I have looked for over the years and now I can become the Mad Scientist of marrying tobaccos. This may not be something that blows everybodys dress up but for me....it's a great day and I'm smoking an Oliva V Melanio Maduro tonight that has been infused with some Frog Morton Cellar to which I thought long and hard about as far as what my own tastes drift towards. I'm hoping the Frog Mortons deep earthy taste is gonna put the Melanio into deep space.

***Addendum....this was a great experiment for this particular exchange of the Frog Morton and the Melanio as well....11/29/17 smoking date with at least 40 days of time on it.

Because of you I have now put 5 bandidos in a jar with some 1Q. A super cheap experiment to start with but if it goes good i may step it up to mixing some english tabaccos with nicer cigars, we shall see! Thanks for the idea

 

[Cigary43]

Because of you I have now put 5 bandidos in a jar with some 1Q. A super cheap experiment to start with but if it goes good i may step it up to mixing some english tabaccos with nicer cigars, we shall see! Thanks for the idea

View attachment 105592

You still need to understand that there is one more important thing as far as HOW TO infuse..you still need a container that will accept infusion as the key process and there are tupperware containers that you can take out ALL of the 02 out of the container by squeezing it out or by using a Food Saver tube that you can remove it with their motorized process. A glass jar isn't really going to do the job....it has to be a real infusion process as I have tried this process with just putting it into a container...doesn't work. There are enough products that are vacuum based products whereby you can remove excess air inside the tupperware which lets the infusion process work.....it sucks the residual pipe tobacco infusion into the cigar at a much faster rate....that's the secret.

 

[Joe333x]

[UPDATE] 1/13/18
I smoked a 601 La Bomba that had been in my infused humidor since 11/14/17 that had been on top of the humidor further from the infused cigars and the cellophane did not retain any infused scent and the cigar it self smoked the same as many of the other 601 La Bombas I have had from my non-infused humidor.

 

[Joe333x]

[UPDATE] 2/3/18
Black market vandal Nov14 placed in infused humi smoked on Feb 3, slightest smell of acid on the cello, otherwise no effect on the cigar

I have so far come to the conclusion that storing cigars while still in their cellophane with infused cigars will not contaminate them. I will continue the experiment but no longer post any updates unless my conclusion changes.

 

[icehog3]

Joe, appreciate you sharing this with us, it was definitely interesting to hear your experiences.