Never ever again... I think....??

[Old Soldier]

Five days ago I smoked the last Macanudo Cafe I think I will ever smoke... Dear god it was just horrible. I'd bought three Hyde Park's for another light smoke in the rotation, I gave one to my brother and we smoked them together about a month ago. Both of us really had a "so so" experience with them. So, I let this last one sit in my humidor for this last month and was hoping it'd be a little better but I SWEAR it was worse. It tasted like it had been dipped in old kerosene, it took me two days to get the taste out of my mouth. Even my wife commented that it just smelled BAD.
So, the question I have is this...besides it just not being a cigar that my palate is accepting of, what could've caused this awful taste & smell? Any ideas or theories? I haven't been back in the regular cigar smoking routine but for a couple of months now after a lengthy hiatus so I'm trying to figure things out and not make a mistake by prematurely ditching a cigar from the rotation..
Thanks!

 

[sean]

The sickness? Cigars can go thru a phase, while adjusting to your humidor, where they taste gross. Usually this goes away after a few weeks...

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

[Patrickh44231]

Go on youtube and watch hos videos about the aging process. It's explains these phases and ages very well and a little about the chemical processes that happen with the oils and about strength and complexity.

 

[Old Soldier]

Will do! I'm always reading and studying the aging and curing processes used by different cigar makers, I'll need to dig deeper into the finished products themselves. My current humi is a small one (about a 25-30 stick box) and I'm already looking at one that will hold double that MINIMUM so that I can age a few of my absolute favorites.
I swear though, these last Macanudos were very, VERY off putting...I want to figure it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Old Soldier]

The sickness? Cigars can go thru a phase, while adjusting to your humidor, where they taste gross. Usually this goes away after a few weeks...

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

I thought that myself, maybe I tried them too quick?? I have had no issues with others from the same order, BUT that doesn't mean anything really. One never really knows how they were kept BEFORE you get them so maybe my 68/68 shocked them and they needed more time... So far it's been absolutely perfect for all my other smokes. Live and learn...live and learn! Thanks for the reply, it's truly appreciated

 

[Old Smokey]

If you detected ammonia, it was likely going through lfermentation, sometimes referred
to as a sick period. It just needed some down time. When I cut a cigar I check the draw and if I taste any ammonia I put it back and select another smoke. After a few months the sick one should be ready to smoke.

 

[Old Soldier]

If you detected ammonia, it was likely going through lfermentation, sometimes referred
to as a sick period. It just needed some down time. When I cut a cigar I check the draw and if I taste any ammonia I put it back and select another smoke. After a few months the sick one should be ready to smoke.

I do the same thing to check the draw but honestly it didn't even register with me that it could've been ammonia from them.
Absolutely think you've hit the nail on the head guys. Thanks! I will see about some more in the future and watch (smell) them more closely!