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So I have to order some CCs

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The last time I bought some of the forbidden fruit I ordered 2 boxes of Monte #5s. Really like that smoke, but both boxes had a really hard draw. Is this common to the #5s or did I get a couple of bad ones? Was thinking of going with #4s instead, your opinion?

Thanks!
 

StogieNinja

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With Montes, it's luck of the draw (pun intended). Seriously though, they get made in such large quantities, it's just a bit of a gamble. Monte's are amazing when they're on, which makes it that much more aggravating when they're off.
 

ENV

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With Montes, it's luck of the draw (pun intended). Seriously though, they get made in such large quantities, it's just a bit of a gamble. Monte's are amazing when they're on, which makes it that much more aggravating when they're off.
100% truth
 

Jfire

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The last time I bought some of the forbidden fruit I ordered 2 boxes of Monte #5s. Really like that smoke, but both boxes had a really hard draw. Is this common to the #5s or did I get a couple of bad ones? Was thinking of going with #4s instead, your opinion?

Thanks!
How long did you wait to smoke the other order previously? It can take either 2-6 months for them to open up after shipping if you are at 65rh or lower. Or even a couple years if you keep then boxed up and 66-68rh. Most of my tight draw issues are NOT "bad boxes". They stem from a distributor keeping them too damn high in the wharehouse RH wise. Food for thought.
 

StogieNinja

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^my man has a good point here. What rH are you keeping your CCs? Most will open up at 60%rh, and I have yet to find a CC that smokes better at a higher rH. I keep the ones I'm going to smoke around 60-62% and they smoke wonderfully. I rarely have a tight draw if it's from that humi.
 

Jfire

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^my man has a good point here. What rH are you keeping your CCs? Most will open up at 60%rh, and I have yet to find a CC that smokes better at a higher rH. I keep the ones I'm going to smoke around 60-62% and they smoke wonderfully. I rarely have a tight draw if it's from that humi.
I keep mine at 65% but they normally see 1-2 years minimum before they get touched. New boxes get rested at least a year. Mostly more, just for the reasons being discussed. I like to lower them slowly in sealed boxes.
 
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I would doubt it would take years for a cigar to acclimate to a particular level. Anyone that has an accurate scale should be able to weigh their cigars to determine moisture content over time. Using this method could also prove or disprove what a 24 hr dry does.
 
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I would doubt it would take years for a cigar to acclimate to a particular level. Anyone that has an accurate scale should be able to weigh their cigars to determine moisture content over time. Using this method could also prove or disprove what a 24 hr dry does.
Now you're talking The Scientific Method. I dig it!
 
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The last time I bought some of the forbidden fruit I ordered 2 boxes of Monte #5s. Really like that smoke, but both boxes had a really hard draw. Is this common to the #5s or did I get a couple of bad ones? Was thinking of going with #4s instead, your opinion?

Thanks!
How long did you wait to smoke the other order previously? It can take either 2-6 months for them to open up after shipping if you are at 65rh or lower. Or even a couple years if you keep then boxed up and 66-68rh. Most of my tight draw issues are NOT "bad boxes". They stem from a distributor keeping them too damn high in the wharehouse RH wise. Food for thought.
The few I have left I've had at 63% for over a year and still have the draw problem. I've ordered other sticks from this vendor without any draw problem.
 
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Some just have the problem, but for many, it's the humidity, storage and time.

There's no 100% on any of this as it's a handmade product with differing levels of quality and differing treatment and storage.

I've found that stuff that has had time to rest is typically not experiencing as much trouble, but it's not always the case.
 
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Love Monte 4s. One of my favorite PCs. One thing that may take into account some of what the other guys are talking about with distribution storage RHs, etc, could be solved by going to another reliable source for this next purchase, and to keep it to one box in the event that you find a similar experience which could indicate the humidity issue is on your end.

I usually smoke one ROTT as a baseline for each box I buy and I've not had any issues. Shipping time is of course another variable there though. Montes are pushed out the door though so you might have just been unlucky.

I do introduce them slowly like jfire mentioned, but in a matter of months not years. I also store 97% of mine open in my wineador and not in their boxes. I know a lot of guys would rather keep them boxed, but the drawer set up I have doesn't leave a ton of room for boxes and over half my stash is CC... Oh, I usually keep mine a bit lower than 65 as well, as I prefer a dryer smoke. More like 61-63rh.
 
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