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Uneven Burning Cigars, Newbie Q&A, Web Site Improvements, Macanudo Vintage '97 Review
July 8th, 2003
Dear Fellow Cigar Lovers,
IN THIS ISSUE we look at the causes of uneven burning cigars with regard to
maduro wrappers, in particular.
For those of you new to cigars, the Smoker's Ed. Dept. has some answers
to commonly asked cigar questions about humidification and rotating cigars.
This week's survey asks whether you separate your cigars between those
you smoke regularly (or every day) and those you save for those "special occasions."
Our two cigar reviews include the Macuanudo Vintage 1997 No. 2 and a relatively
new addition to our humidor, the ACID Blondie.
Also in this issue, an important web site improvement, which, if you are a
recipient of our monthly catalog or a new customer, you will find very useful.
*** MONEY TO BURN ***
This subject was inspired by an email from a reader regarding a
cigar that he described as not burning "smoothly." He was smoking a
Maduro cigar he received in a sampler and had to re-light it several
times before he could finish it.
Uneven burning cigars or cigars that tend to "canoe" (burn up one
side) may be the result of several circumstances.
1) The quality of the wrapping
2) The quality of the wrapper leaf itself
3) Too much moisture in the wrapper or in the cigar
4) The wrapper leaf was too thick, a common attribute of maduro wrappers.
Since the gentleman specifically mentioned he was smoking a Maduro, it
was most likely a combination of 3 & 4: a little too much moisture in the
leaf and a little too thick to burn evenly. I recently purchased a box of
Maduro cigars from a very reputable manufacturer and almost every cigar
in the box burned poorly. They sure tasted good, but I might as well have
just taken $4 out of my pocket and lit that instead of the cigar. Past
Maduros of the same cigar burned fine, so again, this is a caveat the
buyer must be aware of when buying a naturally grown, handmade product.
Cigars like the Astral Talanga Valley and the Joya De Nicaragua Antaño
1970 and Hoyo Dark Sumatra have very thick "natural" wrappers and may
tend to go out or burn unevenly, but they are also very flavorful cigars
that stand up very well to re-lighting. One solution I've found is to
let the cigar sit out in the open air for a few hours before lighting.
Otherwise, don't be so fast to put your lighter back in your pocket.
*** SURVEY SAYS! DEPT.***
Do You Have "Every Day" Cigars And "Special Occasion" Cigars, or Do You
Smoke The Same Brand/s All The Time?
Send an email to: and in the Subject line, type or copy & paste one of the following responses:
YES = I have cigars for "every day" and others I smoke only on special
occasions.
NO = I smoke (mostly) the same brand/s of cigars all the time.
As always, comments are not necessary but welcome.
Survey Results for June 24th: Name The Famous Smoke Shop Newsletter
The results of our survey on selecting a name for this newsletter were
nothing short of overwhelming. I received so many responses, I'm still
counting the suggestions. It's amazing how many of you came up with a
lot of the same names. I guess great minds really do think alike. I will
be announcing the winner of the newsletter name in the July 22 edition.
The winner will receive an Olor 5 Pack Sampler and a Famous Smoke Shop
T-shirt. Thanks to all of you who participated.
*** SMOKERS ED. DEPT.***
Cigar Terms & Tips (Collect and trade em'!)
Foot - The end of the cigar you light. Most often it is pre-cut, except
in the case of perfectos.
"Newbie" Q & A
Q1: How often should you replace the humidifiers?
A: You shouldn't have to do it more than every couple of years, depending
on the quality of the unit, but if it stops being effective, even after
recharging it, that's usually a sign it's on its way out.
Q2: You mentioned rotating the cigars in the humidor. Do you mean to just
rotate them inside of the humidor, or to rotate them in and out of the
humidor?
A: Rotate them from the bottom of the box to top and turn the cigars, too. Do
this, usually, once a month.
Q3: Finally, I just ordered a single Prince Philip Macanudo Jade, just to
try it out, but I was wondering about claro cigars in general.I realize
that they are "green",but what are the characteristics of claro cigars?
What should I expect it to be like?
A: Claros are exceptionally light in flavor. They used to be very popular
with Americans in the early part of the 20th century (the term AMS,
American Market Selection, used to refer to this wrapper). You may like
it. They're good for early in the day. But compare it with a regular
Macanudo Prince Phillip and you'll see what I'm talking about. Don Tomás
also makes a claro as does Arturo Fuente and some other manufacturers
(See my Part 2 article on wrapper leaves from the last issue)
Thanks for putting up with the "newbie" questions. I really appreciate your
help, and I love your company!! - Jeff Young, Tampa, FL
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What about you? If you'd like to share your thoughts and experiences
on this week's cigar tip, please e-mail me at
*** SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DEPT.***
Have a question about the care and feeding of your cigars? Send your
questions and comments to me at: . I will
try to respond as quickly as possible, but some replies may take a few
days. (Please DO NOT use the "askGary" address to be removed
from the newsletter list. Thank you.)
*** FAMOUS-SMOKE.COM HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS ***
At Famous-Smoke.com, we are always looking for new ways to make your
shopping experience with us fast and easy to navigate. The following
improvement regards those of you who would like to shop our catalog
from the web site.
If you are a regular recipient of our monthly catalogs, previously,
you had to use the www.famous-smoke.com/catalog URL and enter the catalog
key code before visiting our site. Now, you may visit our site and click
on the "Catalog Page Search" link under the "Search Our Site" heading,
or click on the .jpg file titled, "To search for items in your catalog".
A javascript window will appear where you can enter the catalog key code
and the page number containing the items you would like to view. If you
click on the link or the jpg file, again, you will only be prompted for
a page number. The catalog key code is retained and will not be requested
again. FYI - the www.famous-smoke.com/catalog URL continues to operate in the same manner as before.
*** RATING LUNATIC DEPT.***
Macanudo Vintage '97 No. 2 (9.2)
Size/Wrapper: 6 1/2" x 43 / U.S. Vintage '97 Connecticut Shade Natural
I was expecting this cigar to be good, having already smoked a couple
of larger sizes and it sure was. First light: Lit like a charm. The
aroma and flavor were especially mellow and the draw was buttery smooth
with that classic Macanudo toastiness on the finish. The ash was bright
silver and solid. The flavor remained consistent throughout, but the
best part was the aroma, which contributed greatly to the flavor. ~ Y/T
ACID "Blondie"
Size/Wrapper: 4" x 38 / U.S. Connecticut Shade
My husband and I, with several friends, usually sit out in the backyard
and relax. We have anywhere between 3-5 people sit with us. No one smoked
Acid Blondies until I got several. Now the whole group is hooked. It tends
to be a favorite with the ladies, but several men enjoy it as well. Very
aromatic, very smooth and sweet smelling. An expensive smoke, but very
satisfying and well worth every penny.
- "fullnpretty," Little Rock, AR (June 24, 2003)
(Customer reviews are selected at random and may be edited for
length, not content.)
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(AGREE? DISAGREE? Your opinion may be similar or completely different and
is also appreciated, so don't be shy. Rate the cigars you smoke on our web
site.
What you say can help others make a more informed decision, even you!)
*** GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR! DEPT.***
Cigar tasting events in our retail store at 1100 Conroy Place, Easton, PA
Call 610-559-8800 for more info and offers associated with these events.
La Aurora 100th Anniversary! - Friday, July 18, 3:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Partagas Black Jack and
Punch Poker Night - Friday, August 15th, 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Coming Soon!
Punch Photo Shoot
*** EYES ON THE PRIZE DEPT.***
Cigar Sightings
Nick Nolte in I Love Trouble looked like a cigar commercial throughout
most of the movie. SORRY though, couldn't tell what kind! - John Ketcham, Little Rock, AR
(I couldn't find a shot from the movie of Nick Nolte smoking a cigar, but
I did find this picture: - G.K.)
Other ‘Famous’ Cigar Smokers Caught in the Act!
"The Boys enjoying a smoke..." at the rehearsal dinner for the wedding
of George & Danielle Dunning. (George is 3rd from right in white slacks)." - John Applegate, Jackson, NJ
WANTED! Cigar-smoking photos of you and/or your friends. (See next paragraph for details.)
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Have You Made A Cigar Sighting Recently?
It can be from a
movie, TV show or a celebrity you've seen elsewhere or in-person
puffing on a primo. If you can name the brand of the cigar, even
better! Or send in a herfing photo of you and your friends to me at
and please put "Cigar Sightings"
in the subject line. Limit: 1 sighting or photo (preferably, a JPEG)
per email.
Until the next issue, July 22nd, Happy Smokes!
Gary
(_{@}_______{{{
Copyright © 2003 Famous Smoke Shop - PA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Portions or all of this information may be reprinted freely, provided this
link, http://www.famous-smoke.com, remains intact.
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