Posts Categorized: Ask Joe

Alex had a bunch of questions regarding cigar storage.  I’ve tried to address them below, and hope everyone can benefit from my cigar storage trials and tribulations.  Alex, here you go… Welcome to the world of cigar aging and storage. It’s a challenging place, but the rewards are great. I see you have done your… Read More

Mike Z. asks:  “Are you supposed to add water to the Exquisicat beads before you put them in the Tupperdor?”   Mike refers to the article Perfect Cigar Conditioning…Can it be achieved? In that article we explored using Tupperware to store cigars, hence the term Tupperdor. Here is Joe’s reply to this most excellent question: “I suggest… Read More

Note: This article has been revised from its original content on May, 12, 2012. Mmmm, cello on or cello off?  An age old question but one that continues to crop up each time we buy cigars.  Dominick wants to know if he should remove the cellophane from the cigars to which he was just gifted.  The… Read More

Brit wrote in asking about the “salt test” and the accuracy of digital hygrometers. His concern is that putting a digital hygrometer in a salty environment might corrode the electronics of the device.  (The “salt test” involves putting a bottle-cap full of wet salt in a plastic bag which, in turn will produce a 75%… Read More

Benjamin recently asked for suggestions on how to keep track of his cigars.  He often can’t remember which vitolas he had purchased, which caused confusion when he wanted to reorder his favorite cigars.  His dilemma is a common one and I suggested he keep a journal for all his new cigar purchases.  He also wanted… Read More

The internet is full of misinformation, consequently, search results often provide conflicting answers to our questions.  Here, Robustojoe the Cigar Sleuth, will find answers to your questions by doing the research for you.  Only reliable sources will be quoted and if not available, Joe will sift through the available information and offer conclusions based on the… Read More

I traditionally prefer a nice sipping drink such as a cognac or rum, but one of my friend’s turned me on to drinking one of his home-brewed Port (Portugese or Dessert) wines. Ironically enough it was a pleasant match, and now I am hooked on the combination.

Good take on this subject by Jdrews.  He writes: I think “pairing” for cigars is actually under estimated. Before I choose the cigar for the evening I always consider a pairing as a drink. As a rule of thumb, if i choose a strong cigar then i drink something strong like a Whiskey. If i… Read More

At the risk of sounding like the cowboy who orders milk at the saloon, I must admit that I love smoking cigars while drinking sweet beverages.  And there’s nothing sweeter than Hawaiian Punch.  It washes away any dryness or bitterness that might be associated with the cigar and makes a smooth cigar even smoother.  The… Read More