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No.490 March 11-24, 2021

Are your Cigars too Wet or too Dry?

How you can tell and what to do about it.

Two weeks ago I received an email from TJ.
The subject could have come in emails from enough pairs of initials to use up a good number of letters in the alphabet.

I have a question regarding cigars in glass tubes.
I found 2 of the cigar selection packs that I bought from Wesley's probably 4-5 years ago, all still in their glass tubes. Will these cigars still be fine to smoke, or could they have dried out somewhat and require to be humidified again?
Could I add a few drops of water to the small sponge in the tube or is there a better way to do it? I also have a few humidrolls I use for my pipe tobacco, but I'm not sure if using them in a sealed container would help with the cigars.
Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

Our reply:
If the cigars have not been allowed to get too warm, there is a good chance they may be in a reasonable condition.

As we say on the website, the single cigar is protected against damage or contamination and needs no further humidification - in the restaurant, in your home or when you are travelling. In a glass tube the life span of a cigar is almost indefinite (extending into years), provided it is not allowed to get warm, for example by leaving it on a shelf that gets the sun or is near hot water pipes. The glass tube will preserve the cigar in exactly the same condition as it is when you put it in.

• If it is in good condition, it will stay in good condition.
• If it is dry, it will stay dry.

The tube may be used to recondition a cigar that is dry:
Simply run your damp (not wet) finger across the underside of the sponge, then put the cigar into the tube and seal it. You may have to do this more than once, but don't try to rush the process.

But mysterious accidents do happen, so I suppose the first thing to do is to take a cigar out of the tube and run your fingers down the length, pressing gently every 3, 4, or 5 cm.
If it is rock hard all the way down it is too dry.
If it is spongy it is too wet.
If there is a little give and rebound, a spring in the cigar, it is probably fine to smoke as is.

If it is too dry, then as an alternative to using the tube to re-humidify, here are 2 blogs on:
Reviving dry cigars
Basic conditions for keeping cigars

Your idea of using a few humidrols in a sealed container is another way.
I trust the blogs will give you other options.

Whatever you choose to do, have patience.

You  could keep the cigars permanently in the glass tubes, but you may prefer to add them to those already in your humidor.
But then you should be confident that the conditions in the humidor are good for your cigars.

There are two modern aids which use 2-way systems to increase or reduce the level of moisture in the air surrounding your cigars so that they are kept in perfect condition.
The re-usable Nano Beads
The Boveda sachets which are normally finished once they have dried out.

And on the belt and braces principle you could use the digital hygrometer – showing temperature and humidity.
Both equally important.
Cigars should be stored at 65% to 70% relative humidity, at a temperature of around 70° Fahrenheit (about 21° Centigrade).
Dale Scott postulates that the cigars need the same amount of water vapour all the time, so if the cigars are stored at 20ºC (68ºF) the Relative Humidity reading on the hygrometer should be around 75%. If the cigars are stored at 21.5ºC (72.5ºF) the Relative Humidity reading should be around 68%.
The safest way to check the climate around your cigars is to monitor both temperature and relative humidity in the humidor. A digital hygrometer will show you both readings, allowing you to adjust the humidity as necessary.

To encourage you:

25% off  the price of the Digital Hygrometer Normal Price R795.00 March 18-31, 2021 Only from Wesley’s Shops and Online

 If you have uncovered a few old, dry (but not crumbling) cigars in boxes (not tubes) you might like to take the same route as TJ. The exercise could bring back the memories of when you bought the cigars, or why you were given them.

Keep your cigars safe and enjoy them.

Colin Wesley

PS Here is a snippet you may not have seen – the good, the bad and the lucky for Cuba.
The good - President Biden is already breaking down some of the restrictions set up by Donald Trump which were holding back the Americans from visiting Cuba. Citizens are queueing up to go.
The bad – devastating effects of Covid 19 on Cuban people is leaving the Government short of employees to cope with the growing demands expected from these tourists.
The lucky – those Cubans fit enough to take advantage of the situation are opening up more and more business opportunities in the private sector. Cuban government restrictions are rapidly disappearing - people are smiling.

No.490 March 11-24, 2021

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No.491  March 25 – April 7, 2021

Pipe Filters – improving the quality of your pipe smoking.

A helpful flaw -

You have something which you want to enjoy having and using, but when you do use it, it isn’t quite perfect, and that niggles you.
What do you do?
Abandon it, fix it, adapt it or just try to ignore it and keep it as it is?

These were the options PS had to consider when he found that the smoke hole from the shank of the pipe he had bought recently was not exactly flush with the bottom of the bowl.
The pipe was still very smokeable, the niggle was that because of the misalignment there was always a slightly damp dottle of unsmoked tobacco left in the bottom of the bowl.
Rather smelly and expensive.

We suggested that a Bowl filter might help.

After some discussion PS decided to try the idea of placing a cone shaped, wire mesh Drikule plug in the base of the bowl to raise the bottom of the tobacco to match the smoke hole from the shank.
This fitted in with the theory behind the use of a Drikule plug - that is to create an airspace at the bottom of the bowl to catch the moisture and juices generated by the burning tobacco, and filtered out by the pipe.
The Drikule plug can be carefully removed and cleaned up after each smoke, and be used again once the bowl has cooled down and dried out – no soggy dottle.

From PS - A little bit of feedback on the Drikule plugs/filter. I have used one in the pipe for a couple of days and found it to be a plus in the specific pipe.
1)  It definitely helps in the sense that you discard less wet/unsmoked tobacco.
2) It does not alter the quality of the smoke, taste wise or how the pipe draws.
3) It helps to keep the tobacco in the bottom of the pipe a bit drier. 
4) You have to remove it to dry the bottom of the tobacco hole in your pipe after at least every second smoke.
5) It might irritate some people, as you sometimes let it drop out of the pipe when you remove the ash. I have picked my one up a couple of times.

The idea was so successful, however, that PS has started using Drikule Plugs in his other pipes:
I have used the Drikule plugs in some of my other pipes and they work excellent for me. There is no negative effect on the way the pipe draw and I want to say that my pipes draw a bit easier.  I think it is because, without trying, I pack the pipe a bit differently? It definitely gives a drier smoke.

He also finds an improvement in the taste of the smoke. The pipes are definitely easier to keep clean and dry,  a real win/win situation created from a niggly problem.

I tell this story because it might be worth your trying this procedure with one or two of your pipes.
Maybe they’ve been hanging around gathering dust - especially if they are non-filter pipes.
Or if you are still a “newbie” to the world of pipe smoking, and wrestling with a “wet smoking” problem – it might be something to consider.

The term “pipe filter” really is a misnomer especially when referring to Briar pipes. The pipe is the filter.
Once tobacco in the bowl of a Briar pipe starts burning, moisture and other juices are generated in the smoke. The pipe “filters” this out.
But it doesn’t all evaporate into thin air.
It needs to settle down and deposit itself somewhere.
Initially in the bottom of the bowl creating the soggy dottle.
The answer can be found in creating an air space to collect the excess moisture, or by placing a porous substance to absorb this excess moisture – Bowl filters.

Today we offer you three options of these “Bowl filters” - or mops, as they really are, because that is what they do - they collect or mop up the excess moisture.

• The Dri-Kule Plug – the reusable, cone shaped wire mesh plug which sits snugly in the bottom of the bowl.
• Nording Keystone Lava Pellets – make a neat pile of these in the bottom of the bowl. Reusable, with careful handling or light smoking.
• Denicool granules of Silica gel – Sprinkle enough to cover the bottom of the bowl, can’t be re-used.

Try one – see if it works for you – increases your enjoyment when smoking your pipe.
Now is a good time because ….

From 1-14 April 2021 we offer 25% off the prices of Drikule plugs – normal price R12.50 Keystone Pellets Tin (approx.10g) – normal price R47.50 Keystone Pellets 100g value pack – normal price R270.00 Denicool Silica Gel Crystals (12g) – normal price R49.50

The colder months are coming.
Picture yourself on the porch/patio with something to warm the inner body, and a hand warming pipe smoking cool and dry, watching the day close down.

Colin Wesley

No.491  March 25 – April 7, 2021

All previous blogs are archived in the Library, by date and by subject.
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No.492 April 8-21, 2021

Cuba today

In a recent blog (#490) I finished off with “the good, the bad and the lucky” effect the Pandemic has had on the economy and on much of the population of Cuba.
Simply put, the Pandemic caused so much trouble for the state workforce that the Government had to open more and more areas of economic activities to the private sector in order to keep the country running.

But it hasn’t only been the pandemic.
In fact, the policy of opening areas of economic activity to the private sector was started in 2010 by President Raul Castro who opened up 127 such activities, mainly in the Tourist Industry, the Restaurant Industry and in the Transportation sector.
These reforms were given a boost in 2014 when US President Obama tried to pursue a policy of normalised relations with Cuba.
Before the Pandemic hit Cuba, over 600.000 Cubans were officially self-employed (13% of the total workforce).

The plan now is to increase these numbers by lifting more restrictions on those areas suitable for small businesses to run – approximately more than 2000 areas.
To simplify this transition the Government will discard the list of 127 unrestricted areas, replacing it with a list of 124 areas which will be reserved for State Control.
Probably areas such as security, media, and health.
These decisions should be finalised this month (April 2021) at the next meeting of the Communist party.
Analysists and other pundits are cautiously optimistic that these new reforms, if correctly implemented, will increase employment opportunities and lead to a more fairly integrated economy overall.
The downside is that, badly as the island needs the return of Tourist and International business, since the airports were opened in November 2020 the reported cases of the virus infections has quadrupled – the airports have been closed again which will hamper economic growth.

I am not sure how all this will affect the cigar business, since this is densely concentrated on individual  handwork, from planting the seeds to closing the box on 10 or 25 Robustos.

There was no Habanos Festival this year, but new developments in cigar blends and vitolas has continued.
There has been the announcement of a new vitola in the Por Larrañaga brand.
This is the Galanes, with a size of 121mm x Ring 52. Pretty well a thick robusto.
If the size doesn’t sound familiar, that’s because it’s a new format in the Cuban size portfolio, so no other cigar from Cuba shares these precise dimensions. The factory name is also called Galanes.
The cigar was launched in Hong Kong, and has now reached Switzerland.
It is sold in wooden boxes of 10, and from the pictures the cigars look beautiful.
Let’s hope there will be some left over for us in South Africa.

The Robusto is still the most popular size in any brand as a recent survey in retail shops found.
And we still have some stock of the beautiful Spanish Cedar / Leather 3-cigar Cases.
These cases hold the robusto size comfortably, and will even fit the Por Larrañaga Galanes if they do arrive.
Ideal for carrying your cigars safely when you go out.

There are only a few manufacturers in the world, who can make Spanish cedar case of top quality, as two different type of craftsmanship are required: one for leather and the other for Spanish cedar. Precision in measurement and perfect hand work is critical, so that the case closes smoothly and yet when you hold the top, the bottom does not fall out.

To care for your cigars with winter coming, before putting them into the case, moisten the cedar with water – 
very, very lightly!

25% off  the price of the Spanish Cedar / Leather 3-cigar Case Normal Price R899.50 April 15-28, 2021 Only from Wesley’s Shops and Online

A final note:
We have been notified that premium cigar prices have increased by around 9 % from April 1.
To minimise the price increases we will be “averaging” prices as we take in new stock.
If you would like to take advantage before the averaging starts - don’t wait, buy now.

Carry your cigars safely and enjoy them.

Colin Wesley

No.492 April 8-21, 2021

All previous blogs are archived in the Library, by date and by subject.
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No.493 April 22 – May 5, 2021

The Stanwell pipes have arrived.
Not quite a rally call, but nevertheless always very good news.

We have been dealing directly with the Stanwell company since the early 1970’s.
In fact around then we had an “own name” pipe from the Stanwell factory – the “Roskilde”, named after the nearby Cathedral town with its very interesting history.

At about this time the factory had been moved to the little town of Borup, just outside of Copenhagen.
And this was where Stanwell introduced their templates to model four rough bowls at a time – all exactly the same shape, in less time than it took to carve even one by hand.
In this way they became one of the most economically efficient pipe factories in the world.
To say that this style of mass production was revolutionary is to put its influence mildly.

In those early years of the 1970’s when “Freeform” pipes were flourishing, it was necessary to protect oneself from “Copycats”. To this end Stanwell registered each of the shapes designed for them by Sixten Ivarsson - who was considered to be the father of the Danish pipe designs.
The Stanwell shapes are all bold, yet nothing fancy or overdone, beautifully balanced in both hand and mouth.
If you study them carefully you can see some classic English influence in the background: a Billiard, a Bent and even a Rhodesian, within the Danish mask.

Technically Stanwell was up with the forerunners in developing “filter” pipes. This was done by introducing Delrin pegs to offer 6mm or 9mm “filter” options. The mouthpieces themselves were made from an acrylic material which would not oxidise and turn bitter , another innovation.
More recently they “sandblasted” their pipes with glass pellets – more time consuming, but with excellent results.
The soft sandblasting has a great feel about it, and combined with the smooth patches in the Vario finish it is almost impossible to stop the fingers from rubbing all over the bowl.

Backing up all these kudos are the splendid smoking qualities of each Stanwell pipe.

If you’ve been browsing our website you’ll have seen that we had bought the previous shipment of Stanwell pipes at very reduced sale prices.
For this shipment we were not so fortunate.
But the new prices are just as good when you consider the quality of the pipes, and the smoking pleasure they offer.

However, to ease your way into the new price structure, we have a special offer:The Stanwell pipes have arrived.
Not quite a rally call, but nevertheless always very good news.

We have been dealing directly with the Stanwell company since the early 1970’s.
In fact around then we had an “own name” pipe from the Stanwell factory – the “Roskilde”, named after the nearby Cathedral town with its very interesting history.

At about this time the factory had been moved to the little town of Borup, just outside of Copenhagen.
And this was where Stanwell introduced their templates to model four rough bowls at a time – all exactly the same shape, in less time than it took to carve even one by hand.
In this way they became one of the most economically efficient pipe factories in the world.
To say that this style of mass production was revolutionary is to put its influence mildly.

In those early years of the 1970’s when “Freeform” pipes were flourishing, it was necessary to protect oneself from “Copycats”. To this end Stanwell registered each of the shapes designed for them by Sixten Ivarsson - who was considered to be the father of the Danish pipe designs.
The Stanwell shapes are all bold, yet nothing fancy or overdone, beautifully balanced in both hand and mouth.
If you study them carefully you can see some classic English influence in the background: a Billiard, a Bent and even a Rhodesian, within the Danish mask.

Technically Stanwell was up with the forerunners in developing “filter” pipes. This was done by introducing Delrin pegs to offer 6mm or 9mm “filter” options. The mouthpieces themselves were made from an acrylic material which would not oxidise and turn bitter , another innovation.
More recently they “sandblasted” their pipes with glass pellets – more time consuming, but with excellent results.
The soft sandblasting has a great feel about it, and combined with the smooth patches in the Vario finish it is almost impossible to stop the fingers from rubbing all over the bowl.

Backing up all these kudos are the splendid smoking qualities of each Stanwell pipe.

If you’ve been browsing our website you’ll have seen that we had bought the previous shipment of Stanwell pipes at very reduced sale prices.
For this shipment we were not so fortunate.
But the new prices are just as good when you consider the quality of the pipes, and the smoking pleasure they offer.

However, to ease your way into the new price structure, we have a special offer:

From 29 April – 12 May, 2021 we offer 25% off the prices of unique Danish pipes

To not have a Stanwell pipe in your collection is denying yourself a treat.
To add another one to your collection is enviable.

Colin Wesley

No.493 April 22 – May 5, 2021

All previous blogs are archived in the Library, by date and by subject.
A visit will allow you to choose from any of the more than 400 blogs to read or re-read at your leisure.

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No.494 May 6-19, 2021

A Short Thick Smoke

2020 may sound good if you are having your eyes tested.
But if you mention 2020 to someone like us in the small, specialist retail trade I think you will find that it doesn’t ring well for them – good riddance to it.

The threat of Covid-19 has put paid to my spending even one day in my shop - from the first day of lockdown up to today.
However, amongst other things, committing myself to the task of placing the weekly orders for all the consumables we sell, especially cigars, has kept me up to date with the action in the shop.

It has been interesting to see how little trends, or patterns, have formed over the years, and even during the course of each year.
The sales of boxes of 25 or more cigars have dropped, but the sales of the same cigars in boxes of 10 or packs of 5 or even 3 have risen to the extent that over the year their sales have gone up.
This could be that more and more cigar smokers have their own humidors holding 50-100 cigars, and they want more variety than just 2 or 4 different cigars available to them at any one time.
In these cases, they “top-up” missing sizes from time to time.

It is also easier to try something new if it is available in small quantities. (This is where our 3 pack “Selections” come in handy.)

It could also be a cash flow relief.
I can remember as a young man muttering about the increasing cost of filling the petrol tank of my car. A wiser, older friend suggested to me that if I filled the tank up as it reached the halfway mark, I would always have enough fuel for an emergency situation, and a better more even cash flow most of the time - sound advice!

Back to the cigars – it might be nice to have a good Churchill size cigar now and then, but you may not need half your humidor full of them. 3, 5 or 10 varied sizes may do, to be topped up as they reach the halfway mark.

I mention all this because, with what is predicted to be a long cold winter coming up, you may need a few more short, larger ring size cigars. These could be enjoyed either outside in the brisk, cold air, or, if you are lucky, in front of a warm fire, either real or gas.

Many of these short, thick cigars have fallen into the generic name “Nub”.
The original Nub was produced in the very early 2000’s by a salesman for Oliva cigars in America.
Sensing the demand for a short, thicker cigar, probably to complement or compete with the Robusto, he rolled a 102mm x 60 ring size cigar in his garage and very appropriately named it a “Nub”.
The concept was an immediate success, but it wasn’t as easy to put into practice as some cigar producers found out.
To put it simply one could not just cut a large ring size cigar to 102mm and call it a Nub expecting it to give the smoking experience of a true Nub.

Cigar Aficionado in March 2008 described the concept:
Just the sweet spot -- that is the theory behind the Nub, a new line of short, ultra-thick cigars made by Oliva Cigar Co.
The concept for the Nub is based on the idea that the average cigar usually finds its sweet spot -- the part of the cigar that is most flavorful and balanced -- at the 3 1/2 inch- to 4-inch (90-102mm) point of a cigar. No Nub is longer than 4 inches long. Oliva says Nub cigars are loaded with copious amounts of tobacco; some of the cigars are as thick as 66 ring gauge, or more than one inch in diameter. The large ring gauge not only produces abundant amounts of smoke, but consequently forms a dense ash which, Oliva says, insulates the cigar as it burns, keeping it cool and maintaining its flavors.
Today we have a nice selection of these chubby, short masterpieces offered by several brands from which you can choose.
If these are new to you, you could be in for a very pleasant surprise by what a satisfying a smoke they give you.

Click here to see the Nub variations currently available

Cutting a “Nub”
Opening up the full head of cigars of such large ringsizes may overwhelm you with smoke.
You may like to try punching 2 or 3 holes in a compact pattern over the head of the cigar (works for any cigar)

The Punch: 

We have several models – from the budget model with rubberised casing, the GunMetal model, and the aluminium-cased Passatore models to the superb Dunhill punch.
Each has a surgical steel “punch” and a manual ejection system with key-ring fitment

Note: Turn the punch, not the cigar.
Idea: If you moisten the head of the cigar you may get a smoother cut.
Remove the concern about cutting too much off the top of your cigar – punch it!

The “Cuban Cut”
Alternatively try the “Cuban cut” – that is, slice off a portion of the shoulder of the cigar to reduce the flow of smoke. Smoke the cigar with the open part uppermost in the mouth and the smooth section on the tongue.
This was told to me some years ago. My informant called this the “Cuban cut” (and he seemed to know what he was talking about).
Whatever it is called, I like it and I use it often.

A “V-cutter” is not normally suitable.

To give you an opportunity to replace or change your cutter, we offer:

25% off the price of all Cigar Cutters and Punches Normal Prices from R69.00 to R2400.00 May 13-26, 2021 Only from Wesley’s Shops and Online

Cutting your cigar appropriately is an important step to real enjoyment.

Colin Wesley

No.494 May 6-19, 2021

All previous blogs are archived in the Library, by date and by subject.
A visit will allow you to choose from any of the more than 400 blogs to read or re-read at your leisure.

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