Discovered something today.

[ljh824]

Ever since I've taken up cigar smoking and bought my first humidor, I've stored my loose cigars in their wrapper. I've seen threads debating storing them like this or sans wrapper. Well yesterday I broke out one of my cheap smokes, a Famous 3000, and started my way to the patio to light it up. Well, one thing led to another (chores from the wife) and I ended up not being able to smoke it, so I put it back in the humidor as is with no wrapper.

After work today I had my mind set on enjoying that cigar. I'm not sure this is because it had almost 24 hours to "breathe" in the humidor but that cigar lit easier, had a better draw, and tasted so much better than the last 3000 I had from the same bundle. Now I know each cigar is different and maybe this was due to other factors, but I think I may be leaning towards trying to store my lucies without the wrapper. It was that much better.

My only worry would be for different species of wrapper to absorb smells, etc. from the humidor that may actually alter/diminish the flavor. Anyone have any pros or cons they could share?

[Budprince]

Storing cigars with or without wrappers has benefits either way. . .Without the wrapper, it can improve a mediocre cigar (over time) when stored with better sticks. With the wrapper it can preserve the distinctive flavor or your favorite cigar. This is simply a preferential choice for the Cigar Afficionado.

[doctorcue]

With or without... one of the great debates. Go with what tastes better for you.

[pnoon]

Without the wrapper, it can improve a mediocre cigar (over time) when stored with better sticks.

I doubt that.

First of all, the phenomenon you are referring to is called "marrying" and it would take many years for this to occur and then only to a marginal degree. (I am assuming we are not discussing flavored or infused cigars.) If your point were valid, then the better sticks would also then be degraded being stored with mediocre sticks.
:2

[livwire68]

A challenge for you! Burn your cello down about half way and eat the chared remains. Does it taste like burnt plastic or burnt marshmellows? Eat it its ok, 100% organic and it does breath!!! Even though Your sticks have a protective coating (Cello) they will breath and stay protected from you fondleing through your humi. Trust me would I LIE! :tu

[vintagejc]

I keep mine on. I'm always going through my stash looking for gars to send out. While doing that, the potential to damage the feet of my cigars is high. The extra protection is important to me.

[ljh824]

I keep mine on. I'm always going through my stash looking for gars to send out. While doing that, the potential to damage the feet of my cigars is high. The extra protection is important to me.
Thanks fellow Nole! Actually, after I made this post, I went through my smaller humidor and grabbed a bunch of sticks to see what was underneath. So I do agree with what you are saying. I'd rather handle the cello than the wrapper.

[Dgar]

a lot of my favorites never had cellophane :D


I always leave my cigars the way I buy them, I've never been able to tell a difference in taste either way.

[air1070]

I always leave my cigars the way I buy them


:tpd:

[bigben]

I take my in the nude always, mostely because when i check in on them i get a whiff of cigar as soon as i life my humi lid... ahhhhhh

[Simplified]

I wonder why most Cubans are not in plastic?

[Mullet]

I prefer keeping mine in the cello. Tobacco leaf wrapper is pretty delicate, and they're much better protected from handling while in cello. I have no other reasons...i'm not even sure if keeping them in cello makes them impervious to marrying.

[BigFrankMD]

I keep mine on. I'm always going through my stash looking for gars to send out. While doing that, the potential to damage the feet of my cigars is high. The extra protection is important to me.

Same for me. Always looking at cigars touching them digging around. I have a small humidor that is mainly gifted sticks or small amounts of things I enjoy. All of the cigars in this humidor have no cello. The rest mainly ones I purchase, cello stays on. They usually end up in bombs. Or going to work with me.

[Guitarman-S.T-]

A challenge for you! Burn your cello down about half way and eat the chared remains. Does it taste like burnt plastic or burnt marshmellows? Eat it its ok, 100% organic and it does breath!!! Even though Your sticks have a protective coating (Cello) they will breath and stay protected from you fondleing through your humi. Trust me would I LIE! :tu

Ive seen him do it ;)

[Troop_lee]

Ive seen him do it ;)

Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose).
Cellulose fibers from celery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celery), wood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood), cotton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton) or hemp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp) are dissolved in alkali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkali) and carbon disulfide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_disulfide) to make a solution called viscose (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscose), which is then extruded through a slit into an acid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid) bath to reconvert the viscose into cellulos -- Thank you Wikipedia :tu

[rottenzombie]

I wonder why most Cubans are not in plastic?
Because they would suffocate in there, Oh you meant the cigars.oops :D

[galaga]

Hey, is this the thread where all the people with FSU avatars post? Hey, what's Troop doing in here? ;)

Unwrapped cigars aren't going to pick up enough flavor from touching other cigars enough that you could tell. If you can, more power to you. Unless, as was already mentioned, you've got flavored cigars.

I don't think that 24 hours without cello would make a difference unless your 3000's were wetter than the RH in your humidor. Then, the unwrapped cigars will dry out faster, and you probably should consider lowering your RH. I would guess it was due to there being more variability in bundled cigars. It could be though that you "just had my mind set on enjoying that cigar". Experiment!

[GoodFella]

Hey, is this the thread where all the people with FSU avatars post? Hey, what's Troop doing in here? ;)

Unwrapped cigars aren't going to pick up enough flavor from touching other cigars enough that you could tell. If you can, more power to you. Unless, as was already mentioned, you've got flavored cigars.

I don't think that 24 hours without cello would make a difference unless your 3000's were wetter than the RH in your humidor. Then, the unwrapped cigars will dry out faster, and you probably should consider lowering your RH. I would guess it was due to there being more variability in bundled cigars. It could be though that you "just had my mind set on enjoying that cigar". Experiment!
:tpd:

[ljh824]

Hey, is this the thread where all the people with FSU avatars post? Hey, what's Troop doing in here? ;)

Unwrapped cigars aren't going to pick up enough flavor from touching other cigars enough that you could tell. If you can, more power to you. Unless, as was already mentioned, you've got flavored cigars.

I don't think that 24 hours without cello would make a difference unless your 3000's were wetter than the RH in your humidor. Then, the unwrapped cigars will dry out faster, and you probably should consider lowering your RH. I would guess it was due to there being more variability in bundled cigars. It could be though that you "just had my mind set on enjoying that cigar". Experiment!
Yeah, I was really Jones'in for it. That's probably why it tasted so much better.

[moki]

I doubt that.

First of all, the phenomenon you are referring to is called "marrying" and it would take many years for this to occur and then only to a marginal degree. (I am assuming we are not discussing flavored or infused cigars.) If your point were valid, then the better sticks would also then be degraded being stored with mediocre sticks.
:2

Agreed 100%. Store your cigars as they came to you; if they came in cello, store them in cello. Cellophane is made from wood pulp, and it breathes... and it will also protect your cigars from damage.

Every time I see pictures of a humidor with cigars that came in cello sitting there naked, I shake my head.

(Hopefully no one is taking the wrapper off of their cigars... I'm assuming he meant the cello ;) )

[pistol]

I wonder why most Cubans are not in plastic?

Probably because the presentation isn't as nice (that'd be MY reason anyway!). It's also cheaper to ship without cello, and from my experience, NC manufacturers tend to spend more on packaging (just a BROAD generalization, yes I know that there are exceptions). That's just a stab in the dark, does anyone know for sure?

[moki]

Probably because the presentation isn't as nice (that'd be MY reason anyway!). It's also cheaper to ship without cello, and from my experience, NC manufacturers tend to spend more on packaging (just a BROAD generalization, yes I know that there are exceptions).

I'd agree with that, it's very likely a cost consideration -- also many Cubans did used to come in cello... Cohibas originally were in cello.

[pistol]

I'd agree with that, it's very likely a cost consideration -- also many Cubans did used to come in cello... Cohibas originally were in cello.

This is true!