i just purchased 2 boxes of drew estate java 1-waffe and 1-corona latte  both boxes have a very bitter start and some turn creamy half way thru like the ones im used to smoking but some dont seem to come back at all. i have smoked both the latte and maduro for several years and have never encountered this problem--- are these smokes salvagable? i have heard that if you let them age for 60-90 days in humidor they will be ok? expensive to give up on. any suggestions?

i would say let them sit thats really sad to hear tho ive been interested in this cigar for a while. i would say 90 days should be perfect you could always try one at 60 just to see. i wouldnt leave them in there to age longer than 3-4 months tho.

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-living the good life-

I have found that with the little cigars, or flavoured cigars that even a week in the Humi will make a big difference. I don't think they are ruined or anything.

Were they purchased from a reputable source?

gmill880:

i just purchased 2 boxes of drew estate java 1-waffe and 1-corona latte  both boxes have a very bitter start and some turn creamy half way thru like the ones im used to smoking but some dont seem to come back at all. i have smoked both the latte and maduro for several years and have never encountered this problem--- are these smokes salvagable? i have heard that if you let them age for 60-90 days in humidor they will be ok? expensive to give up on. any suggestions?

It's possible... If some of the tobacco wasn't completely fermented it's possible to get the bitter taste... In that case yeah, a couple months could do them wonders...

Let me ask you this... when burning did you detect any "ammonia" like smells? That would be a sure indicator of it just not having the age it needs...

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Luko:

Just keep in mind if you do, you're pissing off a dude who shaves with a sword.

yes they were purchased from an old but small cigar shop in my hometown--glad to hear that aging may help thanks

i did not detect an overly obvious odor but was quite shocked at the taste as have never experienced any problems with any drew estate cigars and the java are one of my favorites

gmill880:

i did not detect an overly obvious odor but was quite shocked at the taste as have never experienced any problems with any drew estate cigars and the java are one of my favorites

There have been times when I got a bad taste from a cigar and the next time I try it, I try harder to find flaws with the cigar. I Try to find a bad taste. Not intentionally, but I become over critical of the stick. It looks like you are in for a few more bad experiences with these normally very goods cigars. I hope the very next one is better than you ever remember them being and get that bad one out of your mind..

Hmm how big exactly is the waffe? It doesn't say on ccom. The taste sounds very interesting though, I might have to try it out.

smaller cigars need to be sm oked EVEN slower than full sized cigars. the smaller ring guage tends to burn very hot. im not sure if that will help but it may.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

the waffe are the flat cigars  the flavor is still java --- apologies if i misunderstood your question

I guess i missed that one. I have had zero run ins with Javas ...ever.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

wow super good point about how the smaller ring gauges burn hotter im gna keep that in mind.

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-living the good life-

i always liked the java it was the first cigar i ever had but ive never had any problems with it being bitter but id say let them rest a lil bit

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If you are going through hell, keep going.
Winston Churchill

gmill880,

 

Sorry to read about your experience.

 

Like all handmade cigars, not every cigar nor every box is perfect, but we do strive to make it make it so. So is it possible that you received a some less than ideal cigars? Yes it is.

 

When it comes to both those sizes, and in paticular wafe, they will almost always turn bitter if you smoke them quickly given their narrow ring gauge. In these thinner sizes it is very easy to overheat tobacco particularly if you are a guy who regularly smokes larger or stronger cigars.

 

Also, a slightly high moisture content in the leaf can turn cigars bitter so I would double check that on your end.

 

And yes, underfermented leaf can cause it also, but it is highly unlikely that is the case. Now as for underaged leaf, that too can contribute. Leaf is bale aged, but within some bales there may be some thicker leaf that could have used a little more time, so this could be it also, it shouldn't be, but could and yes, if you laid down the cigars for ninety additional days the problem might just resolve itself.

 

Regardless, send me an email with your "ship to" address and I will send out some smokes to make up for ones that are disappointing you. Plus if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you to send a few of the "bad" ones back to me so we can inspect them.

 

Sorry for the problem,

 

Steve

saka@drewestate.com

President, Drew Estate, Inc.

SSaka:

gmill880,

 

Sorry to read about your experience.

 

Like all handmade cigars, not every cigar nor every box is perfect, but we do strive to make it make it so. So is it possible that you received a some less than ideal cigars? Yes it is.

 

When it comes to both those sizes, and in paticular wafe, they will almost always turn bitter if you smoke them quickly given their narrow ring gauge. In these thinner sizes it is very easy to overheat tobacco particularly if you are a guy who regularly smokes larger or stronger cigars.

 

Also, a slightly high moisture content in the leaf can turn cigars bitter so I would double check that on your end.

 

And yes, underfermented leaf can cause it also, but it is highly unlikely that is the case. Now as for underaged leaf, that too can contribute. Leaf is bale aged, but within some bales there may be some thicker leaf that could have used a little more time, so this could be it also, it shouldn't be, but could and yes, if you laid down the cigars for ninety additional days the problem might just resolve itself.

 

Regardless, send me an email with your "ship to" address and I will send out some smokes to make up for ones that are disappointing you. Plus if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you to send a few of the "bad" ones back to me so we can inspect them.

 

Sorry for the problem,

 

Steve

saka@drewestate.com

President, Drew Estate, Inc.

well damn, thats some good customer service.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate