P-r-e-t-e-n-t-i-o-u-s

P-r-e-t-e-n-t-i-o-u-s

The mellow, smooth, and savory aromas of chicory and Sumatran coffee give way to a succulent blend of licorice and nutty earth tastes that remind one of a stroll in a pristine forest.  The first 1/4 of this cigar was pleasant...good draw, even burn, voluminous amounts of smoke, subtle flavors lingering on the palate for a sufficient time after the smoke left my mouth.  The last 3/4 of this cigar, attesting to the complexity of the blending of the filler, binder, and wrapper tobaccos, changed dramatically, like the rising and falling of orchestral overtones...pleasing, and causing me to want more.

ARGHHHH!!!!

Have you EVER......EVER had to hold your breath, waiting for someone to finish a description such as that? I have.  I read a lot of cigar reviews, and very often the reviewer, (taster?  smoker?) will rattle off a string of adjectives like that, in an attempt to connect my graphic memory with his/her smoking experience. 

Have you EVER.....EVER described ANYTHING like that?  Anything, that is, short of an orgasmic experience that borders on the hallucinogenic?

Peppery, spicy, oily, earthy, nutty, leathery, fruity, musky....those are all words I often hear and read as they're used to describe a cigar smoking experience.  Used one at a time, they are adequate descriptors.  Used in a chain, they make me think, "Are you KIDDING ME?"

I'll say it again.  ARGHHHHH!!!!!

What's wrong with "mild, medium, strong, sweet, smooth, bitter, harsh?" Those are words the common cigar smoker can relate to.  And since almost any two of them, used together, are self-cancelling, they do just fine all by themselves....one at a time....to describe a cigar.

I guess cigars are like any other hobby.  Those who are "into" that particular hobby sometimes find it necessary to impress on others their astounding knowledge...whether the others wish to be impressed or not.

I once had the displeasure of listening to someone drone on about the "three match method" of lighting a cigar.  Granted, extremely expensive, high-end cigars seem to demand a wee bit more attention and appreciation, but this fellow went on, at length, about using three LONG, wooden cigar matches to heat, toast, and finally ignite your cigar.  Too much.  Even good cigars need just one thing....fire.

Let's light 'em up, get to smokin' and quit wastin' time tryin' to describe 'em.

Have You Hookah-ed?

Well, have you?  Hookah-ed, that is.  Maybe it's hookahed....or hooked.  I dunno, really, but hookah-ed is a past tense verb made out of a noun.  Can we do that?  Must be able to, because there it is....hookah-ed.  Past tense of "to hookah."

In case you've been living in McMurdo Station for the past few years, hookah is the the latest "thing."  Reportedly, (arguably), Middle Eastern in origin, a hookah is a water pipe...a glass or ceramic vessel filled with water, (or other flavorful liquids), and fitted with one or more hoses and a bowl on top, (which holds tobacco and hot coals).  When special hookah tobacco (shisha) is placed in the lower part of the bowl, and the heat of a coal is drawn over it, the ensuing smoke is filtered through the water in the vessel and delivered to the smoker as cool, flavorful, and aromatic.

More and more people are taking advantage of the hookah pipes and shisha in the store.  As word spreads, and people go beyond the old world stigma of what a hookah pipe might represent, they are enjoying a unique experience that lends itself well to relaxation and socializing.

So, if you're looking for something to do that's a bit more unusual than your usual evening entertainment, try hookah-ing.

QR Codes and PF Cigars

<--- What the heck is THAT thing?

THAT is a QR Code. (QR = Quick Response)

So, what IS a QR Code?

You've seen 'em. You might have even used 'em by now. Like a barcode, they're meant to be scanned, but not by the lasers at the supermarket checkout counter. QR codes are special marketing/advertising codes that are designed to be scanned by your smartphone. Once scanned, they will take you to a webpage or website of the company that compiled the code and provide you with information about that company: tickets, coupons, discounts, or other information specific to that company. If you don't already have it, you'll need to download the "app" that will let your smartphone scan and utilize the code.

So, go ahead, scan the code at the top of this page. It SHOULD take you to a page on PF CIGAR'S website that gives you information about our store and business. Also, look for this code on all of PFC's future advertising. We hope to use this to keep our customers better informed about cigar deals, events, specials, discounts, and general happenings in our cigar lounge.

Seasoning and Calibrating Your Humidor and Hygrometer

The first set of directions are the "ideal" way to season your humidor. Your patience level may dictate a different time frame.

SEASONING YOUR HUMIDOR

- Dampen, (not soak), a clean sponge or cloth with distilled water
- Wipe down all the wood inside the humidor
- Put the wet sponge or cloth on a piece of cellophane or plastic bag inside the humidor.
- Fill your humidification device with distilled water or humidifying solution (propylene glycol)
- If it overflows, wipe and blot off all excess water or solution
- Place the device inside the humidor
- Close the humidor for 24 hours (Don't open it!)
- The next day, repeat the process, but don't leave the sponge inside this time.
- Wait another 24 hours.
- On the second day, if your hygrometer measures between 68% and 72%, you're good to go. If it doesn't, repeat the process a third time.
- If you suspect your hygrometer is inaccurate, follow the next set of instructions:

CALIBRATING YOUR HYGROMETER

- Fill a bottle cap or small container with salt. Add a little water, but not enough to dissolve the salt.
- Seal the cap and the salt, along with your hygrometer, inside a Ziploc baggie
- After 6 hours, read your hygrometer, (still inside the sealed baggie). If your hygrometer reads 75%, it's dead-on accurate.
- If your hygrometer reads more or less than 75%, adjust it to 75% by turning the screw on the back. Do this immediately after opening the baggie, before the ambient room humidity changes the reading.
- If there is no adjustment screw on the back of your hygrometer, you'll have to do a "mental" calibration, remembering just how far off of 75% your hygrometer is. Add or subtract the difference from 75%.
- Perfect humidity for your cigars is between 68% and 72%. None of us is perfect.