Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary
July 12, 2010
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Your Questions, My Answers (YQMA) Episode 30
Welcome back for another Episode of Your Questions, My Answers Episode 30. Just like last time, I’ve broken the show down into three segments all with separate video for your watching convince. This time around Walt and Brian are joined by Tom and Ed.
Segment 1
Question 1 from Andrew and Rebecca via Contact Form
Hey Stogie Review how are you guys doing? I have two quick questions. First is this: Hey Walt I have heard you talk about how much you like your Blazer Torch lighter and I have made up my mind that that is the kind of lighter that needs to be placed beside my humidor. I came to this conclusion after Sunday when me and my friend sat down with tea and Cohiba cigars that she bought (yes my smoking buddy is a girl…go figure that one, oh and she loves the Stinky Ashtray that I got for us on our smoke days) and place in the Sopranos to watch and relax just to have neither her nor my lighters to want to work and then have to use some matches (thankfuly they were cigar matches that I just happened to pick-up on a whim). I would like to get the kind that you described that does not have the child lock on it.
Question Two: I bought a ajustiable hygrometer and I even got the Boveda calibration pack at 75.5% rh and for whatever reason I let it stand for 2 days and it will read 77%. I turn my hygrometer down two notches and let it stand for another 2 day and check it again and again another 77%, then repeat the process again and still the same. I have done this 4 times now and am about to run out of notches. I was wondering if there is something that I could be doing wrong or could it be that it is my hygrometer and I need to get another. Thanks for all the help that Stogie Review does to help spread the word and love of cigars. Keep up all of the fantastic work.
Question 2 from Paul via Contact Form
In place of the RH beads, I found a product called Exquisicat Pearl Fresh beads (for litter boxes) that resembles and performs like the expensive RH beads. Eight pounds of Exquisicat Pearl Fresh beads for $13.99. What’s your opinion on this product versus the Heartfelt beads?
Thanks, Paul
Question 3 from Steve via Voicemail
Do you guys plan out what cigars you will smoke in a day to try and maximize the flavor? For instance I love a Partagas Black by itself but I don’t care for it much if I smoke it after something like a Camacho Corojo.
Segment 2
Question 4 from Brian via Contact Form
I noticed while I was reading one of your older reviews that you used a V cutter. Do you still use this type? How does this change the cigar taste. What is a decent one to get?
Thanks.
Question 5 from Alex via Contact Form
Hi guys,
Have a question which I hope you can answer in your next YQMA. When I go to a party and light up a cigar I get allot of poeple constantly asking me if they can try my cigar and I really hate it. How can I politely tell them No and deal with this silly request? I really hate other people putting my cigar in their mouth, its not healthy for anyone. Thank you and keep up the good job.
Alex
Question 6 from Justin via Voicemail
How much fluctuation is required in Temp before a cigar becomes damaged? If my temp changes 3 or 4 degrees everyday from morning until night will this be an issue?
How much time would it take for your cigars to become damaged at a high or low temp?
How do you maintain the temp in your humidor, do you control your home of the unit itself?
Segment 3
Topics of Discussion:
- Situation with Dona Flor Cigars
Hoyo de Nicaragia selects Drew Estates as their new distributor
What have we been smoking
MQYA has been discontinued
To enter to win an 601 Oscuro sampler (3 cigars total) send in a voicemail with your question for the next episode by 5:00 PM EST on 4/09/08 . Entires will be played during the show and a winner will be selected at random.
Voicemail can be sent through the Skype software to user wwhite72082 or by dialing (610) 572-2636
Happy Smoking
I really enjoyed Tom and Ed being on the show with you guys. I hope they are in 31.
Thanks Walt & Brian for having us. It was cool to have Jerry lurking and IM’ing us too.
My only regret… I wish I didn’t mention “Like smoking a joint” comment. Haven’t touched the stuff in years (really, it’s true).
Ed had a good time as well. Hopefuly his laptop is repaired and he can check it out soon. The world now knows… Ed is the man.
Hey guys,
Sorry to hear about the end of MQYA. I actually emailed Walt a question about 2 weeks ago regarding Fruit Pectin to fix torn wrappers.
Now, about the kitty litter beads. I actually put these to a test. I took a desktop humidor that I wasn’t using any more and seasoned it. I put in about 50 cigars along with a bowl of the KL beads. I wet them down and closed the lid on the humidor. I ran this test for just about under 1 year. In the end, these beads do work. The KL beads kept the humidor between 65 and 68 rh. I’ve used the Heartfelt Beads in the past but if I had to choose between the two, I’d go with the KL beads. Alot cheaper which means more money for cigars. My cigar collection is currently at around 3000 cigars and I do not have a problem using the beads along with the cigar oasis.
Hey Now!
This has to be one of the best episodes yet. Having Jerry back is exciting news – can’t wait for that. Tom and Ed, you guys are fun to watch. You can probably have a YQMA based on Ed’s knowledge and experience alone. He’s the kind of guy that you want to sit with and listen to tell a story. He is very compelling & I hope that you guys keep coming back!
There were a million questions that popped into my head while I was watching & when I go back to watch again, I’ll try to be more organized & write them down for the future, but for now I wanted to ask Ed if he has tried any of the NUB line yet, considering they were launching this week and if so, what his impressions of the cigars were.
I would also like to follow that with suggesting that with all of you guys contributing reviews, that you could possibly do either a follow up review of past cigars or pick a cigar of the week/month and have everyone contribute a review or a blog on what they thought of that cigar.
Does that make sense?
The Soligen V-cutters are impossible to find online. All I’ve been reading is people picking them up at their local B&M’s, but that’s it. Even Ebay doesn’t have them.
Not to be a nag, but did anyone else notice that question 3 is missing?
M.J.
There is alot more than Question 3 missing. Thanks for noticing.
It is all there in the video editor, perhaps I had some issues with either uploading or compiling the video. Will look into it and see what I can do,
thanks again
-Walt
Just checked, seems to have been an upload problem. The video is in its entirety on my PC. Will re-upload right now.
Sorry for the problem
-Walt
I also noticed some wierd audio overlay right before Question 3.
Err correction, question 6
That weird overlay is Justin’s question playing earlier than it is supposed to.
Guess this is what happens when you try and rush editing after a weekend family event.
-Walt
Hey guys,
Great show yesterday. Sorry to hear about not having YQMA aymore. I really think you should continue it. Your videos are cool and very informative, specially when you include guys like Ed, who’s been around the business for a long time. Plus, if Jerry comes back full time you’ll have the complete crew.
I found your website about five months ago searching for tips on humidification devices. Since then I visit your site daily and have passed it on to many friends.
I do have a bunch of questions for you guys, so I guess I’ll get my thoughts straight and send them your way.
Ed is my new hero (sorry Walt, you’ve been bumped but you’re still cool like Tom).!
Great show!
Mario,
Mqya is cancelled. Not YQMA.
Jerry-If your comparing me to Walt that is a compliement. Not sure if Walt should feel the same though.
To all. My mission is almost complete. I knew when I met Ed a couple years ago that his presence needed to be felt nation (and world) wide. This kind of cigar knowledge should not be limited to one city in FL.
OOPPSS!
Thanks Nick.
Hey guys, great YQMA segment. Especially like the addition of Tom & Ed.
I’d like to give you an update on the Exquisicat Pearl Fresh beads. It’s been sveral weeks since I’ve been using them and I must say “they work for me”.
I applied the per sq. ft. calculation for the Heartfelt beads using Pearl Fresh beads to humidify my Coolador (14″W X 22″L X 14H) and an air tight plastic Foot Locker (18″W X 332″L X 14H). It couldn’t work any better, maintaining 68% -71% humidity in both units.
I’m perfectly happy with this set-up.
I also have 4 humidors that I took the gel crystals and green foam humidifiers out of last week-end. Took apart the humidifiers; filled small sections of a nylon stocking with Pearl Fresh beads and placed them back into the plastic humidifier housing. These are also working great and I still have almost a full 8 lb. container of Exquisicat Pearl Fresh beads.
I know how hesitant many of you are about using “cat litter beads” but hopefully enough people will venture to try this, helping to reinforce the positive traits.
Honestly; placing boh products side by side (excluding the price tags) most people would not be able to tell one from the other. However, I have no idea how they compare chemically.
One last comment:
Just want to say I appreciate all the hard work, expertise and professionalism Walt brings to his reviews. I also thoroughly enjoy and look forward to Tom & Ed’s reviews. I check in almost daily to see if those two have posted new reviews. I’d like to see more of Tom & Ed.
Correction: My foot locker is (18?W X 33?L X 14H).
Very enjoyable YQMA! Can’t wait for Jerry’s return. I too want more Ed & Tom! Walt, Jerry, Brian, Ed & Tom will be one heck of a show. Walt & Tom’s expert opinions, Tom’s noobness and the antics of Jerry & Brian has Oscar written all over it.
We don’t say it enough but this is the best damn cigar site and this episode of YQMA shows why!
Walt-
No problem. I only raised the issue to bring it to your attention. I (and all the rest of us on SR) really appreciate everything that you guys do. Especially all your hard work.
Thanks again,
M.J.
I just got to reading the last segment, YAY JERRY!!
Excellent episode guys, a ton of fun.
Thanks everyone. Sitting in with all this cigar knowledge was a treat.
Paul – Seems all last month something got in the way of our planned review. Between both of us getting the flu, then yqma, the month flew by. We should be getting the next one out pretty soon here.
MJ – I didn’t even notice the question that is missing. Guess since I was on it, I didn’t pay enough attention when watching.
Tom –
You two make a great team in a video review. It’s like watching Obi-Wan (Ed) Kenobi and his apprentice Luke (Tom) Skywalker.
Looking forward to your next review.
On a different note:
I’m aslo looking for a quality V – cutter like the one Ed showed us. Where can I pick one of those up?
- Paul
Paul, thats hilarious!
Obi-wan & Luke! In there next review, they’ll actually use the force to toast and light! LOL!
Paul-Awesome, that is a good comparison. Although I always call Ed ‘The Tony Bennett of cigars’ simply because of his powerfull voice, and chicks always compliment him.
As for the V cutters, I’ve only seen them at Ed’s. I got one the other day. They feel like any ol cutter, but according to Ed they have been good to him.
Great to see Tom and Ed added on.
Great episode as always, except for my question being cut.
Looking forward to having Jerry back on.
I re-uploaded the corrected video which includes Question 3 and Ed’s rant. I’m not sure why it isn’t showing.
Maybe over the weekend I’ll delete the Segment 1 video and upload a fresh one to see if that corrects the problem.
-Walt
Walt – I completely forgot about Ed’s rant that is missing from the final cut of YQMA. I just watched my footage, and it was pretty good. It will send ripples through the cigar community
If I can help let me know.
Tom -
“As for the V cutters, I’ve only seen them at Ed’s.”
I went to Ed’s online shop and I don’t see any category (link) for accessories, cutters, etc…
Does he sell them there? If so, how do I go about purchasing one?
Thanx,
Paul
Paul
Ed is so old school that he doesn’t do online ordering or have an online store. I was suprised when I found out he had a website.
However… He deals with people all over the country over the phone constantly. Give him a yell, he WILL help in any way he can, this much I know.
Tom -
I shot him an e-mail about that cutter and he replied. After hang’n w/ such a hip dude as yourself, I didn’t realize he was old school. Guess I should have left the part about using PayPal out.
Anyway,he agreed to sell me a V-cutter and I’ll snail mail the payment to him 1st thing Monday.