I just received a box of PSDEL#1's. They look and feel great- very firm, dark brown, very oil wrapper.

I have read several posts regarding these cigars as to whether to smoke them immediately or let them rest for a long period. It is very tempting to light one up soon, but if that will severely compromise their smokeability (not sure if that is a word) I would keep my urges in check until the proper time. Any and all comments and guidance will be appreciated.

By the way, I don't know if anyone remembers, but my wife who was diagnosed with uterine cancer several months ago has undergone two surgeries and is halfway through radiation therapy. She is doing quite well, both physically and mentally. The prognosis is good. Thanks to all of you who wished her well.

Happy New Year to you all.

It's generally considered a good idea to give them at least a week or two under the proper conditions before you fire one up. I give mine a minimum of 4 weeks.

Just to let you know why.........

Many vendors will purposely over humidify their stock slightly to compensate for the cigars drying out a bit in transit to the customer. Also, during transit, the cigars are subject to extreme swings in temp and RH, that's why it's a good idea to let them rest a while under proper conditions after receiving them.

A month minimum. I got a bit impatient and smoked a cigar after resting only a few days. Big mistake.

I let them sit a month and it was a completely different experience. And this was out of multiple boxes.

Let them rest. If you like, you can send me one and I'll let you know when they're ready!

Sorry to hear about your wife's illness. I hope she fully recovers.

The longer you wait, the better they will be, IMHO. At least a month.

It's always the same problem that I have with Limitadas, I get to overanxious and smoke them imideatly, I did the same thing with the P SD #1 EL 2004, and it was a big mistake, even do the cigar was good, the draw was mediocre and the taste was just not all there.

So on new years, I gave my brother in law one of these, I had a cohiba sublimes that I had just bought 1 day before, and his Partagas S D#1 smoked like a charm, he was so impressed he wanted to buy the box from me, his smoked perfect with an excelent even ash, while my cohiba sublime went off and was just average.

So wait at least 1 to 3 months for the first smoke, then just leave them to rest.

Just now the Romeo EL 2001 Robustos are coming to life, and the Partagas S D #3 2001 well these will become colectors items.

Labexec,

I was just thinking about you and your wife. I'm glad to hear she's recovering.

Happy New Year,

Harpbook