| The Storage of Cigars |
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Cigars are treasures which should not be displayed. Not only that, they should be kept in a dark, climate controlled atmosphere. Therefore, the creation of the humidor. Humidors can range in price from well under a hundred dollars to many thousands. I found the one at right for $135 from Humidor Central, and while shopping found them as low as $39 and as high as $5,000. This one can hold about 125 cigars, is 15 inches long, 10 inches wide and 6 inches high. Let your budget be your guide. Depending upon who you listen to, cigars should be stored in a temperature of 67 to 73 degrees and at a humidity of 65 to 75 percent. Many purist say 70-70, 70 degrees and 70% humidity. |
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If you only occasionally buy a few cigars at a time, you can keep them in a sealed plastic bag or container with a dampened, not wet, paper towel or sponge, not allowing them to touch your precious cigars.
Storing cigars in a refrigerator should only be considered as a last resort, until a better storage system is obtained. If you keep them in the refrigerator, place them in a zip-lock bag, or they'll absorb food flavors. Freezing is also not a good idea. However, if you freeze cigars, do not thaw them at room temperature. Place them first in the refrigerator until they have thawed and only then allow them to rise to room temperature.
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Still, any type of humidor is the best way to go. Cigars over 80 degrees and over 80% humidity can be seriously damaged. Likewise, storing them to cold can cause them to deteriorate, and a too low humidity level causes them to dry out. However, many British merchants store cigars as low as 60% humidity, as the British and Europeans, in general, prefer a drier smoke. At left is another of the nine humidors I own. This one is the Statesman, which I purchased from My Humidor. |
Another danger in not storing cigars under proper conditions is the Tobacco Beetle. Although tobacco is usually fumigated, eggs can escape the fumigation process and lie dormant in the tobacco leaf. When conditions are proper, they can hatch and ruin your cigars. They will tunnel to the surface of the cigar and render it useless and then go on to neighboring cigars and even boxes. Discard any cigar found in this condition, remove all cigars and then clean and aerate the humidor. Place undamaged cigars in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer for several days before properly thawing them and returning them to your humidor. Keeping your humidor at proper levels, however, will keep this from happening to you.
Humidors usually come with hydrometers and humidifiers, and sometimes temperature guages. If not, you can buy these separately. Or, you can replace them with higher quality devices of your choice.
Ageing Cigars:
There are many different thoughts on ageing cigars. Depending upon how your tobacco dealer stored them prior to your purchase, cigars should be aged two weeks to a month before smoking them. Some believe a cigar should be aged a full year or more. However, most cigar manufaturers say their cigars are ready to smoke as soon as they leave the factory. On the other hand, dealers and many aficionadoes, say any quality cigar should be aged one or two years, and that they will reach their peak in six to ten years. Several report that cigars can still be a good smoke even after fifty years. Regardless of which school you follow, or what experimentation you may try, an effective humidor is the only way to properly age cigars.
Curing A New Humidor:
A new humidor needs to be cured. That is, set to its desired humidity and temperature levels before adding cigars. If this is not done, a dry humidor will suck the moisture from your cigars. When you first get your humidor, install the hydrometer and humidifier as instructed, if not already done by the manufacturer. Place a small glass of distilled water, or a dampened (not wet) sponge sitting on plastic, in your humidor, fill and replace the humidifier, and close the lid. Leave the humidor in this condition until the desired levels are met. Revove the glass of water or sponge, and refill and replace the humidifier. Your humidor is now ready and you can fill it with cigars. If your humidor seems to be very dry when you bring it home, you may also lightly "dust" it inside with a damened (not wet) sponge of distilled water, before follwing the above procedure.