Most cigars aren’t cheap. Those that are rarely age well, so while proper storage is still important, it isn’t not going to add any more intensity to your cigar’s flavor. If you are investing in expensive, high-quality cigars on the other hand, then not only will proper storage preserve your cigars, but will also add to their flavor.
If you don’t store your cigars properly, then they will dry out within a matter of days. Once it’s dried out, then it won’t be smokable anymore. So that your cigars don’t dry out, this post will offer six tips for proper cigar storage:
Humidor
If you want to store cigars at home, then you need to use a humidor. If you don’t use a humidor then there’s no way that you will be able to maintain your cigar’s flavor and quality. A cigar humidor shouldn’t set you back much, although if you have a large budget and want to really splash out, there are some very high-quality models that you can purchase. If you take cigar-smoking seriously, then a humidor’s the best investment that you will ever make. As long as you take care of it and maintain it, it should last you for your entire life.
When searching for humidors, make sure that you read product reviews and find one that has been received well by consumers. If a product’s reviews aren’t good, it’s a strong indication that the product isn’t worth buying.
Humidity
Once you have purchased a humidor, you need to make sure that it’s maintained at the right humidity level. If you have purchased an electronic humidor, then setting this will be easy. Most experts agree that a humidor’s humidity level should be between 30-50%. If you aren’t familiar with how humidity works, then put simply, 30-50% humidity means that the air inside your humidor is holding 30-50% of the maximum moisture that it can. If your humidor’s not humid enough, then cigars will dry out. If it’s too humid, then they will become damp.
Humidistat
The best way to manage your humidor’s humidity level is to purchase a humidistat. A humidistat is an affordable device that easily connects to your humidor and shows the level of humidity inside your humidor. By purchasing one of these devices you will be able to constantly ensure that correct levels are maintained. If you notice that your humidor’s humidity levels are too high or too low, then you will be notified so that you can take action. If your humidor’s humidity isn’t being maintained well, then it could be a fault with the humidor and you might have to purchase a new one. The best way to ensure that humidity levels stay where you want them to be is to season your humidor before using it, and by keeping it in a cool, dark place.
Alternatives
If you are going to be traveling and can’t take your humidor with you, then there are a few alternative methods of storing one’s cigars. You should know, however, that cigars won’t last more than a month when stored using any of these alternative methods. The first thing that you can do is to store your cigars in a zip-lock bag. The other is to store them inside a sealed plastic container, alongside a clean sponge that’s been saturated with distilled water. You should aim to store around one sponge per 20-25 cigars. It is worth noting that you can purchase travel humidors, which are small and affordable.
Revival
You should also know that it’s possible to revive a cigar that’s been dried out or is too damp. It can take a while, however. In order to revive cigars that are too dry, then you should rehydrate them in a plastic bag with a damp sponge. It’s especially important that the sponge is clean and dampened with distilled water. If you don’t use distilled water, then your cigar can be exposed to mold and bacteria.
Cigars
Lastly, it’s a good idea to invest in cigars that are of high quality. While cheap cigars are good for people that are new to cigar smoking, they don’t taste very nice. Many cigar stores will allow you to finance your purchases, using pay-in-three programs. This means that you will be able to purchase cigars that are outside of your budget, without having to take out credit. Pay-in-three programs don’t report back to the credit bureau.
If you enjoy smoking cigars, then proper storage is essential. If you don’t store your cigars the right way, then they will deteriorate quickly. If your cigars deteriorate then you could lose a lot of money and it could take you a long time to restore them to smokable condition.
