 Why Do I Need a Humidor?
Proper cigar storage is critical in order to keep your cigars in top condition.
Cigars respond to the environment that they are kept in.
If the environment is too moist, a cigar will absorb moisture and may become difficult to light or will not remain lit when smoked.
If the environment is too dry, the cigar may become dry and brittle and may burn too quickly when smoked.
A cigar humidor is a box that is designed specifically for the purpose of storing cigars in a controlled environment.
Those living in a climate with a relative humidity of around 70% (such as Cuba) may not require a humidor whereas those living in variable climates (such as the UK), will require a quality humidor for effective cigar storage.
A humidor allows for the maintenance of a stable relative humidity, keeping your cigars at a desired 12-14% of their total weight as moisture. A relative humidity of 70% is accepted as the optimum storage condition for cigars.
The size, shape, colour and style of the humidor do not impact on it's effectiveness and so a humidor can be chosen to suit the style and taste of it's owner
The price of the humidor will reflect the quality of it's workmanship, style and size and you should expect to pay from around £50 to many hundreds of pounds. Some humidors can store hundreds of cigars and provide dividers and trays for easy organisation and access, whilst others will store only a few cigars.
What Should I Look For When Buying a Humidor?
1. A high quality, mahogany humidor is generally viewed as the best kind of humidor although not essential.
2. Spanish cedar lining is ideal. Spanish cedar lining provides absorbency, helping the humidor to stay regulated at 60-70% humidity. Other cedars do not qualify, as they will alter the taste of cigars.
3. Ensure that the humidor has a thickness of at least 5/8 inch.
4. Ensure that the humidor has a tight seal.
5. The humidor should be solid and heavy to avoid warping. Once you have purchased the humidor, regulating it effectively is the most important part of properly using it for cigar storage.
Setting Up Your New Humidor
When most people get their new humidor they are anxious to fill it up with their collection of cigars. If you do this without first re-humidifying the wood in your humidor, you may ruin your cigars.
The wood in your humidor is probably kiln dried Spanish Cedar and has not had a chance to reach equilibrium within your home. It will literally suck the moisture out of any cigars you place within it.
To solve this problem, all humidors should be re-humidified before their first use. To break in your humidor, follow these easy steps:
1. Place a shot glass filled with distilled water in the bottom of the humidor.
2. Charge your humidifier and place inside the humidor.
3. Place your calibrated hygrometer inside the humidor.
4. Close the lid.
5. Check the humidity daily using the hygrometer. When it reaches between 68 - 72% the wood has been properly stabilized.
Note: Do not wipe the interior or your humidor with Water. This will damage the wood.
Your Hygrometer
All of Cigars-Direct's humidors are supplied with a hygrometer (except travel humidors) which has been calibrated. Most cigar smokers believe that if their humidor does not keep 70% humidity, they are broken. This is not true. There is a safe range for your cigars, anywhere from 66-79%. In fact, some say that ideal smoking range is closer to 80% while storage should be done at 70%. (Obviously, they have two separate humidors for this purpose.) As long as your humidity falls within this zone your cigars are safe. Some people like their cigars very moist, while others prefer them slightly drier. You will soon learn whats works best for you and keep your cigars at that humidity.
Placement of the hygrometer is not critical, as long as you are happy with its location. It is best to allow a flow of air around the hygrometer to ensure an accurate reading. Mounting on the lid or a try in the humidor is the best solution.
Your Humidifer
The humidifier is what maintains the humidity within your humidor. To charge your humidifier follow these instructions.
1. Remove the humidifier(s) from the humidor.
2. Using distilled water, squirt it into the humidifier through the grate.
3. Do not overfill the humidifier. You want it wet not soaking.
4. Take a cloth and wipe any excess liquid from the front of the humidifier.
5. Re-attach back onto the humidor
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