| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | best to fill the humidor as much as possible, |
| Many of you who have just joined the cigar | | | | packing in the cigars to the very top: the more |
| revolution may wonder if you need to purchase a | | | | empty space the more likely a drop in humidity. |
| cigar humidor, quietly mumbling to yourself, I | | | | And, more importantly, the more empty space |
| already had to buy a lighter, now this! While | | | | the less cigars in your collection. |
| some people do believe that keeping cigars in a | | | | Humidors are made with wood that is particularly |
| plastic bag with a damp towel is sufficient enough | | | | good for aging cigars; it’s like wrinkle |
| to keep them suitable, nine out of ten cigar lovers | | | | cream for the tobacco world. Constructed with |
| likely splurge on the humidor. And, of course, nine | | | | Spanish-cedar, this wood holds in more moisture, |
| out of ten dentists would probably agree. | | | | sheds its magnetic aroma onto the cigars, and |
| This is because cigars adapt to their surroundings, | | | | repels tobacco beetles, tiny bugs that eat the |
| absorbing their environment like a sponge. If they | | | | tobacco, potentially ruining cigar collections and |
| are kept in an ill-suited environment, they will age | | | | providing an undeserved luxury to the insect |
| to be ill-suited cigars, disappointing both their | | | | world. |
| parents and the person who bought them. On the | | | | Once a humidor is purchased, it must be prepped |
| flip side, however, is the fact that if cigars are | | | | prior to use, placing your cigars in too soon will |
| placed in a well-suited environment, they will age | | | | result in a waste of time and a waste of tobacco. |
| to become well-suited for even the most | | | | To prep the humidor, take a damp cloth or towel |
| seasoned connoisseur. | | | | and remove any dust by wiping down the interior. |
| For those who have yet to purchase a humidor | | | | Next, place a small bowl of water inside the |
| for your cigars to call home, you might be | | | | humidor and allow it to remain there for 12 hours |
| confused as to what a humidor is and whether or | | | | with the lid to the humidor closed. After 12 hours, |
| not you should buy one. They may seem | | | | if the majority of the water has evaporated, fill |
| confusing, like there are a lot of types and | | | | another bowl of water and keep it inside the |
| brands, each one begging for a chance to age | | | | humidor for 24 hours. It’s when the water |
| your cigar. However, they are really pretty simple; | | | | quits evaporating that your humidor is ready for |
| a humidor is what it sounds like: a box or a room | | | | use. In a nutshell, when your humidor is no longer |
| that contains constant humidity. Basically, | | | | thirsty, give it your cigars. |
| it’s the cigar’s version of Florida. | | | | Every few days be sure to check your humidor |
| While many cigar shops have room sized | | | | to make sure it’s not in need of a refill. If |
| humidors, a walk-in humidity closet where patrons | | | | you live in a particularly hot climate, you may |
| can shop for cigars, when purchasing a humidor | | | | need to check your humidor more frequently, |
| for personal use the size doesn’t need to | | | | making sure the water hasn’t all |
| be comparable: you don’t need to turn | | | | evaporated or that your parched dog |
| your spare bedroom into a humidor, replacing | | | | hasn’t drank from it in an act of thirsty |
| your bed set and angering your spouse. A small | | | | desperation. When filling it, only use distilled water |
| wooden or glass humidor box will suffice, holding a | | | | or half distilled water and half Propylene Glycol. |
| few dozen cigars, keeping them at the perfect | | | | Humidors are essential to a good cigar collection. |
| temperature and helping them to grow old | | | | Not only do they keep cigars fresh and |
| gracefully. | | | | preserved, but they keep them enhanced with |
| Humidors all contain hygrometers, a device used | | | | the essence they are meant to showcase. Having |
| to monitor humidity levels. This helps cigar lovers | | | | a cigar collection and not a humidor can be |
| to keep their humidors around the ideal humidity | | | | compared to owning a classic car, and keeping it |
| of 65 to 70 percent. When the humidity in the | | | | outside the garage where any element of |
| humidor falls above or below this level, the | | | | weather can attack. Most true connoisseurs, and |
| hygrometer will tell you, as if tapping you on the | | | | novices who hope to become connoisseurs, |
| shoulder with its thermometer. Ideally, it’s | | | | advocate the use of a humidor. |