Aging

[Brimy]

Just curious!
I know this topic has been discussed, but I don't remember this particular point being mentioned; raising the humidity when aging cigars.
So I'm watching a TV show the other day and one of the characters talks about aging his cigars and he says "most like to stay at 70 but I push my humidity to 80 when aging..."

Anyone ever hear of this?
I wonder what the humidity is when the manufacturers age their tobacco on the farms/warehouses?

[AlanS]

I would be leary of anything over 70%, I keep mine at 65%. On a farm they bring in green product that must be hella wet so the humidity is probably sky high until the baccy starts drying. Never having been to these farms or countries Iam just guessing

[Bruck]

Don't believe everything you hear on TV :)

70% RH should be about the max - much over that and you're risking mold, particular in a warmer environment. I keep my humis in the 65-70 range.

[allusred]

Just curious!
I know this topic has been discussed, but I don't remember this particular point being mentioned; raising the humidity when aging cigars.
So I'm watching a TV show the other day and one of the characters talks about aging his cigars and he says "most like to stay at 70 but I push my humidity to 80 when aging..."

Anyone ever hear of this?
I wonder what the humidity is when the manufacturers age their tobacco on the farms/warehouses?

Brian, this does not sound right. " one of the characters talks about aging his cigars and he says "most like to stay at 70 but I push my humidity to 80 when aging..."

Have to think that a retail shop ~ B&M that kept their cigars at 80 Humidity wouldn't stay in business long.

[Brimy]

Thx!
I thought it kind of strange too, that's why I asked.

[Scott W.]

I age my stocks at about 62 rh. Been doing it for years and it works for me quite well.

[WNYTONY]

Yep - I keep mine around 65% and although I don't seem to be able to keep much anything over 4-5 years it works just fine. I'm more interested in how people keep cigars longer without lighting them up ! 80 sounds crazy

[allusred]

Should anyone here (Cigarbum) wish to prove/disprove the idea that a Humidity level of 80 would be right when aging NC.

Once warm & humid weather returns. Put a cigar you'd not smoke in a box and leave the box exposed to a Summers heat & humidity.
What cigar to put in that box. Why not a Gurkha?
Oh....wait have to choose something else lest..... His Excellency Sir. Dog Rockets should become distraught.

Hell, just forget the whole thing, concentrate on your plans for the Cigarfest & Orgy.

[FidelCastro]

One would think that the dissemination of facts would be overwhelming as to aging and at what RH is correct these days. There are sources out there who still manage to confuse others. Most hobbyists tend to split the difference between 60 and 70% RH and keep things at 65% which helps keep things safe. 70% is too high according to most experts...aging is 5 years and on while resting is anything before 5 years.....high humidity will cause issues where beetles and mold are margins that cause this to happen....anything below 62% will cause the loss of essential oils esp. over 2 years and some will choose lower RH anyway as it's all a choice and personal tastes. 80% RH is just asking for trouble IMO.....and aging is something left to those who understand the process of how to care for their cigars...stable environment of RH and temps.

[Emperor Zurg]

There's a lot of know-nothing jackassery out there in the realm of cigars. I pay little attention to it these days and just stay with what seems to work. I have several boxes stored in a sealed bucket at room temp. I don't have a way to control temperature as I'm not building a wineador, I'm just not that into it. Anyway, I had 3 boveda 65 packs in the bucket and one 69 pack. I used the 69 pack for the monitor figuring that one would deflate first. Well it was too much for the 2 boxes of habanos that were in there, they both started to mold. Not one of the NCs molded fwiw. Wiped off all the mold, smoked the worst ones and dropped the 69 pack and so far no more trouble. 80% r/h... in your moldy dreams.

[jhedrick83]

I age my stocks at about 62 rh. Been doing it for years and it works for me quite well.

Same here. Everyone lives at 62% and 65 degrees. If anything I think it may slow the aging process. I also like it because I don't have time to smoke like I used to so it helps me worry less about mold since I don't check on things as frequently.

[projectsunfire]

All of mine are at 58-60% right now. May seem too low but everything is smoking perfectly. I also have 95% CC's, which seem to smoke better when kept under 60%. I personally think 65% is the highest you should ever go. That old 70/70 "rule" is ridiculous. But that's just my opinion.

[TreySC]

Wait, what TV show were you watching that they talked about aging cigars?

[Brimy]

Wait, what TV show were you watching that they talked about aging cigars?

"Billions"
It was brief, but I seem to catch most of them.
Even if they turn out to be bullshit.

[Old Smokey]

Brian, I too keep mine at 62 CC's and 65 NC's. I have a few boxes that I have set back to age and as far as I can tell they seem to be doing ok.

[Brimy]

Brian, I too keep mine at 62 CC's and 65 NC's. I have a few boxes that I have set back to age and as far as I can tell they seem to be doing ok.

Steve,
I keep all of mine at 65 and all of mine are smoking great (when I do smoke :) ).
When I heard it I was puzzled because of the problems that present themselves above 70, plus it was on drama TV! But then again you never know so I posed the question to you folks. I'm sure there is still a lot that I don't know!
Plus I've never intentionally aged.