Long Term Cigar Preservation ??

[HabanoMan]

Excellent comments by "LGHT" . . .

The ideal humidity to store your cigars is between 70% - 75% humidity. Ideally it is best to put your cigars in cedar boxes to enhance the flavor of tobacco over a period of time - the longer the better. This works great if you have a humidor large enough to handle storing your cigars within their own boxes. This permits the cigar to breathe.

I personally believe that cigars should be kept at 72 - 73% RH and 70 F or you WILL ruin them over the long term. Certainly there is some variation (short term) allowed of +/- 2 (degs and %).

Tobacco should be kept at a relative humidity that just keeps the leaves pliable without swelling them. Pliability is based on the interaction of the membranes with the air surrounding them, *relative humidity*, not absolute moisture content is what's important. I used to believe that “absolute” moisture control s/b used but have come over to the “relative” humidity over the years.

Ideally, the correct point is 70-73% regardless of temperature per some cigar experts. 70% relative humidity cigar leaves become pliable without swelling. At 75% or higher, the cells begin to swell. At 68% or lower, they can become brittle. These points are regardless of the ambient temperature or the absolute moisture content.

Aging cigars is similar to aging wine. Cigars can be aged for as long as ten to twenty years although personally, I’ve not had much success past 5 years. Without keeping them in their “box”, it is a futile endeavor b/c they loose their flavor sitting in the open. Some tobacco will not age at all while some will have their flavors enhanced.

One more piece of advice: although a plastic container is okay for short term storage, it will not permit the cigar to age. It can actually cause over-humidification because the moisture has no place to go but into the cigar. Also wineadors are not good either b/c the cigar can’t age in “metal”. Most experts say it s/b cedar.

If you keep your cigars at 70% relative humidity and 70 degrees F, that’s good for SHORT term storage but for long (10 year) term, they'll dry out! To combat this, get a decent “cedar” humidor, keep the cigars at 70F, charge the humidifier in the humidor regularly, keep the RH at 73% and don’t let it get to high.

Many cigar manufacturers roll their cigars at room temperature and about 72% relative humidity. At this level of temperature and humidity, the cigar is allowed to equalize in moisture content, to slowly, ever so slowly, dry down. Some experts say that 70F and 72% humidity will keep cigars over time and 73% humidity will keep cigars perfect forever.

Many use a wineador b/c it has built-in temperature control and somewhat better insulation. Most large cedar humidors (not small table-top versions) do not have temperature control. It’s not that difficult to add a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) to end up with the best of both worlds; cedar and temperature control.

Depending on where you live, you MAY have to add a dehumidifier to control the excess moisture from ambient weather conditions. In San Diego, there are three months of high humidity will “drown” the cigars if left untreated.

Would have to disagree with much of this post. Many, many cigar collectors store at around 55% humidity and temps in the 60s. That is their preference for long term storage.

I have lots of cigars aging in coolers. They are aging just fine in there. Also, opinions vary on cigars "marrying". I for one have never noticed a difference but that is pretty much up to the individual. I also have quite a few aging in ziploc bags instead of boxes. Again, they are aging just fine.

I would be terrified of mold at 73% humidity. To me that is just begging for problems.

[JimF]

"Would have to disagree with much of this post. Many, many cigar collectors store at around 55% humidity and temps in the 60s. That is their preference for long term storage." . . that may be their preference but at that RH, the cigars will be lifeless!

"I would be terrified of mold at 73% humidity. To me that is just begging for problems." . . . never had a critter . . in all my years. It takes high temps like 80F *and* RH (78%) to get critters. And even then it's not certain.

I can't imagine a cigar aged at 55% RH . . it's has to be "dead"!!

[Ropey]

"
I can't imagine a cigar aged at 55% RH . . it's has to be "dead"!!

That seems a bit extreme to me too. Bet there aren't any burn problems though

[JimF]

One other thought . . .

If the cigar manufacturers thought the "plastic" was good for their cigars . . . then why all all "quality" cigars packaged in a cedar box?? Don't you think they're telling you something??

[Billb1960]

Apparently these are not "quality cigars"

[Bpegler]

"Would have to disagree with much of this post. Many, many cigar collectors store at around 55% humidity and temps in the 60s. That is their preference for long term storage." . . that may be their preference but at that RH, the cigars will be lifeless!

"I would be terrified of mold at 73% humidity. To me that is just begging for problems." . . . never had a critter . . in all my years. It takes high temps like 80F *and* RH (78%) to get critters. And even then it's not certain.

I can't imagine a cigar aged at 55% RH . . it's has to be "dead"!!

I have a few thousand cigars stored at 60% RH that are far from dead...

The British would typically store their cigars in the mid 50s, as Don suggested. That is far closer to the historic norm.

The most serious arguments now have to do with air exchange. Lots of Far Eastern collectors completely seal their cigars for long term aging. I'm talking about multiple decades, and using modern plastics to seal.

[HabanoMan]

Apparently these are not "quality cigars"

These either



But then what do I know? Like Bob I only have a few thousand cigars laying around going "dead".

[Bowtech4ever]

These either



But then what do I know? Like Bob I only have a few thousand cigars laying around going "dead".

Well I don't, and I think that's an awesome shot......drooooool.

[Sigaar]

Good thread. I'm thinking about buying a box or 2 of CC's to age. I'm thinking maybe a cab of Bolivar BBF, not sure about the second one if I go with two.

[Bpegler]

Good thread. I'm thinking about buying a box or 2 of CC's to age. I'm thinking maybe a cab of Bolivar BBF, not sure about the second one if I go with two.

There are plenty of great Havanas that smoke well fresh. If I were just getting started, I would try some of the Corona or Petite Coronas.

Bolivars are great cigars, by the way. If you want a pyramid, hard to beat a BBF.

Worry about aging after you've smoked a few hundred.