I am the occasuional cigar smoker and just received a humidor for Christmas. I have about 10 or 12 cigars that have been sitting in a china closet in a ziploc baggy. I apologize for offending anyone with that statement, I unerstand it is tragedy of magnanamous proportion. That is why I am here. I need to learn.
Onwards... Is it possible to bring these cigars back to life by placing them in my new humidor? What do I need to do to prep my new humidor? The only directions were to put distilled water in the sponge container and to maintain humidity above 65%. Is there a humidity that is too high?
Help!!!!!!!!!
Posts: 2 | Location: West Palm Beach, Florida | Registered: December 27, 2006
Originally posted by Michael Hoff: I am the occasuional cigar smoker and just received a humidor for Christmas. I have about 10 or 12 cigars that have been sitting in a china closet in a ziploc baggy. I apologize for offending anyone with that statement, I unerstand it is tragedy of magnanamous proportion. That is why I am here. I need to learn.
Onwards... Is it possible to bring these cigars back to life by placing them in my new humidor? What do I need to do to prep my new humidor? The only directions were to put distilled water in the sponge container and to maintain humidity above 65%. Is there a humidity that is too high?
Help!!!!!!!!!
They will never be the same after you "rehumidify them," but in my opinion still smokable.
The key is to rehumidify them slowly or the wrapper and binder will split because of the expansion as they soak up humidity. The result will be something totally unsmokable.
One approach is to keep them in the ziplock bag opening only a small part of the ziplock allowing minimal humidity to enter the bag. This will impede the humidity from gaining access to the cigars and allow a gentle rehumidification. In addition to that I would place the humidifier element on the opposite side of the humidor with a minimal amount of solution in the element. Hopefully you have not seasoned the humidifier because it might allow for a slower process to ensue, which is the goal.
I would use a digital hygrometer to monitor the humidity in the humidor or even in the actual zip lock. You really want the humidity to rise at a rate of 1% every two days or so... the slower the better. You might want to try starting at a humidity of 50% or so if the cigars are totally dry. You would accomplish this by putting a minimal amount of the solution in the humidifier element to bring the humidor up to 50% humidity. Afterwards place the cigars inside in the ziplock bag with a small opening. Place the hygrometer in the bag with the cigars and monitor it very closely. If the humidity is rising too rapidly either close the bag a bit or take the humidifier element out of the humidor for a bit. When the humidity in the bag has been at about 62% for a day or two, slowly opening the bag a bit more as the humidity rises, you could probably just take the cigars out and place them right in the humidor.
I know these directions are not very organized, but the main point is to carry out the process VERY SLOWLY. When you reach about 62% you can probably breath a little easier. the process should take a good 2-3 weeks to get to this point.
If there are any other questions I'll try to help.
Yes, if your humidity inside your humidor is too high, lets say anything above 70%rh, that will swell up the cigars and they will not burn well and hard to draw on.
As for humidor prep, do this: First, lightly wipe down the inside of your humidor with DISTILLED WATER only. Soak a clean, new sponge in distilled water, ring it out and place it on a small dish, and put it in your humidor. Make sure there is no water puddle or anything on your spanish cedar!
Then charge your humidifier that came with your humidor. Do not over fill it, just make sure its moist. That way the humidifier can suck in moisture or give out when needed.
Make sure the humidifier is not dripping out distilled water, you might want to pat it dry with a paper towl. Now place it in your humidor.
Now the question is , "What type of hygrometer do you have? Analog or digital? If you dont have one get the digital! Its better.
Make sure you place your Hygometer/thermomter in your humidor and monitor it for about 4-5 days.
You want your temp anywhere from 60-70 degrees. And for the humidity you want it anywhere from 64-70% rh.
After the humidor prep process, put you cigars in there the way you have them in the ziplock for about a week, then open the bag so more moisture can get in there and leave them there for about a month or two and then inspect them to see if they feel nice and soft. You be the judge, spark one up try it out, if it burns too fast then they are too dry still. Dont be afraid to experiment, after all they are only cigars!
As for humidor prep, do this: First, lightly wipe down the inside of your humidor with DISTILLED WATER only. Soak a clean, new sponge in distilled water, ring it out and place it on a small dish, and put it in your humidor. Make sure there is no water puddle or anything on your spanish cedar!
Good luck.
You do not want to wipe the inside of your humidor with ANYTHING. This could and will warp the wood, distort the grain, and cause swelling of the wood. Nor favorable conditions for storing cigars. Best thing to do is to take a bowl of distilled water, place in the bottom of the humidor and leave it there until your hygrometer reads an appropiate RH level. Between 60% and 70% is optimal.
As far as bringing your cigars back to life, if they have been sitting drying for an extended period of time, they will have lost the essential oils that give them a considerable amount of flavor. They will become smokeable again, but will never taste like what they once did. The advice regarding the rehumidifying the cigars is pretty spot on, do it slowly, or they will swell and split. As you gain more experience you will be able to tell how "smokeable" a cigar is by feel, if it crinkles under your touch, too dry, if it is spongy too moist... All a matter of gaining experience.
Alan
PS: Good luck!
Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. --Mark Twain
B.A.S.E. #0006 <(O)>
Posts: 770 | Location: Greater Boston Area | Registered: August 16, 2004
As for humidor prep, do this: First, lightly wipe down the inside of your humidor with DISTILLED WATER only. Soak a clean, new sponge in distilled water, ring it out and place it on a small dish, and put it in your humidor. Make sure there is no water puddle or anything on your spanish cedar!
Good luck.
You do not want to wipe the inside of your humidor with ANYTHING. This could and will warp the wood, distort the grain, and cause swelling of the wood. Nor favorable conditions for storing cigars. Best thing to do is to take a bowl of distilled water, place in the bottom of the humidor and leave it there until your hygrometer reads an appropiate RH level. Between 60% and 70% is optimal.
As far as bringing your cigars back to life, if they have been sitting drying for an extended period of time, they will have lost the essential oils that give them a considerable amount of flavor. They will become smokeable again, but will never taste like what they once did. The advice regarding the rehumidifying the cigars is pretty spot on, do it slowly, or they will swell and split. As you gain more experience you will be able to tell how "smokeable" a cigar is by feel, if it crinkles under your touch, too dry, if it is spongy too moist... All a matter of gaining experience.
Alan
PS: Good luck!
I did it to mine and nothing happened. Twice. Just dont over do it! I've read on here that some guy did it to his Daniel Marshall or one of those high price humidors and nothing happened to his either. Its all up to the person seasoning the humidor.
As for humidor prep, do this: First, lightly wipe down the inside of your humidor with DISTILLED WATER only. Soak a clean, new sponge in distilled water, ring it out and place it on a small dish, and put it in your humidor. Make sure there is no water puddle or anything on your spanish cedar!
Good luck.
You do not want to wipe the inside of your humidor with ANYTHING. This could and will warp the wood, distort the grain, and cause swelling of the wood. Nor favorable conditions for storing cigars. Best thing to do is to take a bowl of distilled water, place in the bottom of the humidor and leave it there until your hygrometer reads an appropiate RH level. Between 60% and 70% is optimal.
PS: Good luck!
I did it to mine and nothing happened. Twice. Just dont over do it! I've read on here that some guy did it to his Daniel Marshall or one of those high price humidors and nothing happened to his either. Its all up to the person seasoning the humidor.
Good luck -Lou
From a wood working standpoint, this is never recommended. But to each their own.
Alan
Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. --Mark Twain
B.A.S.E. #0006 <(O)>
Posts: 770 | Location: Greater Boston Area | Registered: August 16, 2004
Nope. Once tobacco completely dries out, it will never be the same.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--Wow--What a ride!!"
Posts: 652 | Location: St. Louis, Mo area | Registered: November 17, 2006
Re humi prep, I wiped my first desktop humi, a Diamond Crown, with no ill effects. Subsequent humis have been seasoned with the shot glass full of distilled water method, which worked just fine. I've read others' experiences as well, and I think that unless you go crazy splashing water around, either method is OK.
______________________________
"People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything."
To all that have responded... Thank you very much for the very informative advice. I really do appreciate the effort some of you put forth in your responses.
I am by no means and "aficonado," well, not YET anyway. Although, I do enjoy an occasional cigar. BUT!!! Now that I have a nice new desktop... Well, need I say more? :-) I will be enjoying them much more often...
With regards to what kind... This is why I said "...it is tragedy of magnanamous proportion..." Two Cohibas, two or three Macanudos, one Montecristo, and a few other offer names I do not recall. I feel the worst about the Cohibas and Macanudos as they are my favorites. I have not had a chance to try a Montecristo yet, but understand they are pretty good smoking. I have probably smoked about thirty different cigars and liked the Macanudos the best...so far anyway... The Cohibas DO run a VERY CLOSE SECOND...
So, I am sure as I get more experienced, experiment more cigars, and play with my new humidor, I will be more appreciative of the cigarts I smoke.
Once again, thank you to all. I am SURE I will be around much more often...
Mike in West Palm Beach
Posts: 2 | Location: West Palm Beach, Florida | Registered: December 27, 2006
