I wandered into one of my local cigar shops in my neck of the woods and found that they may not be keeping there cigars up to proper storing standards.

My question to you guys is: Would it be rude to go into your own local shop and ask to see what the hygomete reads before you buy a cigar?

I asked for the guy behind the counter to grab me an AF 858 Maduro, and under the lid of the box i caught a glimpse of the Don Salvatore digital hygometer.(I know because it is the same model i have) It was upside down to me but I'm 75 percent sure it read 85% humidity. This would not surprise me as i am in Florida and the case that all the AFs are stored in is mostly glass.

I know you can bring cigars back to what they are supposed to be with proper care, but how am i to know how they treat the cigars all together. They could have been sitting in the back for a month drying out before they put them on display, and yes i know if they did that they would burst, its just an example.

From my personal taste, the cigars i have bought from them have not been bad, so i may have made my own point there, but the question remains, Would you ask to see the hygrometer before spending your hard earned money on a few sticks?

Not sure I would ask, but it usually isn't hard to sneak a peek. Most shops store their cigars "wet" and keep the humidity up because of all the traffic in and out of the walk-in.

It's usually best to store store-bought cigars for a few weeks so they will regulate.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Coriolanus,

Two of the three B&M's that I use most often have their hygrometer/thermometers sitting out in the open inside the walkin where you can go up and look for yourself where they have their settings. I would not be afraid to ask what the hygrometer reads at the other place. If they told me as in your case that "the hygrometer reads 10% high, and you took it home and could wring water out of it, they lied. I just wouldn't use them again. I would hope any reputable B&M would be more than happy to show you the stats.

Most cigar stores keep their humidors above 70% because people constantly open the humidoor.

If a cigar is overhumidified when you get it you can dry-box it for a day or so and it should be better. The probelm is when a cigar is allowed to dry out, all the humidity in the world won't help.

I'd be more worried about the temps they are storring at rather than the RH.

especially if they have it in cases where display lights are shining down all day!

the only time I have noticed the rh at a local store, it was like 63. i was surprised. but it was at a busy time.

Sounds to me like you've found a niche to fill..with the "hygro-watch", available in both, traditional dual-dial, digital styles. Each model is a stunning example of advanced swiss engineering, giving precise up-to-the-moment read-outs for both temperature And hunidity!

my local shop in pittsburgh keeps it over humidified, not that that is that bad of thing, but you aint getting a dry stog from the Russian...