Storing and
Humidifying Cigars
Cigars must be kept in a properly humidified
environment. The correct ambience is 70-
to 72-percent relative humidity and a temperature
of 70°F. A sealed environment (humidors) is
required to keep both elements stable. Avoid large
or rapid fluctuations in either temperature or
humidity--they can swell the bunch and crack the
wrapper.
Wooden desktop humidors
with humidity regulators are usually more than
adequate to keep cigars. Built in sizes to
accommodate anywhere from 50 to about 500 cigars, they offer
a controlled environment. Check the cigars
weekly, however, to ensure the humidors maintain them
at a proper moisture level. As for temperature, as
long as you don't place the humidors next to a
radiator, the cigars should be OK; most home
environments remain between 68°F and 72°F.
Larger, standing cabinet
humidors, with capacities of up to 1,500 cigars,
are now available. They may include both
temperature and humidity controls, and they have
enough shelf space to store cigars in their
original wooden boxes. For the serious
connoisseur, these larger cabinet humidors are
essential. With some modifications, you can also
outfit a closet with the proper humidification and
temperature controls--and, ideally, with Spanish
cedar shelving--to create a walk-in humidor.
A cigar
carrying case (travel humidors) is an
important accessory; it protects your cigars while
you are out for the day or evening. Select a cigar
case that accommodates your favorite-sized cigar.
You may also want a variety of styles; a four- to
five-finger cigar holder is perfect for a dinner
party; and a smaller, two-cigar finger holder
suffices for an after-dinner smoke with a friend.
The latter also fits more conveniently in a suit
pocket.
Travel humidors are a separate
category. They are built to hold anywhere from
five to 25 cigars, and they fit easily in a
briefcase or luggage. The humidification system
normally isn't designed for more than two to five
days of storage without being recharged.
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