How to Select A Cigar Humidor
Humidors come in all shapes and sizes, from the simplest of boxes to a store-sized climate- controlled room. Whether you’re an individual looking to store your quality cigars or the owner of a tobacco shop, you need to find a quality cigar humidor to ensure the freshness and longevity of your cigars.
A good rule of thumb is to always bring one of your cigars with you to make sure that the humidor you select is the right size to store them in. You should also make sure that the lid has a nice, tight seal when it is closed. If not, you run the risk of an improper moisture exchange and your cigars may wind up too wet to light up or too dry, which will make the cigars too stale to smoke.
If you are looking at purchasing a smaller humidor, in order for it to work effectively, it must be able to maintain its humidity. How to test for/ensure this? Use a moist, brand new sponge (never cloth or paper as they could damage the humidor’s interior) to wipe down the interior of the box, including the lid and dividers. Next, place a small glass of distilled water (never use tap or spring water: each contains minerals that could deposit on your cigar and ruin its taste) inside the humidor, close the lid and allow it to sit overnight. The following day, if the water is mostly, or completely gone, you will need to repeat the process so that you establish the correct humidity level to which you can store your prized cigars.
It is also good to know that it is easier to maintain the proper humidity level of sixty-eight to seventy percent when your humidor is completely filled with cigars. If it isn’t, it will loose its humidity much more quickly and make it more difficult to keep the moisture at the proper storage level. This is also why the interiors of many humidors are lined with either plastic or cedar. The cedar is also very effective in repelling tobacco beetles, although perhaps not one hundred percent foolproof: there have been instances where these pests have actually eaten through to wood to get to the cigars!
The smaller humidors can be as simple as a plain, unadorned box or as detailed as an intricately carved and inlaid piece of furniture. Some aficionados prefer to add to their entire smoking experience by adding the visual element of a finely decorated humidor. Some families are so passionate about their cigars that they pass along their humidors as part of their inheritance from one generation to the next.
You can start your quest for that perfect cigar humidor by going to your local tobacco store. If an antique or vintage humidor is more to your liking, you can start by going to an area flea market or antique shop or show.
As long as they have been well cared for, and are of good quality and condition, an antique humidor can actually be a highly sought after collectible. Happy hunting!
A good rule of thumb is to always bring one of your cigars with you to make sure that the humidor you select is the right size to store them in. You should also make sure that the lid has a nice, tight seal when it is closed. If not, you run the risk of an improper moisture exchange and your cigars may wind up too wet to light up or too dry, which will make the cigars too stale to smoke.
If you are looking at purchasing a smaller humidor, in order for it to work effectively, it must be able to maintain its humidity. How to test for/ensure this? Use a moist, brand new sponge (never cloth or paper as they could damage the humidor’s interior) to wipe down the interior of the box, including the lid and dividers. Next, place a small glass of distilled water (never use tap or spring water: each contains minerals that could deposit on your cigar and ruin its taste) inside the humidor, close the lid and allow it to sit overnight. The following day, if the water is mostly, or completely gone, you will need to repeat the process so that you establish the correct humidity level to which you can store your prized cigars.
It is also good to know that it is easier to maintain the proper humidity level of sixty-eight to seventy percent when your humidor is completely filled with cigars. If it isn’t, it will loose its humidity much more quickly and make it more difficult to keep the moisture at the proper storage level. This is also why the interiors of many humidors are lined with either plastic or cedar. The cedar is also very effective in repelling tobacco beetles, although perhaps not one hundred percent foolproof: there have been instances where these pests have actually eaten through to wood to get to the cigars!
The smaller humidors can be as simple as a plain, unadorned box or as detailed as an intricately carved and inlaid piece of furniture. Some aficionados prefer to add to their entire smoking experience by adding the visual element of a finely decorated humidor. Some families are so passionate about their cigars that they pass along their humidors as part of their inheritance from one generation to the next.
You can start your quest for that perfect cigar humidor by going to your local tobacco store. If an antique or vintage humidor is more to your liking, you can start by going to an area flea market or antique shop or show.
As long as they have been well cared for, and are of good quality and condition, an antique humidor can actually be a highly sought after collectible. Happy hunting!
