Your cigars can live up to five years if you properly season them and adjust the humidity and temperature in your humidor. After the right amount of age, premium cigars acquire a smoother and more refined flavor.
As a cigar lover for many years, we talked about how to make cigars last longer in humidor.
Factors affecting cigar preservation
- Temperature
- Seasoning
Cigar preservation temperature
If you supply quality cigars with the right humidity and temperature, you can mature them for ten years or longer. This is an intriguing response to how long cigars stay in a humidor. Seventy degrees and seventy percent relative humidity are ideal.
But colder temperatures (63 to 68 degrees) and slightly lower relative humidity (64% to 68%) also promote aging. For improved consistency, somewhat lower values are advised because temperature and humidity variations are detrimental to cigars.
Humidor Seasoning
Your new humidor needs to be seasoned before you use it. The wood won’t warp in this way. By seasoning, you keep the moisture from your cigars from seeping into your humidor. The most crucial element in maintaining the quality of your cigars is seasoning.
The hygrometer should be calibrated before you season your humidor. A kitchen sponge, a plastic bag, paper towels, distilled water or propylene glycol, and a large bowl are required. First, soak the sponge in the bowl in distilled water (or propylene glycol). Place the sponge on top of the plastic bag in your humidor. The sponge needs to be extremely moist but not to the point where liquid is dripping off of it. This is where the seasoning gets its moisture from. When the cigar humidifier is removed from the humidor, it should be soaked in distilled water or propylene glycol in a bowl.
Once fully submerged, take it out and set it face down on paper towels for approximately half an hour to let the extra moisture evaporate. Reinstall the hygrometer and cigar humidifier in the humidor. After that, seal it and give it two days. Place any wooden shelves or dividers inside your humidor so they can season. After two days, repeat the process using the soaked sponge and give it another 24 hours. If the humidity on your hygrometer is 80% or 85%, don’t panic.
When seasoning your humidor, this is typical. When the humidity reaches about 70% the next day, you can store your cigars in the humidor. A humidor can be seasoned in this way.
Purchasing a high-quality humidor that meets your demands is advised. Select the size based on the number of cigars you wish to collect. Whether it’s a walk-in humidor, a single-chamber humidor, or a travel humidor, the features and design should fit your lifestyle.
Cigar taste
Fine cigars and wine are sometimes compared by enthusiasts as improving with age. Tobacco starts to age even before it’s rolled into cigars. The manufacturers allow the sorted tobacco leaves to develop for a few years. The aging process enhances the tobacco’s flavor. After rolling, a lot of cigar producers allow their products to mature.
Doing this enhances the product, and the oils in the wrapper, binder, and filler are blended for a smoother flavor. Aficionados of cigars who buy them may keep them aged. They keep the tobacco boxes in their humidor for years or perhaps decades. We refer to this as box aging.
Purchasing a few cigars and smoking them periodically while keeping them in appropriate storage is the best way to determine whether aging improves your favorite cigar.
Five cigars can be purchased, and one can be smoked immediately after purchase. Place the remaining cigars into your humidor. After a month, smoke another cigar; after three months, smoke still another. Make notes about the cigar’s body, flavor, and overall strength. After six months and a year, respectively, smoke the next one. Once more, record how the cigar’s profile evolves with age.
Then, compare your notes for the conclusion.
What should I pay attention to when using a humidor?
To make sure your cigars are stored properly, it is recommended to calibrate your hygrometer every three months.
Cigars should always be kept in a good humidor. Spanish cedar is the predominant material used to make humidors and cigar boxes. There are no resins in this kind of wood that the cigars can absorb and change the scent of the smoke. It is also the most effective treatment for tobacco pests and offers sufficient humidity and moisture control. Select a humidor based on your needs. An electric humidifier with a ventilation system is preferable. If not, you will need to spend a few minutes opening the doors roughly once a month.
I recommend you sort your cigars according to brand and flavor profile when you put them in your humidor. If you don’t separate them, the cigars’ flavors may deteriorate. Steer clear of packing too many cigars in your humidor. Set aside roughly 25% of the inside space.
The humidor needs a hygrometer, a humidification system, and a tight closure to function effectively. When setting up a new humidor, it’s also imperative that you use only purified water, propylene glycol, or Boveda packs.
To make sure your cigars are stored properly, it is recommended to calibrate your hygrometer every three months. Keep a steady temperature, rotate your cigars, and replace humidity to keep them fresh and aging properly. Start the cigars on the top shelf and work your way down to the bottom shelf. In this manner, the cigars closest to the source of humidity won’t absorb excessive moisture.
Check-in Frequently
Making routine inspections will ensure that your humidor is operating correctly and that your cigars are stored in the ideal environment. About How Long Can a Cigar Last in a Humidor, you got the answer， Maybe you want to know how long cigars last without a humidor.
Keep an eye on the temperature, air supply, and humidity. Check your cigars for mold or feathers. Gently pressing your cigars in will allow you to determine their moisture level and whether they are too stiff or soft. This is a helpful instruction explaining how to detect dryness in cigars.