We have heard many aspects
to how to store your cigars. But I look at it in a very different way. If
you happen to be a smoker who would buy few cigars from different places
or get a box or two at a time, smoke them and buy some more all you need
is a simple humidor.
First, the proper humidity
and temperature require to store cigars is 70% relative humidity and 70
Degree Fahrenheit. The reason being, that wrapper leaves secrete essential
oils in that kind of climate. One should also, keep in mind that there is
humidity in the cigar when it was manufactured or sold (from a reputable)
cigar store. We have to maintain the humidity within the cigar, not to put
more in it.
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 that
the humidor maintains them at a proper moisture level. As for temperature,
as long as you don't place the humidor 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 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.
