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Cigars (and the word cigar itself) date back to the Mayan civilization, and were smoked in different forms by the indigenous peoples of Central America and the Caribbean islands. But being a modern-day cigar connoisseur offers all sorts of varieties and options to explore, from all over the world. No matter what cigars you acquire, they’re going to require a humidor – a small, airtight case that emulates the climate conditions where tobacco naturally grows, in order to keep them crisp and fresh.
What to Look For in a Humidor
Just like cigar types, there are many types of humidors to choose from, with different features for each one. These are just a few important attributes to check out before you buy and light ’em up.
Humidity Control: The right balance of humidity is crucially important to the upkeep and preservation of your cigar collection. Without it, the quality of your cigars can quickly deteriorate, leaving the leaves overly crinkly or way too wet. This can also affect the evenness of how they burn, and take away a significant amount of flavor.
Relative humidity (RH) is the measurement of moisture in the air wherever you keep your sticks. A good starting point, and the target zone, is around 65% to 72%. Anywhere outside of that, and you’re risking all sorts of issues. But even within that small range, just one percentage point can make a world of difference depending on how you like them. A higher RH will leave more moisture if you prefer them a bit wetter, while a lower RH can help dry them out.
A good rule to start out on in the cigar world is the “70/70 rule” – 70% RH at 70°F. But it’s worth exploring and experimenting a little to notice the nuances of what playing with RH percentages and temperatures can do, and eventually, finding your own personal preference.
Hygrometer: Not a hydrometer, but a hygrometer. Pretty much every humidor will come with a hygrometer – a built-in device that measures the humidity and water vapor in the air inside your humidor. Traditionally these have been analog ones, but a modern digital hygrometer can give you a much more precise reading. There’s also now the option of a Bluetooth-based hygrometer, which provides all the benefits of digital, but can be accessed and controlled through an app on your phone no matter where you are. A good hygrometer will give you an accurate reading without needing to open up the humidor, since with each open, a little more humidity escapes into the air.
While a hygrometer tells you about the air inside the humidor, an even more precise measurement is the moisture content of the leaf itself. A humidometer is a tiny, pronged device that you probe into your cigar to get a moisture reading on the leaves inside. Use it even during the time you’re smoking it, when it’s lit up and releasing more humidity (it should be around 77%). You can also take a reading as soon as you buy your cigar, giving you an idea of how long it’ll need to sit in the humidor for to reach your desired levels.
Aesthetic: A smooth wooden finish and a glass lid is definitely the most eye-catching and classy way to display your collection to guests, but that requires way more maintenance, since wood absorbs and emits humidity. Acrylic jars are another option that forms a better preserving seal than wood, and can keep a humidity-control packet fresh for longer – sometimes even up to a year.
Placement: It’s not all about what you place your cigars in, but where you place the humidor too. Since cigars can be damaged from ultraviolet light, it’s especially important to keep the glass and transparent ones away from windows or anywhere sunlight can hit it. Same goes for temperature. When summertime hits and the heat starts rising, it’s best to stash your sticks in the coolest part of your house, like a basement. Even a couple ticks up of percentage points can have a significant effect of how your cigars feel, taste, and age.
Moisture Packets: Finally, maintaining consistency inside your humidor requires, not surprisingly, a source of humidity. A handy budget way to do this is with a small shot glass full of water next to your cigars. However this can easily spill and get your collection soaking wet. A safer, and often included, option is a small humidifier strip that requires you to deliver drops of distilled water into it regularly. An even better (and much dryer) choice are humidification packets that let you choose which percentage of humidity you want to bring the inside up or down to, and keep it there. It’s more expensive and wasteful than using water, but it’s error-proof and easier too.
