Once you become familiar enough with your favorite blends to start buying cigars in bulk or ahead of time, you’re going to need to get sophisticated with storage, care, and aging. Cigars and tobacco in general are sensitive natural products that are by no means imperishable.
Cigars don’t “go bad” the same way some other consumables do but make no mistake about it - without the proper storage, your cigars just won’t burn as evenly or afford the same quality smoke as those that are properly kept.
Part of proper storage (a large part) involves humidification - which is precisely what a humidor is designed to offer. But before you buy a cigar humidor online, consider the following.
Why Cigars Need a Humidor
To be clear - if you are storing cigars in your home, you need a cigar humidor. One of the easiest ways to ruin both the objective and experiential qualities of tobacco is to allow it to dry out.
Cigars contain moisture, and they will absorb or release more based on the ambient humidity levels where they are stored. Both excessive and inadequate humidity levels can damage cigars.
The more common problem with tobacco products is drying out, which will cause the tobacco to become brittle and crack. When tobacco dries out, it becomes difficult to light, will not burn evenly, and most importantly, the flavors will be ruined.
Overhumidifying cigars are much less common, and it does occur. When cigars are stored for too long under warm, wet conditions, they can develop mold, which will ruin the tobacco and its flavors.
A cigar humidor will allow you to maintain a nearly constant humidity of between 70 and 75%, but just as importantly, it will enable you to control the temperature as well. Cigars should be stored at these humidity levels, at a temperature of around 70℉.
In addition to maintaining consistent temperature and humidity, the humidor will also protect the cigars from the light, protecting their inherent flavors and attributes and allowing them to age.
How Long Can You Keep Cigars in a Humidor?
There’s no general consensus on how long you can store cigars in a humidor. Some will tell you five years, others longer. As long as you keep the conditioners favorable, you’ll have to experiment to find out for yourself.
However, there is a consensus on something related: aging cigars. While we can’t tell you with authority how long a cigar will last, we can say that when stored properly and in the conditions outlined in the last section, cigars will actually improve in quality for several years after purchase.
A Related Note: Aging Cigars
Cigar enthusiasts will often emphatically tell you that aged cigars are better than fresh ones, and there is some truth to that. Consider that many cigars are made from aged tobacco before the torcedores even construct them.
When aged properly, cigars will actually improve in flavor and composition for several years. Figures and claims vary, but most agree that when stored properly, cigars will improve for a year to two years in a humidor amongst other tobacco. Some will even tell you that cigars will age gracefully for up to five years, perhaps even longer.
When aging cigars, remember that you want to follow the 70-70 rule, keeping the temperature at a constant 70 degrees and at 70% humidity. Avoid frequently opening and closing the humidor, as this can cause swings in temperature and humidity. You should also avoid disturbing the cigars; do so as little as possible.
One more thing to remember is that the size of the cigar, notably the ring gauge, will extend the length of time by which you may wish to age the cigar. Larger cigars contain more tobacco and frequently complex blends of tobacco, so they will take longer to age.
Another note to observe is that cigars will not only alter in their own flavor, but can increase in complexity and flavor given the other tobaccos that are aged with them. Light, sweet cigars and heavy, earthy cigars may mellow out over time, or increase in flavor, depending on the cigars with which they are aged.
It’s also important to let your cigars breathe. A good rule of thumb is to use a cigar humidor with at least twice the volume of the cigars contained within them.
A Cigar Humidor and a Cigar Box Are Not the Same
Something that it’s important to note here is that cigar humidors are not the same thing as cigar boxes, although some people use the terms interchangeably. It’s not helped by the fact that some refer to humidors as cigar humidor boxes.
A cigar box is a small box, typically made of wood, that is used for the shipping and long-term storage of cigars. A quality humidor is also lined with wood but should be airtight, larger, and possess other features like a hygrometer or integral storage for humidifiers.
If You Have Questions, Ask
Before you buy a cigar humidor online, make sure you’re getting quality by asking the right questions. If you’re thinking about getting one, ask the following (and any other questions you might have).
●Does it have an integral hygrometer?
It’s not a huge deal if you’re looking at a cigar humidor online and it doesn’t have an integral hygrometer, since you can buy one and stick it on the side. However, if it comes with one, that’ll save you the effort.
●Is it cedar-lined?
A cedar-lined cigar humidor will help to regulate moisture - but it does much more. It also will help prevent mold growth, prevent bacterial infection, and it will also impart a pleasant flavor to your cigars. Don’t settle for less.
●Is it airtight (You’ll have to trust the seller’s judgment on this one)
This one is non-negotiable. If you’re aiming to find the perfect cigar humidor online, it needs to be airtight. You can’t tell from a picture, so feel free to ask the seller if it is.
●Can you see into it? (Or does it have a glass lid?)
Not critical, but a humidor with a glass top can help you observe without needing to open it. Be that as it may, you may want to store your humidor in a dark location if it has a clear top.
Your Stop for Buying a Cigar Humidor Online
Atlantic Cigar is your stop for cigar accessories and cigar humidors online at discounted prices - and our customer service is second to none. If you have any questions about any of our products (including our cigars, which are available at the lowest prices) please get in touch with us at 800-887-7877 if you have any questions and we’ll help you out!