Aging Cigars in a Humidor
Should You Age Your Cigars, and For How Long?
By aging most cigars in a properly maintained humidor, the general rule is that the flavor of the cigars will continue to improve for up to ten years. After that amount of time, cigars will no longer show any significant amount of improvement, although they still require proper storage in a humidor to preserve their integrity. However, since most of us do not have the patience to wait ten years before lighting up our sticks, we conducted a series of cigar rating and aging experiments to find out how much time a particular bundle of cigars should be aged before the taste improved enough to make the effort worthwhile. Although every box or bundle of cigars ages differently, the results of this test were consistent with previous experiences with other brands.
Most cigar tobacco is cured, processed, fermented, aged, etc. for at least a couple of years after it is harvested, and before it is used to make cigars. After cigars are rolled, finished cigars are then aged for an additional amount of time. The amount of time varies, depending on the manufacturer and other factors affecting the marketing of the cigars. Some finished cigars may not be aged at all, or for too short a period of time, which does not allow the different tobacco leaves in the blend to marry, and for bitter elements in the tobacco to dissipate. This is especially true of lower priced bundled cigars, but it can also be the case with more expensive boxed cigars, including some popular national brands. In addition, after leaving the factory, cigars may be shipped and stored under different conditions, making it even harder to determine if they should be smoked before spending some time in your humidor. (When aging cigars in a humidor, remove any cellophane, tubes, packaging, etc.)
Therefore, we have reached the following conclusions relating to the importance of aging your cigars in a properly maintained humidor before smoking them:
* Aging most brands of cigars for at least two or three months prior to smoking will greatly improve the taste.
* Age your cigars for a year (or more) to obtain a significantly noticeable mellow flavor.
* A bad cigar, or a brand that you just do not like, will not transform into a good cigar by aging, even over a long period of time. However, a good cigar that initially tastes bad out of the box (or bundle) can improve dramatically after aging.
* Inexpensive bundled cigars may require more initial aging (after purchase) than premium boxed cigars.
* Fuller bodied cigars will continue to mellow and improve more with long term aging, compared to milder cigars.
* Cigars purchased from a local tobacconist's humidor are more likely to be ready to smoke immediately (or with less aging), as opposed to cigars purchased online or via mail order.
* Every cigar ages and tastes differently, even cigars in the same box or bundle.
There are some exceptions to these general conclusions. For example, it is possible that you may like a certain brand of cigars right out of the box, without any (additional) aging. This may be somewhat uncommon, but it is certainly possible. Also, artificially flavored cigars do not require aging, but they must still be stored under the proper conditions. Never mix flavored cigars with other cigars in the same humidor. If a flavored cigar comes in a sealed tube, leave it in the tube.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
How to Calibrate A Hygrometer
How to Calibrate A Hygrometer
What is a Hygrometer?
A hygrometer (Compare Prices) is a gauge used to measure the level of humidity. Analog or digital hygrometers can be used to measure humidity levels inside of humidors. Digital hygrometers are usually more accurate and reliable than analog. Regardless of what kind, it is important to maintain a humidity level of 68% to 72% inside of a humidor to properly preserve and age cigars. In order to monitor and adjust the humidity level inside of your humidor, the reading on the hygrometer must be somewhat accurate (plus or minus 2%).
How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer
1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and add a few drops of water (not enough to dissolve the salt).
2. Put the cap inside of a baggie or plastic container along with your hygrometer, and seal the bag.
3. Wait 6 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag (or immediately after removing). If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.
4. If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75% by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room conditions cause the reading to change.
If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity (e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity level of 65%).
Hygrometers should be tested at least once a year, and recalibrated if necessary. When I tested two of my analog hygrometers at the same time (see photo), the cheap plastic one measured 12% under while the better chrome model measured 2% over. Although I recalibrated both models, I plan to replace the cheap one with a new digital hygrometer. If you invested in a good humidor, do not risk storing and aging your cigars improperly by relying on a cheap or faulty hygrometer.
What is a Hygrometer?
A hygrometer (Compare Prices) is a gauge used to measure the level of humidity. Analog or digital hygrometers can be used to measure humidity levels inside of humidors. Digital hygrometers are usually more accurate and reliable than analog. Regardless of what kind, it is important to maintain a humidity level of 68% to 72% inside of a humidor to properly preserve and age cigars. In order to monitor and adjust the humidity level inside of your humidor, the reading on the hygrometer must be somewhat accurate (plus or minus 2%).
How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer
1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and add a few drops of water (not enough to dissolve the salt).
2. Put the cap inside of a baggie or plastic container along with your hygrometer, and seal the bag.
3. Wait 6 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag (or immediately after removing). If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.
4. If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75% by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room conditions cause the reading to change.
If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity (e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity level of 65%).
Hygrometers should be tested at least once a year, and recalibrated if necessary. When I tested two of my analog hygrometers at the same time (see photo), the cheap plastic one measured 12% under while the better chrome model measured 2% over. Although I recalibrated both models, I plan to replace the cheap one with a new digital hygrometer. If you invested in a good humidor, do not risk storing and aging your cigars improperly by relying on a cheap or faulty hygrometer.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Humidification Devices and Storing Cigars in Humidors
Humidification Devices and Storing Cigars in Humidors
Maintaining the Proper Humidity Level Inside Your Humidor
Cigars should be stored at room temperature (about 70F degrees) with a humidity level of 68 to 72 percent. Sometimes, it is difficult to maintain a constant level of humidity inside the box, especially when seasons change. The humidity level inside your house, as well as other conditions, will affect the performance and operation of your humidor's humidification system.
Factors Affecting Humidity Levels In a Humidor
The varied use of air conditioners, heaters, and open windows can drastically change the level of humidity inside a house in a short period of time, making it harder (or easier) to maintain the optimal level of humidity inside a humidor. In addition, other factors such as air circulation and exposure to direct sunlight can also lower humidity levels. Try not to place your humidor near vents, fans, or windows. In the winter, the sun is lower in the sky than in summer, and can actually shine further into your house than in the summer (when the sun is overhead). A humidor that I had placed on a coffee table during the summer, had to be moved in the winter because the sun began to shine right on it.
Use of Humidification Devices
When humidity levels inside your house begin to fall, you will probably have to add distilled water and/or humidifying solution to your humidification device more often. If the device is kept full, but you still have problems with low humidity, then you should add a supplemental humidification device to your humidor. I recommend using the DryMistat by Cigar Savor.
The DryMistat Supplemental Humidification Device
The DryMistat (compare prices) is a plastic tube about the size of a cigar, which is filled with gelatin-like beads that absorb water. There are two lines marked on the tube. Just fill the tube to the top line with water, and put in your humidor. When the level of the beads drops to the second line, then add more water up to the top line. During the 3 ½ years that I have been using this product, I added water about every 2 months.
DryMistat is Inexpensive and Easy to Use
If needed, you can use more than one tube in your humidor. This device works so well, and is so easy to use, that some cigar smokers don't use it as a supplement to their humidification device, but as a replacement. I recommend using it as a supplement in your main humidor, but it can serve as the sole humidification device in your travel humidor. At a cost of about $9, you can't go wrong.
what-is-cigar-humidor.?
How to Season a New Humidor
How to Season a New Humidor
Do Not Put Cigars In Your New Humidor
Now that you have a new humidor, the first thing to do is not put cigars inside. First and foremost, you must season a new humidor before storing your beloved stogies. This is also true for an old humidor that hasn't been used in a while. The cedar inside of a humidor is part of the humidification system, and acts to provide humidity (and flavor) to the cigars, along with the humidification device. If the cedar has not been seasoned, then the wood will actually rob moisture from the cigars, and dry them out. This effect is the exact opposite of what you wanted when you purchased the humidor.
Before you begin the seasoning process, make sure to read any directions that may have come with your new humidor. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions so you do not void your warranty. Absent any specific instructions from the manufacturer of the humidor, proceed as follows.
To season a humidor, all you need is some distilled water, a clean unscented sponge or cloth, and some patience - at least for a few days. IMPORTANT - Do not use tap water in place of distilled water.
Start by dampening a clean sponge or cloth with distilled water, then wipe down all the cedar wood inside of the humidor, including the lid and any trays. To avoid damaging the humidor, do not overly saturate the interior wood with water. Do NOT spill the water inside the humidor (and then try to spread it around).
Put the wet sponge on top of a piece of cellophane (or plastic bag) and place inside the humidor. Make sure that the sponge is not overly saturated, and not touching any wood.
Fill your humidification device with either distilled water or a humidifying solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that the device is not overly saturated by letting any excess water drip out (into a sink), then wipe off any drops of water on the outside of the humidification device, and place the device inside the humidor.
Wait 24 Hours and Repeat
Now comes the hard part, close the humidor for 24 hours and wait. The next day, repeat the wipe down procedure using distilled water and the sponge, but do not leave the sponge inside this time, and wait another 24 hours.
On the day after the second treatment, it should be safe to use the humidor as long as you cannot feel any dampness on the cedar. If so, then wait one more day before storing your cigars. If you have a hygrometer inside the humidor, ignore any higher-than-normal readings during the seasoning process. However, if the humidity is lower than 72% on the day after the second treatment, then repeat the wipe down procedure for a third time (you may also need to test your hygrometer or recharge your humidification device).
Do Not Put Cigars In Your New Humidor
Now that you have a new humidor, the first thing to do is not put cigars inside. First and foremost, you must season a new humidor before storing your beloved stogies. This is also true for an old humidor that hasn't been used in a while. The cedar inside of a humidor is part of the humidification system, and acts to provide humidity (and flavor) to the cigars, along with the humidification device. If the cedar has not been seasoned, then the wood will actually rob moisture from the cigars, and dry them out. This effect is the exact opposite of what you wanted when you purchased the humidor.
Before you begin the seasoning process, make sure to read any directions that may have come with your new humidor. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions so you do not void your warranty. Absent any specific instructions from the manufacturer of the humidor, proceed as follows.
To season a humidor, all you need is some distilled water, a clean unscented sponge or cloth, and some patience - at least for a few days. IMPORTANT - Do not use tap water in place of distilled water.
Start by dampening a clean sponge or cloth with distilled water, then wipe down all the cedar wood inside of the humidor, including the lid and any trays. To avoid damaging the humidor, do not overly saturate the interior wood with water. Do NOT spill the water inside the humidor (and then try to spread it around).
Put the wet sponge on top of a piece of cellophane (or plastic bag) and place inside the humidor. Make sure that the sponge is not overly saturated, and not touching any wood.
Fill your humidification device with either distilled water or a humidifying solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that the device is not overly saturated by letting any excess water drip out (into a sink), then wipe off any drops of water on the outside of the humidification device, and place the device inside the humidor.
Wait 24 Hours and Repeat
Now comes the hard part, close the humidor for 24 hours and wait. The next day, repeat the wipe down procedure using distilled water and the sponge, but do not leave the sponge inside this time, and wait another 24 hours.
On the day after the second treatment, it should be safe to use the humidor as long as you cannot feel any dampness on the cedar. If so, then wait one more day before storing your cigars. If you have a hygrometer inside the humidor, ignore any higher-than-normal readings during the seasoning process. However, if the humidity is lower than 72% on the day after the second treatment, then repeat the wipe down procedure for a third time (you may also need to test your hygrometer or recharge your humidification device).
What is a Cigar Humidor?
What is a Cigar Humidor?
A cigar humidor is a box (or room) designed to store and age cigars within the optimal humidity range of 68 % to 72% at room temperature. A humidor must contain a humidification system or device to add (or remove) moisture from its interior space to maintain the desired level of humidity. A humidor usually contains a hygrometer to measure the humidity level inside the box. Most personal humidors are made of wood, with the inside usually constructed with Spanish cedar.
A cigar humidor is a box (or room) designed to store and age cigars within the optimal humidity range of 68 % to 72% at room temperature. A humidor must contain a humidification system or device to add (or remove) moisture from its interior space to maintain the desired level of humidity. A humidor usually contains a hygrometer to measure the humidity level inside the box. Most personal humidors are made of wood, with the inside usually constructed with Spanish cedar.
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