The smell of a freshly opened box of cigars is one that most people would agree is quite nice.
The aroma can be soothing or invigorating, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
But it’s not just about the smell when it comes to cigars—it’s also about how they taste and feel in your mouth. And to get these full flavours, your cigar needs to be stored correctly so that it doesn’t dry out or become stale before you’ve had a chance to enjoy them all.
Here are some tips and tricks on how to store your cigars without losing their essence:
Invest In Quality Humidors
If you’re going to keep your cigars fresh and well flavoured then you need a good humidor. A quality humidor will make sure that the humidity is evenly distributed throughout the case, which in turn evenly distributes moisture to every cigar inside it.
That action would prevent them from drying out or acquiring flavours from other cigars in close proximity. The professionals at Barnacle Bar have compiled a list of some of the best humidors, go now if you don’t want to miss out on their top pick.
They come in all shapes and sizes, so be sure to select one based on how many cigars are typically stored inside of it at any given time.
If you’re storing cigars in your humidor at home, make sure not to overcrowd them. Doing so will take away from the airflow reaching each cigar since there isn’t enough space for the moisture and humidity to circulate properly between each stick.
You should leave ample room if you are stacking or standing up your cigars vertically too!
Keep The Humidor Away From Sunlight
Sunlight can damage the leaves of tobacco used for making cigars, which can give them an off flavour—if not ruin them altogether.
So if you want your humidor to be effective at keeping your cigars fresh, you should keep it out of direct sunlight.
And not only that, but you should be sure to keep it out of other areas where the sun’s rays may hit them directly—such as near a window or on a countertop.
Add Distilled Water When The Need Arises
Cigars have a relatively low tolerance for fluctuating humidity levels—this is why a quality humidor with enough cigars will always come with a built-in hygrometer. If the humidity level drops too low then they can dry out and become very unpalatable.
To fix this, simply test your hygrometer from time to time by adding just enough distilled water to bring the humidity up to 70 percent or so.
Avoid Placing Them In The Kitchen
There’s an understandable temptation to keep a box of cigars on a kitchen countertop or in the cabinet just above a stove, but this should be avoided at all cost.
Food aromas can infuse into your stogies and alter their flavour—which may not be entirely pleasant for some people.
If you’re going to smoke one right away, then it doesn’t matter where they are placed; otherwise, they should stay far from the food aroma.
It is also advised that you keep your cigars away from the fridge as this could cause them to dry out. Keeping them in a cool place with a low temperature so they don’t have an overly moist environment is also advisable.
Check the Temperature
Cigars are best stored at a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s important to check this before purchasing your humidor.
This will ensure that the box is perfect for storing cigars without ruining them due to overly high or low humidity levels.
Unwrap Them
It is advisable to remove the cellophane wrapper from your cigar before you store them to ensure they are aired out. Oxygen is the enemy of cigars.
If the wrapper remains wrapped, it traps all moisture and other elements inside, thus creating a perfect environment for mold to grow that will taint your cigars.
Leaving your cigars unwrapped also reduces the smell that is typically associated with cellophane. If you prefer to store cigars with their cellophane wrapper on, try and leave a small air hole in order for oxygen and other elements to escape.
TIP: You should always remove the band of your cigar that holds the cellophane wrapper together. This is also where mold likes to form as it gets trapped under the band.
Cool Dark Areas
Storing your cigars in a zip-lock bag is an option to consider if there is no humidor around. However, the risk of getting mold on them while they are stored in the bag is pretty high.
The other thing about storing cigars in a zip-lock bag is that while it may seem like a good containment plan, it doesn’t really do much against the cigar’s moisture and humidity levels. It is better to store your cigars in a cool, dark place if you want to keep them fresh.
If you happen to live in an extremely dry climate, like in a desert or in a place where there is little humidity in the air, it might be best for you to keep your cigars in a humidor all year long.
When it comes down to it, the best thing for cigar beginners is to get themselves a humidor.
A small investment like this will pay off big time in the long run as it will help regulate your cigars’ moisture content, making sure it doesn’t get too dry or too moist.
Tupperware & Sponge Method
A small Tupperware container with a sponge might just be all you need to keep your cigars fresh in the absence of a humidor. You can keep your cigars in this container by tucking them between the sponge and the Tupperware’s seal.
This method works surprisingly well for those who live in dry climates or don’t have a humidor at home. The cigar will be protected from any outside moisture and stay fresh, even without a lid.
If you are worried about the sponge drying out your cigar, you can wrap it in aluminum foil.
The foil will keep any of the sponge’s moisture away from the cigar and prevent it from escaping into the air. If done properly, storing your cigars this way might actually keep them fresh for up to six months.
Of course, if you would rather not use the sponge method, you can also opt for other substances that are porous and retain moisture.
As a cigar smoker, it can be hard to know how best to store your cigars. With so many different types of storage methods and humidors on the market today, it seems like there are an endless number of choices for storing one’s collection.
However, we’ve outlined some tried-and-true tips that will help keep your smokes fresh.
