A cigar humidor is an essential tool for any cigar aficionado. It’s designed to store and maintain the quality of your cigars, ensuring that they smoke evenly and deliver the flavor they’re known for. If you’re new to cigars and you’ve just invested in a humidor, learning how to care for it properly is critical. Here are some basics of cigar humidor care.
Seasoning Your Humidor
Before you start using your humidor, you’ll need to ensure that its interior is sealed and moist. To accomplish this, you’ll first need to remove the humidifier and hygrometer from the humidor. You’ll then need to fill a clean and sterile sponge or cloth with distilled water and wipe down the interior surfaces of the humidor. Afterward, wet the humidifier and return it to its position on the humidor’s interior lid.
Fill the humidifier with distilled water or humidor solution and replace its cover. Once the humidifier has been installed, allow the humidor to sit closed overnight so that the moisture can distribute throughout the interior. The next day, check the hygrometer. Ideally, it should read between 65% and 70%.
If the humidity level is lower than 65%, add more water to the humidifier and repeat the process. You’ll need to repeat the seasoning process until the desired humidity level is reached.
Choosing the Right Humidifier
A humidifier helps to maintain the optimal humidity level in your humidor. They come in different types and shapes, and each has its unique feature and benefits.
The two most common humidifiers are gel and crystal-based. The gel-based humidifier has a gel coating that stores water. It controls moisture by slowly releasing the water into the air, ensuring that your cigars don’t dry out. The crystal-based humidifier comes with crystals that absorb water. Once they’re full, they slowly release moisture into the air, helping to maintain the desired humidity level.
The type of humidifier you choose will depend on your humidor size and personal preference.
Controlling the Relative Humidity
Once you’ve achieved the desired humidity level in your humidor, it’s critical to maintain it. A hygrometer is an essential tool to measure the relative humidity level of your humidor. It’s recommended to check it every week or so and take the necessary action to adjust the humidity level if needed.
If the humidity level is low, add more water to the humidifier. If it’s too high, prop the humidor lid open so that dry air can enter. This will help to reduce the humidity level.
Wiping Down Your Humidor
It’s important to wipe down your humidor occasionally to ensure that it remains free of dust, debris, and other contaminants. However, you need to ensure that you use only a clean and sterile cloth that doesn’t contain any chemical cleaners. The chemicals in some cleaning solutions can transfer to the humidor’s interior and affect the taste of your cigars.
When wiping down your humidor, use a small amount of distilled water to clean the surfaces. Avoid using tap water, as it contains minerals that can damage the humidor’s wood.
Remember, wiping down your humidor shouldn’t replace seasoning it. Always follow the seasoning process when you feel that your humidor needs it.
Storing Your Cigars in Layers
The way you stack your cigars in the humidor is also critical to their quality and longevity. Ideally, you should store them in layers with each cigar sitting on a vertical angle. This allows air to circulate more freely, reducing the chances of mold growth.
You’ll need to rotate your cigars occasionally to ensure even smoking. Cigars that sit at the top of your humidor will often experience a different humidity level than those at the bottom. To rectify this, rotate cigars from the top to the bottom every two to four weeks.
Note that it’s important to avoid overfilling your humidor. If it’s too full, air won’t be able to circulate correctly, making it harder to regulate the humidity level. In extreme cases, the cigars at the bottom may not even receive the moisture they need, causing them to dry out.
Choosing the Right Location for Your Humidor
Where you place your humidor will also affect its quality and longevity. Ideally, you should keep it in a cool, dark place with a stable temperature. Direct sunlight and hot or humid areas can cause the wood to expand and contract, leading to warping or cracking over time.
The ideal temperature for your humidor is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures that your cigars maintain an even temperature and that the humidity remains stable.
Purchasing a High-Quality Humidor
Finally, investing in a high-quality humidor will help you care for it more easily. A wood humidor made of Spanish cedar is an excellent choice because it has natural antimicrobial properties that can help prevent mold and mildew growth.
When you’re not using your humidor, store it in its protective pouch to prevent light or moisture from affecting the wood.
In conclusion, caring for your cigar humidor is critical to prolonging its effectiveness and extending the shelf-life of your cigars. Invest in a high-quality humidor, use the right humidifier, maintain the right humidity level, and store your cigars correctly. With proper care, your humidor will give you years of enjoyment and perfect-tasting cigars.