A premium cigar is a natural product that keeps responding to the air around it. Keep it in the right conditions and it will stay in good shape for years, and may even improve. Leave it on a mantelpiece and it can be past its best within days. Storing cigars properly isn't complicated, though. It comes down to steady humidity, a sensible temperature and a few habits worth getting into early.
Why storage matters
Cigars are made from leaf that has been carefully fermented and aged, and they need to hold on to a certain amount of moisture to burn and taste as intended. Cigar Aficionado warns that cigars outside a humidor start to dry out within a day, even in a closed box, and that a cigar left in a heated room can dry out in under an hour. A dry cigar burns hot and fast and loses much of its flavour. One that's too damp struggles to stay lit, draws poorly and, at worst, can grow mould. The aim is to keep your cigars in the middle ground, consistently.
Humidity: the number that matters most
Humidity is measured as relative humidity (RH). The traditional rule of thumb, repeated by Cigar Aficionado's editors over the years, is around 70% humidity at around 70°F (about 21°C). Boveda, whose humidity packs are now widely used by cigar smokers, recommends storing cigars between 65% and 72% RH. Where you sit in that range is partly a matter of taste:
- 65% RH: Boveda suggests this for smokers who prefer a slightly drier cigar and an easier burn. It also suits long-term ageing.
- 69% RH: Boveda's most popular level for premium cigars, suitable for wooden and acrylic humidors, sealed containers and humidor bags.
- 72% RH: intended for draughty humidors and dry environments.
Boveda packs use what the company calls two-way humidity control. The pack releases moisture when the air is too dry and absorbs it when the air is too damp, holding the enclosed space at the level printed on the pack. Boveda contrasts this with traditional sponges, beads and gels, which it says can only add moisture. Boveda's advice is to replace packs every three months in a humidor. It also explains that a pack which feels rock hard all the way through at room temperature has probably run out. If it only feels stiff because it's cold, let it warm up before judging.
Temperature: cool and steady
Cigar Aficionado recommends keeping a humidor in a narrow band of roughly 68 to 70°F (20 to 21°C). Stability matters as much as the number itself. The magazine warns that direct sunlight, radiators and air-conditioning units are bad for both the humidor and the cigars. Warmth brings another risk. Cigar Aficionado notes that tobacco beetle eggs can hatch when temperatures rise above 72°F (about 22°C) and humidity climbs above 72%. The larvae leave tiny round holes in the cigars. A cool, shaded shelf in an ordinary room is usually ideal.
Humidors, bags and boxes
A humidor is simply a container that holds humidity steady. Cigar Aficionado recommends one lined with Spanish cedar, a wood that absorbs and gives off moisture in a way that suits tobacco. There are a few points to know before you buy one:
- Season a new wooden humidor before use. Dry cedar will pull moisture out of your cigars. Boveda makes 84% RH packs specifically for seasoning. If you use water, use distilled water, never tap water.
- Use a hygrometer, and don't trust it blindly. Cigar Aficionado says digital hygrometers are usually accurate to within about 2%, while analogue dial gauges are frequently inaccurate.
- You don't need a cabinet to start. Cigar Aficionado notes that a Boveda humidor bag can keep cigars fresh for a minimum of six months, which suits anyone with a small collection.
Travel humidors, tubes and cellophane
For a day out or a weekend away, a small travel humidor with a humidity pack inside protects cigars from knocks and keeps them in condition. Aluminium and glass tubes are excellent physical protection, but when sealed they block humidity completely. Holt's, a long-established US cigar merchant, suggests a tubed cigar taken out of a humidor will stay fresh for a few days, perhaps up to a week. Tubes are best thought of as carrying cases. For longer storage, open the tube and keep the cigar in the humidor.
Cellophane is similar. Cigar Aficionado says it protects the wrapper and slows moisture loss, but also stops humidity reaching the cigar, and its editors generally advise removing it if you plan to age cigars. Many smokers keep a few empty sleeves or tubes to hand for carrying cigars in a pocket.
Ageing cigars
Good cigars have already been aged before you buy them. Cigar Aficionado explains that makers age fermented tobacco in bales, typically for two to several years, which adds nuance and softens rough edges. Some smokers like to rest cigars further at home. If you want to try it, keep conditions steady, remove the cellophane and be patient. Keep in mind that cigars in a shared humidor "marry": Cigar Aficionado notes that aromas mingle and subtle shifts in flavour can follow. Keeping strongly flavoured or infused cigars in a separate container is a sensible precaution.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using tap water in a humidifier or to season a humidor. Stick to distilled water or ready-made packs.
- Over-humidifying. Too much moisture can lead to mould and poor burning, and Cigar Aficionado notes that moving cigars too quickly between very different conditions can make wrappers split.
- Trying to revive dry cigars too quickly. Cigar Aficionado suggests placing them as far from the humidification device as possible, so they rehydrate slowly and evenly.
- Keeping the humidor somewhere warm or sunny, such as a windowsill, above a radiator or in a conservatory.
- Relying on a cheap dial hygrometer without checking it.
- Treating a tube or cellophane sleeve as long-term storage.
Shop the guide
You'll find Boveda humidity packs, travel humidors, hygrometers and cutters in our accessories range. If you're still building a collection, our single cigars let you buy only what you'll smoke soon, and the full selection is on our cigars page. You're always welcome to bring your questions to the shop at 57 Market Place, Long Eaton.