Unusual Cigar Storage..

[smokin_e2011]

A friend of mine has an unusual way of storing a cigar, and i'm not to sure if it's good for the cigar, maybe someone could help.

He uses an acrylic jar to store his cigars and once they get so moist almost like a wet sponge, he removes one and puts it out at room temperature to dry, before smoking. Surely it would lose flavour somewhat...

What do you guys think about this

[CaptainQuintero]

Putting my thinking cap on, flavour can usually be associated with oil. Maybe his theory is that jacking up the humidity will increase the spread of oils between layers (What aging does) then the drying makes the cigar smokable?

Personally I wouldn't risk the chance of an exploding cigar, but it seem less crazy than dipping a cigar in port/brandy to me.

[smokin_e2011]

Putting my thinking cap on, flavour can usually be associated with oil. Maybe his theory is that jacking up the humidity will increase the spread of oils between layers (What aging does) then the drying makes the cigar smokable?

Personally I wouldn't risk the chance of an exploding cigar, but it seem less crazy than dipping a cigar in port/brandy to me.

Interesting. I may try something like this with a cheap cigar and see what the outcome is.
I do believe he said it reduces the harshness in some cigars, maybe young ones, surely the flavour will be less, as oils will be running out of the cigar

[Nightwingvyse]

To echo e2011, 'Interesting'.

How long before smoking them does he keep them in this excessively humid state? For a few hours before smoking, or from when he buys them? If the former, then the long term effects of excessive humidity (mould) obviously don't apply. In this case, i might give this a go with one of my less expensive smokes to see what happens.

If however he does this from purchase until smoking, then.......ermm.......

NO WAY!!!

[smokin_e2011]

To echo e2011, 'Interesting'.

How long before smoking them does he keep them in this excessively humid state? For a few hours before smoking, or from when he buys them? If the former, then the long term effects of excessive humidity (mould) obviously don't apply. In this case, i might give this a go with one of my less expensive smokes to see what happens.

If however he does this from purchase until smoking, then.......ermm.......

NO WAY!!!

I think he does it from the off, from when he purchases them, he said he sometimes gets a little mold on them. Once i visited him and he had the cohiba piramides in the jar and it was soaking wet, like a wet sponge...Maybe it's his way of doctoring his sticks to his liking...

[monkey66]

IMHO absolutely the way to ruin cigars. For sure will kill any long term ageing potential. Still his cigars, his choice.

I know someone who stores his sticks completely unhumidified in boxes in a cupboard (about 100 boxes). He then 'rejuvenates' the dry sticks by boiling the kettle and sucking steam through before smoking. I have tried smoking his sticks this way a couple of times and I can tell you this ...they taste like dried out, ruined cigars rehumidified. Unsmokeable to me.


Breaks my heart to see so many dried out ruined cigars but he is very happy with his method so as before ....his cigars, his choice

[CaptainQuintero]

Hmmm, he obviously enjoys them more with his method than the traditional way. Maybe you could ask him to do a side by side review of two sticks, one that has been stored the normal way and one with his method, it would be interesting to see if any flavours vanish/appear etc

[Smallclub]

IMHO absolutely the way to ruin cigars. For sure will kill any long term ageing potential.

Agreed. A cigar that is "wet like a sponge" loses its oils as surely as a cigar that is drying out overly…

[Eddie]

A little mold is ok untill it gets inside and then you get it on your lungs.... that's much worse then a crap smoke.