Checking cigars while storing (advice needed)

[jibjob79]

Having now purchased a few boxes of cigars I've been reading the threads on long term storage and looking after your cigars with great interest. Before this my cigars have never really lasted more than a few months before being smoked. I must be doing something right as I'm delighted to find a few cigars developing some really nice bloom (not mold).

Anyway I'm just wondering what peoples thoughts are on how often and how in depth you should check your cigars. I'm currently of thinking of once a month when i top up my distilled water levels of taking the boxes out, opening the lids, trying not to drool over the cigars too much, check them visually for signs of mold, cracking, being too dry or moist etc (or other signs that say i must sacrifice the particular individual to quality control purpose), closing the box lid then putting them all back. My singles are in clear Tupperware tubs and get the same visual treatment. Should i be doing this less frequently? more frequently? taking the cigars out and handling them etc?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Id hate to feel mold had ruined a box of cigars and i could have saved some if only i checked more often or i had ruined some cigars or their ageing process by messing with them too often.

[68TriShield]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Id hate to feel mold had ruined a box of cigars and i could have saved some if only i checked more often or i had ruined some cigars or their ageing process by messing with them too often.

I don't worry over my cigars enough to check very often.Check as often as you feel inclined to,you wont ruin the aging process by looking at them once in a while.

[Boss Hog]

Mine never last long enough to store long term. When ever I check them I find the best way is to take one out and smoke it. By the time there ready there all gone!!

[joeray]

I believe you do need to open the humidor once every while so that the air inside is changed and new air is circulated inside the humidor. Once a week or so.

[Lou3]

Yeah, opening your humidor about once a week and giving a couple of cigars a light squeeze is the way to go for long-term storage. What kind of humidor are you using (coolerdor, desktop, etc.)?

I smoke about one cigar a week these days and need only a small desktop. If I were to get into long-term storage, I'd spend the extra money for a small cabinet like an Aristocrat Mini with active temperature and humidity control. I've had too many issues with desktops and passive humidification and would probably find greater peace of mind with an active setup.

[r0lan6]

Blimey, I open my humidor twice daily just to check on the temp and RH.

[mb55317]

I believe the conditions at which you store your cigars should be as stable/ constant as possible. Therefore something you should consider is that by opening the humidor you are potentially affecting (and changing) both the RH and temp.

I store my cigars in zip lock bags (see the other thread on this) in a wine cooler which temp controlled. I use a digital hygrometer to monitor the temp and RH which is then visable through the cooler window. That way i dont need to open the door to check the environmentals.

With this set up I open a couple of zip locks every 4-6 weeks just to check that everything is ok. I'm sure I could leave them longer but this is more for my peace of mind than anything else.

[G-man]

Half the fun

I don't worry over my cigars enough to check very often.Check as often as you feel inclined to,you wont ruin the aging process by looking at them once in a while.

When you first start out in the wonderful world of Gars its all the dabbling with humidity ,Temp and viewing in general . So my BOTL enjoy your precious time with your new found passion. If your still at it in 10 + years you'll be just like the rest of us Ole' timers, Buy and smoke with very little regard for anything else. Then you'll have too many cigars to worry about all the pampering. Enjoy and smoke the best cause you mite not wake up then all the best go to the wifies new boyfriend or the trash.

[eggopp]

Mine dont last long enough to keep checking on them haha

[Smallclub]

Yeah, opening your humidor about once a week and giving a couple of cigars a light squeeze is the way to go for long-term storage.

Sorry but it's the opposite! The longer you want to age them the less you must "disturb" them?

The worst way to age a cigar is to leave it in a desktop humidor that is open every day and whose air is constantly renewed?

[jibjob79]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think i'm going with a quick visual inspection every 1 or 2 months just to reassure myself everything is okay. It is mainly checking on the boxes as they are out of sight and packed to make best use of the space and not easily accessible.

[HabanoSy]

I store my cigars in zip lock bags (see the other thread on this) in a wine cooler which temp controlled. I use a digital hygrometer to monitor the temp and RH which is then visable through the cooler window. That way i dont need to open the door to check the environmentals.

With this set up I open a couple of zip locks every 4-6 weeks just to check that everything is ok. I'm sure I could leave them longer but this is more for my peace of mind than anything else.

Like your style mb...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[macker89]

My humi gets opened every day cos I'm fishing something out to sacrifice to the Puro gods. I do have a smaller desktop humi with a few singles in but I prefer to keep my sticks in their original boxes so as to preserve their indivual characteristics, so I can't see any way around the daily opening ritual.

[Lou3]

Sorry but it's the opposite! The longer you want to age them the less you must "disturb" them…

The worst way to age a cigar is to leave it in a desktop humidor that is open every day and whose air is constantly renewed…

I'm glad you posted, because I think we're both right depending on the kind of humidor. If you have a coolerdor or something with a tight seal, you want to open it around weekly for air exchange. If you have a cabinet with active atmospheric controls, you can probably let much more time go by.

[Soft Top]

I'm still too tempted to check on my "babies" every day to make sure they're OK. I don't expect them to be around long enough to worry about ageing