Reviving (possibly) dried cigars

[Thebiglebowski]

First post so its also a hello

I went on holiday to Cuba in 2008 and brought back some cigars from the factory shop. They are 25x MonteCristo Edmundo and 25x Cohiba Siglo II.

When I came back I bought a humidor case and a Cigar Oasis Ultra humidifier with anti mould fluid. I kept it topped up and running for a few years but about 1-2 years it got relegated to the cupboard and forgotten about.

I recently moved house and remembered it but thought the cigars would be ruined. When I checked the humidity the gauge said 58% and the cigars don't feel overly dry and none of the wrappers have split. In fact the montecristos still have a slightly oily feel to the wrappers.

I've refilled the humidifier and have it currently set to 70% but just wanted to check this is ok to revive them as I've read it should be done at varying degrees for months?

Untitled by thebiglebowski162, on Flickr

Untitled by thebiglebowski162, on Flickr

Untitled by thebiglebowski162, on Flickr

[Wigan]

Funky colours. Yes its usually recommended to do it slowly

[Wigan]

also hello and welcome

[Thebiglebowski]

is 70% ok as a starting point or should I be starting at something lower and increasing 5% per month?

[rascal]

did you buy them from outside the factory on the tour? The Bands on your cohiba dont look right

[Wigan]

Bands slipped down when the sticks dried out and shrank?

[PeeJay]

Bands slipped down when the sticks dried out and shrank?

That was my first thought but I'm sure an expert will be along soon. The Montes look gorgeous like that.

[cigarmo]

Bring the rh up slowly, at 58 they should still smoke well, i agree with Rascal though

[rascal]

Bands slipped down when the sticks dried out and shrank?

and that gave some of them a black band along the top, did the ink shrink

[Wigan]

and that gave some of them a black band along the top, did the ink shrink

Right you are. who is going to break the news to the poor chap?

[Johnny Thunder]

Does that mean they are fake?

[PeeJay]

Right you are. who is going to break the news to the poor chap?

It doesn't mean that they're not smokeable though. Tommy bought some fakes knowingly and said they're not bad.

[Wigan]

It doesn't mean that they're not smokeable though. Tommy bought some fakes knowingly and said they're not bad.

It would be a good start as then others would seem all the better later on

[tommy]

Yup they're ok. I suggest opening one up to check there's no banana leaf and shmuck in there.

[cigarmo]

Yup they're ok. I suggest opening one up to check there's no banana leaf and shmuck in there.

shmuch is that not that stuff thats put on kebabs?