If you’re new to the wonderful world of cigars, then first of all let us say – you really are in for a treat!
Indulging in the sheer unbridled luxury of a weighty Nicaraguan torpedo, a Dominican Belicoso, a delicious double corona or something else entirely is an experience second to none.
You’ll have a fantastic time experimenting with different tobaccos, cigar shapes and sizes, finding your favourites and curating the perfect collection of everyday and special occasion smokes.
As you continue on your journey as a burgeoning cigar aficionado, you’ll also amass a wealth of knowledge about cigars themselves… how they’re constructed, where they come from, the history of cigars themselves and more – and, of course, how best to take care of them.
At the beginning, one of the most important lessons you can learn, in fact, is how to look after your cigar humidor. Cigars can be very expensive and you need to know how to protect your investment… so let’s just jump right in!
What is a humidor?
Quite simply, a humidor is a well-crafted box in which you can store your cigars, with the aim being to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity to ensure that the quality of your smokes is preserved.
Here are some fast facts about cigar humidors:
- Most humidors come with a Spanish cedar lining, which is renowned for its ability to absorb moisture and release it slowly to ensure even humidity
- The appropriate internal humidor environment is between 65 and 72 per cent relative humidity
- It’s important to maintain a stable internal temperature to preserve, age and protect your cigars
- A hygrometer comes fitted inside to monitor conditions so you can make adjustments as necessary
- A humidifier is also included to prevent the cigars from drying out, cracking or losing flavour
- The lid comes with a tight seal to prevent the escape of moisture and to protect against any changes in the external environment
At Havana House, you’ll find we have all the cigar and humidor accessories you need to keep your collection safe, including Xikar hygrometers and Xikar humidifiers.
Are there different types of humidor?
In a word, yes!
You’ll find you have various options available to you depending on your specific cigar needs.
Desktop humidors
These are perfect for those of you just starting out as a cigar smoker, as they’re smaller in size and can hold between 20 and 150 stogies.
Cabinet humidors
Larger in size, cabinets are a great option if you find that your passion for smoking is starting to grow and you need a bit more room to house your favourites. These standing units can hold over 1,000 cigars – so they’re for the serious collectors among you.
Travel humidors
You don’t need to leave your cigars at home if you’ve got a big trip planned. Simply invest in a portable travel humidor that can fit a couple of your favourite smokes in it, so you never find yourself caught short.
Walk-in humidors
This option may not be applicable for some time (if ever!), but you can actually design walk-in humidors that are the size of a small room… the only choice if you really get into smoking as a passion!
The best cigar humidors to buy
We have a range of different humidors to suit all levels of experience and all budgets, so if you’re currently in the market for one, here are just a couple of ideas:
The BLD humidor starter kit
At £89.95, this little baby won’t break the bank and will give you space to store 25 cigars, so it’s absolutely perfect for those of you who are just starting out.
Manufactured by Bright Leaf Distribution (BLD), this set features a Spanish cedar lining, as well as an integrated humidification system and precision hygrometer. Other accessories come included, such as a double-blade guillotine cutter and a single-rest ashtray.
The Elie Bleu amboyna burl humidor
The next step up from the starter kit is the Elie Bleu humidor, made from amboyna burl – which is a rare and valuable wood found in south-east Asia.
There’s space for 50 cigars here and you’ll love the wood’s yellow-orange reddish colours, as well as its intriguing grain patterns. It’s widely regarded as one of the most beautiful woods in the world!
As well as humidors, this wood is used to make other luxury items, including Rolls Royce dashboards and the veneer on musical instruments!
The Elie Bleu Grand Canyon limited edition humidor
If you’re really looking to spoil yourself at any point, you could certainly do significantly worse than investing in the Elie Bleu Grand Canyon humidor.
This is the biggest of all Elie Bleu’s cigar boxes, featuring a natural design reminiscent of the Grand Canyon itself. Primed and ready for same-day dispatch, why not take your cigar collection to the next level!
So, now you have your humidor in pride of place at home, it’s time to prioritise care and maintenance.
How to season a new humidor
With any new cigar box, you need to make sure that it doesn’t draw moisture out of your cigars to keep the wood itself hydrated.
Seasoning the wood involves placing a small bowl of distilled water inside for three to seven days until the humidity stabilises to between 65 per cent and 72 per cent relative humidity.
However, if you’re anxious about this step and want to make sure you get it right, consider using a Boveda pack and leave it in the humidor with the lid shut for 14 days. The best seasoning can be achieved using an 84 per cent 60g pouch.
This will ensure that the wood fully absorbs the moisture it needs. Make sure you don’t open the humidor for 14 days, no matter what your hygrometer says!
Using distilled water for humidor humidifiers
The humidifier in your humidor works by releasing moisture as appropriate over time to maintain stable internal relative humidity inside the box.
Keep an eye on the hygrometer, as it will tell you when the humidifier needs to be recharged. You can do this by using Boveda packs or using humidity beads or crystals.
Some people may recommend that you use a sponge dampened with distilled water for humidity control in your humidor.
In this instance, it’s important to always use distilled water rather than tap or spring water, as it will prevent mineral buildup, chlorine damage and mould growth because it doesn’t contain any impurities that can affect your humidifier and damage your cigars.
However, we would strongly encourage you not to go down this route, as it can cause damage to your cigar box.
We would always recommend that you use a 60g Boveda 69 per cent relative humidity control pouch, as this is the more stable and reliable option.
How often do I need to refill a humidor humidifier?
The regularity with which you’ll need to refill your humidifier will depend on climate, seal quality and how often you open the box.
Keep an eye on the hygrometer and if you see that it drops below 65 per cent relative humidity, check your humidifier and recharge it.
As mentioned, distilled water should be used for regular maintenance but every three months, use a 50/50 propylene glycol solution to maintain optimal relative humidity and prevent mould and bacteria growth.
If you find that your humidifier is drying out too quickly, you may need to reseason it.
Troubleshooting humidor mould issues
Humidor mould! Every cigar enthusiast’s worst nightmare. But don’t panic if you do spot an issue. Quick thinking and immediate action means everything will be just fine.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you bring your cigar collection back from the brink of disaster.
Step 1
First, make sure that you do have a mould problem on your hands. It’s easy to confuse mould with plume, which is a white powdery or crystalline substance that can appear on well-aged cigars.
It’s caused by oils from the tobacco surfacing and crystallising, and can just be brushed off easily without leaving a stain on the wrapper. Mould, meanwhile, will present as fuzzy and discoloured (often green, blue or yellow).
Basically, plume good, mould bad.
Step 2
Take out all the cigars in your humidor and throw any away that have mould growth on the foot. These will be unsafe to smoke.
If any cigars have light mould on them, wipe them down with isopropyl alcohol, put them in a sealed container and put them in the fridge for 14 days to slow the mould growth.
Step 3
Now it’s time to clean your humidor. Take out the humidifier and hygrometer, then vacuum the inside thoroughly to make sure that all spores are removed.
Wipe it down well with a cloth that’s been dampened with isopropyl alcohol, then sand the lining with fine-grit sandpaper just in case spores are further embedded. Give it another vacuum.
Step 4
Wipe the humidor down with a cloth damp with distilled water, then allow it to dry completely. You can use a hairdryer to speed this process up but make sure that it’s set to the lowest heat so you don’t warp the wood.
Step 5
Put the components of the humidor back in. It’s generally advisable to replace the humidifier because it will probably be contaminated.
Once done, reseason the cigar box using your preferred method for between five to seven days before nestling your cigars safely back inside once again.
12 signs of a damaged humidor
It’s generally pretty easy to tell if your humidor isn’t performing as well as it should.
Signs of damage to look out for include:
- An inability to hold humidity
- Warping
- Cracking
- Visible mould growth
- Dry, brittle or cracked cigar wrappers
- Excessively soft or mouldy cigars
- Loose hinges
- Peeling veneer
- Fuzzy mould spots on the cedar lining
- A musty smell
- Humidification devices drying out too quickly
- Inaccurate or stuck readings on your hygrometer
Hit up Havana House HQ!
We’re sure you’ll find this guide useful but if you have any questions about humidors, cigars, tobacco and all the trimmings, give the Havana House team a call today.
