How to store cigars: humidor humidity, temperature and setup

The numbers that matter

The old “70/70 rule” (70 % humidity at 70 °F) still works, but many smokers now keep their cigars a little drier, around 65 %, because thick, oily Nicaraguan cigars burn and draw better that way. Cuban cigars are often kept at 65–69 %.

Check your own setup with the humidor calculator.

Choosing a humidor

• Desktop humidor: a wooden box lined with Spanish cedar, the classic choice for 25 to 150 cigars. Cedar holds moisture and resists mould.
• Tupperdor: an airtight food container with humidity packs inside. Unglamorous, cheap and very stable. Many experienced smokers use one for longer storage.
• Coolerdor: the same idea with a picnic cooler, for hundreds of cigars or whole boxes.
• Cabinet or wineador: a large cabinet, or a wine cooler fitted with cedar shelves, when you also need to control temperature in a warm climate.

Humidification

Two-way humidity packs are the easiest option: sealed packs that release or absorb moisture to hold a set level (commonly 62, 65, 69 or 72 %). A common rule of thumb is about one 60 g pack per 25 cigars of humidor capacity; replace them when they turn hard. Other options are crystal gel jars and foam or bead humidifiers. Whatever you use, refill it only with distilled water or the maker's solution: tap water leaves minerals and can grow mould.

Seasoning a new wooden humidor

1. Do not put cigars in yet: dry cedar will pull moisture out of them.
2. Place a seasoning pack (often 84 %) or a small bowl of distilled water inside with the humidifier, and close the lid.
3. Wait one to two weeks until the hygrometer holds steady around 70 %. Do not soak or wipe the wood with wet cloths; it can warp.
4. Remove the seasoning water, add your cigars and your normal humidifier, and expect the level to drop a little as the cigars settle in.

Trust, but calibrate, your hygrometer

Cheap analogue hygrometers can be 5–10 % off. A digital hygrometer is better, and any hygrometer should be checked. The salt test: put a capful of table salt moistened to a damp paste in a sealed bag with the hygrometer for 8–12 hours. It should read 75 %; note the difference and adjust your readings. Calibration packs made for this do the same job more conveniently.

Everyday care

• Keep the humidor away from sunlight, radiators and outside walls.
• Rotate cigars every month or two so the ones at the bottom get air too.
• Cellophane can stay on: humidity passes through it, just more slowly. Leave it on cigars you want to age without picking up flavors from their neighbours.
• Strongly aromatic or infused cigars belong in a separate container.
• If you ever see tiny pinholes and dust: that is tobacco beetle. Freeze the cigars in a sealed bag for three days, then thaw them slowly in the refrigerator for a day before returning them.

Storing cigars without a humidor

For a few days, cigars are fine in their cellophane in a cool room. For a few weeks, a zip-lock bag with a small two-way humidity pack works well. The one place not to keep them is the refrigerator without protection: it is cold and very dry.

Knowing what is in the box

aficio keeps track of your humidor: how many of each cigar you have, what you paid, how the collection spreads across countries and strength, and which cigar in it best matches your taste tonight.