Hey folks, I have a couple of humidification questions. First, I got a pack of 5 cigars from a new company called Mederos which I've heard makes some great cigars. Problem is, I was on vacation and it was waiting for a week in the UPS station, so since they shipped it it probably spent about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks outside a humidor, though in cellophane and a tightly sealed bag. I put that package in a 70% humidity ziploc (still in the wrappings, so it doesn't absorb humidity too fast). Will they have dried out by now, or are they still good? Or should I wait some length of time so they reabsorb the moisture? Second question is, how long can a cigar be out of the humidor (I'm in Connecticut where it's not too warm and usually not very humid, either) before it gets dried out, and what's the best way to carry it? I've been using a smaller ziploc and one of those Humicare pillows but that seems a bit much. I do have a glass cigar tube. Does carrying it outside of the humidor for say an hour or two really affect things much?
First off welcome to the forums bud! You will find a lot of good guys here with a ton of useful information.. I should warn you, prepare to watch your bank accounts dwindle, this hobby is addicting! To answer your questions: 1) I would let the cigars in the bag rest in a properly humidified (seasoned) humidor, otherwise they will be too dry and crack and won't be enjoyable. Patience is a big thing when it comes to reviving dried out sticks. 2) I usually don't let a cigar sit outside of my humidor for more than an hour before smoking. If I take a cigar out, it's getting smoked! Cigars are very delicate and when not stored in the proper conditions can be easily ruined. Best way to carry sticks with you would be a herf-a-dor, which can be found here on CCom! I would suggest getting a humidor if you don't already have one and searching around the forums for the best ways to keep your cigars fresh! Once again welcome to the forums and happy smoking!
Thanks a lot! Definitely a lot of useful information around here. So why is it so much better for them to be in a humidor than in the plastic bag if they're both around 70% humidity? I have a 20 count CCOM humidor but it's pretty full right now so I need a few sticks outside of it. I'll try to smoke through em fast though to make room, promise So I'm guessing if I need to have something in the bag, it's better to be something that's been in the humidor for a few weeks than something which may be dried out? Heck, after a week or two in the mail but in a well-sealed bag and cello, are these even dried out yet?
If the plastic bag is holding 70% RH then I don't see a problem with keeping the sticks in there, just make sure it stays below 70% or so, since the humidity won't be going anywhere.. The sticks may not be dried out but I would err on the side of caution simply because if they are even the littlest bit dried out it can ruin the taste and experience of the cigar. Just my humble opinion though
I'll have to respectfully disagree with what's been mentioned here. If you have them out for more than a few hours, I don't consider that to be a problem. A few days? Not a problem either. Back in January I went to Vegas for several days. I don't have a travel humidor, so I just put my sticks in a ziplock bag that went into my carry-on bag. By the end of the weekend they were out of the humidor for several days in a low-humidity city and they smoked fine. In my opinion, if they're left out for weeks on end then it can pose a problem, but not much will happen over the course of a few days or even 1-2 weeks.
Thanks for all the thoughts! It's hard to tell but the cigars seem fine, I give them a little squeeze and they're definitely not bone dry, there's a bit of a bounce there. And they don't look like they're coming apart here. I'll give them a few days in the ziploc to stabilize a bit and then see how they are
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First off welcome to the forums bud! You will find a lot of good guys here with a ton of useful information.. I should warn you, prepare to watch your bank accounts dwindle, this hobby is addicting! To answer your questions: 1) I would let the cigars in the bag rest in a properly humidified (seasoned) humidor, otherwise they will be too dry and crack and won't be enjoyable. Patience is a big thing when it comes to reviving dried out sticks. 2) I usually don't let a cigar sit outside of my humidor for more than an hour before smoking. If I take a cigar out, it's getting smoked! Cigars are very delicate and when not stored in the proper conditions can be easily ruined. Best way to carry sticks with you would be a herf-a-dor, which can be found here on CCom! I would suggest getting a humidor if you don't already have one and searching around the forums for the best ways to keep your cigars fresh! Once again welcome to the forums and happy smoking!
If the plastic bag is holding 70% RH then I don't see a problem with keeping the sticks in there, just make sure it stays below 70% or so, since the humidity won't be going anywhere.. The sticks may not be dried out but I would err on the side of caution simply because if they are even the littlest bit dried out it can ruin the taste and experience of the cigar. Just my humble opinion though