Nick you have done some damage to the cigars there is no doubt about that. The extent of the damage is hard to quantify unless you have smoked that cigar before. THey'll be fine and smokeable but they may not be what they were intended to be. Can I ask how the hell that happened?
I don't know if a week will be enough to cause much in the way of permanent damage or taste change... but they're probably quite dried out... do they feel crunchy/crackly? If so, they're in some bad shape. I'd keep then in a humidor at the proper humidity for many weeks (kuzi's 6+ wouldn't be a bad idea here at all). You'll get them back to a smokeable condition, but as maddy said they may have a slightly different flavor. However, unless you happen to have smoked a lot of that particular cigar, I bet you'd have a hard time picking out the subtle flavor change from just a week of this mistreatment. If these are something you're sampling for a first time, I think you can enjoy the smoke just as much (in a couple months).
I doubt your situation is as dire as maddy is describing. Remember that cigars absorb humidity themselves, so even if you humidor were to maintain a 45% RH for a week or so, the cigar's internal humidity will be higher as it will take a while to dry the cigar out to that level. I think as long as you keep it stabilized for at least one month they should be just fine, but don't rush it as they will be somewhat dried out.
Hey nick, when I was moving a few years back all my stuff including my humidor were placed in a storage unit and I did not have access to them for over a month. At the time I was using pillows for humidity.
When I got them back they were at about 4o-45% and probably 50 degrees I was able to bring them back, and the taste was harsher on some sticks, but all still smokable. I had about 50 cigars in that batch, Let them recharge for about a month, that's how long I waited.
Now is a perfect time to invest $20 in humidity beads. I think very few here use the standard humidifier that comes with the humi. Not everyone agrees that beads are the best alternative, but in my opinion a 150ct humidor will be much easier to maintain with the beads.
Now is a perfect time to invest $20 in humidity beads. I think very few here use the standard humidifier that comes with the humi. Not everyone agrees that beads are the best alternative, but in my opinion a 150ct humidor will be much easier to maintain with the beads.
Ask them what's up ... it may just be a calibration thing (less with the 47% than the 60%)... it also may have something to do with your location. I live in the southeast, so I can't really say.
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