Any cigar enthusiast worth their time is aware that maximizing the value of your stogies depends entirely on appropriate storage. You know, a well-adjusted humidor is the best way to pamper those valuable tobacco rolls. The secret is maintaining things in line around the 65–72% relative humidity sweet point. Do that, and I swear you will have those babies tasting fresh off the factory floor for months, even years on end!
But what we’re talking about here is how long will a cigar last in a humidor. Well, storage time is determined by many different things. Your storage unit’s quality, frequency of opening it, keeping on top of calibration, and the cigar itself all matter. In this blog, please allow me to explain it to you in detail.
What is a humidor?
Now, let me begin with the fundamentals for those of you who might be new to cigar collecting: exactly what is a humidor?
These infants are essentially specialized containers meant to preserve the ideal humidity and temperature, thereby keeping your stogies in peak shape. Though they come in many shapes and sizes—boxes, cabinets, cases—they all feature built-in mechanisms that produce a delicious microclimate for your cigar to chill in.
The magic is that humidors maintain settings at 65-70% relative humidity and 65-70°F. This dynamic team of temperature and moisture keeps your priceless sticks from drying out or losing that smooth, rich taste we all enjoy. It also prevents any mold or mildew capable of ruining the celebration. To be honest, one wants a moldy cigar!
Therefore, whether created from modern materials like carbon fiber or fine Spanish cedar, For those who adore cigars, these humidors are an absolute must. From me, once you go humidor, you never turn around.
how long will a cigar last in a humidor
Thanks to consistent humidity and temperature, cigars kept correctly in a humidor can remain in peak, perfect condition for an extraordinarily long period. Over years of storage, top-grade stogies kept in a humidor develop shockingly sophisticated and refined smells. For instance, those “Golden Age” Tempus sticks fashioned from bottom-leaf Pineapple will last five to ten years rather readily. And in a humidor, Cuban masterpieces including Cohibas and Hoyo de Monterrey made with upper-leaf tobacco can be stored for more than 15 years.
Moreover influencing your cigar’s lifetime is the humidor’s material, design, dimensions, and humidification system. Two important elements affecting a cigar’s lifetime are temperature and humidity. Your humidor should keep relative humidity between 65 and 72 percent and roughly 15 to 18°C (59–64°F). The natural tastes of the cigar are preserved in this atmosphere by the essential oils in the tobacco leaves not evaporating too rapidly.
How often should I check the humidity level in my humidor?
Now, folks, pay attention if you recently acquired a bright new humidor. For the first week, you will want to check those humidity levels daily—no exceptions!
That cedar wood and humidification system takes some time to settle in and work in that enclosed area. Regular monitoring maintains things in that 60–70% sweet region throughout this important calibration period. This constant observation lets you spot any developing humidity problems fast enough to fix them before they jeopardize the state of your valuable cigar collection. If the temperature deviates from the ideal 65-72%, these cigars will lose their original flavor in a very short time and become dry and brittle.
However, there are exceptions, though. You might be able to get away with checking it every two weeks if you have a higher-capacity humidor—one with sophisticated climate control capabilities. Smaller desktop versions or those prone to air leaks, on the other hand, will probably need more frequent monitoring; in these circumstances, a few times a week humidity checks are advised.