If you’re serious about cigars, you’ll know that storing and preparing them properly is just as important as the cigars themselves.
Enter Elie Bleu, a Parisian brand synonymous with elegance, craftsmanship, and the art of cigar appreciation. Known globally for its luxurious humidors and impeccably designed accessories, Elie Bleu has long been considered the gold standard for those who want to enjoy their cigars in style.
Whether you’re a long-time aficionado or beginning to curate your own collection, this guide will walk you through the world of Elie Bleu and the beautiful cigar accessories available in the UK at Havana House.
The History of Elie Bleu
Elie Bleu was founded in 1976 in the historic Faubourg Saint-Antoine district of Paris, an area renowned for cabinetmaking and fine woodworking. From the outset, the brand focused on producing exquisitely made wooden objects, from jewellery boxes to humidors, combining traditional woodworking techniques with contemporary design.
Over the years, Elie Bleu’s reputation grew, particularly among cigar lovers, and the brand became an icon in the world of cigar storage and accessories.
Every Elie Bleu piece is handcrafted in France using fine woods that are air-dried for years before being shaped, polished, and lacquered. Their meticulous attention to detail and flair for design has attracted a global following, with customers including royalty, presidents, and discerning collectors.
Today, Elie Bleu is known not just for its products, but for representing a lifestyle of slow luxury, craftsmanship, and appreciation for life’s finer things.
Elie Bleu Humidors: Where Function Meets Art
The cornerstone of Elie Bleu’s offering is its range of luxury humidors, widely regarded as the finest in the world. Elie Bleu humidors are more than just storage boxes; they’re heirloom-quality pieces of art designed to protect your cigars in perfect conditions.
Available in sizes ranging from compact 25-cigar boxes to large 250+ capacity cabinets, each humidor features a meticulously engineered interior that maintains ideal humidity levels.
Elie Bleu uses only the best materials: Spanish cedar interiors, top-of-the-line analogue hygrometers, and a patented humidification system to ensure precision climate control.
But what truly sets these humidors apart is their visual design. Collections like Flor de Alba, Medals, Casa Cubana, and Che showcase the brand’s artistic roots, featuring inlaid marquetry, lacquered finishes, and bold, often playful themes.
Elie Bleu Flor de Alba Bubinga Humidor
Inspired by the original Cuban cigar boxes and labels, Elie Bleu’s Flor de Alba humidor is beautifully designed to inspire the very best from your cigar collection. Created with the finest natural Bubinga wood, a hardwood from Africa, this is a truly exquisite humidor and a worthy home for your best Cuban cigars.
This Flor de Alba humidor has space for 75 cigars, and also contains a humidifier & needle hygrometer, plus lock & key entry. It is also available in black and red designs.
Elie Bleu El Secadero Limited Edition Humidor
The drying house for tobacco has been beautifully downsized into a handmade humidor. The El Secadero is a limited and numbered edition from 1 to 99.
It has a capacity for 75 cigars, and contains one humidifier and one needle hygrometer.
Whether you prefer classic woodgrain or eye-catching artwork, there’s an Elie Bleu humidor to match your taste, and it’s a guaranteed conversation piece in any cigar room.
Elie Bleu Cigar Cutters: Precision and Style
No cigar experience is complete without a quality cutter, and Elie Bleu makes some of the finest. Their double-blade cutters combine sleek design with razor-sharp functionality, engineered to provide a clean, effortless cut every time. These cutters are available in a variety of finishes, including precious metals, lacquer detailing, and wood accents that complement their humidors.
Each cutter is not just practical but beautifully crafted, often sold with a protective leather sheath to keep it in top condition. Whether you’re prepping a robusto or a petit corona, Elie Bleu cigar cutters offer the precision and polish that a luxury accessory should.
Elie Bleu Double Blade Cigar Cutter
Released in 2016 to celebrate 40 years of Elie Bleu, the Double Blade cigar cutter features the signature square double blade system. The cutter is made using Japanese tempered surgical stainless steel blades for a sharp and precise cut. Either side of the cutter has comfortable finger handles, to allow you to cut the cigar with ease. Designed to accommodate cigars up to a 58-ring gauge.
Elie Bleu Double Blade Cuban Flag Cigar Cutter
The Elie Bleu Double Blade Cuban Flag Cigar Cutter is a stunning tribute to Cuba’s rich cigar heritage, combining luxury, precision, and craftsmanship. Featuring razor-sharp stainless steel dual guillotine blades, it delivers a clean, effortless cut, ensuring an optimal smoking experience. Designed for cigars up to a 58-ring gauge, it accommodates various vitolas with ease.
Elie Bleu also offers a collection of premium lighters, ideal for those who value both performance and presentation. Models such as the J-12 (double flame) feature ergonomic shapes and reliable ignition systems, encased in stunning designs that mirror the artistry found in their humidors.
Lacquered finishes, engraved detailing, and rich colours make these Elie Bleu lighters stand out, more akin to high-end jewellery than utilitarian tools.
Elie Bleu Cigar Ashtrays: Functional Elegance for Every Smoke
No cigar lounge or at-home smoking setup is truly complete without a great ashtray, and Elie Bleu’s cigar ashtrays are just as refined and thoughtfully designed as the rest of their accessory range.
Designed specifically for cigars, Elie Bleu ashtrays feature deep, wide trays to hold ashes securely and wide grooves to cradle larger ring gauge cigars without tipping. The ashtrays have options for two or 4 cigars, making smoking with friends even easier.
Elie Bleu ashtrays are made from high-quality porcelain and finished with vivid, kiln-fired colours and distinctive motifs that echo their humidor collections, such as Le Parisien, Flor de Alba, and the Che series.
Whether you’re placing one in your home lounge, study, or garden smoking space, an Elie Bleu ashtray adds a note of luxury to every cigar break. These ashtrays don’t just serve a purpose; they enhance the experience, turning a routine ash flick into something elegant.
Perfect as a centrepiece or a complement to other Elie Bleu pieces, they also make superb gifts for aficionados who already have the basics covered. And of course, they’re available through Havana House, making it easy to build a coordinated set of accessories that reflect your personal style.
When you’re on the move, an Elie Bleu cigar case ensures your favourite sticks travel in complete safety, and serious style. These cases are designed to hold two or three cigars, with a firm exterior to prevent crushing and a soft-lined interior to keep cigars fresh.
Like all of Elie Bleu’s products, the cases are beautifully finished, some with classic leather exteriors, others with bold colours or motifs like Cuban scenery. They’re an ideal gift for a cigar lover or the perfect personal investment if you enjoy cigars while travelling or at social events.
Why Choose Elie Bleu at Havana House?
Havana House is proud to be one of the few UK stockists of Elie Bleu’s premium accessories. When you buy from Havana House, you’re not just purchasing a product; you’re joining a legacy of fine cigar appreciation and French craftsmanship.
Whether you’re looking for your first humidor or adding a show-stopping piece to your collection, Elie Bleu offers unrivalled quality.
Their products don’t just enhance the cigar experience; they elevate it. From the smooth glide of a lacquered lid to the precision of a double guillotine cutter, every detail is a reminder of the brand’s dedication to excellence.
If cigars are a part of your ritual, Elie Bleu deserves a place in your world. Their humidors and accessories combine luxury, functionality, and artistry in a way few other brands can match. Explore their latest pieces at Havana House, where timeless design and modern cigar culture come together beautifully.
Whether you’re investing in your first humidor or searching for the perfect gift for a cigar lover, Elie Bleu offers more than just tools; it offers a lifestyle.
Top 10 Cigars For New Cigar Smokers
31 August 2023 by Ellie
Like any new hobby, knowing where to begin when it comes to cigar smoking can sometimes be a little daunting. If you have decided you would like to join the wonderful world of cigar smoking, then one of the biggest hurdles can be deciding which cigar is the right one to make your first time enjoyable! As this is such an important yet difficult decision, we have put together our guide to the top ten cigars perfectly suited to new smokers.
As a newcomer, you probably won’t be fully aware of what makes a great starter cigar. It can be difficult to know what to look for when selecting what to begin with, and with so many brands, wrappers, colours, smells and sizes, trying to make a decision unaided can prove a little overwhelming. However, it is all of these factors that make a cigar so special and luxurious, and over time, you will learn not only to differentiate between them but also which ones are your favourites!
To help you get started on your stogie journey, we have put together what we consider to be the top ten cigars for smokers new to the cigar world!
Made solely from tobacco, cigars tend to be significantly stronger than what you may be used to from cigarettes or pipes. Rather than jumping straight into the deep end, it is important to start off with a light and mild yet flavourful stogie, which is perfect for beginners, such as the ones below.
Cohiba Siglo I Cigar
The Cohiba Siglo I Cigar was introduced in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Colombus’ discovery of the New World!
The Cohiba Siglo I cigar itself is a tiny Corona and is very similar in taste to the other coronas in the Siglo line. The Siglo I’s flavour profile consists of a creamy sweetness, to begin with, followed by coffee bean and mocha flavours with a medium tobacco taste.
Montecristo No.3 Cigar
Montecristo is a premium cigar brand with some truly exceptional cigars on offer in its collection. The No.2 is often considered to be the world’s best cigar, and the No. 4 is a best seller around the world, so the Montecristo No. 3 is certainly in good company.
While Montecristo is generally more tailored to the experienced cigar fan, the Montecristo #3 is one of the milder stogies in their range. These cigars guarantee a good draw and burns evenly, making it an uncomplicated smoke, with great coffee flavours.
La Invicta Nicaraguan Shorts Cigar
When you’re first starting out with cigars, all of the tools and techniques for enjoying your smoke can be overwhelming to get your head around. This is why a machine-made cigar can be a good choice, as they come pre-cut and ready to be lit.
The La Invicta Nicaraguan Shorts Cigar is a fantastic choice if you’re after a convenient pre-cut smoke. It offers a robust yet mellow aroma, a trait associated with the La Invicta brand. The Nicaraguan Shorts can be enjoyed in around 15-20 minutes, making this a short smoke ideal for newcomers as well as time-restricted seasoned pros.
Juliany Corojo Corona Cigar
A budget-friendly option for those who don’t want to splash out when trying cigars for the first time, the Juliany Corojo Corona Cigar is a fantastic choice for both novice smokers and aficionados alike. With a short smoke time, mild strength, and fresh taste, these are ideal for new cigar smokers.
Drew Estate Acid Blondie Cigar
While there are a lot of flavour profiles across the cigar world, cigars usually offer tastes that fall within the categories of spicy, bitter, earthy or nutty. The Drew Estate Acid Blondie Cigar is super sweet and smooth, which isn’t a typical flavour for cigars but may be appreciated by some newbies to cigar smoking.
Partagas Petit Corona Especiales Cigar
The Partagas Petit Corona Especiales packs a mighty punch and a delicious flavour profile that is a great cigar to light up in the early evening with a good cup of coffee.
Partagas are loved the world over, as not only does the brand produce an exquisite range of well-blended and complex cigars, but the founder, Jaime Partagas, is responsible for developing the maturation method of tobacco that has been adopted by most Cuban cigar brands today!
H. Upmann Half Corona Cigar
When you’re just starting out with cigars, you probably don’t want to be dedicating hours of your time to a smoke – you want something short and sweet to test the waters!
The H. Upmann Half Corona is the perfect one for this, taking only around 30 minutes to smoke from start to finish. Within this shorter cigar is a well-balanced and flavourful smoke.
You’ll start with sweet, floral notes that offer creamy hints, which develop into coffee notes as you smoke it. It is complex, with a great draw, making it a fantastic smoke for new and experienced smokers alike.
Montecristo Open J Cigar
A fresh, light and gentle cigar, the Montecristo Open J Cigar is a fine option for those seeking a beginner’s smoke from one of the best Cuban cigar brands. Montecristo is typically known for punchier, bold and strong smokes, so this medium-strength option offers a gentler experience for novice smokers. Measuring only 4 3/8″ x 38, this will be a quicker smoke, which can be appreciated by newer smokers.
Punch Petit Coronations Tubos Cigar
The Punch Petit Coronations cigar is mild in flavour and strength, with woody and fruity notes present throughout. It is a delightful smoke for all experiences, but its mildness makes it perfectly suited to beginners.
Camacho Machitos Orange Connecticut Cigar
This beautiful little cigar is the perfect smoke for when time is of the essence, featuring a Connecticut wrapper and a blend of Dominican and Honduran long-fillers that give way to flavours of spice, cedar and vanilla.
The Camacho Machitos Orange Connecticut Cigars have the exact blends as their larger counterparts and are available in Connecticut, Corojo, and Criollo. Pick up a pack and take them on your next weekend away – we personally take them on our camping trips, and as the weather warms up, there’s no excuse for you not to do the same!
All of these smokes for beginners are available for you to buy cigars online here at Havana House!
Common Problems With Humidors and How to Fix Them
25 May 2023 by Ellie
Humidors are used to keep cigars safe and stored at the optimal humidity level, typically 65-70%, to ensure their longevity and to keep them tasting fresh and aromatic. However, humidors can sometimes encounter various problems that can affect the storage conditions and, thus, the quality of the cigars.
Problems with a humidor can occur due to both inferior craftsmanship and human error in storing them. Here are some of the most common issues with humidors and how to fix them.
Inconsistent Humidity
One of the most common problems with humidors is maintaining a consistent humidity level. Fluctuating humidity can lead to the cigars drying out or becoming too moist. This can be caused by a faulty or inaccurate hygrometer, poor seal on the humidor, or improper placement of the humidification device.
Improper Calibration
Hygrometers, which measure humidity levels, can sometimes become inaccurate over time. It’s essential to regularly calibrate and check the accuracy of the hygrometer using a reliable calibration kit to ensure that the readings are correct.
Poor Seal
A humidor with a poor seal can allow moisture to escape or enter the box, disrupting the humidity level inside. This can be caused by worn-out or damaged gaskets, warped or misaligned lids, or low-quality construction. A poor seal makes it difficult to maintain a consistent humidity level.
Overcrowding
Overpacking a humidor with too many cigars can hinder air circulation and impede the humidification process. It can also lead to uneven distribution of humidity, resulting in some cigars being exposed to excess moisture while others may dry out.
Insufficient Humidity Causes Dry Cigars
If the humidor fails to maintain the desired humidity level, the cigars can become dry and lose their flavour and aroma. This can happen if the humidification device is not properly filled or maintained or if the humidor is too large for the device to adequately humidify the entire space.
Cigars can become dry if the evaporation surface of the humidifier is small in relation to the humidor’s size. If this is the case, then you will need to swap out your humidifier for a larger one or one with a regulated air flow function.
Another reason for cigars becoming dry is that the wood of the humidor is too dry, so too much moisture is being taken from the air instead. It is more common for this to happen with new humidors. This is an easy fix, as you simply need to re-humidify the wood by wiping the lining with a damp cloth.
Excessive Humidity Causes Damp Cigars
Cigars can get too damp for a few reasons; because the humidity level is too high, because the cigars are being stored too close to the humidifier or because the humidifier is too big relative to the humidor’s size.
To resolve these problems, try reducing the humidity level a little. Move the cigars further away from the humidifier, or keep the cigars that are closest to the humidifier in an aluminium tube.
If your humidifier is too large for your humidor, you can either simply buy a smaller humidifier or tape up a section of your existing larger humidifier so less of it acts as a humidifier, making it more size appropriate.
Mouldy Humidor
Excessive humidity can also result in mould growth in your humidor and on cigars, making them unsmokeable. This problem may occur if the humidification device is overfilled, the humidor is not properly ventilated, or the ambient humidity is too high for a long time.
How to Remove Mould From a Humidor
A mouldy humidor is clearly not a great humidor! To resolve this issue, firstly, get your cigars out of there and into a safe spot for the duration of the cleaning stage; there’s no way to scrub out the mould around them! Throw away any cigars that have been defeated by the mould, as they cannot be salvaged and will just re-infect your humidor.
Avoid using chemical mould-killing cleaners, like bleach, in your humidor. The smell of these chemicals will infuse the cigars when you put them back, and any liquids can transfer onto the wrapper and ruin it.
Instead, opt for a natural mould remover, such as vodka, and wipe the mould away with as little liquid as you can. Then dry out the humidor using a hairdryer.
The next step is to sand down the inside of the humidor a little and remove any dust to ensure that all the mould has gone.
Humidor Has Both Damp and Dry Areas
If the humidor has patches that are too damp and others that are too dry, it means that something is stopping the moisture in the air from being evenly distributed throughout the humidor.
Most often, this will be caused by a tray or drawer. If there are trays, firstly check that any air holes above or below the humidifier are not obstructed by anything, as this could be the main cause of the problem. You can then drill some extra holes into the tray to promote better airflow throughout the humidor.
Humidor Smells Musty
There are a number of reasons for a humidor to smell musty. Firstly, the wood in the humidor may not be the best type for keeping your cigars in the best condition, so re-line the humidor with Spanish cedar, which is the optimum wood type for humidors.
Another cause is that some of the surfaces haven’t been treated; for example, any slots in the trays or strips to divide up sections may be untreated.
Using a two-component clear lacquer, carefully varnish any areas that have not yet been treated, including inside air holes.
Finally, a musty smell can be a symptom of too much humidity. Again, the only way to resolve this is to re-line the humidor with Spanish cedar wood.
Cigar Bouquet Lost
The bouquet of a cigar is the aroma the cigar gives off when burning. The smell of a cigar is one of the most enjoyable parts of the smoking experience and helps give the smoker a lot of clues as to the carefully blended mix of flavours present in the stogie, so if your cigars begin to lose this, it is important to fix it!
One reason for this is that too few cigars are being kept in too large a humidor. While this is a great excuse to buy a whole bunch of new cigars to fill in the gaps, a quick (and cheaper) fix is to place some closed boxes into the humidor to take up some of the room, reducing the amount of open-air space.
Another cause is that you are airing your humidor, which is not necessary and can cause problems, such as losing the bouquet. Instead of airing the humidor, if there is too much moisture, lower the humidifier’s evaporation surface, or get a humidifier with a regulated system.
To maintain optimal conditions for cigar storage, it’s important to address all of these issues promptly. Regular maintenance, proper calibration of instruments, and attention to ventilation and seal quality will help prevent these common problems and ensure that your cigars remain in excellent condition.
If the problems with your humidor seem bad enough that it appears to be a lost cause, then maybe it is time to upgrade your gear with a quality humidor from Havana House. It may even give you the excuse to add to your cigar collection too!
Why Is Spanish Cedar Used For Cigar Humidors and Cigar Boxes?
23 May 2023 by Ellie
Spanish cedar, also known as cedro, is a type of wood that has long been favoured for use in cigar humidors. While the name might suggest a connection to Spain, Spanish cedar is actually native to tropical regions in the Americas, particularly Central and South America, where cigar production is also popular. Its distinctive characteristics make it an excellent choice for crafting humidors, which are specially designed containers for storing and ageing cigars.
Why is Spanish Cedar Used in Humidors?
Spanish cedar wood is the top choice for cigar manufacturers when it comes to packaging and storing cigars. Spanish cedar is highly valued for cigar humidors due to its natural aroma, moisture regulation capabilities, insect-repelling properties, resistance to mould and fungus, and durability. These qualities make it an ideal wood choice for creating an environment that maintains the flavour, aroma, and overall quality of cigars over extended periods of time.
Moisture Regulation
Perhaps the main reason Spanish cedar is used in humidors and cigar storage is because of its excellent moisture regulation properties. One of the primary functions of a humidor is to maintain a stable level of humidity.
Spanish cedar wood can absorb and release moisture, helping to maintain an optimal humidity level within the humidor. This is crucial for preserving the quality and flavour of cigars, as they require a specific humidity range to prevent them from drying out or becoming overly moist.
Aroma
Spanish cedar wood has a distinct and pleasant aroma. The wood releases aromatic oils and compounds that add a distinct fragrance to the cigars stored within the humidor. This aroma can subtly influence the flavours and character of the cigars over time, enhancing their overall smoking experience.
Repelling Insects
Spanish cedar wood contains natural oils and resins that can act as a deterrent to insects that can damage cigars, such as tobacco beetles. These beetles can be a significant problem for cigar storage, as they can damage or destroy the cigars. Adding Spanish cedar to your humidor helps protect against these pests and minimises the risk of infestation.
Mould Resistance
Another advantage of Spanish cedar is its resistance to mould and fungus. The wood’s natural oils and resins make it less susceptible to these issues, which can be detrimental to the quality of cigars. The presence of Spanish cedar in a humidor helps maintain a clean and mould-free environment, ensuring the cigars remain unharmed.
Durability
Spanish cedar is a durable and sturdy wood that resists warping and cracking, even in humid conditions, making it an ideal choice for humidor construction. It is relatively easy to work with, allowing craftsmen to create intricate designs and precise fittings for cigar boxes and humidors. The wood can be shaped, finished, and sealed to create an airtight and aesthetically pleasing container for storing cigars.
Are All Humidors Made With Spanish Cedar?
Not all humidors are made completely from Spanish Cedar, but most cigar enthusiasts will choose to add a Spanish cedar lining or compartments into their humidor.
Due to the unregulated logging of Spanish cedar trees, there has been a drastic decline, which has made Spanish cedar an expensive wood to use. In many Caribbean and Central American countries, it is now considered an endangered species.
Therefore, only a handful of cigar manufacturers use solid Spanish cedar for their packaging, cigar boxes and humidors. Instead, most use plywood sheets with a thin Spanish cedar wood veneer, with even the most expensive humidors using veneers too!
Humidor makers often use other woods with similar properties, such as mahogany, okoumé, toona and guarea, which are sometimes treated with cedarwood oil to imitate the original Spanish cedar nuances.
Overall, Spanish cedar wood combines functional, practical, and aesthetic qualities that make it an ideal choice for cigar boxes and humidors. Its ability to regulate moisture, repel insects, resist mould, and enhance the overall cigar experience has solidified its reputation in the cigar industry.
Moisture and humidity play crucial roles in the proper storage and ageing of cigars. Cigars are made from aged and fermented tobacco leaves, which require specific conditions to maintain their flavour, aroma, and overall quality.
To ensure you are getting the best smoking experience from your cigars, you need to ensure that your cigars are kept at the right level of moisture and humidity. Here we will explain everything you need to know about how humidity and moisture affect cigars, why they need to be stored correctly and how to keep your cigars at their optimum humidity level.
What is the Difference Between Moisture and Humidity for Cigars?
Moisture refers to the amount of water present in the tobacco leaves. It plays a vital role in maintaining the cigar’s pliability, preventing it from becoming brittle and easily damaged. Humidity, on the other hand, relates to the moisture content of the surrounding environment.
Why Do Cigars Need to Be Kept Humid?
Cigars are hygroscopic, meaning they can absorb and release moisture, making them highly sensitive to changes in humidity levels. If the air is too humid, cigars can become spongey and damp, while too dry means your cigar will become brittle and crack.
An important thing to consider is that cigars are predominantly produced in countries with high levels of humidity and moisture, like Cuba.
When a cigar first leaves the factory it has been made in, it will have between 12-15% moisture content. If the moisture levels of your cigar are higher or lower than this when you go to smoke it, the burn can become uneven and destroy the smoke, flavour and aroma of the cigar, or it will burn too hot, creating an unpleasant taste.
Cigars need to be kept in conditions similar to this for optimum smoking results. In other countries, like the UK, the humidity levels will be different or inconsistent, and so a humidor is required to maintain a consistent level of humidity for your cigars.
What Humidity Should Cigars Be Kept At?
When we talk about humidity levels for cigars, it refers to the relative humidity in the air. By controlling the relative humidity in the air around your cigars (in your humidor), you can control the moisture content in your cigars.
The best humidity level to store cigars is a relative humidity (RH) of between 65-70%. For everyday smokers, an RH of 65-70% will keep your cigars fresh and flavourful with a decent burn.
If you wish to store your cigars longer term for ageing or collecting, you may want to adjust these levels to suit your specific cigars. The size of the cigars you are storing can have an impact on the optimal humidity. Cigars can be stored between the range of about 62% to 80% humidity. The average that is recommended is 70%.
What Happens If There Is Too Much Moisture in a Cigar?
If a cigar is kept in too humid conditions, then it will become damp. Most cigar smokers will agree that going over 70 percent humidity is too much. A cigar that is damp will become difficult to draw smoke through, as the tobacco leaves swell as they absorb moisture.
The burn of the cigar will also be affected, typically causing a tunnelling effect where one side of the stogie will burn faster than the other. The excess moisture in the cigar will also produce far more smoke than a properly-stored cigar would, and this can overload your senses, muting your ability to properly enjoy the taste of your cigar.
You can tell that a cigar is too damp if it feels spongy and soft. Excess moisture and humidity can lead to other problems, such as mould or holes from tobacco beetles, which both thrive in damp and humid conditions. If there is evidence of these issues on your cigar, then it should be thrown away, and your humidor should be thoroughly cleaned.
What Happens if a Cigar is Too Dry?
Cigars gain, retain or lose moisture from the environment depending on the conditions they are kept in. A cigar left in the sun or near a heater might dry out within a few hours.
If left for too long and the cigar dries out completely, the oils found in the cigar will have evaporated, taking much of the cigar’s flavour with it. While introducing the cigar to high levels of humidity can help the cigar to regain some moisture, the cigar will never taste as bold and delicious as it once did.
A dry cigar will also present issues with its burn, causing it to smoke fast and hot. This will again cause damage to the oils, making any flavour that remains evaporate before you get the chance to appreciate it!
A dry cigar will feel brittle and may show some cracks in the wrapper. A cigar that has been stored at the right temperature will have a smooth wrapper with a slightly oily feel.
How to Keep Cigars in the Right Condition
The best way to keep cigars in their optimum conditions is to use a humidor. A humidor is a humidity-controlled box, often made from Spanish cedar wood, that regulates the humidity levels within it, allowing you to store your cigar collection safely.
Our definitive guide to cigar humidification will explain everything you need to know about these essential cigar storage containers.
Moisture and humidity have a significant impact on the quality and enjoyment of cigars. Maintaining proper moisture levels helps preserve the flavours, aromas, burn, and draw characteristics of cigars, enhancing the overall smoking experience. By investing in a humidor, monitoring humidity levels, and following proper storage and humidification techniques, you can ensure that your cigars remain in optimal condition.
Remember, the art of cigar smoking lies not only in choosing premium cigars but also in the careful preservation of their integrity through proper moisture and humidity control. So, embrace the science behind cigars and savour the complexities they have to offer.
Why Your Cigar May Taste Bitter
23 January 2023 by Ellie
There is little more annoying than sitting down to enjoy a smoke and discovering that your cigar tastes bitter after you take a puff. Cigars can taste bitter due to a number of reasons, and even the world’s finest cigars can turn in certain conditions.
So how do cigars end up bitter? We take a look at what causes a cigar to have a bitter flavour, how to fix a bitter cigar, and how you can avoid it from happening to your own cigar collection.
What Causes a Cigar to Taste Bitter?
There are a few things that can cause your cigar to taste bitter.
Over-Humidified Cigars
In order to prevent your cigars from drying out, it is essential to keep your cigars correctly humidified. The easiest and safest way to do this is to store your cigars in a well-made humidor.
One way you can prevent your cigars from over-humidifying in your humidor is to get a digital hygrometer which monitors the humidity inside your humidor. First, you will need to ensure the hygrometer is properly calibrated before it is used. The optimum humidity level for cigars is at around 65%, though anywhere between 62% and 70% should also be fine.
If high humidity turns out to be the cause of your cigar’s bitterness, then dry-boxing a cigar may be the solution. Dry boxing simply involves taking your cigar out of your humidor and leaving it in a cigar box overnight, leaving it to dry out slowly.
Cigar Hasn’t Been Lit Properly
To light a cigar properly and ensure it is burning in the best possible way, you’ll need to use the right type of flame and technique. Sulphur-free wooden matches, as well as cigar lighters with refined pure butane, work well to get you the right flame.
When lighting the cigar, you should keep the cigar above and near the flame without letting it touch. Rotate it until there is a glowing ring all the way around. Gently blow on the embers to create a completely rounded ash before giving the cigar a quick purge to let it cool down a little.
Cigar Head is Too Wet
Bitterness can also come through as a result of the head of the cigar getting too wet. This often happens when people leave their cigars in their mouths for too long; instead, you should hold your cigar in your hand, or rest it on an ashtray, when you’re not taking a puff.
Sense of Taste
Another reason that you may be experiencing bitter tastes could be to do with your own sense of taste. There may be another factor affecting your taste buds, and these can vary widely.
Rather than there being a fault with your cigar, factors such as eating spicy foods, illness and alcohol consumption can all affect your sense of taste, causing the cigar to seem bitter.
A Bad Cigar
If you’ve exhausted all the other possibilities, you may just have to accept something we all face from time to time: a bad cigar. Bitterness can easily be possible with a low-quality cigar, even if you have been doing everything else right.
It also (rarely) happens with premium cigars, as mistakes can be made even by high-end manufacturers. In the end, we all encounter bad cigars, though they are important in helping you find the perfect cigar to suit your tastes and requirements.
Why Does My Cigar Taste Bitter Halfway Through?
Although many cigar smokers think that you can never smoke a cigar too fast, puffing too frequently can make a cigar too hot. When your cigar gets too hot, it can start to make your cigar taste bitter.
Every time you puff, it makes the flavours in the tobacco caramelise and build up, so as you progress through the cigar, the flavour becomes stronger. If you have puffed too hard or too fast when smoking, the flavour in the latter half of the cigar may become bitter.
Likewise, smoking a cigar too slowly can make a cigar almost go out. This leads many smokers to take back-to-back puffs to get the cigar burning again. This also makes the cigar too hot, leaving a bitter taste.
Slow Down Your Smoking
As a rule of thumb, you should only puff your cigar around once a minute; this should mean you enjoy plenty of the cigar’s flavour without overheating the cigar.
You could also try purging your cigar, which involves putting the cigar in your mouth and blowing air out through and around the cigar. This has a ‘purging’ effect on any tar or ammonia build-up.
Clip the Cigar Cap
Another reason your cigar may start to taste bitter is that the cap has been cut too narrow. A narrow cut doesn’t allow as much smoke to be drawn through the cigar as a wider cut would. If it’s too narrow, you may be puffing too often or hard, which can cause bitterness.
Try clipping off the top of the cap with a double-blade guillotine rather than using a cutter that produces a narrower opening, like a punch cutter or V-cutter.
If you want to experience the incredible tastes of premium cigars, then why not check out the range of Cuban cigars available here at Havana House?
How to Rehydrate a Dry Cigar
12 January 2023 by Ellie
Sometimes, despite all your efforts to care for your cigars, a mistake may occur, which leaves your cigar a little dried out. A dry cigar is something all cigar smokers will want to avoid, as it can create a bad-tasting smoke.
A cigar needs to be kept at optimal levels of humidity for the best smoking experience – a relative humidity of approximately 65-70%. If your cigar isn’t stored correctly, it can become dry.
Whether you left a cigar loose in your car or forgot to check the moisture levels in your humidor, there are a number of ways in which we can accidentally cause a cigar to become dry. Whatever the reason may be, there is no need to worry too much as it is possible to rehydrate cigars.
How to Rehumidify a Cigar
The rehumidification process needs to happen gradually. If you just put your dry cigars into a humidor and whack the humidity up to 75%, then the cigars might crack or burst as they have become too humid too quickly. They need to be rehumidified gradually.
The best way to do this is by using Boveda packs. Place your dry cigars in a Tupperware box or Ziploc bag with a Boveda pack.
Boveda packs start at 62% humidity, and you can buy them up to 84% humidity. To gradually introduce humidity to a cigar, begin with a 62% Boveda pack in with your dry cigars, and it will bring them to that level of humidity.
Gradually increase the level of humidity by placing a new Boveda pack in every two weeks. Next, use a 65% pack, then a 69% pack, this might be enough to fix your cigars, but you may need to go up to a 72% pack if it still feels too dry.
What Are Boveda Packs?
Boveda packs are designed to offer a predetermined level of humidity. They are made to gradually release humidity, and they do not require maintenance or monitoring, making them a very easy option for getting the humidity of your cigars right.
The great thing about these self-regulating packs is that you can never over-humidify your cigars – they only ever keep it at the level stated on the packet.
How Long to Rehydrate Cigars?
The process of rehydrating a cigar is not a quick one; it can take weeks or months, in fact, so it is important not to rush it. A cigar that hasn’t been properly rehydrated will still smoke hot and have a bitter and unpleasant taste.
It usually takes between two and six weeks to re-humidify a cigar, depending on how thick the ring gauge is and how dry the cigar itself was when you started. It takes this long as it isn’t enough to just humidify the wrapper; you must allow the moisture time to reach the innermost leaves of the filler.
When Can’t You Rehydrate a Cigar
There are some instances in which you will not be able to rehydrate your cigar:
The wrapper is damaged or cracked.
The cigar has become so dry that all the oils have evaporated from the tobacco.
How to Prepare Your Humidor
If your humidor is what caused the humidification issue in the first place, you will need to re-season your humidor.
First, you need to empty your humidor. Next, with a piece of moist (but not wet) cloth, wipe down the walls of the humidor. Distilled or bottled water is fine, but do not use tap water as it contains minerals and other impurities that can clog the vent holes of humidors.
Next, remoisten the humidification element with distilled water. The humidor will then slowly return to the optimal 70% relative humidity. Once the humidor has reached the right humidity, and your cigars have been rehydrated, the cigars can be placed back into the humidor.
Test the Cigar Before Lighting
Before lighting up your recently rejuvenated cigar, test that it is ready by gently pushing on it with your fingers. It should feel firm but give slightly – a bit like pressing against your finger when you squeeze it. If you hear cracking when you give it a squeeze, then it is too dry. If it feels soft and spongy, then it is too damp.
Letting your cigars get too dry or damp damages them and can impair the wonderful smoking experience they would otherwise offer. The best way to prevent issues with your cigars is to invest in a quality humidor and check on the humidity level on a weekly basis.
How to Fix Under Humidified or Over Humidified Cigars
8 January 2023 by Ellie
Have you ever tried to light up a cigar that just refuses to light? Or maybe you’ve started to smoke a cigar and found that it burns unevenly or produces far too much smoke? Has the cap cracked off when you tried to cut it? If any of these things happen, then the answer could be in its humidification, either too much or too little.
What Causes Humidification Issues in Cigars?
Humidification issues can be down to your own humidor or the shipping process. One of these you can fix, so check your humidor to see if it has too much or too little humidity. Recalibrate your hygrometer and refresh your humidification system if necessary. You may need to upgrade your humidification system or move your cigar selection to a bigger box.
Unfortunately, something you don’t have much control over is damage caused during the shipping process. Most cigars are being transported from factories in South America. Cigars that get shipped over quickly will be over-humidified, while those that take ages to clear customs will be a little dried up. If your cigar retailer sells these cigars on before they have had a chance to adjust in a humidity-controlled environment, then the cigars may not be at their best for smoking.
If your cigars show signs of being over or under-humidified when they arrive, then let them rest in your humidor to try and acclimate them to the right levels.
How to Fix Under Humidified Cigars
If a cigar is under humidified, that means it will be dry, without enough moisture content. It will feel brittle, and if you give it a squeeze, it will be hard. Because the cigar is dry and brittle, when you try and cut into the cap, it may crack, cause the wrapper to unravel, or break during the smoke. As well as this, the dryness means that the cigar will burn far quicker than it should do, which can cause bitterness and a very unsatisfying smoke.
If your cigars are under humidified, then you need to pop them back into your humidor, ensuring it is at around 70 percent humidity. Unfortunately, you’ll have to rehumidify your cigars for about a week or so.
How to Fix Over Humidified Cigars
Over-humidified cigars will be too wet, making lighting hard and presenting a range of burn issues. Heated moisture produces steam, so burning an overly wet cigar can cause it to expand, which can break the wrapper and ruin the cigar.
To fix this, you’ll need to make your cigars drier, but there are definitely right and wrong ways to go about this. If you were to simply leave your cigar out in the sun for a few hours, then the wrapper will dry up, but the filler of the cigar will remain damp, causing the exterior of the cigar to burn faster than the core when it is lit.
Like with under-humidified cigars, the best way to rectify an over-humidified stogie is to put it in your humidor, at the right humidity level, for a couple of weeks. This will allow the whole cigar to be equally humid. To speed up the drying-out process a little, you can add some extra stripes of Spanish cedar lining to your humidor, as this works best to soak up excess moisture.
With both under and over-humidified cigars, the key is patience, focusing on a gradual alteration of the humidity level in the cigar. This is because gaining or losing moisture too quickly can cause the cigar to expand or contract too fast, which can affect the construction of the cigar. Damage to the cigar’s structure will, again, affect the way it burns, and can destroy the cigar even more!
If you need to better your humidification system, then why not try a Boveda humidor pack?
How to Properly Age Your Cigars
24 May 2022 by Ellie
If you ever had the opportunity to taste a well-aged cigar, you will know that it has an incredible taste and leaves you wanting more. If you are an avid cigar smoker, you will also know that the taste changes with age.
While some prefer a young and fresh flavour from their cigars, other smokers see the benefits of taking the time to age their own cigars to develop complex and balanced notes.
So, if you want to see if ageing will make your cigar stash taste even better, we are sharing our guide on how to age your cigars at home.
Do You Need To Age Cigars?
First up, let’s explore the obvious question: should you age cigars? As premium cigars are already aged during the production process, you don’t have to age cigars once you’ve bought them. They are sold to be enjoyed as bought.
However, leaving cigars in a humidor to age does have an impact on the flavour and smoking experience, and some cigar lovers enjoy smoking a box of cigars over several months or years to see how they develop.
Ageing cigars can be useful if you’ve bought a large collection that you can’t smoke fast enough! There are other reasons to consider ageing cigars too, which you can discover in our previous post:
What Do You Need to Age Cigars at Home?
If you’ve decided to age your cigars at home, then there are things you need which will ensure that your cigars remain in the best condition while ageing.
Most important is a place to store your cigars at the right level of humidity. The best thing for this is a quality humidor. For long term ageing, you need something that can maintain consistent conditions, so a wooden humidor is your best bet; although you could go as far as to turn a room into a walk-in humidor if you’re a serious aficionado!
What Sort of Humidor Do You Need for Ageing Cigars?
It is best to use a cedar-lined humidor, as this absorbent wood helps to prevent mould from developing in the humidor. If your humidor isn’t cedar-lined, you’ll need to open the lid more frequently to refresh the air in the box.
The size of the humidor you use should be roughly twice the volume of cigars. There should be at least 20% of the space free when the cigars are in the humidor.
If you don’t have a humidor to hand but have excess cigars to store, then there are ways to store cigars without a humidor, such as creating a tupperdor or coolidor.
What Humidity Should Cigars Be Aged At?
When ageing cigars, you need to keep the conditions as consistent as possible. There needs to be good airflow, an average humidity of 68% and an average temperature of 21°C.
Maintaining a stable environment for your cigars is the key to success, and a constantly fluctuating environment can ruin them. Fluctuations in temperature can make cigars expand, which can cause the wrappers to crack. If they do crack, this can disrupt the ageing process.
Maintaining Your Humidor to Age Cigars
While ageing cigars, you need to maintain your humidor to ensure the conditions are right. Regularly check that the hygrometer is calibrated, the reservoir is filled and that there is enough room in the box for humidity and air to circulate properly.
When checking on the humidor, you should also rotate the cigars inside. Every couple of weeks, move any cigars from the bottom row to the top row to ensure that all of the cigars you are ageing are being equally humidified.
How Long Should You Age Cigars For?
The amount of time you want to age your cigars for is a completely personal preference, but for the optimum effect, age them for at least a year. Remember that only you will be able to tell when the cigars you have been ageing reach their “perfect” state for your palate preferences.
When ageing cigars, you should notice differences in the taste after a couple of weeks. A few months of ageing will bring noticeable changes, and after a year, you’ll definitely see a big difference in flavour.
People have aged cigars for decades, but anything over ten years usually has only a slight effect on the taste. Generally speaking, a cigar’s flavour won’t develop much beyond 5-7 years of ageing.
Many aficionados who choose to age cigars like to purchase a box to be aged and smoke one when it is first opened and place the rest in a humidor to age. They then smoke one after a month, one after six months, one after a year, and so on. While smoking each cigar, you should take notes on the flavour and smoking experience to compare with previous and future aged versions of the same smoke.
What Type of Cigars Should You Age?
There are some cigars which are naturally better for ageing, and generally speaking, thicker cigars will age a lot better than thinner ring gaugesmokes.
Larger format cigars also tend to be less affected by fluctuations in temperature and humidity than thinner cigars, and due to this, they are usually chosen for long-term ageing.
Thicker cigars that contain a blend of filler tobacco leaves are also great for ageing, as the variety of tobacco leaves create some incredible flavours after ageing.
When you age cigars, they tend to mellow and become milder in strength and flavour. While this can make stronger cigars less harsh and more smokeable, it can make cigars that are already mild too bland. Therefore, the best type of cigars to age are thicker, stronger, full-bodied smokes.
It is important to remember that low-quality cigars won’t improve from ageing.
If you are ageing cigars wrapped in plastic, you should leave the wrap on, but if you want to take it off, this may accelerate the effect of flavours from the different tobaccos in the cigars.
Mixing Cigars In Your Humidor
During the ageing process, you can experiment with how different cigars affect each other. If you’re not ageing a whole box of the same cigars to see how they develop over time, you can absolutely mix cigars in your humidor. Over time, the flavours of each cigar will impact the others, creating new smoking experiences.
Of course, you could just buy cigars online which have already been aged. However, there is something extremely rewarding about lighting up a cigar after the hard work you have put in by ageing them yourself. We have a great range of cigars in our online store, which are ideally suited for ageing, so be sure to take a look!
The Definitive Guide to Cigar Humidors and Humidification
12 January 2022 by Ellie
Whether you’re growing your cigar collection, investing in a box to age, or like to buy several cigars at once, you’ll need proper protection and storage for the smokes you’re not ready to puff on yet.
Premium smokes and collectables, like Cuban cigars, vintage batches and limited editions require proper humidification to keep them safe. Cigars certainly aren’t the cheapest thing in the world, so if you want to save a smoke for a special day, it’s a good idea to invest in a decent humidor.
The humidification process can be quite complicated, and plenty of enthusiasts don’t know how to properly store their precious cigars. Fear not, though; we have gathered our resident experts at Havana House to produce an extensive guide to cigar humidification.
Why do Cigars Need to be Kept in a Humidor?
Tobacco for cigars is grown and rolled in places like Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where temperature and humidity are considerably different from places like the UK. A humidor is needed to keep cigars at the optimum humidity level to smoke perfectly.
If a cigar is left in a place that is too humid, it will become damp. This damaging effect will make the cigar hard to draw smoke through and can impact the burn, causing a tunnelling effect and an excess of smoke.
On the other hand, if it is in too dry conditions, a cigar will lose its flavourful oils and have burn issues that cause it to smoke too fast and hot.
How to Choose a Good Humidor
When it comes to good cigar humidification, the first step is choosing a good humidor. Other than being functional, humidors are often used as ornaments and become the centrepiece of a room.
For this reason, you may want to choose a real spectacle of a humidor such as those hand-crafted and inlaid with marquetry. In addition to their beauty, humidors vary in function, depending on the components used to produce them.
Parts of a Humidor
A humidor is made of a number of parts, including the exterior wood, interior wood, humidification system and hygrometer.
Inner Lining of the Humidor
The inner lining of a humidor is the part that will be in closest contact with the cigars. Despite being an important part of the humidor, the wood lining is not always integral to the humidor you buy, as it can be replaced.
Often, aficionados will replace the innards of a humidor. Primarily, three types of wood are used for the humidor’s inner lining: Spanish Cedar, Red Cedar and Honduran Mahogany.
Spanish Cedar for Humidors
Spanish Cedar is commonly used for humidors as it has many benefits. This wood type can absorb a high level of humidity, ensuring that the climate inside the humidor is kept stable and free from mould development.
Spanish cedar has a distinct fragrance, which helps to keep away tobacco worms and protect the cigars in the humidor. It is also a great wood for supporting the ageing process of cigars, and its scent has a positive effect on flavour.
Red Cedar for Humidors
When it comes to humidity absorption, Red Cedar is an inferior material to Spanish Cedar. Some humidor manufacturers use this wood as it is less expensive and easier to acquire.
Red Cedar exudes a more intense aroma than Spanish Cedar, which can be both a pro and con. When storing cigars for long periods of time, a strong woody flavour can be imparted onto the cigars, so choosing Red Cedar will depend on if this is something you’d like for your ageing cigars.
Honduran Mahogany for Humidors
Honduran Mahogany has a humidity absorption rate comparable to that of Spanish Cedar, yet at the same time, the wood has a less intense odour.
Unfortunately, the deterrent effect on insects is greatly reduced, and the desired flavouring of the cigars is not as good as with Spanish Cedar.
Which Wood Is Best For Humidors?
At Havana House, we suggest that you choose a humidor lined with Spanish Cedar. The thickness of the lining you use is essential. Basically, the thicker, the better. A lining less than 2mm in depth will not take advantage of the beneficial characteristics that the wood provides.
Should You Choose a Veneer or Solid Wood Humidor?
Essentially, there are two different options when constructing the exterior of the humidor. MDF, which stands for medium-density fiberboard or solid wood.
MDF consists of a veneer of some type of hardwood. Solid wood humidors will see the entire humidor crafted (often by hand) from a solid hardwood, such as Sycamore.
Is MDF or Solid Wood Better for Humidors?
Contrary to popular belief, solid wood humidors are not necessarily superior to veneer humidors. While solid wood humidors are thought of as heirloom-worthy and come across as more physically imposing, the construction of veneer humidors can actually prove more beneficial for the storage of cigars.
It all comes down to the strain of timber used to craft the humidor. MDF humidors are made to withstand changes in humidity. Since the moisture inside the humidor will be much higher than the external humidity, the internal wood tends to expand and crack parts of the structure. Timber gathered from trees that are suited to a humid, tropical environment are often immune to this.
Which Wood to Choose for a Humidor Box?
Examples of wood that is resistant to warping and cracking as a result of the change in humidity are – Mahogany, Ebony, Zebrawood, Bubinga and Rosewood.
Of course, there are plenty of woods that could be used, so it is important that you do your research beforehand. In addition to this factor, humidor wood should also be impermeable to help prevent insects laying their eggs inside and to give some added protection to splashes.
It is also an advantage for humidor wood to be hard and resistant to dents to extend the cigar box’s shelf life.
Characteristics of a Good Humidor
More things to inspect when looking for a humidor include:
Hinges – Should be durable and ensure low-friction functioning for many years to come.
Quality of lacquer application – A smooth and even application is key.
Airtight seal – Humidors should close so well that a constant level of internal humidity can be maintained.
Humidifiers for Cigars
Every humidor needs a humidifier of some sort. This is the element that keeps the humidity levels correct within the humidor.
What is the Optimum Humidity Level for Cigars?
Inside the humidor, cigars should be stored at a relative humidity of approximately 65-70% humidity.
In such an environment, the cigar should absorb the ideal rate of humidity of 14% of its weight. Typically, it is thought that the best flavours of a cigar can evolve in such a climate.
If you intend to store your cigars for a number of years, 65% is recommended. If you frequently smoke (every day), then 70% is optimal for taste.
Humidity Issues for Cigars
It should be noted that if one allows the humidity level to exceed 80%, then their cigars will begin to mould and rot.
If cigars become too dry, they become fragile and burn rather quickly. This not only causes a shorter smoke but allows the cigar to take on an aggressive and slightly bitter taste. On the other hand, a cigar that is too damp will burn unevenly and take on a heavy and acidic flavour.
Should You Use a Sponge or Crystal Humidifier for Cigars?
Until recently, all humidifiers employed the same simple mechanism. They were all equipped with a plastic or metal case containing a sponge as a humidifier.
Sponge Humidifier
Sponge humidifiers are soaked in water or a solution; Propylene Glycol 50/50 is recommended. The sponge is then placed in a plastic container and uses capillary action to bring the liquid to the surface and release it over time. Sponge humidifiers will need to be refilled every two weeks, or more if your cigars are feeling dry. The sponge itself is likely to need replacing yearly.
Overall, the simple sponge based humidification system provides sufficient humidification performance.
Crystal Humidifier
In more recent years, crystal humidification systems have become more popular. While humidors aren’t typically made with these systems yet, you can purchase crystal humidifiers as an extra that can be popped into the humidor instead of the sponge. These have been made popular by the brand Xikar.
The advantage of these systems is that they work constantly and only need to be refilled monthly as opposed to weekly. The release is slow and steady, maintaining consistent humidity levels by both emitting and absorbing moisture to keep the humidity at 70%, whereas humidity levels tend to fluctuate more when using a sponge.
Xikar’s crystal humidifiers can simply be recharged using the Propylene Glycol solution when needed.
Humidification Packs
Another option is Boveda humidor packs, which contain salt and purified water that is slowly released through reverse osmosis to provide perfect humidity. They can be purchased in a range of humidity levels (62, 65, 69, 75 and 84 percent), so you can pick the pack that best suits the needs of your cigar collection.
These packs are single-use and need replacing every three months or so; however, they are an affordable option, with packs starting from 85p each.
Hygrometers for Humidors
Hygrometers are small instruments that allow you to gauge the humidity of your humidor. Before use, hygrometers must be calibrated, and it is recommended that they are recalibrated around once a year to maintain their accuracy.
There are three types of hygrometers.
Metal Spring Hygrometers
This type of hygrometer is used in the majority of all humidors. They are less expensive but of limited accuracy.
Natural Hair Hygrometers
These hygrometers are much more accurate. Unfortunately, substantial maintenance work is required to maintain the accuracy of these humidors.
Synthetic Hair Hygrometers
These hygrometers are approximately as accurate as natural hair hygrometers; however, they do not require any maintenance on the part of the user.
How to Calibrate a Hygrometer
After purchasing a hygrometer, or a humidor with one built-in, some simple preparatory steps need to be carried out before using the instrument. There are two methods of calibration.
Hygrometer Calibration: Method 1
The recommended and most accurate calibration method is to place the hygrometer and a salt solution together in a small plastic box. You can make the salt solution by adding a few drops of water to a small cup of salt. The salt should not dissolve, only be damp.
Place the hygrometer and the salt solution in a well-sealed plastic box and wait. After about 8 hours, the humidity within the box should have reached 75% precisely. Adjust the hygrometer to this value.
Hygrometer Calibration: Method 2
A slightly easier but potentially less accurate way of calibrating your humidor is to wrap the humidor in a thoroughly wet cloth. After about an hour, adjust the hygrometer to 96%.
How to Prepare Your Humidor
Filling the Humidifier
Place the humidifier on a plate and moisten it with Propylene Glycol solution. Leave the humidifier in the solution for as long as it takes to absorb a sufficient amount of liquid (usually 5 minutes). Dry the humidifier with a cloth and place it in the humidor.
Moistening the Humidor
It is a common misconception that the walls of a humidor should be wiped with a damp cloth. Here at Havana House, we do not use this method and do not recommend it to anyone.
The best way to prepare a humidor is to leave a glass filled with distilled water in a humidor for three days with the lid closed. The water will slowly evaporate, and the inner walls of the humidor should have absorbed a sufficient amount of moisture.
After this, place your humidifier inside the humidor, again with the lid closed, and allow the humidity to stabilise. This will also take around 2-3 days. After this process is completed, your humidor is ready to keep your cigars!
How to Store Cigars in a Humidor
There are many different variables to take into account when storing cigars. The most common question is ‘do humidors need fresh air?’ The answer is yes.
The atmosphere inside a cigar box can become stale if left, as air does not easily escape and enter a good humidor. At least once every two weeks, humidors should be refreshed with new air.
What is the Best Temperature for Cigar Storage?
A temperature of around 18-21 degrees Celsius is considered ideal for storing cigars. At lower temperatures, the desired ageing process of the cigars is impaired.
Therefore, chilly wine cellars are only suitable for cigar storage to a limited extent. High temperatures are even worse. Over 24 degrees Celsius, is the best heat for tobacco worm infestation and cigar rotting. For this reason, humidors should not be exposed directly to sunlight. In addition, sunlight can bleach the hue out of humidors, which you may want to avoid if using it for ornamental purposes.
How Long Should Cigars Be Kept in a Humidor?
It is often said that time is a cigar’s best friend. Generally speaking, cigars can be stored for an unlimited period of time as long as the humidity remains around 65-70% and a regular supply of fresh air is maintained.
High-quality cigars, notably Cuban cigars but also some premium non-Cuban brands, develop a special flavour after many years of storage. In the UK, there is a long tradition of storing cigars for the optimum unfurling of the flavours.
In fact, before premium cigars are shipped to tobacconists, they are usually ripened for about six months. Due to increased demand, the ripening period has become increasingly shorter over the past few years.
Therefore we would urge you to store your cigars for an additional 3-6 months before they are smoked. In the end, it is up to the preference of the smoker as to how long to store his cigars for. It is a good idea to purchase a bundle of 50 cigars and smoke once a week to observe the changes in flavour and smoothness.
How to Marry Cigars
Cigars absorb aromas from their environment. Over time, aromas and taste infuse. If you were to store your cigars in a bread bin, they would have a grainy, wheat-like taste.
The same goes if you were to store your cigars in a meat locker or a laundry basket (none of which are advised). One of our customers reportedly stores his cigars in his garden shed as he adores the aroma of freshly cut grass and woodiness.
When storing cigars in a humidor, it is important to remember that cigars not only absorb flavour from the wood lining but from the cigars around them. Dividers are used in humidors to minimize this phenomenon. Some aficionados, however, appreciate the mixture of flavours and intentionally store different lines of cigars together for several months. This is called cigar marriage.
Rotating Cigars in a Humidor
A common issue with humidors is uneven and varying humidity levels. This problem is especially common in humidors that are filled close to maximum capacity. The solution to this issue is to rotate cigars between humidors. Cigars that are stored for long periods of time may be rotated every 1-3 months.
Worried about your cigar collection while you wait for a new humidor to be delivered or need a simple storage solution for a couple of cigars? Take a look at our guide to storing cigars without a humidor for a short-term solution!
If you have any further questions about the storage of your cigars and how to use humidors, please get in touch! We’re more than happy to help you keep your cigar collection safe and in the best condition.
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