Questions and Answers About Humidors
by Dean Akey, Sage HumidorsQ: What should I do when I get my humidor home?
A: Most people rush to put their finest cigars in their new humidor only to be disappointed. You need to condition your humidor before trusting it with your cigars. Remember that the aged Spanish Cedar has a moisture content of about 8% when you buy it. If you immediately put your cigars in your new humidor the wood will pull the moisture out of your cigars like a sponge. You need to first put distilled water into your humidity device and let it condition your humidor for 24 to 48 hours. After you have conditioned your humidor you can safely store your cigars. Additionally, since it takes more moisture to initially condition your humidor, it is a good idea to recharge your device after two weeks instead of waiting the usual four weeks.
Q: My analog hygrometer reads that my humidor is not at the proper humidity level. Is there a problem with it?
A: More than likely your hygrometer needs adjustment. Analog units are notorious for this. The good news is you can calibrate most models yourself. Take your hygrometer and wrap it in a very wet cloth for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes check the reading. It should be about 95%. If it reads different, adjust the instrument with a screw driver and this should solve your problem.
Q: What makes a good seal on humidors?
A: Understanding that the wood will expand and beveling the edge of the raised Spanish Cedar. If you buy a humidor which is very tight in the store and then put 70% humidity in the equation, the wood will expand and the box will bind, warp, or not close completely.
Q: How should you store cigars in your humidor?
A: Try to use dividers to keep like cigars together. Try to separate your mild cigars like Avo's from a heavy Maduro. These cigars over time will leech their unique flavors onto each other and not with the greatest results.
Q: Why all the craze about Spanish Cedar to line humidors in. Is it the aroma of the wood?
A: Actually Spanish Cedar is recommended more for its lack of aroma. As a wood, Spanish Cedar is fairly benign to cigars. Many woods tend to leech their aroma onto cigars. Spanish Cedar is very mild. Recently, we heard of a start up humidor company who lined their humidors with Western Cedar not knowing the difference. Can you imagine the surprise of the customers the first time they pulled out a Vintage Macanudo only to taste Western Cedar.
Q: What is a Credo?
A: The question is, who is Credo. Credo is a French company who makes humidification devices commonly referred to as Credo's. These devices contain a green substance similar to the material used by florists to keep fresh cut plants alive. They release distilled water to keep the relative humidity level at 70%. There are many other companies with equal or better humidification devices.Copyright © 1996/97/98/99 Cigar Smoker Magazine. All rights reserved.