RedPop4
One Too Many
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Also, keep them at less than 70% humidity, Cubans, I mean. The consensus is that they smoke better a bit drier.
RedPop4 said:Also, keep them at less than 70% humidity, Cubans, I mean. The consensus is that they smoke better a bit drier.
RedPop4 said:Lulu, in my six years of "avid interest" (read: posting on cigar forums) you're the first person I've ever met who prefers Cubans at higher humidity rather than lower. If you could, would you explain why you do this, I'd really appreciate it.
James, most agree that you shouldn't go lower than 65% and that 66-68% is optimal. Normally higher humidity, above 70% makes the draw tougher on most cigars. The excess moisture usually affects the burn adversely as well. I find this to be the case here, where 90% relative humidity is the norm rather than the exception once out in the weather.
vonwotan said:I find this discussion of humidity quite intersting and, might offer that I have had inconsistent readings from various hygrometers over the years which migh contribute to the differences of opinion. For most of my cigars the are stored in a large humidor with two separate elements (top and bottom shelves) at roughly 68% humidity. For the cigars we intend to smoke in the near future we move some to a smaller humidor at no more than 65% humidity.
I don't know whether it is just a long held misconception but, it seems from many years of trial and error that long term storage at higher humidity allows the cigars to continue to age, but to improve draw and, IMHO, flavor we allow them to "dry out" a bit before smoking.
I had never really heard the debate of cubans vs. non-cubans and humidity levels.
RedPop4 said:Like Warbird said, if it works for you, then that's a good thing. Trial and error, as in all things.
I can't put my hands on a link to it, but if you do a salt test on your hygrometer ,you can then calibrate it for accuracy. And if you can't calibrate it ,you can learn the difference between its reading and 70%. It involves putting your hygrometer in a sealed container or bag with a water and salt solution, and leaving it for a couple days. You let the solution sit ,and it will get to 70%. If your hygro doesn't SAY 70%, you can at least see how much it's off, and then compute the difference once it's in your humidor.
I had a small, but contained outbreak during our evacuation during Katrina, when we were out of the house for 3+weeks. I had no where to keep my coolerdors and humidors, except for in my truck. Luckily it was in a Tupperwaridor, and not in my main coolers or desktop.
SGB said:My hygrometers are both accurate, I know how to test and keep my cigars in good smoking condition. My current humidor is made by Vigilant, holds 40 boxes, and comes with a hard-wired electronic hygrometer. I also have a digital one in there as a back-up. For $3500 I suspect my humidor works pretty good. Like I said, I've been doing this for over 35 years and I've never had a problem. I always get compliments on the excellent condition of my cigars whenever I pass some out to friends. And when I moved from CA to AZ I got rid of a few hundred cigars, everybody was real happy with the condition of the smokes I gave away.
Also, all the smokes shops I worked in and visited always kept their humidors at 70-72%, still do today. Seems to work for the pros ok.
But, to each his own, as long as one likes how his cigars smoke, then enjoy.
SGB
RedPop4 said:Well, since I know nothing of your background prior to this exchange sorry to insult your intelligence. This isn't a cigar site, so when these threads and discussions occur, we're operating in the blind as it were with regards to others' experience. Sorry, again, to assume too much where you are concerned. Perhaps the salt-test information may be useful to others, even if it insults you, your obviously high-end humis and what have you.
Sounds like you have it made, you're where many of us aspire to be.
I'll leave the field to you.
Feel free to go correct all my misinformation on the RTDA thread as well.
Long ashes to you!!!!
RedPop4 said:Lulu, in my six years of "avid interest" (read: posting on cigar forums) you're the first person I've ever met who prefers Cubans at higher humidity rather than lower. If you could, would you explain why you do this, I'd really appreciate it.
James, most agree that you shouldn't go lower than 65% and that 66-68% is optimal. Normally higher humidity, above 70% makes the draw tougher on most cigars. The excess moisture usually affects the burn adversely as well. I find this to be the case here, where 90% relative humidity is the norm rather than the exception once out in the weather.
luvthatlulu said:Hello, RedPop4:
It's just my preference I guess. Where you are located, a lower humidity level might work better for you. New Orleans is a natural humidor in and of itself most of the year! Here in East Tennessee, on the other hand, we've been having temps in the high 90s and low 100 range and very dry. When I started upping the RH to compensate, I noticed that my Partagas Lusitanias, Cohiba Esplendidos, and particularly the Montecristo No. 2s just came to life flavorwise! No draw problems that I can tell. Even seem to burn more evenly. I have tested my digital hygrometer several times for accuracy and it is right on by the salt test, too.
Not the Lulu
warbird said:What is your system for hydration. I prefer drymistat tubes and silica engineered beads. Avallo is here in Nashville. They make one of the best cabinet humis and active systems available. Even still find a $50 cooler and beads works better than most evrerything else I have seen.
Bogie1943 said:Hello fellow loungers, well as mnay of you out there know I am a huge cigar aficionado and I got to thinking today, I spend a lot of time out on my back deck enjoying a fine cigar and hanging out at the lounge. I thought to myself, what else could I do at the lounge to keep contributing more and more. Well here it is, "Out of the Humidor" will be a weekly posting, like an online magazine, with pictures, cigar ratings, and more for all of you fellow cigar lovers. Every week, during my Sunday evening smokes I will be bringing you cigar news I have gathered during the week, I will rate a new cigar, and bring up interesting cigar related products and much more. So sit back, light up a smoke and let your cares drift away for the first edition of "Out of the Humidor"!