Tips, Tricks & Information
Cigars
Is it Mold or Plume?
Mold
- A green or blue sticky, pasty texture
- Forms on the wrapper and foot
- Does not brush off
- Has a musty aroma
Plume
- White dots
- Easily brushed off
- A harmless sign cigars are aging correctly
Re-Humidifying Dry Cigars
1. Use a Ziploc/Tupperware with a tight seal.
2. Introduce the cigars to a low level of humidity, 62% is preferred.
3. Carefully monitor the humidity with a hygrometer.
4. Increase the humidity every week, 62% to 65% RH.
5. Give the cigars time to acclimate to each RH increase.
6. Cigars will gradually soften.
7. Once the cigars have been in 69%-72% RH for a period of weeks, they are good to smoke.
Aging Cigars
Aging cigars is a deliberate process, with the intention and understanding that cigar flavours evolve and change over time.
Oils from the binder, filler and wrapper tobaccos meld together over time and typically results in a more mellow flavour profile.
How to age cigars:
- 63-65% RH is common
- Maintain the humidor
- Rotate cigars on a regular basis
- Leave at least 20% of the humidor empty for air and humidity circulation
Resting Cigars
Resting cigars is done for a period of days or weeks, long enough to let them acclimate to new humidor and home conditions. Doing this gives the cigars time to shed the residual taste of ammonia or other unwanted compounds that may surface after a cigar is rolled.
What is Dry-Boxing a cigar?
Cigars are placed in an empty wooden box over-night prior to smoking. This is a safe method to to fix over humidified cigars, and can improve the burn. Dry-box cigars for a maximum of 3 days.