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High humidity environments

The Green Monkey

The Green Monkey

Brap-brap
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
1,404
It seems that the rainy season is finally upon Miami, so ambient humidity is pretty high--it's been raining for all but about one of the past 26 hours in my neck of the woods. I just came inside from smoking a Cabaiguan Maduro 46 (very tasty--try one if you haven't yet!), and while it wasn't overhumidified to start, early on there were a few times when I had to pull hard enough that I thought my skull might to cave in. It calmed down after a while, but it took a bit of effort during the first quarter or so. I'm no meteorologist, but I imagine that it's telling in some way that my very cold Vodkter Pepper reacted with the atmosphere (75*; raining; dew point of 71*) in such a manner that it gave off an uninterrupted bit of fog for almost as long as it took me to drink it...

I was curious if anyone has suggestions or recommendations for smoking outdoors in humid environments. Specifically, if there are any rules of thumb that a wider smoke would be easier to draw than an narrower one, or if it's more prudent to just smoke a shorter smoke than a longer one--though the way my Cabaiguan shaped up after time I'm not sure if perhaps a longer one would be better start to finish. I don't know if dryboxing is even possible given the ambient humidity (and I rarely anticipate what I feel like smoking ahead of time anyway). Any suggestions about brands that tend towards a looser draw, or those that tend towards a tighter draw, etc. would also be much appreciated.

I realize there's probably a lot of room for variance due to an almost unlimited array of idiosyncratic variables, but just figured I'd consult the peanut gallery in case there are any tricks of the trade that I ought to know about...


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Thanks!
 
I remember reading an article on CA.com about Cuba in the wet seasons. There is pretty much a certain time in Cuba that it is almost impossible to smoke a cigar because it is like a giant humidor.

What RH are you storing your cigars at?
 
w00ts!te said:
What RH are you storing your cigars at?
Click to expand...

Within the 63-68% range.

It doesn't seem to me to be an issue of storage conditions, but rather smoking environment conditions, though I did have a Tat East Coast with a few minor wrapper-bursting issues the night before last during similarly humid conditions...
 
Steve, my rule of thumb in those conditions is not as much a larger ring size as it is a shorter cigar. That's where I break out a Short Story, Cuaba Divinos, Tat Cohote, Party Short, etc. If you're smoking for a while, just smoke two.

It seems the longer you are out there with a larger stick, the worst it gets.

Try it.


PS: I spoke to my Mother in Palm Coast this afternoon and she thought they were in a hurricane!
 
ironpeddler said:
PS: I spoke to my Mother in Palm Coast this afternoon and she thought they were in a hurricane!
Click to expand...

Well, up until earlier this evening, a few models had the current low pressure system that's stalled over the Bahamas (and which is responsible for the soaking we've been getting) developing into a TS or a weak 1 and making landfall up around that area...

I smoked a Cabaiguan Guapos later this evening (73*; humidity 89%; dew point 70*) and I had no draw issues whatsoever but it blew up during the last eighth or so which ruined my plans to spear and nub it...
 
ironpeddler said:
Steve, my rule of thumb in those conditions is not as much a larger ring size as it is a shorter cigar. That's where I break out a Short Story, Cuaba Divinos, Tat Cohote, Party Short, etc. If you're smoking for a while, just smoke two.

It seems the longer you are out there with a larger stick, the worst it gets.

Try it.


PS: I spoke to my Mother in Palm Coast this afternoon and she thought they were in a hurricane!
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. Anytime your talking rain you basically have 100% humidity. Larger cigars equal longer smoking times, which equal a great chance of said cigar becoming soft, sponge, dull and life less.

Yea, I am aware you were all told there would be no math!
 
Well given that your AC is on, it will be less humid within your home. This was just a test to see if humidity is really a factor in your case.
 
We have some of the same issues here. We keep the cigars in A/C and when we walk outside it is 100 to 120 degrees. So they tend to pop or crack. So the cigars that we might smoke that night we put in a 5 count caddie and take it with us so it can adjust to the temperture. If it is oily maduro wrapper it doesn't happen very often but if it is cameroon or conneticut um.... yeh storing it in with 70 to 75% percent might help!

Just my 2 cents
 
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