Is this humidor lined with Spanish Cedar?

[PTownshend]

Hello all,
About 3 weeks ago I purchased a nice Romeo y Juliet humidor. I had designs for this humidor to house boxes of cigars (I have three other humidors which houses my loose cigars). However, I sense that something might be different with the cedar lining the inside of the humidor (versus my other 3 humidors).

After reading much about certain cedars and the odors they impart into cigars, thus changing the enjoyment of these, and after hearing about personal accounts of how this ruins cigars, I thought I'd investigate.

First some history about the humidor and where I purchased it from. The cigar and tobacco dealer is very reputable and established in the Western NY area. I wast told by him that this humidor is original and of limited edition (of a limited edition of 400). I can't say how long its been sitting in his shop, but its certainly not something that is brand new (I'd have to say its at least a year old). Photos of this can be found here:

http://www.cigarphotos.com/displayimage.ph...tup&cat=0&pos=8
http://www.cigarphotos.com/displayimage.ph...tup&cat=0&pos=9
http://www.cigarphotos.com/displayimage.ph...up&cat=0&pos=12

If someone out there has seen this humidor and can identify its origins or at least tell me what type of cedar inlay it has I'd greatly appreciate it. The cedar scent is most definitely a unique, sweeter smell than the Spanish cedar I have in my other 3 'dors. Now, I'm no wood specialist by any stretch of the imagination, but I can tell the difference between my other 3 humidors and this one in smell alone, and slightly in color. The wood color is a bit lighter in color than the other 3 humidors. I'm not certain if this is because the other cedar was treated differently (kilk dried) or if the cedar (seen below) is just young and gives off this odor in its early incarnations, turning less odorous and less sweet as it ages with cigars in it. Please see the following photos to help me determine what I'm working with:

http://www.cigarphotos.com/displayimage.ph...up&cat=0&pos=10
http://www.cigarphotos.com/displayimage.ph...up&cat=0&pos=11

I don't want to make the mistake of putting in some upper end puros (especially ISOM boxes that I plan for this humidor to house) and have this scent ruin them all for me.

Any help in either identifying the wood type (shown in the photos above) or in identifying the humidor and its construct would be most helpful and again, greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading,
Darren

 

[JimK]

Some humidor builders choose honduran mahogany for the lining. Maybe that is it?

JK

 

[PTownshend]

Maybe it could be. Is honduran mahogany be lighter in color and sweeter in scent? Would the scent ruin smokes? Is there a different scent to it and should I be concerned about it?

Darren

Some humidor builders choose honduran mahogany for the lining. Maybe that is it?

JK

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[Marty]

Only one sure way to find out - - season it and put a few cheaper smokes in it. That's what I would do.

 

[PTownshend]

Hey Marty,
I had given that some thought and plan on doing just that. I'm just wanting to be sure what its lined with and cautious because if this doesn't break in to cigar scent, I want to trade it back in for a nice Craftmans Bench Madison (with a dreamy and perfect "WOOSH" to the seal!). It doesn't hold as much as this RyJ but it can get the job done.

Darren

Only one sure way to find out - - season it and put a few cheaper smokes in it. That's what I would do.

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[JimK]

I believe ob Staebell uses Honduran Mahogany for his linings, and cedar for his shelves. I'm pretty sure he told me that. So HM is fine.

Whether or not that is what you have in your humidor is still not known. I can't imagine they would put something evil in there.

JK

 

[AVB]

Todd need to update the forum to "scratch & sniff" for threads like this.

 

[Wurm]

Todd need to update the forum to "scratch & sniff" for threads like this.

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:laugh: just make sure you take out the patent on it!

It looks like spanish cedar or mahogany to me, not all wood is the same color. And if it was red cedar you'd know it almost immediatly upon opening it.

<-- red cedar

<-- honduran mahogany


And it sure is a beautiful humidor. :thumbs:

 

[PTownshend]

Wurm,
Thanks so very much for your insight and examples of the different types of cedar. I plan on seasoning the humidor with my overage of Gurkhas and K Hansotias sticks. Once seasoned I'll start to put the boxes in there.

I also plan on putting up more shots of my humidors, of which most are filled. I just like to share the view with as many people as possible.

Thanks again Wurm, you've put my mind at rest.
Darre

 

[Wurm]

Wurm,
Thanks so very much for your insight and examples of the different types of cedar.  I plan on seasoning the humidor with my overage of Gurkhas and K Hansotias sticks.  Once seasoned I'll start to put the boxes in there.

I also plan on putting up more shots of my humidors, of which most are filled.  I just like to share the view with as many people as possible.

Thanks again Wurm, you've put my mind at rest.
Darre

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Your very welcome, and how could I not help someone who has a member of the very first band I ever saw live as his user name and in his sig :thumbs:

And to be honest with you... I can't imagine Romeo y Juliet using anything but first class materials in a humidor carrying the name on its lid.

Enjoy!