Since my last thread concerning Tatuajes(Keeping the Fire Going), I am considering pulling the trigger on 60% humidity beads, but before I do does everyone agree that 60% RH is the new 70% for storing cigars. I know most will say that it is a matter of preference, but really it seems that most cigars benefit from them being stored at 60%. What do you say?
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Who's the King
- Thread starter Rconectn
- Start date
CoventryCat86
Corresponding authority
I like storing my cigars at 60%RH. I keep my coolers in my finished basement. In the summer, the temperature never gets over 70 down there and the beads maintain 65%RH. During the winter, I keep the thermostat in my house set around 55 for the winter months so the basement is around that temperature as well. I notice that in the winter though, the RH in my coolers drops to 60% and stays there.
My conditions are probably out of the ordinary but back to your original question, I think 60% - 65% is the range you want to shoot for and if anything, the lower end of that range the better.
My conditions are probably out of the ordinary but back to your original question, I think 60% - 65% is the range you want to shoot for and if anything, the lower end of that range the better.
H311oLHD
Active Member
I've got all 65% beads...I love them! I reallyyyy do not like when cigars get up around 70+...brings back bad memories (not so long ago) of my ultra-newb days!
Tapewormboy
Member
I agree with CC.
If I had to choose 60% or 65%, I'd go with 60%. I have the Cigar Oasis set at 64.5%, but the seperate hydrometers all read around 61-62%. Anything remotely close to 70% is bitter and harsh; I can't seem to taste the flavors.
Storage is the most important place humidity matters. But for me, there's also the issue of where I smoke. I find that I don't like smoking during the humid summer months or in the humidified walk-in at my local B&M. Just like having an overhumidified stick tastes bad, sucking humid air through the stick isn't optimal for me.
Of course, this is all up to the individual. EVERYONE has a different opinion on humidity%.
If I had to choose 60% or 65%, I'd go with 60%. I have the Cigar Oasis set at 64.5%, but the seperate hydrometers all read around 61-62%. Anything remotely close to 70% is bitter and harsh; I can't seem to taste the flavors.
Storage is the most important place humidity matters. But for me, there's also the issue of where I smoke. I find that I don't like smoking during the humid summer months or in the humidified walk-in at my local B&M. Just like having an overhumidified stick tastes bad, sucking humid air through the stick isn't optimal for me.
Of course, this is all up to the individual. EVERYONE has a different opinion on humidity%.
Mr Peat
Rich Perelman, "Loren you have a Godlike Presence.
I feel it depends on what type of cigars you have. I've had it at 60% and some of them just smoke horrible and taste odd. But they are fine at say 68%. So I try to keep it around 65% so its a happy medium. While the humidor was at 62%, 3 of my Opus which was different sizes tasted bland and not even Opus like at all. It was a pretty disappointing experience. But now that the humidity is around 66%, they are recovering like champs that they are.
N2Advnture
Active Member
I store at 65% RH and dry box for a couple of days prior to smoking. This is by far the best setup I have found in 16+ years. :thumbs:
Hope this helps Christian!
~Mark
Hope this helps Christian!
~Mark
Dave
Padilla Lanceros, yum yum!!
How funny! Lately I've been moving in the opposite direction. I keep my long term storage at 63% or less and the stuff in my smoking cooler closer to 67-68? I think cigars smoke better, are more flavorful and supple at the slightly higher humidity. In fact, if I must smoke from the storage coolers, I usually run them under filtered water to wet the wrappers. It does absolute wonders for a well-stored cigar in the lower 60's.
Wilkey
NullSmurf
Das Bruce
I also agree with CC. I have 65% beads that want to hold closer to 60 when its cold, and closer to 65 when its warmer.
I trust you Mark :thumbs: and I also trust your judgement Wilkey and you also Loren. So far it looks like I'll be staying put at 65% and dry boxing them. I would still love to hear what everyone else thinks about big boned women vs skinny women....lol...no, no give me more opinions on your RH. Thanks
Zeebra
Daddy still loves Padrón!
You run your cigars under water before smoking them? I've never heard of this before. Did I read this correctly?
I used to store at 70% when I first started, but have since moved to 65% and I don't mind if the beads get bone dry and it drops to slightly under that. I find that I have smoked many great cigars since lowering my humidity and I think the lower humidity is making all my cigars smoke better for me.
cookie_1978
Well-Known Member
Ok - stupid question, what does "dry boxing" them mean?
Brickhouse
J.C. Newman owes me royalties.
I have a 20ct humi with nothing in it humidification wise. I use this as my dry box if necessary.
My main humidor is storing cigars at 63% currently and I love it. My humi that contains most of my primos runs at 66%, but I don't smoke out of there as often.
Bottom line for me: For smoking I like below 65% and for storage I like 65-68%.
65% is a good number because plus or minus 1-2% shouldn't cause you any worries. I do find that in the low 60s certain cigars lose a noticeable amount of flavor... but there are also some cigars like the Tatuaje brand that aren't smokeable above 62%
Mrepp
To boldly troll where no Troll has trolled before
Hmm some cigars smoke better at different RH’s like people said but I honestly think the key is consistency. My buddy has a small but very nice humidor that is constantly at an RH of 70 365 days a year and is very consistent and his cigars smoke wonderfully, no burn problems and there all tasty. Just my 2 cents.
antaean
Did this happen to you?
I go with 65% for long term storage (2+ years, only recently started trying to age stuff) and most smokes 65% for smoking. But like some others here, I have noticed that some cigars seem to taste better a bit wetter, up to 70%. So I also keep a 70% humidor for some cigars and 65% for others. Still experimenting with this though.
BTW, as far as pouring water on the wrappers: most of it just runs off and is not absorbed. However, I have noticed that this seems to help reduce split wrappers during cold, very low humidity smoking sessions. I read somewhere about someone doing this so I tried it and it seems to work very well. Back in the day, I used to lick overly dry cigar wrappers before smoking...but those were not premium smokes...ugh.
Cheers,
antaean
BTW, as far as pouring water on the wrappers: most of it just runs off and is not absorbed. However, I have noticed that this seems to help reduce split wrappers during cold, very low humidity smoking sessions. I read somewhere about someone doing this so I tried it and it seems to work very well. Back in the day, I used to lick overly dry cigar wrappers before smoking...but those were not premium smokes...ugh.
Cheers,
antaean
My coolers run right at 65% year round, and I try to keep my desktop close to 60%. Cigars usually move from the coolers to the desktop and sit there for at least a week before being smoked. Best setup I've found, to date. But, as has been said, it's very much a personal preference.
Regards - B.B.S.
Regards - B.B.S.
Strayvector
Like what you smoke, smoke what you like
I'm with you on this, Wilkey. My long term storage is at about 60-65%, but to smoke, I'll transfer the cigar to my desktop humi for at least a couple of weeks which runs at about 70% humidity. I definitely prefer the taste of the wetter cigar. As Wilkey mentioned, I find the flavors are a little more intensified. Granted the burn might not be as good as those cigars I pull straight out of the frigador, but the flavor is definitely better. The way I see it, flavor is more important because I can always correct minor burn problems.
I haven't tried running the cigar under water though, might have to try that and see if the flavors is as good as the sticks that are humidified all the way through.
CoventryCat86
Corresponding authority
Cookie, I think he meant to tell you that what is meant by the term "dry box" is that you take a cigar you want to smoke out of your regular humidor and put it in a "dry box" or a humidor with no humidification so that the cigar can "dry out" a little bit before you smoke it. The length of time people keep their cigars in a "dry box" varies on their preference.
I personally never cared for the whole "dry box" ritual nor do I ever utilize it. The way I see it, if you want your cigar drier than it's being stored in your humidor prior to smoking it, then just leave it out on the table for a while, it'll "dry out" just fine, especially in the winter. I guess supposedly using a "dry box" decreases the chances of the cigar drying out too much, at least that's what the proponents will lead you to believe.
lucasbuck
Sheriff Buck
I have been preaching 60% for a long time now. Certainly it's not for everyone but it is for me. I never have draw or burn problems and flavors are consistent. I've never had a cigar that was too dry but I've had many that were too wet.