How to store cigars at home
Humidors, the 70/70 rule, humidity packs, and what to do (and not do) with cigars between visits.
A cigar is a dried leaf that keeps reacting to the air around it. Too dry and it cracks, burns hot and tastes harsh. Too damp and it won’t draw, burns unevenly and can grow mold. Storage is about keeping it steady.
The 70/70 rule
The classic target is 70°F and 70% relative humidity. That’s what we keep our walk-in humidor at. Many smokers at home prefer a little lower, around 65 to 69%, which can give a slightly firmer burn. Pick a number in that range and keep it steady. Stability matters more than the exact figure.
Keep the temperature below about 73°F. Warm, humid conditions invite tobacco beetles, which hatch from eggs in the leaf and leave tiny holes. Many retailers freeze cigars to kill eggs; keeping your humidor cool is the best prevention at home.
Your options
For a few days: keep cigars in their cellophane, if they came in it, inside a sealed plastic bag with a two-way humidity pack. Out of the sun and away from heaters.
For a few weeks: a sealed plastic container (a “tupperdor”) with a two-way humidity pack and a cheap hygrometer works surprisingly well.
For a collection: a humidor, a box lined with Spanish cedar, which holds moisture and repels insects. Look for a tight-fitting lid. A good one should feel slightly resistant as it closes.
Setting up a new humidor
- Wipe the cedar lightly with distilled water on a clean cloth, or leave a dish of distilled water in it for a day or two. Don’t soak it.
- Add a humidifier: a two-way humidity pack is the easiest, since it adds or absorbs moisture as needed.
- Put in a hygrometer and wait until it holds steady for a couple of days before adding cigars.
- Use distilled water only. Tap water leaves mineral deposits and can grow mold.
Common mistakes
- The refrigerator. It’s too dry and full of food smells.
- Overfilling. Air needs to circulate. Leave some room.
- Mixing strongly flavored cigars with regular ones. Infused cigars will pass their scent along.
- Forgetting it. Check the hygrometer weekly and rotate cigars now and then.
Rest after travel
Cigars that just traveled, or were stored at a different humidity, benefit from a few days to a couple of weeks settling in your humidor before you smoke them.
Short on space at home? A VIP membership in The Paddock includes a dedicated locker in our humidified members’ room.