If you love cigars, you need a humidor
Even if you have recently started enjoying fine cigars, you should buy a quality humidor before your collection grows larger. The cigar box that came with your cigars is fine for shipping, but it won't keep them in tip-top condition long-term. As you well know, some cigars must be kept for 6 to 7 years before they reach their best smoking condition. If you don't have a good humidor, that cigar will be ruined before you can smoke it.
Decide what type of humidor you need
The first step in buying a humidor is deciding where to keep it and how big it should be. Want one for your home, office, country club, or for travel? If you have a small collection that you keep in the club, a humidor of 12 to 20 cigars should be sufficient. Twelve is probably the best for traveling. A home or office humidor can hold 100 or more cigars. If you want to display it on your desk, a 100-cigar humidor that enhances your décor is best. If you have 300 cigars, a closet humidor might be a better place to store them. Cabinet humidors can be simple, designed for storage in a closet or large decorative boxes suitable for cigar accessories.
Look for quality workmanship and materials
With those decisions made, start shopping. The best humidors are made from dried wood at a moisture content of 6%. The wood should be solid wood, not plywood. The surface should be smooth, without cracks or lumps. Travel humidors can be made of metal to protect both the cigars and the box from damage. If possible, take your travel humidor on the plane, but it should also be safe in your suitcase.
The humidor cladding must be Spanish cedar or Honduran mahogany. Spanish cedar is not the same as the cedar that lines your closet. The cedar in the closet is too strong for cigars.
A good humidor maintains ideal conditions
The humidor should be large enough to hold your cigars comfortably and loosely. If you enjoy more than one type of cigar, look for a humidor with dividers to prevent the flavors from bleeding. Check the lid closed to make sure the box will seal tightly when full.
Most humidors come with a hygrometer and some type of humidification device. The hygrometer will be an analog dial or a digital reading that shows the humidity level of the box. They both work equally well, so it's just a matter of personal preference. Humidification devices come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and formats. You will often see tubes filled with distilled water or humidifying liquid and plastic rectangles containing humidification crystals. A larger humidor may have an electronic humidifier to precisely maintain the humidity between 70 and 72%.
Proper humidor maintenance is key
Once you receive the humidifier and have the hygrometer and humidification device conditioned according to the instructions, you should let the box moisten for a few days before adding the cigars. Keep the humidor away from direct heat sources, air conditioning, direct sunlight, and drafts. All four will dry out the box and could damage the cigars inside. You should open the humidor every few days to allow fresh air to circulate through the box.
A humidor is the only way to store and keep your cigars in the right conditions. Quality humidors don't have to be expensive. You can find an attractive humidor at an affordable price and spend the rest of your money on amazing cigars and other necessary cigarette accessories.
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