RonLA Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 I have an Aristocrat Dark Mahogany Humidor with mahogany interior. I was wandering for opinions on whether Spanish Cedar provides better long term storage and flavor for your cigars versus Mahogany.
lordlister Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 Spanish cedar is actually a type of Mahogany. From Wikipedia: Cedrela is a genus of seven species[citation needed] in the mahogany family Meliaceae. Cedrela odorata is a very important timber tree, producing a lightweight fragrant wood with very good resistance to termites and other wood-boring insects, and also rot-resistant outdoors. The wood is often sold under the name "Spanish-cedar" (like many trade names, confusing as it is neither Spanish nor a cedar), and is the traditional wood used for making cigar boxes, as well as being used for general outdoor and construction work, panelling and veneer wood.
cigcars Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 *Well Gee I never knew that! I didn't know Spanish Cedar was a type of Mahagony! Thanks for more education and info on our beloved hobby!
Tarks Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 Personally, I prefer other woods vs Spanish Cedar. I find that Spanish Cedar to be way too aromatic, especially if you are long term aging.
RonLA Posted January 31, 2011 Author Posted January 31, 2011 Lordlister, yes, thanks for educating me on that, was too lazy today to research it myself, lol.
lordlister Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 Personally, I prefer other woods vs Spanish Cedar. I find that Spanish Cedar to be way too aromatic, especially if you are long term aging. I've heard this from many people! I haven't been able to compare the two. From what I hear, Bob Staebell is one of the best in the business and I'm sure he knows the difference well!
NitrousPurger Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 Ive never heard of Spanish cedar being too aromatic. Ive only heard that American cedar is way too aromatic. Also ive been told that Spanish cedar somehow reduces the chance for beetles?? not sure how it does that though
RonLA Posted January 31, 2011 Author Posted January 31, 2011 Ive never heard of Spanish cedar being too aromatic. Ive only heard that American cedar is way too aromatic. Also ive been told that Spanish cedar somehow reduces the chance for beetles?? not sure how it does that though Never had any beetle problems for mine. Very high quality workmanship I must say. Mine doesn't have a high aromatic, I haven't noticed. The humidor and set and forget maintain perfect humidity control that is for sure.
CohibaBehike Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 I've learned that Spanish Cedar has a sort of natural insecticide to it and helps fight off tobacco beetles. Something I've discussed with a serious Humidor builder.
semery74 Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 If you have ever been in a room or workshop where Spanish Cedar is being milled you would be immediately over powered by it's aromatic qualities. You get this extreme bitterness in the back of you throat. It certainly will make you second guess the beneficial affect it has on cigars. Mahogany on the other hand has a wonderful rounded taste characteristic. It is sweet, sour, and savory. The oils of the wood always stain my skin, lasting for a day until it wears off. There are several varieties of commercial mahogany available today. The rarest being Cuban Mahogany, due to deforestation, which has led to it's inclusion on the CITES Convention List.2 The properties of Swietenia Mahogany are amazingly beautiful since it takes a polish like rosewood and has a remarkable beauty. At Habanos, so many pictures of the tobacco aging process show barrels in storage.1 What I would love to know is what kind of barrels are these? Are they recycled Spirit containers? Do they have indigenous origins? This storage process to me represents the greatest opportunity for cigar longevity and character. As we have learned from wine-making, barrel type and lineage is one of the foremost determining factors of quality and character. There are so many varieties of White Oak and methods of delivery,all of which lead to a different character of a finished wine.3 The effect of wood on the final product in cigar making is as undeniable as the effect on storage and care of our collections. Cedar and mahogany have been synonymous to cigars as long as tobacco has been transported from one side of the world to the other. And the right choice of wood is far easier than the wrong choice. Both Cedar and Mahogany have been used for so long that Time itself is empirical enough to show that there can be no other affect than a beneficial purpose. References 1. http://www.habanos.com/article.aspx?aid=23 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahogany 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_%28wine%29
Quint Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 Thanks for the info and references Semery74 nice bit of research.
Grabo2u2 Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 In my last home I had a walk in humidor that I lined in Spanish Cedar, the smell was over powering at first but as with all cedars it lessoned with time. If you want the smell stronger simply give it a lite sanding, it is recommended that you wear a filter mask when working with it as breathing the dust in can cause some serious lung problems ( I guess that's why bugs don't like it LOL ) I miss my Humidor, now I just have a corner one with a 2ft x 6ft door but with 2 sons in college I also have a lot fewer cigars!
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