How to age a box of cigars

[Holysmokes]

I was wondering, how do you age your boxes? Do you simply leave a unopened box in the humidor, or do you crack the box open and leave the open box in the humidor?

I was thinking of simply leaving a unopened box in the humidor but i'm afraid they will go dry. Any input on this would be appreciated.

[Tarks]

I was wondering, how do you age your boxes? Do you simply leave a unopened box in the humidor, or do you crack the box open and leave the open box in the humidor?

I was thinking of simply leaving a unopened box in the humidor but i'm afraid they will go dry. Any input on this would be appreciated.

Store them as they come. In closed box. All will be fine. Unless you have bought cardboard 3/5 packs. In that case pull them out and put them in an empty cab/dress box for storage.

[matt14]

I store everything in ziplock bags, my personal preference also saved my stock when I had a box which had beetles in it. Bought from Cairo DF on the way back from work. Never had a chance ti freeze it so bagged it stuck it in my humi and left for a few weeks in the UK. Came backe and the bag was crawling. Very lucky escape!!

[traded]

I store everything in ziplock bags, my personal preference also saved my stock when I had a box which had beetles in it. Bought from Cairo DF on the way back from work. Never had a chance ti freeze it so bagged it stuck it in my humi and left for a few weeks in the UK. Came backe and the bag was crawling. Very lucky escape!!

Wow! really makes me think about doing this.

[BossHogg]

I store them exactly how they come in the box and with the lid closed. Never fails :-)

[mykeuva]

Under my pillow while I sleep....

[#2 man]

just put the boxes in as they are packaged depending on the size of your humidor or fluctuation of humidity within you can always rotate the boxes or place a folded business card to crack the lid for added humidity based on how your stock is doing

[sandholm]

1: buy the box

2: open the box, freeze the cigars and the box

3: pack everything back as it was

4: raise the humidity slowly for the box

5: store it in the main humidor

6: wait

7: enjoy

[pocket9s]

Aging is not the hard part, keeping your hands off them is. My best advice is to buy two or more boxes and bury one deep in your humidor. If you are only able to obtain one box then do your best to bury it in the back. I have a few that are out of sight out of mind. And if I happen to think about them, I look in my humidor and realize that the 10 minute digout isn't worth it. I also try to rotate my stock every so often. Keep the stuff smoking well up front!

[Holysmokes]

Aging is not the hard part, keeping your hands off them is. My best advice is to buy two or more boxes and bury one deep in your humidor. If you are only able to obtain one box then do your best to bury it in the back. I have a few that are out of sight out of mind. And if I happen to think about them, I look in my humidor and realize that the 10 minute digout isn't worth it. I also try to rotate my stock every so often. Keep the stuff smoking well up front!

I see a lot of people commenting on "freezing" their cigars, or worrying about tobacco beetles. I could be wrong here but, from what I heard, tobacco beetles can only hatch if the temperature is 72c or higher. My humidor always stays below 70c. I keep a very close eye on it. But i guess it's always better to be safe than sorry. Also, I am too scared that freezing the cigars will take away from their taste... maybe it's just an unrealistic fear.

[bob25]

Aging is not the hard part, keeping your hands off them is. My best advice is to buy two or more boxes and bury one deep in your humidor. If you are only able to obtain one box then do your best to bury it in the back. I have a few that are out of sight out of mind. And if I happen to think about them, I look in my humidor and realize that the 10 minute digout isn't worth it. I also try to rotate my stock every so often. Keep the stuff smoking well up front!

That is so true and its the reason I started to store

a few boxes in the cigar locker which CZAR crew provide,I think its a great service.

I'm slowly building my collection there and hopefully in a few years I will have some age stock.

I know I couldn't keep my hands off them if they were near me.

[tmac77]

That is so true and its the reason I started to store

a few boxes in the cigar locker which CZAR crew provide,I think its a great service.

I'm slowly building my collection there and hopefully in a few years I will have some age stock.

I know I couldn't keep my hands off them if they were near me.

Too true. It takes some dicipline to be able to keep your hands off those beauties. Especially if they have been in your humidor for a year or two and need another 2 - 3 years on them. I try to buy two. "One to stock and one to rock" cuz I know that I do not have enough self control to wait. Using the online cigar locker service at the Czar is also a fantastic way to go. Although now I have to update my moto to "One to stock, one to rock and one to lock" and buy three.

[CanuckSARTech]

1: buy the box

2: open the box, freeze the cigars and the box

3: pack everything back as it was

4: raise the humidity slowly for the box

5: store it in the main humidor

6: wait

7: enjoy

Exactly the same.

Store your whole box together, in the closed-lid box, in your humidor. Moisture isn't a problem, they won't dry out - small changes will constantly happen, just perfect for the cigars. It lets them age and marry-together the tobacco and flavours better also.

[Holysmokes]

Exactly the same.

Store your whole box together, in the closed-lid box, in your humidor. Moisture isn't a problem, they won't dry out - small changes will constantly happen, just perfect for the cigars. It lets them age and marry-together the tobacco and flavours better also.

So if I don't put my cigars in the freezer before storing them in my humidor, what are the chances of having tobacco beetles. Like I said, my humidor never goes over 70c

[bassman]

I've never frozen cigars & never had a beetle problem. Always buy multiple boxes of your favorites & age them yourself. And always open each box on arrival to check for any damage. You're not going to be able to return a box if you open it after 4 years & discover mold or cracked wrappers.

[tmac77]

I never freeze either, maybe I am just lucky not to have had a beetle problem.

If they are dress boxes though, I remove one cigar and the spacer so they are not as tightly packed in the box.

[mash]

I never freeze, and have not had a beetle problem. I check the box when I get it, and then periodically for the first few months. Gives me an excuse to look at them.

[CanuckSARTech]

So if I don't put my cigars in the freezer before storing them in my humidor, what are the chances of having tobacco beetles. Like I said, my humidor never goes over 70c

Generally, mine doesn't reach higher than those temps either.

That said, it's just another form of insurance. I've tried multiple cigars from the same boxes, both before and after freezing - freezing doesn't do anything to take away any tastes or flavours in the cigars, and there's no worry about damage/cracks, so long as you follow the process right. So, why not bother to do it? I do, simply because when I get my cigars, I do the initial OTT inspection of them, and then I set them aside for 30 days. So, during that time, it just makes sense to do the freezing.

Hey, to each their own. And, I've never had a beetle problem either with freezing, or even without it / before I started doing it. But, it just makes me sleep a little better, I guess.

I'd say as it is now, and this is PURELY speculation/assumptive, but I'd say that without freezing, your chances of getting a beetle issue could be maybe right around 1 to 5%, all depending on individual stock, retailer, box age, storage conditions, cross contamination, effectiveness of H S.A.'s own freezing process during a given week, etc., etc. But with freezing stuff yourself, that then turns into about 0.00001%.

[anacostiakat]

Boxes go into the humi as received. Where they stay until emptied.

[laficion]

Perfect Jim.

Laficion's aging rules;

1. Receive box.

2. Put box in Humidor

3.Wait 1 week

4. Don-t wait to reach my AGE to smoke them

[Dbone]

You go in the cage, cages goes in the water, shark's in the water

HOLD IT

Cigars go in the box, box goes in the humidor, you go in the humidor

You're going to need a BIGGER humidor

Is it just me or is there some kind of connection between Jaws and Cigar Storage

[ZinZan]

I just chucked everything in my humi and my temp is 80 plus. So far, so good havent had any problems. On my next upgrade im def getting a wine cooler humi

[thechenman]

I don't freeze my cigars at all...and knock on wood...haven't experienced a beetle problem yet. Thank God. I try to keep the temp below 70, sometimes it may go slightly above. I like to age my cigars, but like others don't have enough self control. I use the Online Humidor that Czar provides extensively, and let me tell you it is a Godsend. At home I run multiple humidors and cooledors. Both of these work fine, but I'm always lusting after a cabinet humdior.

[brutusthebuckeye]

Buy box

inspect box

close lid

no freezing

put in Vinotemp

No Problems!!!!