restitutionof dried cigars

[davekay]

Hi everyone...I am new to the forum and have been learning lots...I recently acquired a mixed box of cigars from my uncle's estate (mostly Cuban (Monty 2, Cohiba Esplendido and Robusto, Hoyo Epicure, RA Specially Selected) and a few Nicaraguan and Honduran). They are totally dry and likely have been for years as he hadn't smoked in over 10 years . My question is...can they be re-humidified to their former glory and, if so, is it as simple as putting them in my desktop humidor or is there a better method. I apologize if this comes across as a "no-brainer" but thought many folks may have experience with this issue. Thankyou

[Colt45]

They can be re-humidified - slowly, as a rapid change in humidity could end up causing damage. Whether or not they can ever be brought back to their former

selves is another story. My thought is that if they've really lost their essential oils, they'll probably never taste as intended.

It's worth a try, and you never know - good luck.

[Peter11216]

Hi There,

I've re-humidified cigars. I can't comment on whether you can get back the original flavours, or even get them back to palatable. It didn't work so well for me. I do have a few words of advice, based on some random internet research, and my own experience.

First, beware of splitting the foots, or feet, of your inheritance. Almost all of my sticks cracked a bit or more at the foot. I believe this is because the cigars absorb moisture from the foot first, and only later through the wrapper. As the tobacco at the foot gains moisture, while the rest stays relatively dry, it expands faster the rest of the stick causing the wrapper at the foot to split.

I would thus recommend two things: increase the humidity slowly and in stages, that is, don't stick the dry sticks in a humidor at 65% RH immediately. Go up in steps, over a long period. I'm sorry I can't tell you the optimum time, but I suspect slower can't hurt. You could probably achieve this by starting with a dry humidification device, or small number of beads or what have you, and slowly increase water, beads, or whatever.

If you have the patience, I think it wouldn't hurt to wrap something, not tightly, around the foot. Perhaps wax paper, and a bit of scotch tape. However, this clearly risks have the rest of the wrapper crack, and would be time consuming. (I haven't tried this.)

Second, keep these cigars segregated from the rest of your collection. You won't have any idea if there are any mold spores lurking, while they are so dry.

Please let us know how it goes, and reply or shoot me a PM if you want to brainstorm.

Best & Good Luck,

Pete

Hi everyone...I am new to the forum and have been learning lots...I recently acquired a mixed box of cigars from my uncle's estate (mostly Cuban (Monty 2, Cohiba Esplendido and Robusto, Hoyo Epicure, RA Specially Selected) and a few Nicaraguan and Honduran). They are totally dry and likely have been for years as he hadn't smoked in over 10 years . My question is...can they be re-humidified to their former glory and, if so, is it as simple as putting them in my desktop humidor or is there a better method. I apologize if this comes across as a "no-brainer" but thought many folks may have experience with this issue. Thankyou

[thechenman]

Yes on the possibility of rehumidification, but if they have been in that state for a number of years, then the oils in the tobacco leaves are likely gone. If that is the case, these babies will never taste as they were meant to.

[davekay]

They can be re-humidified - slowly, as a rapid change in humidity could end up causing damage. Whether or not they can ever be brought back to their former

selves is another story. My thought is that if they've really lost their essential oils, they'll probably never taste as intended.

It's worth a try, and you never know - good luck.

Thanks for the info Pete...I will let you know how it went...Dave