How cold would you go?

[mb55317]

Hi guys,

The thermostat on one of my wine coolers has gone on the blink causing it to cool the temperature to approx. 52F rather than the usual and stable 65F.

I've heard of lower temperatures being used for long term ageing and wondered what the general consensus was about storage/ ageing at lower than usual temperatures. I understand that it (apparently) slow and improve the ageing process...

Cheers, MB

[dangolf18]

I've heard for long-term aging, 55F is optimal.

[mb55317]

Cool thanks

[Upmann2009]

I've heard for long-term aging, 55F is optimal.

Would it be too low at 55f = 12.8c? Recommend by HSA by 16-18c?

[mb55317]

Exactly, trying to get some consensus- I've heard of lower temperatures being used for long term ageing and wondered if any BOTL has any experiences of this?

[BehikeLover2]

14-22°C here, changes slowly with the weather/time of the year. great results. @65%

[Guest rob]

In winter, in my basement,,my cigars are kept at around 10 degrees. No problems what so ever.

[Deodato]

I store long-term at 58F. Works for me but hard for me to compare it to anything...

[polarbear]

If possible, it might be an idea to allow your cigars to come to room temp before smoking them.

A couple of my mates that live in HOT climates (regularly 40+ degrees C) found they had wrappers split on them if they took a cigar out of their 16 degree C wine fridges and immediately lit them

[mk05]

find the thermodynamics chart posted by piggy please. humidity relative to temperature in pressure constant closed environment. it'll help you understand why you're doing what.

[sengjc]

Psychrometric chart?

[PigFish]

find the thermodynamics chart posted by piggy please. humidity relative to temperature in pressure constant closed environment. it'll help you understand why you're doing what.

Bingo!

You are not talking just a relationship to temperature and water vapor here. You must consider how tobacco behaves relevant to both temperature and rH.

Temperature and humidity are linked, but separate issues, both controlling percent moisture contend when dealing with hygroscopic materials like tobacco. One number is useless without the other. It is the combination that provides the proper percent moisture content of your tobacco and the numbers are determined empirically, not theoretically, nor via guru logic!

I am making no claims on aging... I am not speculating about that and it is all speculation. I am talking about water vapor content of tobacco and how to store your cigars for an optimum smoking experience.

I am guess now, but I would say if you leave the same amount of water in your sealed system and lower the temp to 55 dF, you will get mildew smelling cigars. Be very careful what you do!!!

Cheers, -the Pig