Storage Temp And Oil/Color

[Mattb82]

I remember seeing a pic a while back in a post showing that low storage temps caused a cigar to lose oil and color. Is this possible? I ask because my only storage option is the basement that is 63-65 degrees in my cabinet in the winter and 65-67 in summer. The RH is a constant 65%. I just don't want all these beautiful PSP I'm getting to go in looking sexy and cone out looking like Rosie O'Donnell having lost their oil. I think they are fine based on research but wanted to get some opinions. If I move the cabinet I'll have to fight the wife, I can win but it may be a Pyrrhic victory 

[BuzzArd]

Sounds near ideal to me.....   Especially with "no other option".

Dang...   If I could manage that I'd be stacking boxes everywhere!!     I'd carry some up for dry-boxing and then burn 'em to ashes.   

[Guest Robusto 107]

i wanna know this answer too.

[Mattb82]

Technically it's not the only option, it's the only one without a battle. Wife doesn't like my cigar smoking and doesn't want them in the grade level living room(split level) where our kids could see them. 

[TheMonk]

I know nobody actually reads that little paper that comes with EVERY Habanos cigar box (even most of the fake ones ), but if they did, they could clearly read that the temperature they recommend is between 16º C and 18º C, which in F is roughly 61 to 64.5, so I'd say you're probably spot on. If you're thinking long term ageing (over 10 years), it's said that a lower temp is recommended, probably closer to 16ºC or 61ºF.

That being said, I'm not overtly concerned with the looks of the cigar but the actual flavour it has. However, if your main concern are the oily wrappers, I'd suggest upping the RH and not the temperature; usually if you go above 70% you will end up with an oilier (albeit probably less flavourful) cigar.

[Jimmy_jack]

60-67 temp and 65rh year round??? Jesus...I might move there. 

[Jimmy_jack]

Wait...I see you're in Jersey...never mind...bwahahaha. Just kidding. Seriously though, you have ideal conditions in my book.

[Mattb82]

@Jimmy_jack. Definitely not ideal outdoor temps here, especially in the next month. I've been freezing my tail off outside smoking at night after the kids go to bed. I bundle up like the Michelin man. 

 

@TheMonk. Not necessarily concerned about the oil in how they make them look. It just seems like they Smoke really well. I probably incorrectly associate a great looking oily cigar to a good smoke when a great cigar could be fugly but still great. Thanks for the opinions gents, it's nice to have confirmation sometimes. 

[Dougthesnail]

I manage to maintain a constant 65-67f and 71-72% rh.

[Mattb82]

@Hutch, great info,  Thanks man 

[GrouchoMarx]

Mine are at 67F, and about 67rh.

I'm GrouchoMarx and I approved this post.

[stogieluver]

8 hours ago, Dougthesnail said:

I manage to maintain a constant 65-67f and 71-72% rh.

Cubans at 71-72%?

[Dougthesnail]

58 minutes ago, stogieluver said:

Cubans at 71-72%?

Yup. I live in Canada, so smoking in the winter is a non-option. I'm gonna let them sleep for the next six months at that humidity.

[SCgarman]

15 hours ago, Dougthesnail said:

Yup. I live in Canada, so smoking in the winter is a non-option. I'm gonna let them sleep for the next six months at that humidity.

They will certainly not burn nor draw worth a darn with that much moisture in the cigars, and depending on your temp, you may have a mold issue.

[PigFish]

20 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

They will certainly not burn nor draw worth a darn with that much moisture in the cigars, and depending on your temp, you may have a mold issue.

While I tend to advise verses tell someone what to do with their cigars, I have to agree with this, certainly from the perspective of a warning. Low energy water becomes highly attractive to cigars at this level. Do what you want certainly, but don't be surprised if you have issues with your cigars, including possible mold when you decide that it is time to smoke again in the spring.

My two coins, for what they are worth! -the Pig

[PigFish]

There are so many aspects of the OP's post that I wish to comment on, so much speculation that I don't really have time to delve into it all.

What are cigars oils? Are they volatile? Is their volatility based on vapor pressure? Does it matter? Does it affect taste? Is what you see indicative of taste????

From your numbers if anything there is too much water in your storage plan, for my taste! It is a taste issue, and not one of optics nor speculation about oils.

What the wrapper looks like means precious little to me as I smile and enjoy a sublime cigar. While is it only my opinion, the appearance of sheen on a wrapper, oil slick or buffed finish, has little or no correlation to the taste of a cigar.

I am not a cigar photographer. I am a smoker. What a cigar tastes like determines my smoking experience. I could care less if it is a dull as dirt!

MHO, as always! Cheers! -Piggy

[Smallclub]

39 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

They will certainly not burn nor draw worth a darn with that much moisture in the cigars, and depending on your temp, you may have a mold issue.

The annual average relative humidity in Cuba is 78%. I don't know how it is in the escarpates (where the rolled cigars rest) but I guess it's much higher than 72%.

Is it that difficult to smoke a cigar on the island?

[Bohn007]

18 hours ago, Hutch said:

Something else that seems to happen to a small percentage of my cigars is a distinct "firming up". They end up feeling like tent pegs. Yet their smokability is not adversely affected...if anything they get "perfect"  

I had a real problem with that with the Trinidad Fundadores before. Over the years, I could have used one to secure a boat to shore but the draw became so tight many of the cigars were unsmokable. 

[SCgarman]

16 minutes ago, Smallclub said:

The annual average relative humidity in Cuba is 78%. I don't know how it is in the escarpates (where the rolled cigars rest) but I guess it's much higher than 72%.

Is it that difficult to smoke a cigar on the island?

I wouldn't know, as it is illegal for us "yanks" to visit there.

[Smallclub]

23 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

I wouldn't know, as it is illegal for us "yanks" to visit there.

There are hundreds of reports from visits to Cuba on cigar boards. Have you ever heard of someone complaining about the difficulty to smoke fresh wet cigars in a very wet location?

[PigFish]

47 minutes ago, Smallclub said:

The annual average relative humidity in Cuba is 78%. I don't know how it is in the escarpates (where the rolled cigars rest) but I guess it's much higher than 72%.

Is it that difficult to smoke a cigar on the island?

... and what is the temperature of Cuba?

81˚F! (average)

Percent moisture content of hygroscopic materials is linked to both temperature and rH and they work in an inverse relationship. 70rH and 80F is arguably not too much water for a cigar, based on personal taste of course.

I do find it interesting that when one purchases tubes, where the actual environment of Cuba can travel with the packaged cigar, one finds the highest probability getting 'packaged' mold with cigars. It would appear, as these cigars find there way to lower temperature locations around the world, the water packaged with them can easily exceed the capillary water limits making mold growth possible on cigars.

I hardly ever find mold on cigars. I almost always find a percentage with mold when I de-tube, tubo packaged cigars! Having purchased several hundred tubed cigars this year, every package from every vendor had at least one cigar with mold on it... I don't believe it to be 'random' coincidence, but meaningful coincidence.

-Piggy

[GavLew79]

1 hour ago, PigFish said:

I could care less if it is a dull as dirt!

Piggy, you are a man of logic so hopefully you will forgive this brief pedantry. 

If you "could care less" it means you actually care somewhat. The expression is "I couldn't care less" which means you have absolutely no regard for said matter. 

Cheers

[PigFish]

24 minutes ago, GavLew79 said:

Piggy, you are a man of logic so hopefully you will forgive this brief pedantry. 

If you "could care less" it means you actually care somewhat. The expression is "I couldn't care less" which means you have absolutely no regard for said matter. 

Cheers

I believe you are right!

...and I could care less!!! (-LOL, look I had to throw that in... It was expected!!! )

I will work on it, good to keep your eyes open! Cheers! -Piggy

[Akela3rd]

Going slightly, OK massively, off-topic - I'd begun to assume "could care less" was an Americanism as I've seen it a number of times on the forums. I'm glad to see it's probably just a spell-check issue and the mother tongue remains robust.?

[Cep]

so most ppl have it wrong as they think that rh at higher temps lead to wetter cigars vs rh at lower temps.   Is that correct?