Letting Cigars Breathe

[SigmundChurchill]

When I get tubos, or any individually packaged cigars, I find that they are a lot smoother if I take them out of the tube or package, and let them sit in the humidor uncovered for a few days before smoking them.  It could just be in my mind, but I have always found them to be a lot smoother when I do this.  I remember back when I got my first Siglo VIs in tubes, I asked Wayne if they changed the blend for the tubos because they tasted different to me, and he told me to try doing this.  I did, and then they tasted normal to me again.  I have been doing with my individually packaged cigars ever since.  Does anyone else notice this?

[PigFish]

I never leave my cigars bottled up in an unknown environment.

-P

[cigcars]

       * I just unscrew the bottom of the tube and leave the bottom of it open so that they can benefit from the humidor environment. I suppose I feel that the cigar remaining inside the tube can keep its original properties too.

[BrightonCorgi]

I use to unscrew the cap on tubos when I had desktop humidor just for looks.  I like the change in flavor the tubo gives to a cigar.  I don't smoke tubos that often, but a whiff of cedar is part of the joy.

[Wilzc]

Cigars freshly out of the tubos smells like rotten eggs


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[Fugu]

14 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

When I get tubos, or any individually packaged cigars, I find that they are a lot smoother if I take them out of the tube or package, and let them sit in the humidor uncovered for a few days before smoking them.  It could just be in my mind, but I have always found them to be a lot smoother when I do this.  I remember back when I got my first Siglo VIs in tubes, I asked Wayne if they changed the blend for the tubos because they tasted different to me, and he told me to try doing this.  I did, and then they tasted normal to me again.  I have been doing with my individually packaged cigars ever since.  Does anyone else notice this?

Absolutely, no doubt about that. That's exactly what I am always doing - a necessity in fresh and younger tubos, not so much in aged ones (same holding for fresh boxes for that matter). Tubos I keep with their lids shut for storage and aging, once they got adjusted to my conditions after an initial period of open storage, even fully unpacked at times after the initial mould-check, so as to balance humidity. For smoking, young or slightly aged tubed cigars I take out a couple of days in advance. Mostly to let them breathe and get rid of any gaseous byproducts that may have developed and got trapped in the hermetically sealed space.

[NSXCIGAR]

Unless long-term aging (7+ years), storage in closed tubes isn't necessary. If the cigar is to be smoked within 3 years I would absolutely concur with above statements to remove the cap or remove from the tube. And it probably is a good idea to let them air out or "breathe" for a week or two as there could be some trapped gasses in there theoretically.

[fundadores]

For me storing in tubes seems silly. There's also a reason why tupperware humidors need some wood inside them to work properly. The wood somehow helps the cigars to breathe by storing and releasing humidity.

[havanaclub]

Unless long-term aging (7+ years), storage in closed tubes isn't necessary. If the cigar is to be smoked within 3 years I would absolutely concur with above statements to remove the cap or remove from the tube. And it probably is a good idea to let them air out or "breathe" for a week or two as there could be some trapped gasses in there theoretically.

I have always wondered what to do with my tubos with regard to aging.
I don’t have many as I prefer to have cabs to age but I have always taken the tops off to acclimate in the humidor for a few weeks then put the top back on and let them sit. I will try to let them breathe a day or so before smoking.
Looks like the general consensus is either take them out completely or remove the caps to age.


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[fundadores]

Altough I have read somewhere that storing in tubes is better for long term aging, but I don't know the science behind that

[NSXCIGAR]

13 hours ago, fundadores said:

Altough I have read somewhere that storing in tubes is better for long term aging, but I don't know the science behind that

The theory is that long-term aging produces the best results with limited ambient airflow. 

Limited airflow along with maximum cigar-to-cigar contact maximizes aging results. This means that the best packaging format for aging is probably the varnished 8-9-8 box, followed by glass jars, foil wrapped 25s, then varnished BN boxes. Tubes are probably the next best format despite no cigar-to-cigar contact. Cabs and unvarnished SBN packaging are actually quite permeable and are only marginally better than dress boxes.