Long term storage

[Chas.Alpha]

I’m sure this has been hashed over a dozen times, but this is new territory for me. Last month, I finally fulfilled a lifelong dream and spent all of my money in Havana! While I have always kept 5 or 6 boxes in rotation, they were always unboxed and stored in my desktop humidors.

I now have a few boxes that I intend on not opening until Christmas 2022.

Do I leave the boxes unopened?

Best Humidity setting?

Tip and tricks?...

Thank you all, in advance...

[chris12381]

Congrats.  Before you think about long term storage, best research freezing your on island purchases. 

[Optic101]

Nice shopping !

Freeze first, let them then rest for a few weeks to adjust RH.
Then (if you want) wrap each box with Safran or wax paper or freezer bags and store them at a temp and RH stable place.

[Chas.Alpha]

Freezing absolutely necessary, even if kept below f75 and below 80%?
 

Thanks...

[chris12381]

Just now, Chas.Alpha said:

Freezing absolutely necessary, even if kept below f75 and below 80%?
 

Thanks...

Absolutely necessary.  I open every box in store after I buy it ton inspect for beetle / mold and unfortunately, I'm often happy I did.  If I were you, I'd open them immediately.  

I learned the hard way. 

[HuffnPuffff]

I learned the hard way too.
No two ways about it: if you buy it in Cuba, freeze it!

Export cigars go through a freezing process before export; those sold locally don’t.

Nice to see a Cigar Oasis in use - those things are solid.

Enjoy!




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[Chas.Alpha]

Thanks! You scared me! I just went into freezing protocols, Cling wrap, 2 days refrigerator, then 4 days freezer followed by 3 days ‘fridge.

I’ve done it before when I was storing Boxes at my cigar club locker...

Thanks for the advice! ??

[Chas.Alpha]

39 minutes ago, HuffnPuffff said:

I learned the hard way too.
No two ways about it: if you buy it in Cuba, freeze it!

Export cigars go through a freezing process before export; those sold locally don’t.

Nice to see a Cigar Oasis in use - those things are solid.

Enjoy!




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Bought it when I knew I was going to turn the old cherry china cab into my humidor. I have the set point at 71, so it kicks on at 69.

Suggestions? (Once my sticks come back from freezing...)

[Mikeltee]

Long term 65. Short term 62. If you plan to smoke young ones, figure out a drybox routine. I'm currently dryboxing some farm rolls at 58. I'll try another in a few weeks. When dryboxing think of it like this... you want all leaves within the cigar to be at a balanced water level. Leave the lid off the jar for a day and the wrapper will become the driest part. Close the lid on the jar for a 2 days and it becomes balanced again. The slower the better. It's an art in it's own form imo. 

You appear to be talking about aging for 2 years from now. Had you said 20 years from now I would maybe suggest cooler temps, a little more humidity, and vacuum sealing each stick on its own.  This would make a 20 year old more like a 10 year old. I wouldnt worry about doing this until you have that humidor and another 2 that size filled up. Hell id go through that stash in a month

 

With just 2 years I'd set it at 65, have a 50 count humidor at 62 for your daily rotations, and a drybox routine for those special ones you want to light up upon occasion. Each cigar will determine what it needs. You will only know its requirements after you smoke one. Have fun with your new stash...

[MigsG]

10 hours ago, Mikeltee said:

Long term 65. Short term 62. If you plan to smoke young ones, figure out a drybox routine. I'm currently dryboxing some farm rolls at 58. I'll try another in a few weeks. When dryboxing think of it like this... you want all leaves within the cigar to be at a balanced water level. Leave the lid off the jar for a day and the wrapper will become the driest part. Close the lid on the jar for a 2 days and it becomes balanced again. The slower the better. It's an art in it's own form imo. 

 

I like your strategy. I do something similar with dryboxing. I've also discovered that dryboxing the cigars in a drawer in cigar bags makes for a more balanced cigar (internal leaves even with wrapper) vs just leaving them in a tray or box.  

To the OP, congrats on those purchases.

[Chas.Alpha]

Gentlemen: I am in freezer protocol.

You successfully scared the livin’ bejesus outta me!

Again, I thank you in advance! ?

I cannot imagine a horror movie as terrifying as the realization of opening my 2022 Christmas presents to being a bug farm!...

[wineguy]

8 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Gentlemen: I am in freezer protocol.

You successfully scared the livin’ bejesus outta me!

Again, I thank you in advance! ?

I cannot imagine a horror movie as terrifying as the realization of opening my 2022 Christmas presents to being a bug farm!...

I would go for a 7-10 days in the freezer. not 4....

[Bagman]

On 11/18/2019 at 5:59 PM, HuffnPuffff said:

I learned the hard way too.
No two ways about it: if you buy it in Cuba, freeze it!

Export cigars go through a freezing process before export; those sold locally don’t.

Nice to see a Cigar Oasis in use - those things are solid.

Enjoy!




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Standard production cigars sold locally in Cuba are also frozen.  But then share space with customs and are cross contaminated.