Storing habanos at 60 degrees Fahrenheit

[PuroDan]

So i have been storing my habanos at 65f and 65rh for years.  I am looking at a wine cooler that i really like and the temp only goes to 61f.  I was wondering if storing them at 61f would be a problem for aging. I have received lots of commentary from friends, but i know there are some real high habano iQ guys on this site. Thanks

[havanaclub]

I found with my wine cooler when it was on, it was difficult to keep my humidity stable and would drop quite a bit.
I keep my fridge in my basement along with a high Coleman cooler, so I don’t need it plugged in as it stays very stable all year round at about 65-68F without it being plugged in.
Not sure where you are located, but if you don’t need it plugged in, they actually happen to be more stable without the cooling effects. Looking back on it, I wish I just got a cooler instead of the fridge as they provide more room, less hassle and cheaper too


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[PuroDan]

Thank you for your feedback. I just found a thermoelectric wine cooler that will go to 64f. I was thinking of adding heartfelt beads(double the amount that is called for for the sqaure ft) to compensate for the cooling. It is very dry around here most of the time

 

7 hours ago, havanaclub said:

I found with my wine cooler when it was on, it was difficult to keep my humidity stable and would drop quite a bit.
I keep my fridge in my basement along with a high Coleman cooler, so I don’t need it plugged in as it stays very stable all year round at about 65-68F without it being plugged in.
Not sure where you are located, but if you don’t need it plugged in, they actually happen to be more stable without the cooling effects. Looking back on it, I wish I just got a cooler instead of the fridge as they provide more room, less hassle and cheaper too

im assuming it is a compressor and not a thermoelectric cooler

[porkchop]

Using a wine cooler, I put sticks in tupperware with a Boveda. Keeps the rh stable while still getting the temperature benefits of the wine cooler. Obviously, not as practical if you want to store in the original box.  

[havanaclub]

im assuming it is a compressor and not a thermoelectric cooler

Newair. It’s the proper one for cigars. I forget what one is better, but it was the right one.


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[Monterey]

As for your original question, temp at 60 is just fine for ageing.  Even temps in the mid 50's is fine for ageing.  That is the desired temp for ageing for some in the know.

[PuroDan]

47 minutes ago, Monterey said:

As for your original question, temp at 60 is just fine for ageing.  Even temps in the mid 50's is fine for ageing.  That is the desired temp for ageing for some in the know.

Thank you

57 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

Newair. It’s the proper one for cigars. I forget what one is better, but it was the right one.

Funny that is the one i am looking at the New Air.

[Monterey]

Here is what I was referring to.  One of the great humidors of the world, ageing away at 54 degrees (12.5C)

 

[NSXCIGAR]

Any temperature above freezing is acceptable however the further one strays from the mid-60s the more difficult it becomes to regulate rH. 

Some threads that may be of interest:

 

[PuroDan]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Any temperature above freezing is acceptable however the further one strays from the mid-60s the more difficult it becomes to regulate rH.

I always thought is was ok but never understood how the ageing was affected.Will check this out. Thank you

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, PuroDan said:

I always thought is was ok but never understood how the ageing was affected.Will check this out. Thank you

I don't know if there's a definitive analysis on that. I think it's always been believed that higher temps sacrifice long term results for short term performance but I don't know if there's any actual reliable evidence of that. 

It was a practice in the days of Criollo and Corojo to intentionally store at higher temps to help smooth out the cigars that could be ammoniac or tannic for immediate smoking. 

It was said that acquiring aged cigars from unknown storage conditions was a real risk as they could have undergone early storage in high temps with the intention having been to smoke them sooner, but never were, thus leaving the cigars "cooked" and flavorless duds.

There also may have been some influence on opinions based on the officially unconfirmed practice of raw leaf fermentation at higher temps that Cuba is rumored to have begun around 2000, in order to theoretically improve the performance of young cigars (presumably at the detriment of long-term performance.) However I would speculate that the conditions that raw leaf is subjected to could certainly affect it differently than conditions a finished cigar is subjected to.

Again, these are all opinions and theories. I don't know if any reliable study has ever been conducted (or could even practically be conducted due to the longitudinality required) to assess the role of temperature in short term and long term cigar aging.

[Nino]

I've been storing cigars for ages at temps ranging from 50 to 60 F and have excellent results, same as other good friends. Specially for long term aging.

 

[PuroDan]

9 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I don't know if there's a definitive analysis on that. I think it's always been believed that higher temps sacrifice long term results for short term performance but I don't know if there's any actual reliable evidence of that. 

It was a practice in the days of Criollo and Corojo to intentionally store at higher temps to help smooth out the cigars that could be ammoniac or tannic for immediate smoking. 

It was said that acquiring aged cigars from unknown storage conditions was a real risk as they could have undergone early storage in high temps with the intention having been to smoke them sooner, but never were, thus leaving the cigars "cooked" and flavorless duds.

There also may have been some influence on opinions based on the officially unconfirmed practice of raw leaf fermentation at higher temps that Cuba is rumored to have begun around 2000, in order to theoretically improve the performance of young cigars (presumably at the detriment of long-term performance.) However I would speculate that the conditions that raw leaf is subjected to could certainly affect it differently than conditions a finished cigar is subjected to.

Again, these are all opinions and theories. I don't know if any reliable study has ever been conducted (or could even practically be conducted due to the longitudinality required) to assess the role of temperature in short term and long term cigar aging.

Really good stuff here. It all makes sense. Thank you

 

3 hours ago, nino said:

I've been storing cigars for ages at temps ranging from 50 to 60 F and have excellent results, same as other good friends. Specially for long term aging.

Thats what i always thought and read, but had friends that said different. NSX has some valid points he posted that if true make sense. His points seem very logical. Also watched a Pigfish video on it. It was good. Its always nice to get perspective from people who have experienced it. Thank you

[BrightonCorgi]

Portmann's long term storage is also on the colder side (in a cellar).  Nothing wrong with lower temp's as long as the humidity is there

[PuroDan]

Thank you

[havanaclub]

10 hours ago, nino said:

I've been storing cigars for ages at temps ranging from 50 to 60 F and have excellent results, same as other good friends. Specially for long term aging.

Nice! What rH are you aiming for at 50-60C? Looks like around 65 from your hydrometer. Do you find it difficult to maintain at 65-66rh at those cooler temps? Looks like you place small Boveda in ziplocks, do you do that will all boxes? Thanks for your input.

 

 

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[Nino]

5 hours ago, havanaclub said:

Nice! What rH are you aiming for at 50-60C? Looks like around 65 from your hydrometer. Do you find it difficult to maintain at 65-66rh at those cooler temps? Looks like you place small Boveda in ziplocks, do you do that will all boxes? Thanks for your input.

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I am happy having a 65% RH in my lockers.

No, it is maintained quite easily.

No. I don't place Boveda inside - this is a box I received from a merchant which had the Boveda already in the wrap, so I left it, doesn't hurt, it is a small one on top of the box as you can see.

I place boxes in ziplocks and inside metal lockers.

The cellar does the rest.

More details here :

https://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/topic/109201-whats-your-setup/?do=findComment&comment=299199

[CaptainQuintero]

  Just be aware of the conditions of the room you keep it in if you are going to run it turned on. If you're introducing cool air you're also introducing moisture, if you don't have a system in place for that to get out you can quickly run into mould/hidden puddles of water etc

[BossHogg]

@PuroDan Any updates on how your storage conditions at lower temps have treated your cigars? Curious to hear as I have ventured down the same path around 59-61f and a range of 62-65rh. Thanks for any updates!

[shokao]

I'm using 65 F and 62~65 RH for most cigars. Wine fridge (compressor unit) with sealed containers (Rubbermaid Brilliance) and everything is working great.

[BossHogg]

10 hours ago, shokao said:

I'm using 65 F and 62~65 RH for most cigars. Wine fridge (compressor unit) with sealed containers (Rubbermaid Brilliance) and everything is working great.

Good to hear everything is working great 👍