My cigars have gotten worse

[jaiden]

I adjusted my humidor from 18,63 to 20,68 two months ago.

Recently, I've noticed that most of my cigars are dry on the inside and damp on the outside. This has caused various types of uneven burning and tunnel burning, and the flavor has become bitter and spicy.

What should I do to get my cigars back to a good condition?

[gormag38]

Hey brother, 

I'm sure it has been mentioned before but the following link is a VERY in-depth look at cigar storage. Even if you can take some little nuggets away it is a good thread to dive into. May I ask why you changed your set up from 18C, 63%? What type of humidor are you using? Forced air exchange or sealed system (tupperdor?)

My set up is typically around what yours originally was, maybe a degree or two lower or higher based on the season. For the most part it seems to work like a charm. But judging from you notating that the cigars are more moist on the outside than inside I would say that you're sticks are picking up moisture, which is a huge culprit in that 'bitter/spicy' taste. Have you calibrated your hygrometers? Checked against temp and humidity? That is always a good place to start too.

[Bagman]

18/63 is more desirable for me, but 20/68 isn't causing your issue. +1 for checking your calibration. Also, if you move up the temperature and humidity, the outside will adjust first. You just have to give it more time for the inside to match the outside. Sounds like you may have not waited long enough for the inside to match the outer layers. Just wait it out is all you need to do.

[jaiden]

4 hours ago, Bagman said:

18/63 is more desirable for me, but 20/68 isn't causing your issue. +1 for checking your calibration. Also, if you move up the temperature and humidity, the outside will adjust first. You just have to give it more time for the inside to match the outside. Sounds like you may have not waited long enough for the inside to match the outer layers. Just wait it out is all you need to do.

Thank you for your help. I think it's as you said. I need to give them some time for the indoor and outdoor humidity to equalize.

[jaiden]

9 hours ago, gormag38 said:

Hey brother, 

I'm sure it has been mentioned before but the following link is a VERY in-depth look at cigar storage. Even if you can take some little nuggets away it is a good thread to dive into. May I ask why you changed your set up from 18C, 63%? What type of humidor are you using? Forced air exchange or sealed system (tupperdor?)

My set up is typically around what yours originally was, maybe a degree or two lower or higher based on the season. For the most part it seems to work like a charm. But judging from you notating that the cigars are more moist on the outside than inside I would say that you're sticks are picking up moisture, which is a huge culprit in that 'bitter/spicy' taste. Have you calibrated your hygrometers? Checked against temp and humidity? That is always a good place to start too.

Thanks, bro. I followed the advice of some online bloggers and increased the temperature and humidity, supposedly to accelerate the aging process of cigars. (Uncertainty).

My humidor is Forced-air exchange.

[Bagman]

3 hours ago, jaiden said:

Thanks, bro. I followed the advice of some online bloggers and increased the temperature and humidity, supposedly to accelerate the aging process of cigars. (Uncertainty).

My humidor is Forced-air exchange.

I have obviously studied de-accelerating the aging of cigars. But there is no real proof in accelerating the aging process. If that is what you are doing here, I would stop it right now and return to how you had it. Many before you have tried, they have always failed. All you are doing is increasing the chance for mold.

[ha_banos]

One thing cigars will demand is patience. In ageing. In smoking. In buying. In finding. In learning. You cannot rush. This is the way. This is the beauty. Time is a beautiful thing.

[Bada_Bing_NJ]

I just recently had two buddies with this issue. One lives in Nevada, the other in New Jersey. Both were reading around 70% in a sealed jar/tupp. They finally listened (after one cracked during a smoke session & the other was uneven burn with bland taste) to my suggested 62% Boveda for sealed & 65% for loose wood humidor. Both said it was night and day difference, especially with the seasons changing.

[Duder]

Slower aging is better. Lower temperature, lower RH. I wrap everything in plastic to slow the process even more. I find this also helps limit RH fluctuations. 

[jaiden]

On 6/13/2026 at 10:14 PM, Lucas Buck said:

Slower aging is better. Lower temperature, lower RH. I wrap everything in plastic to slow the process even more. I find this also helps limit RH fluctuations. 

Most of my cigars are 25 or 26 years old, and they taste too new. So I want to accelerate the aging process to make them taste better.😂

[Duder]

Well, nothing wrong with that. 

[zacca]

IF you decide to keep them at your new storage conditions, here’s another vote for giving them more time. The fact that the wrapper is moist and the filler is drier says that they have not acclimated to the new conditions. 

But that said, I’d personally go back to how you had them before.