Humidor settings...

[Alan]

I have now read in many posts that many of you keep your humidors set at various temps. Could someone explain to myself and some of the newer contributors what the advantage of setting a humidor at for example 61% relative humidity(as one of our FOH posted)vs. 70% as most of the stuff i have read? Does it have to do with aging vs. the ideal humidity for consumption or is simply a personal preference such as a dryer cigar?

Thanks all,

A

[Ethernut]

El Presidente likes 65% according to a previous post. Too humid 70% can cause a cigar with a tight draw to have a tighter draw as it swells the leaves slightly. Some of the guys with extremely developed palates can tell the difference in a smoke with too much/too little humidity. I'd have to admit that I probably cant. But I do know when I'm having a sub par smoking experience. Based on that, I'm gonna listen to the experts and back it off of 70 a bit.

[Colt45]

» I have now read in many posts that many of you keep your humidors set at

» various temps. Could someone explain to myself and some of the newer

» contributors what the advantage of setting a humidor at for example 61%

» relative humidity(as one of our FOH posted)vs. 70% as most of the stuff i

» have read? Does it have to do with aging vs. the ideal humidity for

» consumption or is simply a personal preference such as a dryer cigar?

»

» Thanks all,

» A

An overly humidified cigar can have draw and burn problems. Overhumidification also

can lead to muted flavor. 65%, or even a bit less is really not all that dry.

[VigorishSLC]

I found that 99% of my problems with burn disappeared when I ratcheted the Rh back to 65%.

[Professor Twain]

Most of my cigar boxes are stored in a wine cooler fridge. Humidity varies a bit there but ranges from 60-67.

I found that my cigars taste better, and smoke great, when I transfer them to my desktop humidor for about a week before I smoke them. This humidor has 65% beads in it but the humidity usually reads between 60-63%. It is very rare that I have a prolem with a tight draw even on thin ring gauge cigars.

I had been given the advice to do this and for me it has proven effective to my satisfaction.

[wdh]

» Most of my cigar boxes are stored in a wine cooler fridge. Humidity varies

» a bit there but ranges from 60-67.

»

Prof, do you have any kind of temperature regulation going on in the wine cooler - i.e., is it plugged in - or do you just regulate room temp and focus on RH inside the unit? All of these fridge/coolers seem to have a max temperature that's way cooler than what one would want cigars sitting in for a long period. Thx -

Bill

[Cam]

I like mine at 71 for my big boy and 65 for my desky :-D

[marco polo]

Also, how do you lower the temp inside a humidor?

[VigorishSLC]

» » Most of my cigar boxes are stored in a wine cooler fridge. Humidity

» varies

» » a bit there but ranges from 60-67.

» »

»

» Prof, do you have any kind of temperature regulation going on in the wine

» cooler - i.e., is it plugged in - or do you just regulate room temp and

» focus on RH inside the unit? All of these fridge/coolers seem to have a

» max temperature that's way cooler than what one would want cigars sitting

» in for a long period. Thx -

»

» Bill

I use an external temperature controller commonly used in brewing. Do a Google search on the Johnson Controls A419. I drilled out the drain hole and ran the probe into the box. My wine cooler now stays rock steady.

[jharvey1309]

I have a 5.5 CF chest freezer that is pluged into a Johnson controller. It is set to 65 degrees but never kickes in as my basement never seems to get over 63-65 degrees. I store all my cigars at 65%.

[n2advnture]

» I have now read in many posts that many of you keep your humidors set at

» various temps. Could someone explain to myself and some of the newer

» contributors what the advantage of setting a humidor at for example 61%

» relative humidity(as one of our FOH posted)vs. 70% as most of the stuff i

» have read? Does it have to do with aging vs. the ideal humidity for

» consumption or is simply a personal preference such as a dryer cigar?

»

» Thanks all,

» A

Over humidifying your cigars is the #1 reason for draw, burn and flavor issues.

Over the years (16+), I have found that storing at 65% RH and then dry boxing for a few days prior to smoking is the best way to go (for me, that is).

It's all about how YOU like your cigars though.

Hope this helps

~Mark

[Freefallguy]

Mark(n2) knows RH, his beads are the best!