Does Air Humidity Effect How a Cigar Smokes

[bigfunkyg]

I have heard a few individuals mention this recently but I am curious to get a few opinions on the subject. It has been extremely humid lately with plenty of rain and thunderstorms (including a crazy hail storm which dented the crap out of my car last week). I figure the RH as been regularly hovering above 90%. Over the weekend I smoked two cigars a Bolivar Royal Corona and a Cohiba Robusto. Both started out just fine but towards the second third they started to draw tighter and didn't finish well.

As a side note, the BRC started out fantastic and was really excited for the rest of the smoke, however the second half disapointed. I believe both were early 08 boxes but would have to verify.

If it is that humid outside can it effect how a cigar smokes?

G

[jaylax5]

Yes. Really high humidity will ruin a cigar while you are smoking it. Makes it harsh and more bitter...and you will have burn issues.

[canucks6024]

another thing is the youth of the cigar

im finding it easier and easier to tell the difference between young cigars and aged are by the 2/3 but mostly the last third

[Ginseng]

Absolutely. I used to try smoking in my garage or on the covered deck during rain and it was always an unmitigated disaster. It didn't even have to be a heavy rain. Whenever there's precipitation around to push the ambient humidity to 95%+, there is just no point in smoking.

Wilkey

[sounddust]

One of the reasons why I store my cigars at around 60/60 is because I usually smoke in an environment that's warm (>31 C) and humid(>85). By the time I get to the middle, the cigar's usually warmed up just right. However, by the time I get to the band, it's usually rendered unsmokable. But still, it's all about optimizing your smoking experience for your environment as far as possible.

[bunburyist]

One of the reasons why I store my cigars at around 60/60 is because I usually smoke in an environment that's warm (>31 C) and humid(>85). By the time I get to the middle, the cigar's usually warmed up just right. However, by the time I get to the band, it's usually rendered unsmokable. But still, it's all about optimizing your smoking experience for your environment as far as possible.

for sure - I smoked a Mag 50 last night on the terrace and by the last third it was really starting to clog up. There was a bit of a breeze which I thought would help, but not this time. I'm sticking to sub 45min smokes outside from now on.

TB are you in HK? This is my first full HK summer and to be honest it's not that different from KL or Sing, it's just so bloody humid all the time. Sometimes I wish I was back on that 'cold wet island' (as Ken called it), enjoying proper room temperature beer and being able to smoke outside.

[Guest rob]

I smoked a HdM Double Corona on Sunday afternoon. It was drizzling outside and the cigar did show slight RH related burn problems... but it had been stored at about 55% for 2 days and ended up being enjoyable enough.

If I had taken it straight from my 65% humidor then I suspect it would have been much worse.

[joeypots]

Funny, I smoked an '01 Upman 2 last night and it needed many more relights than I anticipated. It has been very hot and humid the last few days. Co incidence? Cigars from my desktop have been perfect all summer, then bam, hazy hot and humid and I need to relight the cigar a bunch.

[Rogers72]

Try smoking a couple of smaller cigars rather than one big one (leaving the second cigar in the house until you're done with the first).

[bigfunkyg]

Try smoking a couple of smaller cigars rather than one big one (leaving the second cigar in the house until you're done with the first).

Thanks for the input everyone. I dont really like the idea of not smoking so I will try the idea of smoking two smaller cigars and see how that goes!

G

[dulaney22]

I've been fighting this all summer. The middle of the day is about the only time when humidity drops below 70%. It's virtually impossible to smoke early morning or at night. However, I have found that the smaller smokes do seem to work better in these conditions.

[wasy]

I find that not only does humidity outside both high and low affect the cigar the temperature also plays a vital role in how the cigar smokes. We all just need to get ourselves a man cave.

[bigfunkyg]

I find that not only does humidity outside both high and low affect the cigar the temperature also plays a vital role in how the cigar smokes. We all just need to get ourselves a man cave.

How do you find temperature effects how a cigar smokes? The reason I ask is during our insanely cold winters I will go out to my smoking buddies garage and have a cigar with our only source of heat being a propane heater. It's not bad, but the temperature is probably only slightly above 0 celcius?

[Buch0]

I think the humidity would be the only contributing factor to how a cigar smokes, I cant see how the air temperature would affect it? Once the cigar is alight I wouldn't think the temperature could alter the burn in any form.

[Habanos2000]

How do you find temperature effects how a cigar smokes? The reason I ask is during our insanely cold winters I will go out to my smoking buddies garage and have a cigar with our only source of heat being a propane heater. It's not bad, but the temperature is probably only slightly above 0 celcius?

that's an interesting question. Having some brutal winters in Chicago, I will rarely smoke outside because it is not a pleasant, relaxing experience. I'm not quite sure if the temp affects the cigar itself or just being in a miserable environment makes the experience less than optimum.

I always smoke in my car, summer or winter, hot or cold, and enjoy it.

[Buch0]

I always smoke in my car, summer or winter, hot or cold, and enjoy it.

I have never been able to enjoy a cigar while driving, the learners and docile pedestrians always seem to overpower any spice or cream I may be experiencing at the time

[tigger]

I would venture a guess that temperature, on its face, doesn't have much of an effect. Humidity surely does.

All else equal, smoking a cigar in 100 (F) degree weather in August in Louisiana is surely a less rewarding experience than smoking one in 100 degree heat in New Mexico. Vast difference in humidity between the two.

On the other end of the scale, cold air tends to be very dry. I smoke much less in the wintertime around here because the likelihood of wrappers splitting is much higher.

[scinmyheart]

unfortunately, I don't get to smoke inside my house...so it seems as though I've just come to expect crappy burns and blandness during the summer months in FL for the last too many years...for me, it's either just put up with it or not smoke many days...surely feel like royalty when I smoke one inside somewhere, though

I don't have a problem when it's colder outside with lower humidity, though

[thechenman]

I to have the issue of only getting to smoke outdoors. Humidity has been horrible in the Northeast this year. It seems th rain is incessent. Burn problems are the biggest issue, followed by draw and flavor (bitterness) which is probably related to the draw issue.

[tigger]

I to have the issue of only getting to smoke outdoors. Humidity has been horrible in the Northeast this year. It seems th rain is incessent. Burn problems are the biggest issue, followed by draw and flavor (bitterness) which is probably related to the draw issue.

This showed up in my email the other day:

A curious fellow died one day and found himself waiting in the long line of judgment.

As he stood there he noticed that some souls were allowed to march right through the pearly gates into Heaven.

Others though, were led over to Satan who threw them into the burning pit.

But every so often, instead of hurling a poor soul into the fire, Satan would toss a soul off to one side into a small pile.

Watching Satan do this several times, the fellow's curiosity got the best of him. So he strolled over and asked Satan what he was doing.

"Excuse me, Mr. Prince of Darkness," he said. "I'm waiting in line for judgment, but I couldn't help wondering, why are you tossing those people aside instead of flinging them into the Fires of Hell with the others?"

"Ah, those," Satan said with a groan. "They're all from New England ...

They're still too wet to burn."