To Box or Not

[kaleehb]

Just wondering what other people do......when you load a new order into your personal humidor do you leave the cigars in their original boxes or take them out of the box and store them on shelves. I have both options (shelves and box space) in my cabinet humidor and unless I've purchased single packages of three I leave my cigars in their boxes.

Part 2....Do I need to crack the lids to the boxes for better circulation of air to the cigars or is closed box in the cabinet better for aging? Just remember reading somewhere you should try and vent the box but I figured you guys and gals would know best!

Thoughts?

[dball]

I would always leave mine in the box (and leave the box closed), personally.

[jquest63]

I store in the original box or cabinet closed. Singles to be smoked daily are kept in box without lid, else are placed in a closed box.

[Ellery]

I would always leave mine in the box (and leave the box closed), personally.

same

[sepp]

Original packaging until we're down to the last half dozen sticks or so. Then it's to the singles drawer to make room for the next box/cab.

[Professor Twain]

Original packaging until I have finished off the top row (on a dress box) or about half of a dress box. Then I will combine with some stragglers in boxes where I have less than a dozen or so. That makes for some nice surprises when I open a cabinet and find the top layer filled with something I forgot I still had some of!

[semery74]

Similar to the Professor, but I marry my half boxes in to custom cedar/mahogany cajones of 100. I still keep track of the date code on the computer. The dress box has definitely proven to be inert, but I find aging them and the consensus agrees that Slide Lid Boxes are the way to go. Even though the only thing cedar about the ones from Habanos is the veneer insert just under the lid. Even that has been washed and rinsed to the point where it is devoid of most of its goodness.

[ucla695]

Like most others here, I store my cigars in the original box with the lid closed. I'll combine boxes when I need to make room.

[PigFish]

I have no set rules but seem to behave as the many others by some form of innate "smoker" behavior. I store mainly in original boxes until the box itself takes up too much room.

On the other hand if you are new to smoking Habanso, or wish to dry out a box to smoke without shocking it, I would suggest that you leave a box open to acclimatize more quickly. I do this all the time. I also smoke so many PC's, as an example, that I remove the lid of a cab box and put that cab box in a drawer for fast access. The cigars placed in such a fashion will never see the light of age. They are there to be generously and freely acquired and sealing them is simply too frustrating to endure! Soon I find my cab box mixed with other PC's. There may be 4 or 5 brands in various years mixed in the heap and once in a while when I venture to the bottom I find a real treat. Cheers, -Piggy

[bunburyist]

I tend to keep most in their bxes too - although I have a few others in desktop humidors. Have just furnished my desk with a jar, so a handful there too. I like having cigars all over the place

[riderpride]

A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B. My 'chasers' and oddballs hit the shelf, while all others stay in boxes. If the cigars smell of ammonia, I crack the lid (especially a dress box), though not for more than a week or so.

[anacostiakat]

Interesting.

I store in the original boxes. I keep them closed. When they reach a point of having a certain amount left I will move them to the singles drawer and finish them off.

[CigarmanTim]

Interesting.

I store in the original boxes. I keep them closed. When they reach a point of having a certain amount left I will move them to the singles drawer and finish them off.

same here

[samb]

I leave the boxes closed in my wineador. I have 2 box halves that I store celloed NCs in in the fridge and I also have a small humidor sitting in there too where I keep single CCs as the boxes start to run empty. I crack the lid of the humidor so the humidity in the fridge can get in as the outside is polished wood.

[Bartolomeo]

I have just started ordering boxes, so the boxes I have currently are in the Vinotemp with lids shut.

I think it all depends on your humidor situation too. For people with Aristocrats, its easier just to play Tetris with all of their boxes and have a nice singles drawer. For people with desktop or Winadors, space is more of necessity.

I also just acquired some drawers for my Vinotemp that will hold singles or plenty of cigars if I choose to take them out of the box, I am trying to keep as many in their original boxes and use the drawers for some singles I have picked up along the way

Bart

[PigFish]

Rearranged again I see!!! Them draw's sure are purdy! Time for some drawer tetras!!!

Lookin' good Amigo... lookin' good! -

[thechenman]

I leave my dress boxes and cabinets sealed in my humidor. When I am down to single digits in a box or cab and need to make space, I relocate them to my desktop humidors.

[aavkk]

Personally I keep em in their original packaging and much prefer cabs or SLB's to dress boxes. If it's for long term aging I want as little airflow in and out of the box/cab as possible. Ideally you want as little change in temp and humidity as possible.