Storing cigars

[TimM]

When you buy a cigar that is wrapped in plastic, inside a glass or metal tube and you plan to store it in a humidor should you leave it in the original packaging ?

[Steve H]

This is one of those ancient questions that has been asked time and again on the cigar boards I frequent. My answer is I leave them in the cello or tube until ready to smoke as it helps protect the foot of cigar which is the most vulnerable. Is there a wrong or a right? No, it is personal preference.

The humidity will get to the cigars whether there be a tube or cello in place.

Hope that helps. 

[TimM]

Yep, it does. Thanks!   I kinda figured that would be the answer but since I was just guessing I thought I'd ask.  It does seem to me that there is some potential for "cross contamination" between the aroma of one cigar and another when they're stored in a humidor and that leaving them in whatever, if any, packaging they came in would generally mitigate that potential.   

[Steve H]

Cross contamination is not really an issue either as the oils tend to either evaporate from the cigars or crystallize on them in form that is called "bloom".

The only time I would worry about cross contamination is if you had flavored cigars like Acids from Drew Estate. And if you liked those or any similar, I would recommend getting a separate humidor just for those as those flavorings will leech into the Spanish cedar in your humidor and stay forever.

[grumpy]

hmm, i hope some of my good(given) ones will rub off on the cheap(bought) ones

Grumpy

[tonkincane4me]

Years ago I got a deal on a Diamond Crown Humidor.

Cigar storage and other details can be as much of as learning experience as fly fishing and selection of fly. I am no expert at either.

[Steve H]

Years ago I got a deal on a Diamond Crown Humidor.

Which model? They make very nice humidors.

[TimM]

The only time I would worry about cross contamination is if you had flavored cigars like Acids from Drew Estate. And if you liked those or any similar, I would recommend getting a separate humidor just for those as those flavorings will leech into the Spanish cedar in your humidor and stay forever.

Dang!  I don't know how I missed this reply until now - this is exactly what I've done with the humidor I bought a few weeks ago - it's got a bunch of Drew Estate stuff in it!   

[Steve H]

The only time I would worry about cross contamination is if you had flavored cigars like Acids from Drew Estate. And if you liked those or any similar, I would recommend getting a separate humidor just for those as those flavorings will leech into the Spanish cedar in your humidor and stay forever.

Dang!  I don't know how I missed this reply until now - this is exactly what I've done with the humidor I bought a few weeks ago - it's got a bunch of Drew Estate stuff in it!   

Which flavored Drews? Don't freak just yet. Go get some tupperware  containers containers and separate the smokes. After your humi sets for couple of days check for odors.

[TimM]

Kuba KUba, Kuba KUba Maduro, Blondie Belicoso, 1400CC, Cold Infusion Tea......then there are some much pricier and harder to come by non flavored sticks in there with them...

[Steve H]

Kuba KUba, Kuba KUba Maduro, Blondie Belicoso, 1400CC, Cold Infusion Tea......then there are some much pricier and harder to come by non flavored sticks in there with them...

Yeah, just separate them for now as I previously described. If they haven't been in there too long, it should be ok.

[TimM]

Done- thanks Steve!

[tonkincane4me]

I believe the Diamond Crown I have was called the Frontier? It has the Louisville slugger like wood in brownish red wood. I have the velvet cover, but; it is full of cigars. Mostly, Gurkhas, Cohiba Red and black, and Carlos Toranos. Odd combo with the full bodied Cohibas. I quit smoking cigarettes and almost wiped 100 plus cigars out plus four boxes of tubos from August- October. restocking was not cheap with SCHIP.

[Steve H]

I believe the Diamond Crown I have was called the Frontier? It has the Louisville slugger like wood in brownish red wood. I have the velvet cover, but; it is full of cigars. Mostly, Gurkhas, Cohiba Red and black, and Carlos Toranos. Odd combo with the full bodied Cohibas. I quit smoking cigarettes and almost wiped 100 plus cigars out plus four boxes of tubos from August- October. restocking was not cheap with SCHIP.

SCHIP, another joke of congress.

Nice selection. Toranos are nice although I haven't smoked any since he sold off. Quality still the same?

[tonkincane4me]

The Reserva Selectas can be found, as can some of the others. CI is too expensive on these. I use another place.