How to Store Cigars:
And
Age Them
They say that cigars are just like
wines. They become better with age. While this is true for some
cigars, the fact remains that tobacco is a living matter. And
because it is such, it will undergo alterations over a period of
time.
For those who have been smoking for
some time, they know already what specific blends “age better.” So
they choose brands like Habanas precisely because of their long-term
aging potential.
However, most other cigars have been
found to mature as they age. And with increased aging, they all
together cease to offer any added advantage. This does not mean that
the cigar just stops aging – because there’s still that whole
“living matter” bit to contend with. It is just that the quality
stops improving, making it pointless, the whole “wait until it ages”
game.
On the other hand, other cigar blends
continually improve. They get better and better as they age.
Aging and Storage
When it comes to aging cigars, the
key is maintenance. And when talking about maintenance, it would
most certainly include proper storage. This is true even for cigars
that are known for their ability to “age well.”
We’re talking about humidity and
temperature here. If you got those two right down to pat, you are
looking at five, ten, maybe twenty years of cigar.
It is different from trying to figure
out a way to haphazardly store a box of cigars which you plan to
consume in about a month. However, if you are considering cigar
storage for several months, maybe even years, then that is an
entirely different issue.
First thing’s first, do not confuse
long term cigar aging to short term maturation. Most cigars brought
to market these days are still in their “green” state. So if you
want to enjoy a “fresh” cigar, it only takes a bare minimum of
three, maybe four weeks. This should be enough time gap to allow the
tobaccos to blend, smooth out the rough taste, and basically bring
the cigar up to par.
On the other hand, long term aging is
a process more complex that allows the cigar to mature to a highly
refined state. This naturally results in a great alteration of not
only the cigar’s taste, but it’s entire character. In Europe,
especially in England, aging a cigar is a time honored practice.
Today, the same practice is gaining popularity in North America.
How long does it take to age a
cigar?
Many believe that it is the wrapper
leaf that has the biggest effect on how a cigar ages. In fact,
various studies have been conducted on the matter and all of them
show results that indicate the wrappers leaf’s role in determining
how a cigar will age.
Using the same tobacco blends but
with different shades of wrappers, the studies reveal that dark,
oily wrappers tend to age better than wrappers with a lighter shade.
However, do not mistakenly believe
that age will make a bad cigar any better. Like wine, aging can only
make a fine wine better and a premium cigar grand. You cannot save a
product with bad quality by adding years to it.
A cigar usually starts to mature
three weeks after it is packed. It takes about that long for the
mechanical tensions and moisture remaining in the wrapper leaves and
tobacco fillers to stabilize. The result is a cigar that definitely
smokes better.
In three months, the flavors of the
blend start to marry. This is also the period it takes for the oils
to start migrating. However, if you want a better-tasting cigar, two
to three years of storage in a suitable environment allows for a
more complex process of true aging. The result is a very subtle
flavor change that is nevertheless felt and tasted the moment you
take that first puff.
Should the cello wrapper be
removed or not?
A good wine will age good in the
bottle. Wine being comparable with cigar, it goes without saying
that a good cigar will age in the wrapper.
Aging involves a lot of complex
chemical processes:
-
Blending of essential oils
If you are planning to age a whole
box of cigars, removing the wrapper will aid in more marrying of
blends. This in turn will result in more consistency of the cigars.
However, the practice will not necessarily better cigars. It will
not make an individual cigar any better or worse.
What you need in order to properly
age a cigar is a humidor. And when you do use a humidor, you are
better off leaving the cigars in their wrappers. This is especially
true if you plan to take a cigar out of it often. The frequent
opening and closing of the humidor will result in air escaping,
resulting in faster evaporation or dissipation of the essential
oils, which give the cigars their distinctive taste.
You may notice that the wrappers are
never entirely sealed. They are just folded over. This is because
you need the humidity to slowly enter the cigar. If you
remove the wrapper, there will be too much change at once, resulting
unstable aging.
Moreover, keeping the wrapper on will
help protect the cigars from any undesirable elements, such as molds
or bugs.
Another instance where removing the
wrapper is not advisable is if you are storing cigars of different
brands. The wrappers will keep the cigars from marrying into the
tobacco of another cigar, creating a confusing mix-up of tastes and
blends.
For instance, you do not want your
spicy Jamaicans to suddenly acquire the muskiness of Hondurans. And
your mild Dominicans’ should be kept away from strong Cubans as far
as possible if you want to keep its mild taste.
What You Need to Know About
Humidors
Humidors are an essential element of
cigar aging. Most cigar lovers keep their own humidors where they
store their cigars and keep their natural blends and flavors more or
less intact.
But what exactly is a humidor?
A humidor is basically a box-shaped
device, designed to maintain a constant environment of about 68 to
70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 to 72 percent humidity. Its purpose is
to keep your cigars at their peak “smokability.”
What to Look for When Buying a
Humidor
There are all kinds of humidors
available. Some of them are fancier than others. “Fancy” you do not
need, but “functional” is essential.
The good news is that the average
prices for humidors have recently dropped. Now you can purchase a
humidor for your cigar in prices ranging from $60 to $1000.
Unfortunately, this recent change has all buyers confused as they
face very nearly identical humidors but at extremely varied price
tags.
The following are what you should
look for in a good humidor:
-
Pay attention to the interior
wood. Spanish cedar lining is recommended because of its ability
to absorb humidity well.
-
Make sure that the humidor can
maintain humidity level at approximately 70%.
-
Choose a humidor with hinges that
are durable and with low friction. Consider using quadrant
hinges.
-
Choose a humidor case that is
well sealed and close tightly. In short, look for features such
as perfectly squared and fitted seams. This ensures that the
moisture-rich air inside the humidor do not escape from the
container. This, in turn, leads to you never needing to
constantly refill the humidification system.
-
Make sure that the construction
of the humidor is in such a way that it won’t deform after years
of usage. The humidor should also be able to close neatly.
Now that you know what the things
that make up a good humidor are, it is now time for you purchase
one. You can buy humidors from almost anywhere – specialty shops,
department stores, tobacco shops, and even on the Internet.
If you decide to purchase your
humidor from a non-specialty store, pay close attention to whatever
special offer they have. If you can get a fine quality humidor that
is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing but for a
discount price, then don’t wait around for the price to go back up.
Build Your Own Humidor
While you can always purchase your
own humidor from many stores, the experience takes on a whole new
meaning when you build it yourself. But first, ask yourself these
questions:
-
Do you really want to
build one?
-
Do you have the patience?
If you answered “yes” to all those
questions, then you are ready to build yourself a humidor. To get an
idea on how to start, go to the nearest tobacco store in your area
and check out their humidors on display. Observe pictures from cigar
magazines. You may even want to lay out your cigars so you can
figure out how big your humidor is going to be.
After taking down the measurements,
focus next on the type of wood. Again, you want wood that can
maintain humidity well. Remember that you want to line your humidor
with 3/8ths of an inch Spanish Red Cedar. But for the box itself,
you can try walnut and cherry and other like domestic woods.
Other types of wood that you can work
with include the following:
When picking wood, make sure that
they contain no defects. Get the widest boards you can find. That
way, you can avoid having to joint boards together.
Next, pick your tools. You need a
work bench, a table saw, band saw, hand drill, belt sander, and a
finishing sander. These are the basic tools, aside from the regular
hand tools and accessories one would usually need when building
something, whether or not it is a humidor.
STEPS:
-
Measure and cut. Take the wood and cut it down to
workable pieces. Cut first the top and bottom of the humidor.
Make sure to add 2 inches to the original measurement of each
piece. Next, cut a thin slice of each long side of the wooden
board. Make sure to cut straight and clean. If the wood is bowed
or rounded, you may have to use a plane to even it out.
-
Cut in Half. After making sure that the
board is square and flat, cut it in half. Then, prepare a board
of Spanish Red Cedar the same way. Next, glue the two pieces of
cedar to the lumber, crossgrained and clamped well. Do the same
for the four sides.
-
Sanding. Use 150 paper to smooth out the surfaces.
Before gluing the entire unit together, be sure to sand the
cedar first as it would be difficult for you sand the inside
later.
-
Place the joints. The joints of a humidor should
not show, so use a small joint. Rout all the joints and dry
assemble the unit, at the same time checking to make sure that
it is square. Then, glue the top, bottom and four sides together
and clamp well.
|
