Part of the joy of cigars is that you can amass quite a collection. Unfortunately, cigars can go bad if you don’t store them properly. If you’re interested in cigars but know that you’d like to save them, you’ll want to focus on a few key methods of keeping them in good shape.
Focus on Humidity
Your general goal with cigar storage is to ensure that they do not dry out. As such, the first thing that most experts will tell you about caring for cigars is that you need to maintain proper humidity. Most will tell you that this means trying to keep the humidity between seventy and seventy-five percent, but these numbers are no absolutely. Instead, focus on ensuring that you’re always providing your cigars with a reasonable source of atmospheric moisture, even if that source is just a wet paper towel in a plastic baggie.
Keep a Steady Temperature
Humidity isn’t the only thing that will make a difference in how long your cigars last. You’ll also want to ensure that they are kept at the proper temperature so that they don’t begin to fall apart. Generally speaking, most cigar aficionados are going to recommend that you keep them stored at around seventy degrees – a little lower or higher isn’t going to hurt, but try to stay within this range.
Rotate Your Cigars
While keeping that seventy/seventy split is a good idea if you want to ensure that your cigars stay fresh, you can still run afoul of problems if you fail to properly rotate your cigars. This is typically an issue if you stack your cigars on top of one another – those cigars at the bottom might not get the benefit of your care as much as those on the top. As such, regularly switching out the positions of your stored cigars can go a long way to make sure that they all age at a relatively similar rate.
Consider a Humidor
Finally, you’ll want to consider buying a humidor if you start to collect cigars or to smoke them on a regular basis. Humidors will generally automate the process of keeping your cigars at the right temperature and humidity, though some have more features than others. When choosing a humidor, you’ll want to ensure that you get one that’s the right size as well as one that has a good reputation. The better the humidor, the longer your cigars should last in storage.
Always remember that keeping cigars in good shape means monitoring the conditions in which they are kept. Using a humidor for storage is best, but any solution that allows you to monitor the heat and humidity can work out. If you are willing to put in the effort, properly-maintained cigars can last for quite some time.