Choosing a Cigar Humidor: Things to Consider

As all you cigar connoisseurs know, humidors are a must-have when it comes to storing Cuban Cigars - they allow your stogies to remain fresh, while also supporting the natural ageing process of the tobacco. You wouldn’t want to find your expensive Cohiba Cigars damaged, do you? It certainly is a nightmare among all cigar enthusiasts to discover that their cigars are either dried up, Over-Humidified or mouldy. So, to avoid this predicament, you must look for a Cigar Humidor that meets all the requirements to keep your tobacco in tip-top shape. Remember, they don’t have to be expensive but do make sure that it works well. So, here are a few things to look out for before purchasing one:

CHECK THE SEAL

Perhaps, the most important factor out of the rest of the list is the seal. There is no point in owning a humidor if the seal isn’t working; the air will seep inside and will affect the freshness of your cigars. But no worries, there are several ways to test whether your humidor is well-made and tightly-sealed, one way, is to lift the lid about 3 inches and let it drop. If it makes a ‘whoosh’ sound, then it is a clear indication that the air has been pushed out and has closed sufficiently. However, if you close the lid and hear the sound of wood and metal hitting against each other, then it may be a sign that it isn’t shut properly. Another method you can try is to grab a money note, and try to slip it through the gap in the lid - if you can’t slip it inside, then the humidor is sealed well. Of course, this method is impossible if you’re purchasing online, but if you do manage to get your hands on a humidor, it is worth testing it first and foremost.

Cohiba Behike Humidor.

THE HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM

Most cigar humidors nowadays, they provide an in-built hygrometer and humidifier system, allowing you to use the box almost immediately, such as the Cohiba Behike Humidor. However, it is still worth double-checking the system to ensure it works well for you. You can’t always guarantee that the humidor’s system is perfect. In most cases, cigar humidors are well-made and provide a good humidification system to ensure that your cigars remain fresh - but in the case you find that it doesn’t function well, there are a few ways you can recover it. You may decide to invest in a better hygrometer (digital), or even try out a Boveda Pack.

SPANISH CEDAR LINING

Though the exterior of humidors may be refined for aesthetic purposes, the interior of the humidor makes a massive difference to the freshness of your cigars. The majority of cigar humidors in the market are lined with Spanish cedar wood, a fragrant material that holds outstanding properties that highly benefit the storage of cigars. Inside a humidor, the moisture levels often change; therefore, it is entirely inevitable that the wood will expand and contract - but that’s not the case with Spanish cedar. It can withstand the shifting moisture levels, making it an excellent material to use. In our Cuban Cigar Shop, we have many humidors that use Spanish cedar, such as the Cohiba Book Humidor.

Partagas Book Humidor and S.T. Dupont Humidor in Croc Dandy Brown.

HUMIDOR AESTHETICS

Again, the appearance of the humidor entirely depends on your personal preference. Cigar humidors come in a variety of styles in the market. You can find boxes that are branded like the Partagas Book Humidor, and you can also find humidors with unique patterns like the S.T. Dupont Humidor in Croc Dandy Brown.

THE CORRECT SIZE

The size of your humidor entirely depends on your collection of cigars. Do you intend to invest in a few boxes of cigars? Or would you keep a few stogies and smoke them in a few days? No matter how much your planning to keep, the point is, you should invest in a humidor that is ideal for the collection you have. Don’t overestimate how much you’ll need as you may find yourself splashing a lot more cash than needed, simultaneously, you shouldn’t underestimate the space you need and end up with a cramped space for your tobacco. If you know that you’re planning to expand your Cuban Cigar Collection in the next few months, it’s well worth investing in a cigar humidor that holds a lot more space - so that you won’t find yourself buying a humidor every few months.

We hope that this short guide was extremely useful and that it has helped you choose your dream humidor. If you want to stay up-to-date with everything associated with Cuban cigars, check out our Cuban Cigar Blog.