Picture this: A serene evening on the porch, your favorite country tune in the background, the aroma of a perfectly marinated steak drifting through the air, and in your hand, a finely aged cigar waiting to be ignited. It’s a simple pleasure, a moment shared with friends, much like the one I enjoyed with my brother-in-law.
We’re not about extravagance, but we do appreciate life’s affordable luxuries. The taste of barbecue done right, the strum of a guitar, and the simple joy of bonding over a good cigar. I’m new to enjoying cigars, but after an evening of premium smoke, I was intrigued!
Entering the Cigar World
Our journey led us to a local cigar lounge tucked away on a nearby Indian reservation. Inside, behind the glass doors of an extensive humidor, I discovered a world of meticulously chosen cigars. While the $40 luxury cigars were a bit out of my budget, the $8 gems felt just right. I selected a few cigars, unaware that they needed proper storage, setting me on the path to becoming a humidor enthusiast – I needed a humidor!
Mistake #1: Jumping the Gun
With enthusiasm, I ordered an affordable humidor from Amazon. It boasted a sleek carbon fiber design, cedar wood lining, and even included a built-in hygrometer. At just under $20, it seemed like a steal. Little did I know that simply placing cigars into a new humidor would lead to problems—it would dry them out. I needed to season my humidor!
Mistake #2: The Confounding Process of Seasoning
Turning to YouTube for guidance on “seasoning” my humidor, I encountered a web of conflicting advice. Some insisted on using a wet rag with purified water, while others claimed it was a rookie mistake that would lead to mold. Despite the confusion, I decided to give it a shot. However, my humidor’s humidity remained stubbornly fixed at 50%. I knew that cigars thrived at 70%, so I had work ahead of me.
The Pursuit of Ideal Humidity
To rescue my cigars, I purchased a few Boveda 69% humidity control packs (even though I needed eight or a much higher percentage for proper seasoning, I was still learning). I also placed a small shotglass of distilled water inside the humidor. I allowed my humidor to sit for a few days, akin to aging fine wine. Finally, success—our humidity reached 65% climbing. Lesson learned: patience is indeed key.
Filling Up the Humidor
Another lesson I acquired was that a humidor should be at least half-filled with cigars. To support my local cigar shop—a charming Korean father-and-son establishment with a cozy atmosphere—I decided to make a visit. Their selection might be smaller than the place my brother-in-law introduced me to, but I cherished the experience of exploring their offerings. As a bonus, they even gave me a cigar box to take home. Is that customary? I’m no expert; I’m simply a newcomer with a growing passion for cigars.
Seasoning Your Humidor: A Simple Guide
For fellow humidor novices, here’s a straightforward guide to seasoning that worked for me:
- Begin with a clean, empty humidor.
- Use distilled water and a clean sponge or cloth to wipe down the interior walls, cedar tray, and humidification device. Some say you can skip this step and just add a Boveda seasoning pack for every 25 cigar capacity you have. So if your humidor can hold 50, use two.
- Place a shallow container of distilled water in the humidor’s bottom. Don’t spill it.
- Close the humidor and let it sit for a few days to stabilize the humidity around 70%.
Remember, the journey is as enjoyable as the destination. Speaking of journeys, cigar aficionados like Winston Churchill and Mark Twain certainly knew how to appreciate a good smoke.
May your humidor be well-stocked, your cigars expertly aged, and your evenings filled with camaraderie and laughter.
Until our next smoke,
Ryan
