Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 3/12/2008

Question
how can I tell if my cigars are dry? how can you tell by squeezing the foot?
I monitor my humidor weekly.  I don't have a digital hygrometer. not yet anyway.
I have a few cigars that were giving to me over a year ago. I'm worried they may
be dry.  Please advise. Thank-you.

Answer
Chris,

Dry cigars will crack when you try to cut them or if you bite down when smoking. To check for dryness before you are ready to smoke, give the cigar a gentle squeeze in the middle of the cigar (not the foot which can be cracked even when they are fresh). The cigar should have a little bit of "give". If it feels hard, it is dry. To check for slight dryness before they become hard, hold the cigar (without cellophane tube on it) up next to your ear and give it a gentle squeeze. If you hear a light cracking sound the cigar is starting to get dry.

Hope this helps.
Bill