Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 5/5/2008

Question
I just recently purchased 2 boxes of quality cigars. I thought I would be able to put them all in my humidor. I realized there was not enough room. Should I just leave them in the wooden box with the celephane on it and store it in a cool place? Second question: I recently heard from fellow cigars smokers that I should keep the celephane on each cigar that it came with and put it in my humidor that way. Is that true or should I take each one off before putting it in my humidor?

Answer
Robert,

The cigars will stay fresh in their wrapped, original box for up to a couple of weeks, but after that they will start drying out. If you don't want to invest in another humidor, buy a humidifier and store the cigars and humidifier in something like a Tupperware bowl or large zip lock bag.

I always leave my cigars in their individual cello wrappers. This keeps them protected as they are handled and/or transported. The cigars will stay very well humidified inside their cellophane tubes, so there is no reason to take them out.

Bill