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Cigars/Humidor Temperature

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Expert: - 7/13/2008


Question
I recently purchased a new humidor, which I store in my bedroom closet.  The average temperature is about 80%.  I know ideally the temp. needs to be below 75%.  I also have a wine refrigerator with a little room at the bottom.  Am I better off storing the humidor in the 80% closet or the wine fridge at about 55%?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Answer
Hi Bill,

At 80 degrees, any tobacco beetle eggs inside your cigars will incubate, hatch and ruin your cigars.  It's best that you keep your humidor in a cooler room such as a basement or wine cellar that has a room temperature less than 74 degrees.  (Tobacco beetles have been known to incubate at 75 degrees and higher.)  It is possible to store your cigars in your wine fridge but the temperature should be higher than 55 degrees.  The temperature should be at least 65 degrees, which is more humidity effective for your cigars.  When temperatures are colder, it is harder to maintain proper humidity.

If your humidor can maintain 70% humidity while in your wine fridge, then you can definitely keep your humidor there.  Another option is to store your humidor in a naturally cool room or an air conditioned room.

Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James  

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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