Expert: James Yee - 8/1/2008

Question
Hello James , a friend bought me 25 Cohiba Siglo ll back from Cuba two weeks ago, I am new to good cigars and only last night looked on the net for a humidor. I should have one by next weekend, in the meantime how should I make sure they dont dry out or if I put a paper towel in a plastic bag how wet, how big, and for how long should i leave them ?.....alternatively I could smoke them all tonight but I don't have enough Brandy to last the session.

Many Thanks
James
London

Answer
Hi James,

Your best option for preserving your cigars until you purchase a humidor is to keep your cigars stored in a "humi-pouch".  Humi-pouches are plastic Ziploc-style bags with a humidified lining built into the plastic membrane.  They're designed for short-term cigar storage and travel and will keep your cigars properly maintained for up to 3 months.  After 3 months, you would need to replace the bag or relocate your cigars to a humidor.  Humi-pouches are available in a variety of sizes and can accommodate everything from a few single cigars, to whole boxes.  They're available at most cigar stores and tobacconists and depending on the size, can cost anywhere between $4-$12 USD per bag.  

The best part about these bags is that they're reusable for up to 3 months, very inexpensive and extremely user-friendly.  Humi-pouches require very little maintenance or supervision which is why they're very popular among cigar smokers who need temporary storage space for their cigars.

As a cheaper alternative, you can also keep your cigars in a brand new (or sterilized) plastic Tupperware container with a humidification device filled with distilled water.  If you use this method, it's important to remember that Tupperware containers are almost air tight so you will need to let the lid rest loose and not sealed tight.  This will allow the excess humidity to vent.  You will also need to purchase a hygrometer to monitor the humidity inside the container.  For cigars, the humidity must not exceed 74% humidity.  (70% is considered ideal.)  Prolonged exposure to humidity levels above 74% can cause mold to grow on your cigars.  You can also use a clean, unscented sponge in place of the humidification device.  Simply place the sponge in a dish so that it doesn't drip on any of the cigars.  

I wouldn't suggest storing your cigars in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel as that can cause erratic humidity, soggy cigars or even mold growth.

Hope 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