Expert: James Yee - 9/3/2008

Question
QUESTION: James,
I just purchased a new humidor to add to the collection. During the charging process I accidentally used tap water instead of distilled to wipe down the inside lightly. once I realized what I had done, I rewiped it down with distilled. I heard it can really mess up the humidor to use tap. Is there anything I can do to reverse the damage?
Thanks
Luke

ANSWER: Hi Luke,

If you used tap water only once to season your humidor and recharge your humidification device, it shouldn't be a problem.  Prolonged usage of tap water would have a negative effect but because you caught your mistake early and quickly switched to distilled water, your humidor and cigars should be fine.

If you would continue to use tap water, most common problems include a buildup of mineral deposits in your humidor and on your humidification device(mineral trace) and your cigars could potentially develop a slightly alkaline taste.

Again, because you only used tap water for a short time and quickly switched to distilled water, your cigars and humidor isn't in any danger.  Your humidity level is currently at the end of the safe range for cigars (66-74%) so if you wish to lower your humidity, a single 50/50 dosage of Propylene Glycol and distilled water should balance the humidity out at exactly 70%.  When using propylene glycol, remember that it can last a long time in your humidor (on average 2 years) so you only need to add PG just once.  After this, simply add distilled water when needed.

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

Regards,
James


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you James,
Thats great to hear that I didn't do any permanent damage. I have another question for you. I just purchased my first box of cigars. Up into this point I have been purchasing singles only. I purchased Bolivar Belicoso Fino 2 from Honduras. I noticed they came in a nice box. How long can they keep in this box? I put them in my crowded humidor but I am afraid of flavor mixing. Do most smokers have multiple humidors for situations just like this. Can cellophane protect from mixing or marrying of flavors?
Thanks
Luke

Answer
Hi Luke,

In a un-humidified environment, a box of cellophane-wrapped cigars should keep for about 1-2 weeks before it becomes dry.  It really depends on how dry the environment is where you live.  In a hot and humid region, the cigars may keep longer.  Also, there's no worry of your cigars marrying flavours unless you're storing heavily-scented, flavoured cigars in your humidor.  Many serious cigar collectors do have multiple humidors but it's absolutely safe to keep premium cigars of different brands, countries or tobacco in a single humidor.  Cellophane wrappers and cigar tubes also help preserve a cigar's original flavour/scent so you shouldn't worry about different types of cigars marrying in your humidor.  

If you're still concerned about it, you can organize your cigars by different categories such as country or wrapper shade and keep them separated with cedar dividers while in your humidor.  You can also keep cigars separated on different drawers or trays if you have a large humidor.  If your collection expands to extremely large quantities, you should consider investing in a large humidor cabinet and this will allow you to store cigars while still in their original boxes and this will keep your cigars even more protected.

Hopes this answers your question.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask.

Regards,
James