Cigars/Temp and humidor
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Question
Hi James,
My hunidor this weekend (my fault, forgot to close the shutters) hit a temperature of 76 degrees for about 2hours. When I noticed this, I turned up the AC, opened the humidor and allowed it to cool for about an hour until the heat reached 70.
My question is, should I be worried about damage to my cigars? Like I said it was for 2, maybe 3 hours at 76.
Also, does it hurt to re-season a humidor? I have had mine for about 8 months and the humidity is keeping fine at 69-72. Would I need to reseason ever? just curious on to how spanish cedar works exactly and if reseasoning will help my cigars in any way.
Thank you!
Hi Tommy,
It takes prolonged exposure - usually takes 2-3 days - of high temperatures for tobacco beetle eggs to incubate and hatch. 2-3 hours isn't enough time for beetles to hatch but just to be on the safe side, you should place all your cigars in a tupperware container and freeze them for 24 hours before returning them to the humidor. Freezing will stop the incubation process and instantly kill any tobacco beetle eggs inside your cigars.
As for seasoning a humidor, it's possible to re-season your humidor but your humidor seems fine right now at 69-72% humidity so re-seasoning isn't necessary. Most people will re-season their humidor if it has become bone dry after long periods of inactivity. When you season a humidor, you're basically preparing the Spanish cedar so that it can absorb and regulate moisture more effectively. Seasoning a humidor will allow the humidor to maintain a better humidity level for a longer amount of time. Technically, you can use an unseasoned humidor but the humidifier refills may be more frequent and the humidity performance may be erratic.
Once your humidor is seasoned and you constantly maintain the humidity with a proper humidification device, your humidor will not require any re-seasoning.
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
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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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