Expert: James Yee - 1/21/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey James,
    I just got two Montecristo Habana Tubos as a gift and they appear to be somewhat dry.  I'm assuming the person who gave it to me didn't keep the cigars in a humidor.  I was wondering what you recommend I do with the cigars and how is the best way to "revive" them and get them back to a smoking stage?  Can you give me a step by step process because I've never delt with this before. Also, what do you personally think of these Montecristo Habanas? Is it worth the trouble of reviving them?  Thanks.

Joe


ANSWER: Hi Joe,

Rehydrating dry cigars is extremely easy and you can restore these cigars to perfect smoking condition within a few months.  The easiest way to restore dry cigars is to just let them sit in a properly maintained humidor for as long as possible.  If you don't own a humidor, what you can do is purchase a "humi-pouch" at your local cigar store and store your cigars in it.  Humi-pouches are ziploc-style bags with a humidified lining built into the plastic membrane.  They're designed for short-term cigar storage and travel and can properly maintain cigars for up to 3 months (90 days).  After 3 months, you will need to replace the bag or purchase a humidor.  Humi-pouches are available in a variety of sizes and can accomodate everything from a few single cigars, to whole boxes.  Depending on the size of the bag, they can cost anywhere between $4-$14 per bag.

The best part about using humi-pouches is that they automatically humidify your cigars at an ideal humidity level and require very little maintenance and supervision.  Simply store the cigars in the bag and then replace the bag after 3 months.

Storing the dry cigars in a properly-maintaind humidor (or humi-pouch) for AT LEAST 3 months should revive them to an acceptable condition.  Of course, if you are not in a rush to smoke these cigars, the longer you humidify them, the better they become.  I would suggest you humidify your cigars for at least 4 months before you try to smoke them.  4 months should be enough time to fully rehydrate them.

For dry cigars kept in cigar tubes, remove the cigar from the cigar tube so that humidity can aerate it more effectively.  If the cigars are extremely brittle, handle the cigars as gently as possible and keep them in a humi-pouch for a few months until they become firm enough to handle.  If the cigars become damaged while in their brittle condition, you will need to purchase a cigar repair adhesive to mend the torn/split wrapper leaf.  This adhesive can be purchased at any cigar store.  It is common sold under the name "Cigar Dr." (or "Dr. Cigar")  As an alternative, you can also use a vegetable glue or pectin to repair damaged cigars.

As for Cuban Montecristo cigars, they're fantastic cigars and well worth the time to restore them if they're dry.  Montecristo is a very popular Cuban cigar brand and the Tubos cigars have always been good.  They're always flavourful, full-bodied and age very well.

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

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

QUESTION: Hey James,

Thank you for the quick reply...I appreciate it.  I do have a humidor at home and I stored it in the humidor for a day, but when I went online to read about dry cigars, alot of people said that the cigar will burst when it is put in a humidor immediately.  They said the process involved putting the cigar slowly through a humid atmosphere and then putting it in a humidor.  Do you think the dry cigars will burst if I put it back into my humidor now?

Thanks,
Joe

Answer
Hi Joe,

A dry cigar can split but it's usually uncommon.  Dry cigars are more likely to split if they are extremely brittle; too brittle to even touch.  I've restored many dry cigars before and never experienced split cigars.  It's also important that you have 70% humidity (or less) in your humidor to prevent them from splitting.  Make sure your humidor's humidity does not exceed 72% when restoring cigars.  I have heard stories from colleagues who had dry cigars split because their humidity was too high.  70% humidity or less should be perfectly fine.

If you're still worried about your dry cigars splitting.  Keep the cigars in their cigar tubes with the cigar tube caps still on (but not tightened).  This will restrict the amount of humidity that enters the cigar tube and the cigars will slowly rejuvenate.  When the cigars become more firm (usually around 3-4 weeks of humidification), remove the cigar tubes and continue to humidify the cigars for at least another 3 months.  

As an alternative, you can keep your cigars in a ziploc bag with a small folded piece of paper towel soaked in distilled water.  The paper towel should be and about the size of a quarter; three or four layers thick.  It's also important that you do not seal the ziploc bag closed.  The ziploc seam should be closed but loose so excess humidity can escape if necessary.  Let the cigars humidify in the bag until they feel firm enough to be relocated to your humidor.  

Regards,
James