Expert: James Yee - 3/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey James, hope all is going well.

I recently returned from Mexico about 12 hours ago, and it seems I have fell into a new Hobby(Cigars). I have brought back 3 cigars from there any have already purchased a Humidor from havannahouse. I was suckered into puchasing one that has a digital Hygrometer and was told there was NO priming that needed to be done. So I have put my cigars in the box with the Boveda 75% pack. Being a newbie to the hobby I was left with no choice but to have faith in this man.

I was wondering if this is alright to do, or should have a still primed the humidor? He mentioned since i have a digital Hygrometer then there was no need.

Thoughts?

PS I'm from Toronto as well.

ANSWER: Hi Mike,

Seasoning (priming) a humidor actually prepares the interior wood so that your humidor can absorb and regulate humidity more effectively.  This will allow the humidor to perform better and require less refills for the humidification device.  It's possible to use an un-seasoned humidor but you may require more frequent refills and notice erratic humidity levels.

Some humidors are actually seasoned (primed) by the manufacturer or even the cigar stores themselves so if a retailer mentions that the humidor has already been seasoned, you don't need to season it for now.  (However, you may need to re-season it soon so be prepared.)  

Letting your cigars sit in the humidor with the Boveda pack is fine for now but you will need to monitor the humidity in your humidor for a few days.  The ideal humidity level in a humidor is 70% humidity (67-73% range is acceptable).  Monitor your humidor for the next few days.  If the humidity is extremely low (less than 66%), you will need to re-season your humidor.  If the humidity is greater than 74%, you will need to switch to the Boveda 72% humidity packet or use a foam-core humidification device with distilled water and propylene glycol (PG).  (Using a foam core humidification device with distilled water and PG will allow you to fine-tune the humidity level to your liking. For beginners though, the Boveda pack is easier to use.)  Humidity greater than 74% is bad for your cigars because it can cause cigar mold to appear.  Humidity less than 64% can cause your cigars to be dry, taste stale and burn too quickly.

If your humidor needs to be re-seasoned, don't worry.  Your cigars are not in any danger and it doesn't take long to season a humidor.  (It usually takes about 3-4 days to season a humidor.)  Having a digital hygrometer does not mean you do not have to season your humidor.  The person you spoke to was mistaken.  A digital hygrometer doesn't require calibration but you may still need to season the humidor if it doesn't hold adequate humidity.

Monitor your humidor closely for the next few days.  If you do need to re-season your humidor, search my question archive for detailed seasoning instructions or feel free to contact me and I'll gladly repost them for you.

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

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

QUESTION: Thanx James,

My digital hygrometer reads a steady level of 66%, is that level ok? I figured since I have a 75% pack I should be getting a higher number.

I've had this setup since Friday night. Could I be rushing it to fast?

Thanks again?

Do you recommend any local places in Toronto or surround areas for good "real" cigars?

Thanks again..

Answer
Hi Mike,

66% is fine but be sure to monitor your humidor for the next few days to see if the humidity will increase.  When a humidor is dry/unseasoned or has many dry cigars, the humidity will be low for a few days until the humidor and cigars is finally saturated with humidity.  Once the humidity stabilizes, it should return to 75%.

For reputable cigar stores in Toronto, I would recommend Thomas Hinds Tobacconists and La Casa del Habanos (LCDH).  Both are located in Yorkville which is near the intersection of Bay and Bloor (Thomas Hinds is located on Cumberland and LCDH is in Yorkville).  Both are extremely reputable stores where you can find many premium cigars.  Thomas Hinds sells both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars and LCDH sells only Cuban cigars.  Both are also supplied by Havana House, the only Canadian-appointed distributor of genuine Cuban cigars.  Havana House is the official Canadian distributor for Habanos SA.

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

EDIT: Oops, typo with your name.  Sorry about that.