AboutJames 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 15 dedicated years of cigar smoking (an average 4 cigars a day) 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.
Question As a rcent conver to cigar smoking and owner of a new humidor, please could you help? I want to do what's right for my small stock of Cohiba's and Hoyos I brought back from cuba and get my humidor ready for more stock!
Q1: My new humidor is a german one made from spanish cedar; all it tells me to do is place a dish of distilled water in it for a few days, and load my humidifier with the crystals provided after soaking them for about an hour in distilled water. Is there anything else I should do?
Q2 Does it have to be pharmaceutical grade distilled water? can a spirit like Vodka be used as a humidifier solution!? It's only 37% alcohol, so 63% water, no funagl spores or bacteria and virtually scent free.
Looking forward to your advice,
Kind regards,
Will.
Answer Hi Will,
Yes, if you follow the instructions included with your humidor, it should be fine. If however, you follow the instructions and the humidity is still too low (66% or less), you will need to season your humidor more thoroughly. Seasoning will allow your humidor to absorb and regulate humidity more effectively.
If you need detailed seasoning instructions, search my question archive here on allexperts.com or please feel free to just ask me and I will be happy to post the step-by-step instructions for you.
Distilled water can be pharmaceutical-grade distilled water (bidest water) or commercial distilled water that you can buy at your local supermarket. I wouldn't recommend using vodka or any type of spirit in your humidor because the alcohol can actually ruin the humidification element. Should the alcohol accidentally spill in your humidor, it can bleach your cigars and strip them and the Spanish cedar wood of their natural oils. These natural oils are important for maintaining your cigars and humidor.
When maintaining your humidor, distilled water is your best choice.
Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.
