Expert: James Yee - 8/9/2009

Question
I am very new to smoking cigars, i recently purchased a new 100ct humidor and was curious if demineralized water is safe to season the humidor with as the label on bottle says

"sodium free purified water *demineralized* recommended for irons, humidifiers, batteries"

Will this harm the humidor or even the cigars?

Everything i have read says to use distilled water in seasoning humidor but researching the internet for differences between destilled water and demineralized water is the way that it is created and is pretty much the same thing.

I used a 50/50 mix in the actual humidifier and used hygrometer calibration pack for set up but have not seasoned yet.

What is the rule of etiquette in regards to leaving the band on the cigar? Do you leave it on or remove it? By leaving the band on is it considered rude to advertise what you are smoking?

In regards to storage can cigars be stored in the humidor vertically or must they be stored lying down? If i am storing different strengths and types of cigars should i be worried or concerned with marrying?

Thanks,

Dustin

Answer
Hi Dustin,

To answer your questions:

- Demineralized water should be fine to use in a humidor and won't harm your humidor or cigars.

- Whether or not you should remove the cigar is purely personal preference.  Either method is not rude nor incorrect.  If you do decide to leave the band on the cigar, be sure to remove it before the burn of the cigar reaches the band as it's bad etiquette to let the cigar band burn.

- When storing cigars in a traditional humidor, the cigars should be stored flat in the horizontal position.  Storing the cigars vertically will obstruct humidity flow to the cigar feet.  In addition, your cigars - particularly the long and slender cigars - may wilt and bow from being stored in an unsupported, vertical position.  Certain humidors such as a humidor jar or novelty humidor do allow you to store your cigars vertically but for traditional humidors, your cigars should be lying down.  

- Storing cigars of different strengths or country of origin in your humidor won't affect your cigars negatively.  The only cigars you should NOT store in your humidor are the artificially flavoured/scented cigars as their strong scents can actually fuse with the humidor wood and your other cigars.  If you're worried about your cigars marrying in flavour, you can keep all the cigars separated with Spanish cedar dividers or cigar boxes.  This will prevent the cigars from coming in contact with each other and blending aromas.

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

Regards,
James