Expert: James Yee - 3/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear James,

Let me start off by saying, I'm a beginner in this cigar world although i've been smoking for several years but my experience has been limited. It's more so about the affordability rather than anything else. I've been building up my pallete from Nicaraguan, Dominicans to quite recently cubans. I've just invested in a humidor, thus my question is 2 parts:-
1. I've read some where here to avoid the no name humidor but now that is too late (it was still a considerable investment for me). How bad is the no name humidor to my cigars? Do i need to consider an upgrade soon?
2. I live in south east asia, and our weather all year round is 30 - 36 celcius. Although i have a/c in my room which i put on every night but switch off in the afternoon. The temperature goes down to 22-26 celcius. Would this be sufficient?

Thank you for your help.

ANSWER: Hi Raja,

To answer your questions:

1. Generic, "no-name" humidors are generally mass-produced and lack the quality that a premium humidor would have.  Common problems with inexpensive humidors include thin wood, lack of cedar, weak corner joints, poor or weak seal in the humidor lid, metal fixtures (hinges, screws, lock, etc.) that can rust, and poor humidity retention.  These defects can cause problems for your cigars.  With poor quality humidors, your cigars may become too dry or grow mold from contamination or over-humidification.

HOWEVER, not all inexpensive humidors are of poor quality so you should inspect your humidor for any defects or construction flaws that would cause problems.  If your humidor is poorly built, you should upgrade to a better humidor soon.  

2. 30-36 degrees celcius is extremely hot for your cigars and can cause tobacco beetle eggs (potentially hidden inside your cigars) to incubate and hatch.  The tobacco beetle(s) will then chew through your cigars and ruin them.  Cigars with tobacco beetle holes must be discarded.  The tobacco beetle will leave behind a fine, dark powder (a combination of chewed up tobacco and their feces) and if inhaled, this fine, dark powder can make you sick.  The ideal environment for your cigars is 70% humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celcius).

Your humidor's temperature should not exceed 23 degrees celcius (74 degrees Fahrenheit).  At 75 degrees Fahrenheit, tobacco beetle eggs begin to incubate.  Because you live in South East Asia (which is extremely hot), it's best to keep your cigars in a thermo-electric humidor that allows you to custom set the desired temperature and humidity levels.  You can set the humidor to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and it will automatically maintain that temperature level.  As an alternative, many cigar smokers like to keep their cigars in a wine fridge retro-fitted with Spanish cedar, a hygrometer and electronic humidifier.  Many wine refrigerators allows you to custom set the desired temperature level so it's perfectly safe to store your cigars in them.  

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

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

QUESTION: Dear James,

Thank you for your prompt answer, on separate issue I've read by one of the recommendation by one of your counterparts is the best to use the Reverse Osmosis water. I've actually started seasoning my humidor using distilled water. Should i switch to RO or stick with distilled?
Can you recommend any cheap, non-cubans? My palette tends to be towards full bodied. I've tried really enjoyed Cohiba Siglo IV, IV & Robusto, Hoyo de Monterrey Epi 1 & 2, Partagas Serie D no 4 and Monte no 2. I've smoked mostly Hoyos, they are quite reasonably priced and really taste nice.

Thanks again.

ANSWER: Hi Raja,

It's not necessary to use reverse osmosis water.  Using 100% distilled water in your humidor is perfectly fine so you should continue using it.  You can also use bidest water which has been distilled twice.  It's important that the distilled water must be 100% distilled.  Do not use bottled drinking water, filtered water or boiled tap water as they still contain mineral deposits that can clog your humidification device and give your cigars a bland, metallic taste.

For inexpensive non-Cuban cigars, here's a list of some inexpensive cigars that are great and worth trying:

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos, Short Story, Curly Head
Padron 2000, 3000, Anniversario
Camacho
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 1066, Dark Sumatra (non-Cuban)
Cohiba XV (non-Cuban)
Montecristo Serie V (non-Cuban)
Partagas Black Label (non-Cuban)

Hopes this helps.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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

QUESTION: Hi James,

I've got another brain teaser for you, I bought a box of Seleccion Piramides about a year ago as per below link. I bought it for collection purposes. As I've mentioned in prior posting that i have just recently purchased a humidor. I was afraid that this cigars might be dry, so i've been reading a lot on how to restore dry cigars. Yesterday, i've put the whole box in my humidor, and started the process to restoring them. And just this morning just googling for more info on the Seleccion that i realised that the box comes in with built in humidifier. I've never open the box nor charge the humidifier. How should i treat this cigars?

http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/seleccion-piramides-unvarnished-p-3685.html

And secondly, my humidor has fluctuation RH 5%. During the day time the RH reads about 69-70 and at night time (i suspect the room the a/c being on) it reads about 64-65. Is the humidor working correctly or should i re-season it. Since i introduced the Seleccion box in to the humidor the RH has dropped by 1%.

Thanks again, you advice has been helpful.

Regards,
Zain

Answer
Hi Zain,

It's perfectly fine to store your entire Seleccion Piramides box inside your humidor.  If you are concerned that the cigars are extremely dry, you may want to remove the cigars from the packaging and store them in your humidor without the box.

In regards to your humidor's humidity level, it seems fine right now so you shouldn't worry.  It's perfectly natural for your humidor's internal humidity level to fluctuate during the course of a day.  Your home's AC can indeed affect your humidor's humidity level (home heating can also affect it) so if you're concerned by the fluctuation, you may want to either turn off your AC at night or move your humidor to a less colder room and the difference in fluctuation will be less.

However, 70% humidity during the day and 65% at night is fine so you shouldn't worry.

Hopes this answers your question.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask.

Regards,
James