Expert: James Yee - 7/11/2010

Question
James,
1)What is the best quality humidor to buy and where?
2)What is the best humidifier to buy for a humidor and where?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Spencer,

Because there are literally hundreds of humidor brands and styles with prices ranging from $50 to $15,000.00, I wouldn't know what to recommend to you.  Everyone has his or her own personal style and budget and it's important that you pick a humidor based on that.

I can however, give you tips on what to look for in a good humidor.  When shopping for a humidor, this will help you sort the good humidors from the bad and make things much easier for you.  (If you're just looking for a list of brand name humidor and humidifier manufacturers, scroll to the last paragraph.)

A humidor is made up of three crucial components; the humidifier, the hygrometer and the humidor itself.  The first thing I'll discuss is the humidor.  There are literally hundreds and hundreds of humidor designs in every shape, size and style so when choosing a humidor, be sure to select one that is right for you.  Try not to choose overly-complicated or novelty humidors that might make the humidor more inconvenient or tedious to maintain.  Though choosing a humidor to match your personal style is totally up to you, one thing any good humidor should have is Spanish cedar.  Not only is Spanish cedar very aromatic (which helps accentuate the scent of your cigars), but also the natural oils and scent in the wood helps fight off bug infestations which is very important.  Be sure to select a humidor that has Spanish cedar lined in the interior.  Any interior components such as trays, drawers and dividers should be made out of cedar too.  Also, before you buy, inspect the humidor to make sure that it is well constructed.  The corner joints should be flush and smooth, the lid should provide a nice seal but not feel too heavy and the humidor should not have any physical blemishes that may allow humidity to escape.  Any physical defects will not only reduce the humidor’s performance but also put your cigars at risk.

The most important part to a humidor is the humidifier.  Without it, your cigars will go dry.  Basic, inexpensive humidifier units contain aqua foam or water-retaining “crystals” (or even powder) that absorbs [distilled] water.  These often require you to manually fill them with distilled water whenever they begin to lose humidity or become dry (usually within a few weeks, on average).  They get the job done but require attention on a regular basis.  More expensive, albeit user-friendly, devices are electronically powered and use replaceable humidor solution cartridges that last up to 6 months or even longer.   Also, with these electronic units, a lot of guesswork and fine-tuning is eliminated as they automatically regulate the humidity to an optimal level that is either preset by the factory or yourself.  

The ideal interior humidor environment is “70/70”; that’s 70% humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.  This is where the Hygrometer comes into play.  The hygrometer provides an accurate reading of how much humidity is in your humidor.  Your humidor can actually function without a hygrometer but I would advise against that.  If the humidity and temperature climbs too high, it can cause the birth of tobacco beetles or mold.  If the humidity drops too low, your cigars will become dry twigs.  Inexpensive hygrometers are analog and over time, may require testing and recalibration to ensure that they remain accurate.  Digital hygrometers however, always provide an accurate reading with either little or zero calibration needed and some digital units even provide a temperature reading as well.  Usually an analog hygrometer is included with most moderately priced humidors but investing in a digital hygrometer definitely makes cigar storage much easier and ensures your cigar collection is kept safe.

Of course, I can go on and on about humidors and humidor maintenance (there’s just so much to cover) but that would take a while.  My suggestion is that you visit your local tobacconist/cigar shop and take a look at the available humidors that they have.

If you're just looking for reputable brands, Daniel Marshall, Diamond Crown, Davidoff, Colibri, Prometheus, Cigar Savor, Vinotemp, Vigilant and Elie Bleu are some of the more reputable humidor manufacturers.  For humidifiers, Caliber, Credo, Cigar Savor, Madelaines, Xikar and Cigar Oasis make excellent humidor humidification units.

I hope this helps!  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.  Good luck!

Regards,
James