Expert: James Yee - 1/22/2005

Question
Question from UK

Dear Sir,

I recently recieved a box of 25 cuban esplendidos for a brithday present. The box was unopened but last night I opened the box and enjoyed my first esplendido.

What I'm concerned about is hopw to store them. A few years back my brother brought a box of esplendidos back from cuba and within 6 months the skin had preeled off all the cigars.

What i want ot know is how to store them as cheaply as possible? - a £100 humidor is not really what i want to spend my money on (I'm only a student!).

also, is it possible to keep the cigars in the box they came in (I'm not sure if its cedar wood or not). Advice of storage would be much appreciated.

Also should a humidor be appropriate, what one would you suggest?

Lastly, I've been asked a lot by friends about how to smoke the cigar so that the end remains relatively dry and doesn't becoem a damp soggy pile of mush?

Thanks for your time, much appreciated.

Will Holmes  

Answer
Greetings from Canada!

Congratulations on receiving a box of Cohiba Esplendidos, that is a great cigar!  To answer your question: yes, there are several inexpensive methods to preserve your cigars so that they don't dry out. Considering you have a limited budget, I would not recommend that you buy a humidor unless you are a avid cigar smoker.  If you are a frequent cigar smoker, then a humidor is a great investment to protect your cigars from drying out; otherwise I would suggest make-shift humidors which do not cost very much but are less attractive.  One of the more effective and inexpensive cigar storage devices is to purchase a tupperware container. I'm not sure if it goes by a different name in the UK but tupperware containers are those plastic food containers with a tight lid that keeps food fresh. Not only does it keep food fresh, but it can keep cigars humidified too! :)

Yes, it's perfectly fine to keep the cigars in the original cigar box but the whole box must be humidified.  Another method is to use a cooler to store multiple boxes of cigars. Coolers are those large, thick plastic boxes that you fill up with ice and drinks for parties.

Both methods are great for long-term storage.  To properly store your cigars with these devices, make sure you purchase some untreated SPANISH CEDAR plus a humidor humidifier.  The cedar is relatively inexpensive and the humidifier should not cost more than 10 pounds.  You must also purchase a "hygrometer" device to measure the amount of humidity in your make-shift humidor.  Depending on the style, size and brand, a hygromter can cost anywhere between 7 to 20 pounds.  All of these items you can purchase from your local tobacconist.

From there, simply line your "tupperdor" or "coolerdor" with spanish cedar and fill the humidifier with distilled water. You should then check the hygrometer every few days to ensure that the humidity is reasonable. (65-72% is good)  If the humidity is too high (73% or more), open the lid and vent the humidity for a few minutes.  If the humidity is too low (64% or less), add a bit more water.  Your cigars should always have a firm but moist feel to it. Not too spongy, not too mushy.  It is also important that you use untreated Spanish Cedar because the natural oils in the spanish cedar help fight bug infestation and mold.

For short-term storage, cigar shops sell what is called a "humi-pouch" which is a self-humidified, resealable baggie that you can store your cigars in.  However, these are only good for 3 months once you first open them so if you plan on keeping your esplendidos for more than 90 days, it's not recommended that you use these.

Although these methods are less attractive than a polished, hand-crafted humidor, they most certainly get the job done and your cigars will be in pristine, well-humidified condition just ready to be smoked.  (Here in North America, these methods are quite popular for novice cigar smokers or avid cigar aficionados who have excess cigars and don't want to invest in more humidors.  Simply put, these methods are cheap and effective.)

To properly smoke a cigar, never let it become soggy or mushy while you smoke it. Always gently hold it between your lips and take slow, easy draws (or "puffs").  Never gnaw on the cigar and if you like to keep it in your mouth constantly, never pinch the cigar hard with your teeth.  Always hold it in your mouth mainly with your lips and not your teeth.  Also try not to drool or slobber over the cigar end as it loosens the wrapper leaf and your cigar can unravel during smoking.  Don't smoke too slow and most certainly, never smoke it too fast. Smoking it too fast causes the oils to build up quickly which results in a bitter, sour taste.  Smoking a cigar too slow will cause the cigar to not burn properly and if you constantly have to relight it, it will ruin the flavour and the smoking experience.  Generally, 1 or 2 puffs per minute is the norm.

Hopes this helps you. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to just ask.  Enjoy those Esplendidos!

James Yee
Toronto, Ontario Canada