Cigars/Humidor concerns
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Question
I'm getting a little concerned with my humidor. I have had bugs in the cigars once before and it was very bad. The temp. is very important (right) needs to stay below 75 deg. at all time (right) so during the hot summer months how do you regulate the temp when its 90 to 100 degs out?
Can you freeze distilled water and put ice inside the box?
jim
Hi Jim,
The ideal environment for a humidor is “70/70”; 70% humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. (75 degrees is entering the danger zone.) Frozen distilled water may be too cold for your cigars and would only be a short-term solution. (On a hot summer day, once the ice completely melts, the water will lose its cold temperature very quickly so you would have to replace it often.)
The best method to cooling your humidor is to place it in the coolest part of the house which is usually the basement. During the hot summer months, basements are normally cooler than the rest of the house so this should greatly lower the internal humidor temperature and return it back to normal. (As an alternative, if you don’t have a basement, you can keep your humidor in a wine cellar, cold storage room or adjust your thermostat/AC so your home is more cooler.)
Regards,
James
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James 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 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking 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.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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