Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 9/1/2007

Question
I have kept about 40 various cigars in a humidor that I have had for about two years. Some are in the original tubes, and some have no container. I have noticed that one of the cigars in the tube had a few cracks in the wrapper at the end. I check my cigars and humidity very regularly, so I am wondering where I went wrong. I might guess that the humidity does not easily get to those in the tube, which causes it to dry and crack. I was also curious if a cigar might crack if there is too much humidity, but I am able to maintain a level between 70-77 percent. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Eric,

It seems to me that if moisture can get out of a tube, it can get in as well, so the cigars should not dry out if kept in a humidor even inside the tubes. They may have cracked from handling the tubes and the cigar moving around inside the tube. A cigar can (will) split the wrapper if over humidified as that causes the tobacco inside to expand slightly putting excessive pressure on the outside wrapper.
Bill