Humidor Types

Humidors make a difference. Cigar aficionados want that stogie to be "fine." But even if their cigar has all the right attributes (brand, size, shape, shade, taste), it can be wrong. It needs to be fresh. That's where humidors enter the picture for temperature and humidity control. Humidors come in varying sizes, small to medium for personal use and medium to large for commercial use.

Humidors keep cigars fresh.

History

Russian-born Zino Davidoff invented the cigar cellar/humidor circa 1930 and the desktop humidor years later for efficient storage, according to the Davidoff tobacco company in Switzerland.

Stores And Displays

Visit any good-sized tobacco or cigar shop, and you find a walk-in humidor. Walk-ins feature ceramic tiles (resistant to warping), cedar walls and shelves, and fluorescent lighting (giving off little heat). Smaller shops have counter displays or cabinet humidors with glass panes that make the cigars visible.

For the Home

Desktop humidors typically hold anywhere from 20 to hundreds of cigars. The best ones are made of solid hardwood, lined with cedar or mahogany, according to Humidor Central. Handmade models, while more expensive than machine-made, offer solid construction.

On the Move

Travel humidors offer convenience and protection while keeping cigars fresh for short periods. With a hard casing, these storage units hold small quantities, typically 5 to 15 cigars. In a pinch, you can use a zip-lock bag with a wet paper towel to keep cigars fresh for a day or two.

Humidor in Action

Ideal conditions for cigar storage, according to Cigar Aficionado, are 70 to 75 percent humidity and 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To track those numbers, you'll need a hygrometer (humidity) and a thermometer.

Warning

You must maintain your humidor. That means checking the humidity and temperature levels at least every two weeks and adding distilled water to the humidifier when needed. Cigar Aficionado puts it precisely: "In a properly maintained humidor, the atmosphere inside of which closely mimics that of a tropical isle, cigars can be kept for years."

References

• Humidor Central
• Davidoff
• Cigar Aficionado