What cigar aficionado would want to be without his favorite sticks on the road? Why would he want to worry about whether they’ll dry out, crack, or become badly flavored with airborne odors? A glass tube is fine for a day or two, but what does one do during longer vacations or business trips?

Luckily, there’s no need to worry. Travel humidors let the cigar lover keep all those fine – and often expensive – treasures safe and in optimal shape, even when away from home for long periods.

A travel humidor is designed typically with the same concern over precise construction and careful humidity control as its larger cousins. But, because it’s taken on the road, it needs to be extra sturdy and temperature control can be trickier.

Here again, there’s no need for worry. Manufacturers who create them are cigar lovers themselves. They understand the need for high precision, shock absorbency to prevent cracking, the right humidity, and so forth.

Some humidors are as space-age like as the CigarExtras aluminum travel humidor that resembles the classic Halliburton camera case. It doesn’t get any sturdier than that. Yet, the interior is designed not with equipment in mind but those delicate treasures that every smoker loves.

Another, like the popular Cigar Caddy Travel Humidor line, may be as small as suitable for two cigars or as large as a dozen or more. But whichever model one prefers, the same careful craftsmanship and attention to detail is present in each.

The specially designed interior offers superb water retention and release and the case is simply indestructible. It’s a nice added benefit that they’re also waterproof to 100 feet. No one is likely to go swimming with their cigars but the outdoors often provides unexpected rain showers, splashes from passing cars, and sometimes simply outrageous humidity.

For the true cigar addict, a 20-cigar leather travel humidor might be just the thing, such as those available from Xikar, Adorini, or Diamond Crown. Savoy offers a stellar model in black or tan that holds 15-20 cigars. The variation results from variations in cigar size, of course.

The case itself will be often made of sturdier material – a hard wood, a space-age plastic, or even aluminum. The interior liner will usually be Spanish Cedar, the same unbeatable material used in your fine home humidor. The leather exterior provides both good thermal insulation and an attractive appearance. After all, why not carry a good looking object on the road while your cigars are well protected?

Next time you take that trip that entails serious golfing, you’ll be glad you carried along your finest in a secure travel humidor. A 2-count case is the perfect size to slip into the bag for a morning on the links. But for even more convenience there are many 10-count cases that let you carry in safety a wide variety to suit your changing moods.

True, in an emergency, you could make do with something as crude as a Tupperware container and a small wet sponge. But, even apart from the depressing appearance, your cigars will simply not be cared for the same. There’s a reason a fine travel humidor is so carefully made and it has nothing to do with marketing hype. Designers, like you, simply love their cigars.

Humidors – Travel Humidors is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

The dictionary definition of “humidor” is straightforward enough. It’s an enclosure to store cigars that dynamically keeps humidity around 70%. But behind that objective description lies a much more complex and interesting tale.

Like most tobacco accessories, the humidor has a long history. In one form or another the humidor goes back to ancient times, where tobacco was stored in cool, moist caves or earthen enclosures. But the modern device really originates in the 19th century, when cigars came into their more or less contemporary form.

Today’s humidor is a much more complicated and thoughtfully designed affair than its relatively simple looks might suggest.

The smallest humidors, such as travel cases or tubes, are on the low end of the size scale. But, even here, manufacturers have taken great pains to devise packages and packets to keep humidity right where it should be.

Larger humidors for storing cigars tend to be of a size that will hold anywhere from 10-100 cigars. They will almost always have an interior made of Spanish Cedar, though cheaper units may use something else. They’ll also universally include some kind of humidity control device, and usually a hygrometer for measuring it. Often, those will be combined in the same housing.

Still larger enclosures may store anywhere from 100-1000 cigars, though those at the larger end are typically intended only for commercial use. Anyone who needs to store 1000 cigars for personal use is a true cigar aficionado. Keeping that many stogies fresh is a real challenge, even for the most frequent smoker.

At that level the humidor will more likely be in the form of a specialized unit, similar to some wine storage enclosures though with different humidity and temperature settings, of course. Even more likely in that scenario, a small closet or room would be used containing automated temperature and humidity controls.

In the more usual case of personal consumption for pleasure, a good humidor does more than just keep cigars well, important as that is. It’s also a fine piece of furniture or decorative display. That can take many forms, ranging from a stylish and highly polished wooden or leather box intended for table top use to a glass-windowed enclosure with legs.

The latter has to be carefully considered, though. Many are beautiful pieces of furniture, indeed, but including glass in a humidor presents special problems. It’s more difficult to keep humidity at the right level. Moisture can’t make it in or out through the glass and, contrary to popular belief, a good humidor – while very well sealed – is not hermetically sealed from the environment. Some air does pass in and out.

Even trickier is the fact that invisible light (ultraviolet and infrared, to be specific) behaves differently passing through glass than wood. Controlling those effects, to avoid spoiling the wrapper and contents, requires unusual (and therefore expensive) manufacturing materials and techniques.

Still, every good humidor design adheres to the same principle: the cigars come first. Fortunately, there are many available that achieve that goal very well and offer an elegant display at the same time.

What Is a Humidor? is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

You don’t have to buy a humidor. You also don’t have to buy a refrigerator, plastic-wrapped bread, or beer in a bottle. But the downside is spoilage leading to poor taste, and the same holds true for cigars. A humidor is a must, if you want to keep your fine cigars in fine shape for longer than a couple of days.

Fortunately, a humidor is much more carefully designed and built than its relatively simple appearance might suggest.

Spanish Cedar, the universally accepted material for fine humidor interiors, has special moisture retention and release properties that help ensure the right humidity level. It is also tobacco beetle resistant, an important quality. Yes, it sounds revolting, but beetle larvae are often found in even fine cigars and can hatch in an insect-favorable environment.

A good humidor will also contain a humidity control and measurement mechanism. Some may be as simple as a cup of distilled water and a small sponge, accompanied by a basic hygrometer to ensure the humidity is around 70%. But even a crude one, such as a plastic bag with a tiny, water-soaked sponge, will help during travel.

The alternative – doing without entirely – leads to unpleasant consequences.

Unless cigars are stored in a humidor, any stick will begin to dry out, even when kept in a plastic wrapper or glass tube. No plastic wrapper is perfectly sealed and even a well-stoppered glass tube will only supply as much moisture as is trapped inside when you insert the cigar. They’re ok for short-term, single-cigar use in a pinch. But for storing a few dozen or more for weeks or longer, they’re inadequate.

After a week or two, depending on local conditions of temperature, humidity, and available ultra-violet light, a cigar will dry out to the point that much flavor and flexibility is lost. The wrapper will begin to come loose; the tobacco will become bitter and lose its robust taste.

In many cases, temperature and humidity will be favorable to the growth of tobacco beetle larvae, who begin to eat the cigar from the inside out. That’s evidenced by a series of small pinholes in the wrapper. Those insects are a perpetual problem in the tropical environments that grow tobacco and even the most careful manufacturer can’t ensure their complete absence. When your environment matches the larvae’s natural one, they may grow and begin to feed.

There are also more odors from food, air pollutants, dust, and other contaminants than you might expect even in very well-maintained homes. All those will make their way into your cigars if they’re not stored properly. The result is to taint the flavor of the fine smokes you spent much attention and money to obtain for maximum pleasure.

Fortunately, there are dozens of affordable, high-quality humidors on the market. They’re very often attractive and come in a variety of sizes to suit every need. Whether you’re an occasional smoker of one per week or a cigar aficionado who consumes dozens per month, you can easily find a fine humidor to keep your treasures in optimal shape.

Why Humidors Are a Must is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

The title is somewhat arrogant, perhaps. Selecting the top manufacturers in any field is inevitably a mixture of subjective and objective factors. Still, there are a few humidor makers that stand out among cigar aficionados. There’s nothing wrong with throwing in a personal favorite here and there, either!

One thing most cigar smokers will agree on is that a fine humidor will always have certain features. A Spanish Cedar interior is important though mahogany is a close second in the eyes of many. An accurately constructed enclosure, one that keeps leakage to a minimum and has smooth, properly fitting fixtures is important, too. And, it certainly helps to have an efficient and easy-to-maintain humidity control and monitoring system.

Fortunately, there are several manufacturers that meet those criteria. They then go beyond them to offer a fine decorative object or piece of furniture.

Adorini, for example, is widely viewed as one that offers a series of superb humidors. The Sorrente Deluxe is just one instance among many. The description says: “Holds 75 cigars”. However, that objective statement hardly begins to convey the full truth. It does far more than merely hold them. It caresses them, cares for them, and – ultimately – cocoons them in a loving embrace that protects from all harm.

The Sorrente has a feature that is becoming more popular, too: superior air flow in the interior. In this case that’s accomplished with something the company calls “Rib Tech”. It’s a series of ribs inside that let the air flow well around the cigars inside. Other manufacturers use a tongue and groove construction on the lid to help keep the right flow in and out of the box, another good idea.

A fine humidor can keep a good cigar for years. Many will actually improve the flavor of a well crafted cigar, allowing it to age well. That smooths out the taste and turn even an initially harsh flavor mellow. That’s assuming the cigar is a good one to begin with. No humidor can turn a poor product into something excellent.

The Savoy Beetlewood is another good case in point. Available in a range of sizes, each Savoy is carefully built to meet the criteria discussed above. Even the Savoy Mahogany with a glass top is among the best around. That’s especially noteworthy since it’s more difficult to make a good humidor that contains glass. The Savoy Africa in teak is also superior, and not just for its outstanding looks. For a humidor with great looks, and great function, one couldn’t do better than the Savoy Ash Burl, either.

Of course, when discussing top humidor makers, one can’t leave out the famed Diamond Crown lineup. They make an exquisite leather carrying case for everything from two to ten cigars. But they really come into their own with a series of outstanding home humidors.

The Windsor is among their best. African Bubinga provides a stylish finish and the silver handles turn this unit into a truly outstanding decorative item. But the proprietary IMAS (invisible magnetic attachment system) humidification system ensures that it’s top of the line in the function department, too.

Every cigar aficionado will have his favorite perhaps. But, even those already well equipped with a humidor will enjoy time spent looking at the latest each of these great manufacturers has to offer.

Top Humidor Makers is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

It doesn’t require a degree in tobacco-ology to select a fine cigar humidor, and there are many good ones available at moderate prices. Keep a few simple guidelines in mind and you’re sure to find one to suit your size requirement, and get an attractive decoration to boot.

Choice of materials is always the first consideration in selecting a good humidor.

Spanish Cedar lining is overwhelmingly the first choice, and for good reasons. It has excellent moisture balance properties, absorbing water readily and releasing it again when the air inside is too dry. It also is warp resistant, making it possible to keep a good seal.

Mahogany is a common substitute, but for reasons of aesthetics as much as function. It’s more expensive, so the reason for the change is not to lower the price. It’s more often used on the exterior because of its superb looks, with Spanish Cedar still used for the interior. Still, some good humidors do use it as a liner and it can do an adequate job.

Larger humidors, as well as lower quality ones, will sometimes substitute any number of things: plastic, synthetic wood, even metal. They should be avoided. Even in this age of miracle materials, there is still no good alternative to natural wood, especially cedar.

The unit should seal well, though it need not and should not be completely airtight. Some small amount of airflow is desirable to avoid buildup of fungus. Needed moisture should, instead, be replaced by a device that keeps the cigars’ enclosure at the right humidity.

That attribute leads directly to the next vital element in a good humidor: the humidity system. That system has two parts, which include the unit that releases and absorbs water and a device to measure the humidity level. The first is called the humidifier, the second is known as a hygrometer.

The humidifier could be something as elementary, yet still effective, as a small sponge which is soaked with distilled water. Sometimes, especially these days, propylene glycol is added to alter the rate of aerated water exchange. Often, that sponge will be enclosed in a tiny little mesh ‘basket’ to keep it secure. The ‘basket’ is then attached via Velcro or a magnet in the lid.

Temperature control is important, of course. However, few but the most expensive humidors will have any inbuilt thermal control mechanism. Most will rely on appropriate placement to keep cigars at around the desired 68F/20C mark. That’s not usually a problem in the average cigar smoker’s home where air conditioning and modern heating are common.

Last, apart from aesthetic criteria, comes the selection for size. Smokers who indulge one of Man’s finest pastimes – smoking cigars – only once in a while will need no more than a small humidor, one suited for 10-20 cigars. That not only keeps the cost down, but it also makes humidity and temperature control easier. Aficionados will want a unit large enough to easily hold all their desired treasures for months or even years without spoilage. A humidor that holds 100-400 will do the trick.

The humidor’s appearance, of course, is always going to influence the final selection, once a range of good ones is on offer. Here, naturally, no one can provide any useful guidance. Personal taste rules, just as in the selection of the cigar itself.

How To Select a Humidor? is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

The purpose of a humidor is to maintain your cigars in optimum condition. But that’s only possible if you maintain your humidor at its optimum. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be a full time job. A few simple steps taken infrequently but regularly will do the trick.

Temperature control is not the most important task, but it’s the one that is most often neglected. Only the rarest humidor will contain its own thermal controls, though, so this step is a must. Excessively low temperatures cause the tobacco to become dry and brittle; too high temperatures encourage the growth of fungi, tobacco beetle larvae, and other harmful critters.

The easiest way to keep the humidor’s interior roughly around the ideal 68F/20C mark is to keep the exterior close to that. Placing it in an air-conditioned room in summer or keeping it away from heaters in the winter is best.

It’s also best to avoid rapid, large temperature swings. So, resist the temptation to place your humidor (or your cigars!) in the refrigerator, even for a few minutes (except in emergencies to kill beetle larvae). The theory that “if it keeps food fresh, it will work for other agricultural products like tobacco” just isn’t true.

The most important task, of course, is to maintain the proper humidity inside the enclosure. That’s the basic purpose of the humidor, after all. By design, that’s also not very difficult or time consuming.

Cigar tobacco grows in tropical regions where the humidity is naturally very high, around 65%-75%. Since that’s what the tobacco plant adapted to, that is what helps keep the leaf flexible and flavorful.

A good humidor will NOT necessarily be hermetically sealed, however. There is some exchange of air between the interior and exterior. Also, when you open the lid, of course, air exchange and therefore humidity alteration occurs.

If the humidity level is too low, the solution (in both senses of the word) is simple. Just place a small container of water to the interior for quick restoration and close the lid. For longer term maintenance, a 50/50 solution of distilled water and propylene glycol will up the level appropriately.

Propylene glycol both humidifies and absorbs excess moisture inside your humidor, and it changes the rate of water evaporation. It can absorb odors from the air. It also acts as a bacterial and mold inhibitor. That works together with the Spanish Cedar interior lining, which also absorbs and releases moisture to keep the interior at the desired humidity. Changing the solution is normally only needed once every 1-3 months depending on the room environment.

When the humidity level starts to get too high (above 75% for more than 24 hours) – as it can if you don’t open the enclosure from time to time – it’s equally easy to fix. Just open the lid and let the air moisture level reach the desired 70% through natural evaporation. Then, shut the lid again.

You can easily monitor the success of your efforts and the humidor’s environment with a hygrometer, a device that measures relative humidity. They’re often included with the humidor you buy. That’s one criteria for selecting one, after all. If not, they’re readily available as an accessory.

Analog hygrometers are decent, but will only show humidity to a level of accuracy within about 10%. A digital hygrometer is typically accurate to within 2% or better. Having an accurate gauge is no good, though, if you don’t keep an eye on it.

Keep your humidor mold and fungus free, reasonably close to 68F/20C, and around 70% humidity and your cigars will last in fine smoking condition for months or even years. Whether they stay in the humidor that long is, of course, up to you.

How to Maintain Your Humidor is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

First, note that there are several different types of cutter available today. There are guillotine cutters, wedge cutters, hole or torpedo cutters with the very old-fashioned method of simply biting off the head.

The latter method is generally not recommended except in ‘emergencies’. You can almost always find a sharp knife if you haven’t got anything else. Biting off the end leaves it ragged and usually too large. That causes the head to deteriorate as you smoke and overwhelms you with what should be a more subtle experience.

They are available in two basic types. The single blade and the double. Single will work just fine, but could be a little harder to use properly. Double-blade guillotines have a blade in each direction and clamping before slicing makes the effort easy and accurate.

Wedge cutters offer a solid end that much less expensive prone to unraveling than a circular hole. Done correctly, tar build-up is negligible and wedges retain their popularity. That suggests that taste effects – if any – haven’t been outweighed by other considerations.

Piercers, lancers, hole cutters… there are lots of names. Old-timers have even used a nail. The idea is to poke a hole about a millimeter in diameter into the end. These do tend to concentrate tars near the end, if the hole is large enough then it’s a comparable as using a guillotine and cutting only a thin slice.

In every case, make sure the instrument is sharp and you use a swift, sure motion. Otherwise, you’ll end up tearing the end rather than cutting it.

Cutting a Cigar The Right Way is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

The two factors that affect cigars the most — and they work together — are moisture and air.

To keep them as fresh as possible, the right level of moisture (humidity) is needed. The obvious way to do that is by storing the cigars in a humidor, in which the humidity level can be carefully controlled.

For small amounts, 1 or 2 cigars, a glass or metal tube is often sufficient if they’re not stored there too long. They’re most often used when traveling or for partially smoked cigars. Since a good cigar can often last an hour or more, and are often more than an individual wants to smoke at one time, glass storage tubes are handy for storing the unused portion.

Never put a partially smoked cigar back into a humidor. The odor and compounds can steeply undercut the flavor of the other cigars. That lessens the value of a few dozen to some hundred cigars (some humidors are huge), as a keeping half a cigar for later. Not a good trade off..

Cigars — Storing Cigars is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

A well constructed humidor will help keep good cigars smokable for a long time. But find out how to tell if it’s performing?

Go through the cigars.

If the humidity level is too high, many times mold or mildew growing inside. In case you can’t see it, that are likely to be on the cigars as well. Sometimes, in fact, you will see it. A bluish substance on the wrapper indicates arsenic intoxication mold.

That growth can be caused by too much humidity (can be measured with a humidor hygrometer), combined with a seal that is too airtight. Humidors need to breathe slightly. If they’re airtight, that’s undesirable.

Affected cigars should be discarded and the humidor and remaining cigars placed in the freezer (if possible) for 48 hours. Then put them in the refrigerator for a day, then back in the room. Remove the cigars and wipe out the humidor with a damp sponge, then replace the cigars and allow the interior to stabilize.

When you obtain a new humidor, let it ’season’ for some time before use. Let the interior air out for a few hours before adding water. Then let the interior stabilize for a day before adding the cigars. Keep the lid shut when it’s not being utilized and keep it away from sunlight and heaters..

Cigars – Judging Your Humidor is a post from: humidor cigar boxes

In general, to obtain a truly fine cigar you need to spend some money. A $15 cigar is often the floor. For quality, you spend $25 or more. But, fortunately for the novice and those occasional smokers who just want a good cigar without emptying their bank account, there are some choices.

The Arturo Fuente Curly Head is a wonderful value and is available at a modest price, generally no some dollars. Hailing from jamaica, this maduro – a medium dark – is mild and flavorful. Hand made, based on 6 x 43 lonsdales making them perfect for a relaxing smoke.

Another option in the same size and price range is the Baccarat Luchadores. Mild and sweet, these Honduran cigars are great favorites of cigar smokers. Based on different styles, some with Cameroon wrappers, others with a Connecticut wrapper. But in the two cases they provide a fine smoke at modest cost.

If you like the brand but want something a little larger, Baccarat has many options. Churchills (at 7 x 50), Belicoso (at 6 x 54) and the massive King (at 8½ x 52) are all options that sell in a similar price range. Looking for something on the smaller end instead? Try the Petit Corona (5½ x 42).

Another popular choice is the Flor de Oliva line. Several are produced from a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos as fillers, using a Sumatra wrapper. They produce a smooth, but still robust cigar. The larger sizes are designed to smoke cooler and slower, so you get an even better value.

The Robusto Maduro (5 x 50) is ample and has a medium body in a thick, short frame. The Torpedo (6 x 52) is on the large size and has a sweet aftertaste that is delicate and subtle. The Diademas figurado (at 6½ x 60) is massive and will endure bums and bruises while delivering a wonderful flavor.

Hoyo de Monterrey offers a full line of choices at modest prices. Originating from Cuba, but now utilizing Honduran tobacco from Cuban seeds, these cigars make the perfect value and great tasting. You will discover maduro wrappers made from Connecticut broadleaf, or Honduran binders using Sumatra-seed wrappers from Ecuador. Truly international.

The company makes numerous truly fine – and pricy – cigars that you will want to treat yourself to sooner or later. But for everyday smoking, the Excalibur is great value. Mild-to-medium bodied, depending on which number in the line you choose, they taste great and age well.

You can’t go wrong with a Dunhill. Honduran made, they blend tobaccos from Brazil, Mexico and tobago with an Indonesian wrapper. Not a hodge-podge, but a flavorful blend at a price you can afford. Your best choice is the box with a variety of sizes, so you can enjoy different ones on different days.

You can easily spend much more for a fine cigar – and you’ll often get what you pay for. But there are lesser masterpieces out there that offer a great smoke at a great value. Happy hunting!

Cigars – Fine Choices For Modest Prices is a post from: humidor cigar boxes