cigar shelf life question.

[nrv216]

Hey guys,

I have been casually enjoying cigars now for years but I have always just bought on and then smoked it that same day. I am getting married on September 6 and just ordered 5 tins of acid krush cigars, and a few larger acid cigars. Well, I happily made the order without thinking about how to store the cigars until the wedding. I am assuming they will be here about 2 weeks before the big day.

I REALLY don't want to spend money on a humidor since the wedding expenses are already piling up fast. I have read all sorts of things about tupperware containers with moist sponges and ziplock bags etc. etc. but I was just wondering if you guys could steer me in the right direction on how to keep my stogies fresh for the next two weeks. Thanks!

nrv216

[SALBONE]

All you need:
1. Air tight container (you pick)
2. 65-70% Humidity (I suggest a sponge soaked in PG solution in a ziploc with holes poked, or humipaks you can pick up on amazon or your nearest tobacco shop)(PG is propylene glycol)

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Or you could purchase portable (I use 'Water Pillows' and they come in very handy), instant humidification (i.e., 'Boveda', 'Humidipak'...ect). Simply throw (just dip indistilled water for 15 seconds to activate), one of these packets in a zip lock bag, tupperware or small travel humidor and your cigars will be A-OK.

"A cigar is as good as [the] memories that you have when you smoked it". Raul Julia

[Bk124tt]

Zip lock in the veggie bin in the fridge

[nrv216]

Cool thanks guys! I just saw that my local Binny's carries Xikar gel humidifier tubs for like 3 bucks. I will toss one of those in a large tupperware and that should do it! Thanks again!

nrv216

[Kentos]

Make sure it is active humidification tho. Otherwise the you will end up with wet sticks. Hopefully those Xikars ones are like the humidipacks.

[Jim]

Based on where you got the cigars they may come over humidified, a couple of vendors (jr is notorious for this) ship them way too over humidified so as to survive almost a week in a UPS truck.

You may need to do nothing other than break down the packaging and spread them out in an air tight container. Open it and move the sticks around a bit every day.

If you purchased them at a local shop just bring them back and ask them to hold them.

Congratulations on you impending nuptials- Mae West said- "no man is completed until he is married-... then he is finished"

[nrv216]

Hmm, I got them at pipesandcigars.com. How will I know if they are over humidified?

Thanks for the kind words and advice guys. I think the xikar website says they keep the container at a constant 70% humidity.

nrv216

[Kentos]

If you roll them gently betwix the fingers, they should sound "crinkly" like someone grabbing at the bottom of a bag of chips. At least that's how I liked mine.

[Slash McCoy]

LOL! Most decent cigars benefit from 4 or 5 years kept in the humidor. Two weeks is not even a blip on the radar.

Tupperware container inside another tupperware container. Soak a cedar sheet from a cigar box and place it in the outer one. Leave the inner one with one corner (furthest away from the cedar "humidifier") slightly open. Not sealed, anyway. The enemy of cigars is less too much or too little moisture than gaining or losing moisture too fast. Cigars that are too moist or too dry must be adjusted very slowly. The filler loses and gains moisture easily. The wrapper and binder become more or less elastic due to moisture content very slowly, and they should be allowed to stretch or shrink slowly. Most cigars that are split are the result of re-humidifying too quickly. The filler expands faster than the wrapper can stretch.

My favorite test is to lightly pinch a cigar. It should dent easily but the dent should disappear by itself and not remain for very long. It should not be crackly or dusty. It will feel like a thing alive. If you cut one and draw on it, it should not be a difficult draw but there should be some slight resistance. More moisture usually tightens the draw. A dry cigar will draw really really easy.