How to store your cigars

You may be a novice cigar aficionado or perhaps have been smoking them for years and are now wanting to build your own collection, there are many factors to consider when storing cigars.

Here are some tips to assist you in your storage of cigars.

The humidor:
Choose a well made humidor lined with unfinished Spanish cedar. It should provide twice the capacity of what you'll store. Make sure the humidor seals properly, by allowing the lid to fall closed. You should hear a 'whoosh.'

Separate the types:
Most of us like to smoke a range of various types of cigars, ideally this would necessitate a different humidor for each type, rather an expensive option! There is, however, a less expensive solution, the use of dividers. These fit inside your humidor, either lengthwise or widthwise and create compartments, in which you can store different cigars. You can put a mild cigar in one section, a full bodied cigar in another and the flavors will be kept from mixing.

The temperature:
Store cigars between 64 and 70 degrees F to keep them from aging too quickly or too slowly, they need to be stored in an environment that stays relatively temperate.

Monitor the humidity:
Keep your cigars at a relative humidity level of 68 to 74 percent. Less than this and they may dry out, more than this and they may begin to rot.

Keep the humidifier filled with distilled water:
After the initial seasoning, check the water level at least every four weeks.

Rotate your cigars and allow air to circulate:
About once a month rotate your cigars and permit some air circulation.