Cigar Storage Questions

[Alcibiates]

I don't know if there is a whole lot of verified scientific backing behind this, but I heard a long time ago that younger people tend to enjoy sweeter things and slowly their taste-buds actually transition to preferring more bitter tasting things as they get older. I've only just turned nineteen, and sadly I enjoy flavored cigars very much; I enjoy non-flavored cigars, but I find that to get a consistent, tasty non-flavored cigar is much more expensive and difficult than it is to get a consistent, tasty flavored cigar. I'm in PMs with FunkyCold for a newbie sampler, but he's swamped with work and it's taking a while.

Anyways, through all of that there comes this: I'm trying to find non-flavored cigars, but in the mean time I do enjoy flavored cigars, and I'd rather this not turn into a "Flavored cigars suck!" thread... Sorry if it comes off as harsh to anyone, but I've read a lot of people saying that flavored cigars aren't worth anything and should be thrown into a trash-can, which is why I couldn't find an answer to my question:

What are the in-depth worries of storing flavored cigars comparative to non-flavored cigars? There are a number of specific worries I have:

The primary fear I hear about flavored cigars is that they will ruin your other cigars by their flavor seeping into them, but what are the concerns of storing a number of flavored cigars in the same humidor/box/etc? Will they all blend into one exceedingly odd tasting cigar after a few months?

Along the same lines is a worry about aging flavored cigars. I doubt many cigar manufacturers take the time to age their flavored cigars, so would it be worth-while to age any flavored cigars that you purchase, or would the flavor slowly fade? Especially in cigar-lined humidors, would there be a significant worry about flavor seeping in the cedar? Not to ruin the box for non-flavored cigars, which I have heard commonly, but littering robbing the flavor from the cigars to completely saturate the wood? And would this be solved by seasoning the humidor a bit heavier or multiple times to ensure that the wood is fully saturated with water that [hopefully] will stop it from taking as much flavor away. Would rotating the cigars within the humidor help this?

Obviously the humidor wouldn't be useful for non-flavored cigars afterwards, but would storing other flavored cigars in there be okay? Or would they absorb the flavor as well?

Is the spiciness of cedar actually a poor choice for flavored cigars? Most of the appeal to flavored cigars is the mild smoothness and the slightly spicy aspect of spanish cedar seems to counteract this in the worst way possible... Would it actually make more sense to buy a collection of tupperware for all of your flavored cigars, as well as some beads to add to the tupperware? Or is there a better method to long term storage, such as choosing a humidor that does not have a spanish cedar lining.

Perhaps the best answer to all of this would be to get a humidor with a high lacquer finish on the interior? Although that would add up quite quickly to store a collection of different flavored cigars...

Here's hoping that there are a couple of knowledgeable guys out there that actually enjoy flavored cigars

[basil]

I know nothing about flavored cigars. I tried one my brother gave me once and didn't enjoy it - It reminded me of incense. So, from my very limited experience I will venture that flavored cigars are heavily infused with whatever is used to flavor them and that this infusion will affect other cigars if placed together in a humidor, whether the others are flavored or not.

If it were me, I would store the flavoreds in tupperware, separating various flavors with freezer ziplock baggies. Beads are good.

On the Spanish cedar - if it's freshly milled, you might smell it; it does have a slight, imo, pleasant scent. Fresh or not it won't impart much, if any, of it's scent to any cigar. It's primary property in regard to its use in humidors is water retention that is most suitable for creating an artificial environment in which to store cigars.

[WOXOF]

You gotta keep 'em seperated

Flavored cigars suck!

But that's just my opinion. Smoke what you like, even if it's a peach Optimo. I think if you continue smoking cigars you will begin to appreciate the non-flavored cigars more. I would find some tupperware and use that to store the flavored stuff in. I doubt you will even notice if they are dried out or not. Keep the humidor for the good stuff. You can lightly sand the inside of a humidor to remove some of the odor from flavored sticks but what a pain in the ass that would be.

[DeeDubya]

"Is the spiciness of cedar actually a poor choice for flavored cigars? Most of the appeal to flavored cigars is the mild smoothness and the slightly spicy aspect of spanish cedar seems to counteract this in the worst way possible... Would it actually make more sense to buy a collection of tupperware for all of your flavored cigars, as well as some beads to add to the tupperware? Or is there a better method to long term storage, such as choosing a humidor that does not have a spanish cedar lining."

There are some threads about Spanish Cedar. The important thing is that it is not the same as "Aromatic Cedar" like what is used in cedar closets or cedar chests. I'm afraid that would make for some spicey smokes indeed. Like WOXOF said it will impart very little flavor into a cigar. I would worry qbout the reverse. Your scented cigars will most likely leech into the cedar and screw up your humidor.

Most cedars are resiliant to dry rot and repel some insects. Red cedar like that used for siding, is rarely attacked by insects but termites will infest it after it ages.

And finally, I would not use a heavily laquered humidor. Unless it has been drying in open air for some time,

Also, you might be right about age and flavor preferences. I know many people who would not drink coffee but do now that they are older. Notice I didn't say mature. Some people, like me, never mature.

[Alcibiates]

I would store the flavoreds in tupperware, separating various flavors with freezer ziplock baggies. Beads are good.

Is something along the lines of gladware acceptable, or is it better to use 'actual' tupperware? I know that you can get large gladware containers very cheap; I normally use them for food so I have quite a few extra laying around, and I'd prefer to save money where I can (yay college!) What I'm really after is keeping them just in the gladware and skipping the ziploc bag, or is the bag essential for keeping them sealed off better? I'd ideally like to keep each flavor in its own gladware container

[Spanish cedar's] primary property in regard to its use in humidors is water retention that is most suitable for creating an artificial environment in which to store cigars.

Is it really necesary then? Or is it just a back-up, or a bit of a signature for cigar smokers? Most people that I've talked to have talked about Spanish Cedar like it's truly something special that has a unique home for cigar storage... And living in New Orleans I'm not too worried about humidity--we have to use dehumidifiers in our houses for the most part! Even with those, the house I stay in away from my on-campus apartment keeps at about 50% RH.

Your scented cigars will most likely leech into the cedar and screw up your humidor.

I've heard a lot of problems with this, but I'm also interested in what happens to the flavor of the cigar itself? Do you see a direct lose of flavor from the cigar as it leeches into the cedar? Or does the cigar smoke essentially the same and just mess up your humidor?

I would not use a heavily laquered humidor. Unless it has been drying in open air for some time

I'm not entirely sure that was the correct terminology on my part: I had heard about some humidors that aren't lined with cedar, and are lined with mahogony or another wood that I can't remember,and some are lacquered to be shiny inside and out--would this be a good idea for flavored cigars, as there is no cedar for the flavor to leach into? I'm not sure this will even matter, as I'm not sure that there is a loss of flavor as it leaches into the cedar--just an idea while I was on the line of thinking.

New question that has come up in my mind: Carrying cases... If I buy a decent/nice carrying case for a couple cigars to carry with me to dinner or wherever, how much will the flavor effect it? Obviously taking the cigars out whenever I return home, but how long will it take for the flavor to start effecting other cigars or 'ruin' the carrying case? Would it be best to only carry one flavor of cigar in its own case? Or would keeping one of the cellos that came with the cigars in the humidor to re-cello the cigar when travelling with it?

I tend to type pretty long posts, sorry if this is a lot to read/deal with!

[basil]

Is something along the lines of gladware acceptable, or is it better to use 'actual' tupperware? I know that you can get large gladware containers very cheap; I normally use them for food so I have quite a few extra laying around, and I'd prefer to save money where I can (yay college!) What I'm really after is keeping them just in the gladware and skipping the ziploc bag, or is the bag essential for keeping them sealed off better? I'd ideally like to keep each flavor in its own gladware container

I'm sure gladware is fine. I have RubberMaid. Brand isn't important - the seal is. I only suggested baggies as a way to prevent any different flavors you might have from contaminating each other; different flavors, in separate baggies, in the same tupperdore.

Is it really necesary then? Or is it just a back-up, or a bit of a signature for cigar smokers? Most people that I've talked to have talked about Spanish Cedar like it's truly something special that has a unique home for cigar storage... And living in New Orleans I'm not too worried about humidity--we have to use dehumidifiers in our houses for the most part! Even with those, the house I stay in away from my on-campus apartment keeps at about 50% RH.

What Spanish Cedar provides, once it's seasoned, is stability. It has to do with the density and uniformity of the grain. Aesthetics aside, if what you can afford for now is gladware, it'll be perfect. And, if the humi/tupperdore encloses the cigar environment, then the beads control it. 50% rh is a bit low - you can get beads that will maintain 65 and 70.

[logan37]

Gladware is fine. All you want is the air/moisture tight seal.

Spanish cedar is regarded as the best because it can absorb/release moisture without warping, as well as keeping a stable humidity/temperature. Although spanish cedar can absorb flavors and release them, it's negligible, to my understanding. the flavor seeping that the our fellow botl's are talking about is from the flavor of one cigar mixing with another. So keeping flavored cigars and non-flavored separate is a good rule to follow.

I've never heard of flavored cigars "screwing" up a humidor other then it absorbing flavors of flavored cigars, thus passing those mixed flavors into your non-flavored smokes.

I've never seen a humidor lacquered inside, I'm not sure what DW means here. I'll let him answer that one.

Carrying cases will not effect the taste of your cigars themselves. And since they are usually used only for short periods of time, mixing of flavors from the cigars themselves isn't an issue. If you only need to carry a 2-3 out for a night, get a leather case. Doesn't matter what price as long as it prevents your smokes from getting crushed. And make sure you get one that will hold the largest ring size that you smoke. The larger the better, you never know. If you want a travel case for 5-15 cigars get an otterbox or something similar. Those are airtight and waterproof and will not effect the taste of your smokes.