Quote Originally Posted by BigMacFU View Post
Ummmm, temperature and humidity are two very different things. For long term storage you want a higher humidity. I never even mentioned anything about temperature, but I have no doubt a little bit cooler is better.
Temp and Humidity go hand in hand since they are both responsible for determining RH when given a specific water content. Recommending a 72-80% humidity without recommending a corresponding lower temp could lead to an environment conducive to tobacco beetle outbreaks. Most guidelines suggest keeping humidity as well as temp lower in order to avoid outbreaks and slowing the aging process, allowing the cigars to blend and age more uniformly. It seems that most CC smokers feel that they not only age but smoke better at lower RH (62-65%,) and dry boxing for a day or 2 is recommended before smoking them. I've recently started corresponding with several people who have been smoking and storing CC's for several years, and I have never heard anyone recommend storing at anything higher than 65/65 for long term storage (years) mostly because of the possibility of beetles. I don't know if higher RH's are recommended for long term storage of NC's since I am not interested in holding them long term.

There have also been studies that show that wrappers of the cigar are only porous up until about 65% RH. Higher than 65% and moisture cannot pass through the wrapper, so most of the moisture enters and leaves through the foot of the cigar causing the moisture throughout the cigar to be less uniform. This probably helps to explain why a cigar will usually burn and taste better after it's been dry boxed.