Interesting notion, I hadn't really considered cross uh... 'flavoring'? I'm new to cigars myself, well new in the sense that I'm actually stocking a home selection and the knowledge and proper equipment to store and enjoy them.
Regarding your question concerning cigar shelf life, and this may not be any more than an interesting tidbit of trivia really, but when I recently looked up a list of the most expensive cigars in existence (Top 12 at the Refined Guy site) some lists ranked some cigars, and interestingly the container was labled "Sicars" (obviously VERY well stored), recently discovered at a Mayan archeological dig as number one although to date not a one has been purchased. Despite anyone following through and actually lighting one up, a number of "experts" (of what they didn't specify, heh) maintain they are perfectly well smokable but maybe a bit on the dry side (yeah I bet, I wonder how much sarcasm was behind that term - dry, HA!). They dated them as roughly 600 years old so if one were to accept the word of these so called experts I guess the shelf life of a properly stored cigar is at least longer than the shelf life of a human being.
Also, I'm currently building myself a humidor using a small Brinks fire-proof safe I no longer use (honestly I took the title's meaning in that spirit as well, heh). They can still be purchased at good 'ol Wally World for approx. $20 and it's dimensions seem perfect for a small starter humidor (approx. 12" X 7.5" X 3.5"). With a lock and all, friends who don't know better may think I'm actually sitting on some really top of the line stock as well HA!
I'm posting a thread concerning what materials, adhesives, etc. would be safe to use in it's interior as I've now learned that even relatively slight odors, the burn-off fumes of lighter fluid for example, impact the flavor of a cigar. I'm most definitely not supporting what anyone would consider "top of the line" yet but I'd hate for even a $10 stick to be less than the best I can get from it. Well, even a $2 stick to be honest if it's conditions that I could easily control. I'm hoping some of the wiser Ladies and Gentleman here would have some advice on what I could use to craft the interior without the impact of any chemical odors. I'll also be posting pictures (if I can figure out how, I'm not the most tech.-savvy guy) and steps taken if anyone else would be interested as well.
Currently I'm using a 5 cap. Herf-A-Dor I got as part of a package deal I ordered and a 10 cap. Spanish cedar box I bought at a local tobacco shop (they sell the boxes their stock comes in - $5 for wood & $2 for cardboard, regardless of it's size), which also seems a great resource for converting to home made humidors or at least for the Spanish cedar that can be slavaged. For humidity I've been using some cheap $1 inserts but have yet to invest in a Hygrometer. For those boxes all that one seems to need is an insert or two and a thin roll of weather stripping (sold at any hardware store for a couple bucks, typically for windows and usually about .25" in width). Additionally tupperware containers seem to be a cheap, quick alternative for storage if you can't find the same kind of deal on used boxes
I hope some of this was helpful and please check in on my thread later as I'll be posting the general costs in addition to pics. and steps for construction. Best of luck and I hope you're enjoying this new hobby as much as I.
Sincerely,
- Mayam
P.S. As I said, I'm quite inexperienced and as far as I've been aware "ACID" is a brand of cigar (maybe brand isn't the exact correct term but you know). What about them necessitates seperating them from your "traditionally" flavored stock? Also, are they any good and for what specific reason? I'm excited to try any new cigar which these days is pretty much every single one, heh!
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