Advice on storing cigars.

[cayenneman]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and had a couple questions about cigars. While on a recent trip to New Orleans I stumbled across the Cigar Factory in the French Quarter. I went in and watched them hand roll the cigars as I enjoyed my cocktail. I bought a box of 20 assorted for a friend. The more I thought about it, I thought I'd get 3 for myself. They were in a big walk in humidor and as you can see from the pic, they were placed in a zip bag and then in the wooden box after purchase. There is a little loose tobacco under the matches that was moist when I first bought them. I don't have a humidor, so I'm wondering how I should store them. Should I keep them in the zip bag or take them out. The guy at the store said something about getting moisture to them about four days before you plan to smoke one. Anyway, I'm new to this and any advice on storage and prep for smoking would be appreciated. Thanks!

[illilli]

Short of reading any "Cigars 101"-ish posts on this forum, I recommend that you keep them in the zip-lock bag. Next, read about humidors and then go out and buy one. Next, let those cigars rest in the humidor for 1 year.

Otherwise, I recommend that you just give up smoking cigars. Smoking cigars without owning and properly maintaining a humidor is like having a car that you never change the oil in -- what's the point, right?

Don't feel bad, most people don't understand what cigar smoking is about; I certainly didn't. My neighbor, whom I trained into a fine BOTL didn't either. My best friend didn't either, but quickly learned and now carries some serious quality smokes. You are at ground ZERO and you have to make a decision of commitment. I wish you luck with your choice!

[ashauler]

While you're making your decision;
If you're a slow decision maker and these 3 cigars are expected to last you a couple of months:
1. get a tupperware container big enough to hold the box and all.
2. make a quick stop at your local tobacconist and purchase a few cheapy water pillows, last one's I bought were 99 cents.
3. soak one with even cheaper distilled H2O
4. throw all of it in the tupperware- make sure you put the water pillow outside of the box
5. crack the ziplock with the cigars in it open just a bit
6. check the water pillow every week or two to make sure it's not been dried out by the box abosrbing moisture...if so, put a new one in
7. repeat for as long as you're gonna keep the cigars

If you can figure it out in a week or two, just leave 'em in the baggie.

[illilli]

That's a nice response ashauler

[ashauler]

That's a nice response ashauler

Thanks, I don't know what came over me.