70% vs 75%

[Scientific]

Heres one that might just be a matter of personal taste.

How much differance in taste can be noted between cigars stored at 70% rh and 75% rh?

Does it depend on Tabbaco used, size, shape, how it was rolled etc.....?

one of my humidors spiked in rh while I was gone and has been at 75%-77% rh for quite a while now. I thought for sure the cigars would be all soft and smoke funny, but that was not the case. they all seem to have mantained their firmness, taste, and burned even.I personally cannot taste to much of a differance at all, though I do notice a slight differance in ash color and burn time, but it is very slight. Of course I've only smoked 2 out of that humi so I could be wrong.

Just wondering if anyone had similar experiance, and how much each of you thinks Humidity matters?

[bigpoppapuff]

75 is WAY too high......end of discussion......most cigars today do better at 62-65.....

[MadurosRock]

I've always held that anywhere between 65%-78% is alright, and is mainly a taste preferance. Above 80, you risk the dreadful molds, and whatnot, and below 62, you start losing the essentil oils. on the drier side, the trend is for a more bitter, harsher smoke (which i kinda like) and on the wetter side, the trend is to be slightly less flavorful, and be more finniky about how it burns. If you had no trouble lighting it, and couldn't tell a difference, then great. I'd probably keep it a few % high, in order to keep all the essential oils. Personally, i like the almost sour notes that about 67-68% gives the cigars. It also depends on the types of cigars, but since i have little experience with varrying cigar types, i'll leave that up to somone else who knows more than I.

[Jonsey5484]

As long as it burns fine and you are not growing any mold, I don't see any problem with a higher RH. It might burn slower, but, that is fine. Just lets you enjoy the cigar longer. And as long as it does not burn unevenly, it should be fine. My humidor stays at a constant 70% and I have no problems with that. My coolidor has stayed on average at a steady 67%. My cigars in there are not dried out at all either. It was up at 70% when I first set it up. I have put a few more boxes in it recently, so, I am sure that it will take a while to bring the boxes to 70%.

[bigpoppapuff]

78%!!!???...........i don't know where you got that info...but it's WRONG.........i'll say it again...most cigars today do better at 62%-65%....


keep cigars at 78%...why not just light up a wet sponge....

[55Kingpin]

75 is WAY too high......end of discussion......most cigars today do better at 62-65.....

+1

I think your hygrometer needs calibrating.

I prefer to stay below 70 and right around 65. YMMV of course.

[MadurosRock]

I agree that 78 is way too high, i'm just saying that it probably won't kill your cigar. My cigars rarely get into the 70's much less high-70's. I try'n keep my cigars at about 67% Taht's where I like the way they burn and taste, granted I probably don't go lower, b/c then my Medium-full/Full cigars would be a tad too harsh. All I was saying is that its mainly a taste preference, so long as you don't go too far, and let mold grow, or let your cigars dry out into dust.

[cigarsarge]

I keep mine at 65% RH. I you get much higher than 70% you run the risl of mold envading your cigars.

[Chè]

75% will work for Domincans and non Cuban smokes, but I bet after about 73% with Cuban cigars you'll be looking at mold. 62% (some mistakingly believe is too dry) - about 70% rh is what I maintain prefering cigars that have been at an extended period of under about 66%

A change in ash color was noted. I'd be curious to know if you felt the ash burned a little darker and less white at the higher rh level. My assumption is because of the higher moisture, the tobacco would be less combustible and burn less complete leaving a darker ash behind.

Lastly as some suggested, you're hydrometer might be slightly off. If you've been used to cigars being stored 70% or below, I´m sure 75% would at least yield a few noticable differences.

[godfather]

+1

I think your hygrometer needs calibrating.

I prefer to stay below 70 and right around 65. YMMV of course.

+1??? YMMV??? You sound like a FW user :).

[TheSilentChamber]

There fine, I would regulate it back down to 65-70% though.

[55Kingpin]

+1??? YMMV??? You sound like a FW user :).

What's an FW user?

I thought those were simple acronyms and usages from about all internet boards.....this isn't the only one I frequent.

+1 = To agree with someone

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary (i.e. it may be different in your case, but this is what works for me)

[hp-^]

Actually I thought +1 was used in a thread which the +1er thought was pointless. Offended from the uselessness of the post they declare, out of spite, to get "+1 to their post count". I'm not talking about this post by the way.

[Roham]

I smoke cubans every day and I keep my humi's at around 70-75%. I had a spike this summer also where I didn't add any water for almost two months and my humidity was around 78% too All my cigars smoked fine. I prefer at least 70%.

[stjohnroe]

I've been getting fluctuations recently, between 68 and 70%, thing is we are just enreting the colder months, and I think it is due to the temprature change, an effect of relative versus absolute humidity. Cigars still smoke fine though.

[Scientific]

75% will work for Domincans and non Cuban smokes, but I bet after about 73% with Cuban cigars you'll be looking at mold. 62% (some mistakingly believe is too dry) - about 70% rh is what I maintain prefering cigars that have been at an extended period of under about 66%

The cigars that are in this humi, are from all over (cept Cuba), and all have the cellophane still on them, which is part of the reason I think the higher rh might not be affecting them so much. Thoughts?

A change in ash color was noted. I'd be curious to know if you felt the ash burned a little darker and less white at the higher rh level. My assumption is because of the higher moisture, the tobacco would be less combustible and burn less complete leaving a darker ash behind.

Yeah, the ash changed to a darker color, But as I stated I noted little change in taste. Also I have stored Cubans in a higher rh% around 77% in fact and had no issues, granted it was a BIG humi which might of had somthing to do with the higher rh% being ok, With extra air flow and all, more room for the sticks to breathe. I honestly don't know at this point. Everyone has their 2 cents or nickels and it all makes sense, but I'm starting to think that cigars are not as picky or fickle as we all think. 65% - 75% seems to be acceptable for most cigars

Lastly as some suggested, you're hydrometer might be slightly off. If you've been used to cigars being stored 70% or below, I´m sure 75% would at least yield a few noticable differences.

I use a digital hydrometer, that is tested once every 3 months and comes up near perfect (+or - 1% at most) every time.