Humidity & Cigars

[Cabaiguan Juan]

I'm sure we all have our own thoughts on what humidity to keep cigars at. However, I'm wondering if some cigars smoke better at different or higher humidity then other cigars. For instance, I had a Davidoff Millennium on New Year's Day, and it sucked. It was wet, sour and difficult to smoke. I grabbed it from my local B&M and they keep their sticks at 70%. Similarly, this weekend I decided to smoke a CAO Brazili. I had it in my humidor at 65%, when I lit it up, I noticed that it didn't taste as good as the ones at my local B&M which kept theirs at 70%. I'm curious if others have experienced this as well, and if so which cigars, or brands, smoke better at 65 vs. 70 and vice versa.

[bigpoppapuff]

almost everyone that i've asked (mfrs,etc) have suggested that 62-65%rh is the way to go....so that's what i do....

[Cabaiguan Juan]

almost everyone that i've asked (mfrs,etc) have suggested that 62-65%rh is the way to go....so that's what i do....

Have you noticed any cigars that taste better when stored at 70% verses 62-65%?

[bigpoppapuff]

70-70 seemed better when virtually everything was conn or sumatra.....the different wrappers that are used today (cammy,corojo,criollo,et al) seem to be better at the lower rh....

[cls515]

I noticed this as well, too. I smoked two Monte #4's which were at 65%, and they both tasted the same. Last night I had a Monte #4 from the same box code, except the humidity in my humidor had gone up to 70%. The latter was so much better, awesome! But, I was thinking it was due to inconsistency, and not humidity. I don't know now, interesting.
EDIT - my humidor is still at 70%, I'll light up another Monte to see if it is a consistency or humidity thing.

[Cabaiguan Juan]

I had two strong cigars before the CAO Brazili the other day and that may have affected the taste, but I feel like I've experienced that before. Even still I'm looking forwad to CLS.

[cls515]

I had two strong cigars before the CAO Brazili the other day and that may have affected the taste, but I feel like I've experienced that before. Even still I'm looking forwad to CLS.

My humidor actually dropped to 67%. How long had it been there? Not long probably. Anyway, at 67% the cigar seemed a lot drier and was not as tasty as the one at 70%. I still don't know for sure...I'll get my humidor up to 70% and try again.

[Cabaiguan Juan]

My humidor actually dropped to 67%. How long had it been there? Not long probably. Anyway, at 67% the cigar seemed a lot drier and was not as tasty as the one at 70%. I still don't know for sure...I'll get my humidor up to 70% and try again.

The saga continues...How did the one at 67% compair to the ones at 65%?

[cls515]

The saga continues...How did the one at 67% compair to the ones at 65%?

It actually felt more dried out. My humi is back up to 70, more info to come...
EDIT - After smoking another Monte #4 at 70%, I can see a difference but it is not as significant as the inconsistency in the cigar. I can tell the #4 is very inconsistent. When they are on, like the #2, they are some of the best cigars, period. But as far as my experience goes the "on" ones are few and far between. Out of 5, one was outstanding, while the other four were good. I was surprised about the #4, I expected more of a milder, woody character. Man, these are some little firecrackers at six months. I think maybe some age will tone them down and give them extra character, maybe not. I'd like to have 5 more with at least a year of age. Back to the topic, I liked the #4's better at 70% because they did not seem as dry and harsh. They were more mellow, but still full bodied. But inconsistency in the line is the main flaw as the two at 70% I did smoke were not the same monsters.