Need advice on proper storage for my sticks

[Stiks]

So it's obvious that I'm a noob in the world of habano's and still have a lot to learn.

I'm not new to cigars and have found what I like for my NC stash as far as the RH and temp goes. I have read a lot different things as far as what RH and temp for long term storage and aging and blah blah. What I want to know is what is the general consensus here at FOH on storing my stash of CC that I am fixing to start investing in.

I plan to either build a new humidor or wineador for my CC stash to keep them seperate from my NC and want to store them properly. I have read they like 60% and lower temp and I have also read that they need to be stored around 75% and a little higher than 70 degrees for proper aging. The high end of that spectrum seems a little odd to me on account of the possibility of mold and beetles. I know I don't have to worry about the beetles because I freeze everything but sure don't want moldy sticks.

What say you habano lovers. Where do I need start on the RH and temp.

[mkz]

Personally I find the 75% to be a little high. You might wanna look into that a little bit more.

I store my sticks and boxes (CC & NC together) in 65-68% RH at temperatures between 19-23 centigrade depending on the season. This is my way of doing it but Im shure there are many others that do it different.

YMMV = Your mileage may vary

[backslide]

Tobacco is tobacco, don't over think it. You really don't need to segregate your cigars and they don't require different temps/humidity levels.

I personally like 63-67% and =<70deg.

Jason

[SMQQKIN]

65% to 70% RH & 65 to 70 degrees.

Doesn't matter if it is CC or NC.

Keep it simple and keep it consistent.

[brazoseagle]

I prefer 65F/65%. I keep my long term aging boxes vacuum sealed and in the very bottom for slower air exchange and slightly cooler temperature.

[Danston]

Ajax talks about ageing on one of his videos ill find it later.

[Danston]

Ajay

[Jnaube]

As long as they don't go over 80, it,s ok. Gotta stay away from these pesky little tobacco beetles. If you want to keep a good RH level, there are many ways. One of the easiest one is simply to buy silica kitty litter and put some distilled water in it. It should give you an easy 65 degrees.Welcome to the forum by the way!

[jacktarnold]

I prefer mine around 65F and 60-65%. But it depends on your preference. If you are in between 60-70 for both temp and RH you are good. Just try a few different configs out and see what you like best.

[Jason55555]

I do 63%-65% at 18C because I want to age my cigars, like Danston said Ajay (Londons LCDH retailer) stores his cigar at these levels and he's prob the leading expert in aging cigars because of London "laying down cigar" history.

Watch from 3:20 he talks about storage starting at 5:14 -

The 70 - 75% group keep theirs at that temp so that the oils come out of the cigar and "plume" faster below 70% the aging process slows down but 63%-65% is still pretty humid.

***I have a wine humi used for aging and biggest thing you need to worry about it the temp/humidity swings inside that will mess up the oils.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh don't freeze all your cigars just because your scared of beetles that's like last last last last resort!!!!!!!!!

Also take a look into the "Classics" post section....

http://www.friendsof...php?showforum=9

You'll find more then enough knowledge about Cuban cigars there from members with more experience.

Welcome to FOH

[Smallclub]

like Danston said Ajay (Londons LCDH retailer) stores his cigar at these levels and he's prob the leading expert in aging cigars because of London "laying down cigar" history.

errr… what about the old gentlemen in UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, who were already aging cigars even before Ajay was born?

[Jason55555]

errr… what about the old gentlemen in UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, who were already aging cigars even before Ajay was born?

Well there not as socially engaged online and in publications as Ajay IMO. I'm sure there are "old gentlemen" that have far larger aging wisdom then Ajay has but I've just haven't see too much information that they have released, I guess i'm looking in the wrong places.

[Orion21]

I would recommend that if you live in a climate that gets warm to hot in the summer, that you build out a wineador. I have been very happy with the results of mine. I keep my cigars at 60F/63%-65% rh. Obviously your tastes may be different, but the cigars out of this ecosystem smoke perfectly every time (except for the ones rolled poorly).

Also, from all the reading and talking to people who have been doing this much longer than me I have learned one important fact. The fact is - if you want your cigars to age properly you have to leave them alone. If you are building a wineador for aging don't open it everyday to smell your cigars. Don't even open it every week etc. They need to stay in a state of constant temp and humidity. The great wine and champagne houses of Europe and America put their wine in their cellar and forget about them for years/decades. If you want a truly great bottle of wine or box of cigars you need to let the dust make a nice home on the bottle or box.

[Orion21]

Well there not as socially engaged online and in publications as Ajay IMO. I'm sure there are "old gentlemen" that have far larger aging wisdom then Ajay has but I've just haven't see too much information that they have released, I guess i'm looking in the wrong places.

Ajay knows what he's talking about. In the old days the gentlemen of Britain stored their cigars in cellars and their servants would move cigars into their smoking humidors when needed. Ajay has basically recreated the environment of a great cellar that has a constant temperature and humidity. It's the same principal as wine - light, heat, vibration, noise and low humidity are the enemy,

[stargazer14]

Sticks, go with what works best for YOU. (Tho either freeze or separate your NC's, they were always the source of beetles for me)

[LGC]

Experiment and see what works for you. Don't take anyone's advice as a hard rule, but simply as guidelines or techniques to try for yourself. Cigars are very subjective, and there are many variables that contribute to the performance of a cigar. Cigars won't expire overnight unless you are storing them in your fridge or on your dashboard. Just enjoy the ride and don't sweat the small stuff.

[Stiks]

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like I'm already right where I need to be other than deciding how I want to go about long term storage. I'm thinking something like a foot locker type humi with active humidification that can be left alone for a few months at a time.

I already have all of my current storage holding at a steady 63% and temps holding around 68 to 72 farenheit and my sticks smoke great. I do think I'll go a tad higher on my humidity for long term storage, probably 69% and try to hold the temp around 65 or so. I kind of thought I might be over thinking the whole thing on CC vs NC storage wise but do appreciate the input.

Stiks