Building a Kick-Ass Retirement Collection

[raymond5737]

Dear FOH:

I'm so happy to have found a group of serious cigar smokers with Friends of Habanos International.

Your feedback will help me immensely.

I'll be 59 in June so I decided to get started building my "Retirement Collection". I started my collection in 2014 like a crazy man and must have ordered maybe 8-10 boxes. Now I have 5- humidors and am running out of space That's problem #1. I want to store cigars properly so that they will taste great within that 5-7 year time frame. Problem #2 I can't seem to keep my hands out of the cookie jar. I need a strategy but don't have a clue Problem #3. I don't know what I don't know Problem #4.

So I'd like to throw myself down to the mercy and collective intelligence of you all for your kind, thoughtful and sage advice.

Got any great ideas as to what to purchase and store for that time frame, storage advice, etc.? What questions are important to ask? I have to do something quick about storage. What do I do?

I'm looking for fellow collaborators.

Raymond-Michael Kornfeind

[email protected]

[CigarAsh]

The big problem is, if you smoke a cigar every day - you need 15 to 20 boxes (depending on cigar count) JUST to break even during the year. Solution? Buy more than that!

When you buy something you like, buy 2 boxes. One to smoke and one to put away. If you REALLY like something buy more. I filled one humidor and then one coolidor and then another (still have a little room in both coolidors for expansion). The best thing about my coolidors is they're out of sight in the basement so I don't hit them nearly as often as I do the upstairs main humidor in my bedroom.

Another good strategy - participate in splits, passes, etc so you can try some variety of cigars. That's expanded my knowledge of different marcas and thus expanded my buying.

Good luck!

[Puros Y Vino]

So many options/opinions coming your way.

So..

problem #1. I want to store cigars properly so that they will taste great within that 5-7 year time frame.

• Do a search for aging & long term storage on FOH. You'll get responses like ziplocking or Saran Wrapping your boxes to slow down the aging process. You'll also get varying recommendation for long term RH/Temp settings. Many like to keep it on the low size. 62-64RH and 60-66F.

Problem #2 I can't seem to keep my hands out of the cookie jar. I need a strategy but don't have a clue

• If you're still buying, *****INT offers a locker service. You can keep your new purchases in a private locker in their humidors. You'll then get access to the web application where you can call back boxes when you want to. With the boxes safely tucked away in Aus, there's no quick way to crack the lid on that cookie jar.
• For shorter term fixes to what you already have in your possession, do a search on coolidors. IMO they're the most efficient and economic humidors. If climate swings are an issue where you live, search for wineadors.

Problem #3. I don't know what I don't know

• I expect you'll learn a lot from the ensuing responses.

[raymond5737]

I'll need to do some research on the coolidor strategy. I've only read bits and pieces about it'd economic appeal but I don't know what I need to do it right. Someone said something about going to the container store but what do I need? What are all of the elements to putting a storage coolidor together.

Got some ideas? I've got another 50 cigars coming my way so I'm going to move fast on this.

[raymond5737]

So many options/opinions coming your way.

So..

problem #1. I want to store cigars properly so that they will taste great within that 5-7 year time frame.

• Do a search for aging & long term storage on FOH. You'll get responses like ziplocking or Saran Wrapping your boxes to slow down the aging process. You'll also get varying recommendation for long term RH/Temp settings. Many like to keep it on the low size. 62-64RH and 60-66F.

Problem #2 I can't seem to keep my hands out of the cookie jar. I need a strategy but don't have a clue

• If you're still buying, *****INT offers a locker service. You can keep your new purchases in a private locker in their humidors. You'll then get access to the web application where you can call back boxes when you want to. With the boxes safely tucked away in Aus, there's no quick way to crack the lid on that cookie jar.
• For shorter term fixes to what you already have in your possession, do a search on coolidors. IMO they're the most efficient and economic humidors. If climate swings are an issue where you live, search for wineadors.

Problem #3. I don't know what I don't know

• I expect you'll learn a lot from the ensuing responses.

Thank you brother. In your first response, I'm assuming that you store your cigars in their original boxes, not loose inside of a humidor. I knew people did that I just didn't know why. I also didn't know that I would need to slow down the aging process. What is that all about?

[tmac77]

If you use the XL totes from the container store (74QT) you will also need something to use for humidification and to measure humidity. Beads are the best alternative and for a container of this size, approx 1.5 lbs of beads works great. Get a small digital hydrometers. (I use Western Caliber) Rinse out the container when it arrives and air it out. Use the cedar leaves that come in cigar boxes to line it. Add distilled water to the beads and place them into the container along with the hydrometer. Seal it shut and wait for the humidity to get to the desired level before putting in your boxes.

[Puros Y Vino]

Thank you brother. In your first response, I'm assuming that you store your cigars in their original boxes, not loose inside of a humidor. I knew people did that I just didn't know why. I also didn't know that I would need to slow down the aging process. What is that all about?

Yeah. I leave the cigars in their original boxes. As for slowing down the aging process. Opinions vary. The notion is that if you can limit the amount of air exchange from each box you can slow down the process and stretch out a particular cigars "smokeability". Not all cigars age equally though. Observations from many on this forum indicate that milder bodied cigars have maybe 5-10 years of aging in them before they lose their flavour profile. Medium to Strong bodied ones can age for decades. Once again, do some searches here on aging cigars. Opinions and observations will vary greatly.

[raymond5737]

If you use the XL totes from the container store (74QT) you will also need something to use for humidification and to measure humidity. Beads are the best alternative and for a container of this size, approx 1.5 lbs of beads works great. Get a small digital hydrometers. (I use Western Caliber) Rinse out the container when it arrives and air it out. Use the cedar leaves that come in cigar boxes to line it. Add distilled water to the beads and place them into the container along with the hydrometer. Seal it shut and wait for the humidity to get to the desired level before putting in your boxes.

Who makes the best beads? What should I ask for? Do I pour the beads into the lined, empty cooler and pour distilled water over them or do I wet them outside and once the water is soaked up, transfer them into the cooler?

[CigarAsh]

Who makes the best beads? What should I ask for? Do I pour the beads into the lined, empty cooler and pour distilled water over them or do I wet them outside and once the water is soaked up, transfer them into the cooler?

Best beads appear to be the Heartfelt beads http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/

I use a pound in each of my coolidors and put them inside a mesh bag that they sell. Take them out and mist them regularly during the winter. Not so much need in the summer with the high humidity in my basement.. They keep me at 63 to 65% RH pretty accurately.

[UnofficialGhost]

Not supposed to directly wet HCM Beads, but Heartfelt are fine to spray.

[kyee]

If you're serious about doing long term storage, I would definitely use FOH's locker storage service.

[Habana Mike]

If you're serious about doing long term storage, I would definitely use FOH's locker storage service.

Have to agree with this.

1. Eliminates the temptation to just give one a try. Never ends well

2. Don't have to worry about the excess capacity or storage conditions at home.

3. Can have them in hand within a couple of weeks whenever you want them.

4. Buy-back program ensures you'll never lose value.

5. They're insured in case of disaster.

6. It's fun to scroll through the list.

[Habana Mike]

@raymond5737 - curious how your collection is coming along.

When's retirement?