B&M walk-ins conditions

[burgosdacosta]

So, around me, the LCDH and the three "Habanos Specialists" stores have their walk-in humidors at 72% rh and between 16 and 18ºC (60 to 65ºF). I assume this humidity levels are mainly to overcome the problem of opening and closing doors regularly. Although they also only sell 69 and 72 bovedas, so, probably a belief problem aswell.

Since it is not legal to buy tobacco products online in Portugal, there is not many alternatives besides flying them home with me. As a law abiding citizen of course.

I'm used to freezing and resting them puros but, my question is, should I consider these stores only as last resorts? Or not so?

And another question btw. From where does FOH ship, out of curiosity? Haven't found that info yet.
 

Cheers

[SansSin]

i would just try them out, if they smoke good then keep smoking them. if they are too wet then take them home and let them rest for a couple months at your preferred rh. unless they are moldy i don't think a slightly higher rh should cause any permanent or irrevocable harm  

[Shrimpchips]

1 hour ago, burgosdacosta said:

 From where does FOH ship, out of curiosity? Haven't found that info yet.

FOH is an Australian operation.

[burgosdacosta]

2 hours ago, Shrimpchips said:

FOH is an Australian operation.

Thanks.

 

3 hours ago, davidv said:

i would just try them out, if they smoke good then keep smoking them. if they are too wet then take them home and let them rest for a couple months at your preferred rh. unless they are moldy i don't think a slightly higher rh should cause any permanent or irrevocable harm  

Yeah, they smoke way better with at least 3 months in. So, in terms of aging potential, there's no loss with their conditions?

What about those boxes that have been there for a year, for example? No harm done?

[JohnS]

3 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

Since it is not legal to buy tobacco products online in Portugal, there is not many alternatives besides flying them home with me. As a law abiding citizen of course.

Do you have the option to take a short drive across the border to Spain and come back? Or do you have enough options to buy from Brick and Mortar shops in Portugal? 

3 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

And another question btw. From where does FOH ship, out of curiosity? Haven't found that info yet.

Brisbane, Australia to be exact.

[benfica_77]

4 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

So, around me, the LCDH and the three "Habanos Specialists" stores have their walk-in humidors at 72% rh and between 16 and 18ºC (60 to 65ºF). I assume this humidity levels are mainly to overcome the problem of opening and closing doors regularly. Although they also only sell 69 and 72 bovedas, so, probably a belief problem aswell.

Since it is not legal to buy tobacco products online in Portugal, there is not many alternatives besides flying them home with me. As a law abiding citizen of course.

I'm used to freezing and resting them puros but, my question is, should I consider these stores only as last resorts? Or not so?

And another question btw. From where does FOH ship, out of curiosity? Haven't found that info yet.
 

Cheers

Compra na Espana meu amigo, se calhar vai ser o tua opcao mais facil.  Agreed with @JohnS a quick drive across the border to Spain is a great option. 

[DanWil84]

Strangly I never asked what the RH is in the storage of my B&M's. I once picked up a few tins HUHC, lit one up a few hours later and it was plugged beyond believe, exploding wrapper and all that. It could be that this was a lemon, but I suspect it where the storage conditions. After a few weeks in my own storage with 62 bovedas they were fine. So the suggestion of a quick drive to Spain is good, I think it would be reasonable to first check if the reachable shops in Spain aren't storing at the same RH.

I remember Portugal (Algarves, beautifull) as not humid at 35 degrees celcius, so maybe 62 bovedas wont cut it with maintaining RH. 

[SansSin]

11 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

Thanks.

 

Yeah, they smoke way better with at least 3 months in. So, in terms of aging potential, there's no loss with their conditions?

What about those boxes that have been there for a year, for example? No harm done?

not as far as i am aware, too low of humidity can dry out the oils and ruin them but as far as high humidity the only cigar ruining danger i know of is mold on the foot (not counting smokability issues). i would personally just make sure to check for mold on both layers of the box and then give them a nice long rest like you got them through the mail. honestly i do that when buying any cigars now, so as long as they don't seem crazy dry i don't worry about it

[burgosdacosta]

14 hours ago, JohnS said:

Do you have the option to take a short drive across the border to Spain and come back? Or do you have enough options to buy from Brick and Mortar shops in Portugal? 

Brisbane, Australia to be exact.

Not really, 2 hr each way, but before covid I used to pick up boxes in layovers around Europe as I work for an airline. Let's see what happens when air travel picks up, and if I don't get fired fired next month... ?

14 hours ago, benfica_77 said:

Compra na Espana meu amigo, se calhar vai ser o tua opcao mais facil.  Agreed with @JohnS a quick drive across the border to Spain is a great option. 

Pois, dar ali um salto a Badajoz! Viva o Benfica!

 

3 hours ago, DanWil84 said:

Strangly I never asked what the RH is in the storage of my B&M's. I once picked up a few tins HUHC, lit one up a few hours later and it was plugged beyond believe, exploding wrapper and all that. It could be that this was a lemon, but I suspect it where the storage conditions. After a few weeks in my own storage with 62 bovedas they were fine. So the suggestion of a quick drive to Spain is good, I think it would be reasonable to first check if the reachable shops in Spain aren't storing at the same RH.

I remember Portugal (Algarves, beautifull) as not humid at 35 degrees celcius, so maybe 62 bovedas wont cut it with maintaining RH. 

Not as bad in Lisbon, and definitely not that high inside. And yeah, 62 usually holds up even in the wooden desktop humi. 

 

2 hours ago, davidv said:

not as far as i am aware, too low of humidity can dry out the oils and ruin them but as far as high humidity the only cigar ruining danger i know of is mold on the foot (not counting smokability issues). i would personally just make sure to check for mold on both layers of the box and then give them a nice long rest like you got them through the mail. honestly i do that when buying any cigars now, so as long as they don't seem crazy dry i don't worry about it

Yes, I think I'll try to double check the insides. Actually never asked to inspect their boxes before. They probably won't allow breaking the seals, but one can always ask...

[Nino]

19 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

So, around me, the LCDH and the three "Habanos Specialists" stores have their walk-in humidors at 72% rh and between 16 and 18ºC (60 to 65ºF).

I'm used to freezing and resting them puros but, my question is, should I consider these stores only as last resorts? Or not so?

I used to pick up boxes in layovers around Europe as I work for an airline. Let's see what happens when air travel picks up, and if I don't get fired fired next month... ?

I don't consider those conditions you mention as too bad, you should give them a try ...

That is what I also did for many years - buy cigars during my layovers - Having retired as a Chief Purser on 747 at Lufthansa I am so sorry to hear about your job worries, I am sure you feel devastated.
Best of luck to you - Boa sorte para você meu amigo !!

 

5 hours ago, DanWil84 said:

I remember Portugal (Algarves, beautifull)

Oh yes - absolutely beautiful region of Portugal, love it and used to vacation there 2-3 times a year ..

http://flyingcigar.de/travel-cigars/200409-algarve/

1 hour ago, burgosdacosta said:

Not really, 2 hr each way, but before covid I used to pick up boxes in layovers around Europe as I work for an airline. Let's see what happens when air travel picks up, and if I don't get fired fired next month... ?

Pois, dar ali um salto a Badajoz! Viva o Benfica!

Compra na Espana meu amigo, se calhar vai ser o tua opcao mais facil.  Agreed with @JohnS a quick drive across the border to Spain is a great option. 

 

Agree with @benfica_77 and @JohnS about buying in Spain - that is what I used to do, drive to Huelva or Sevilla from our hotel near Albufeira, have a good lunch there and buy cigars ...

Here is a Cava de "Charutos" for you in Badajoz :

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cava Real/249041525447615/

[DanWil84]

@nino completely offtopic, sorry @burgosdacosta, lovely travel blog, thank you. The holidays in 1994 to Portimao near Praia da Rocha and in 2017 with my family (wife, 3 year old and 4 months old boys) to Villamoura are one of my dearest memories. 

[burgosdacosta]

@nino Yep, I'll give them another try.

Obrigado! I am a first officer on the the a320 family flying for TAP. Hope you enjoy your sure well deserved retirement!

I just went back to our last year's summer weekend in Tavira while reading your blog! Thank you.

Sent an email this morning to that exact store. ?

Cheers!

[Nino]

Muito obrigado !

Tavira, nice quiet town ... miss Cataplana, frango ao piri-piri and pate de sardinhas & medronho ... ? From there you are quickly in Ayamonte or Huelva ... ?

Good luck in Badajoz !
 

[BrightonCorgi]

I've seen retails have a higher humidity in the walk in, retail  ready cigars, and a lower humidity in their long term storage room (along with lower temps).  I think the consumer likes to "feel" the humidity of the walk in and know they are walking into a special place to pick their cigars.

[MrGinger]

3 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

@nino Yep, I'll give them another try.

 

I just went back to our last year's summer weekend in Tavira while reading your blog! Thank you.

 

What a great spot!  I spent some time there a few years ago.

[Nino]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I've seen retails have a higher humidity in the walk in, retail  ready cigars, and a lower humidity in their long term storage room (along with lower temps).  I think the consumer likes to "feel" the humidity of the walk in and know they are walking into a special place to pick their cigars.

Indeed.

That has been my problem buying cigars in Madrid at stores like El Corte Ingles where the rh was so high that cigars were mouldy ...

Due to the dry weather they would have rh of 80/85 ...

[RDB]

I’ve certainly been in places that are ridiculously humid. There’s a store round the corner from the cathedral in Cologne where just about everything was mouldy when I visited! Good job the excellent Peter Heinrichs is also in that city.

[Nino]

3 hours ago, RDB said:

I’ve certainly been in places that are ridiculously humid. There’s a store round the corner from the cathedral in Cologne where just about everything was mouldy when I visited! Good job the excellent Peter Heinrichs is also in that city.

Peter Heinrichs both in downtown Cologne and in Bergheim is on my top favourite cigar merchant list in Germany.
I loved smoking with him and his humour.
His staff is great and very happy his daughter continues the tradition - lovely spot and one of Germany's largest LCDH !
I still drive 2 hrs every couple of months just to smoke there and spend half a day.
Highly recommended !

 

7 hours ago, burgosdacosta said:

Sent an email this morning to that exact store. ?

Cheers!

So you have an idea of that store, here's a video clip from a cigar smoking Spanish biker who visits Spanish Cavas de Puros on his visit in Badajoz at Geronimo's Cava Real.

He has a cigar smoking club with Portuguese friends and lots of customers from Portugal - both Benfica and Sporting fans ... ?

 

 

[burgosdacosta]

I will definitely dig into that club.