Smoking in the summer: Heat vs Humidity

[Enduin]

Summer in FL is notoriously hot and humid, both of which are not ideal for smoking cigars outside. Which is why I generally don't really smoke much or at all in the summer. But let's say that there's a cigar that you can't wait for months to smoke and these are your options:

 

- Smoke after lunch with the highest temperature, mid 90s Fahrenheit or mid 30s in Celsius, and humidity around 65%

- Smoke in the late afternoon after the summer storms end, temps in the low-mid 80s F or high 20s C, but humidity around 75-80%

 

Which would you pick? I'm talking only in terms of cigar flavor and smoking performance, let's remove the smoker's comfort from the equation.

 

[MrBirdman]

I would go with the cooler temps, simply because the amount of humidity in the air is a function of the dew point (that’s why it’s relative humidity, not absolute) - assuming that’s the same, the higher RH at a lower temp won’t actually mean soggier conditions. But the dew point can change after a storm, so keep an eye on that.  

The biggest problem I run into is when the dew point is higher than the temperature of your storage - when that happens, a cigar taken outside (regardless of RH) will get condensation on it and become soggy very quickly. You probably won’t notice it because the tobacco absorbs the water, but it’s inevitable. I will generally not smoke outside in those conditions - it rarely ends well. It’s why I installed an ac in my garage after the 2020 summer when our dew point was in the low 70’s for weeks on end. 

[KCCubano]

I live in Kansas City and learned 20 plus yrs ago that smoking CCs outside in high humidity creates a wet and bitter cigar. It gets very humid here. I keep my cabinet in basement and doors have been open for 2 weeks and still at 67rh. Im an empty nester so smoke inside. If I were forced to smoke outside in high humidity it would be nothing larger than minutos

[SCgarman]

High dew point summer weather is a tough deal with Cuban cigars. Not an easy answer, unless you can find an air conditioned cigar lounge or similar. The cigar will soak up all that moisture as you smoke it and burn and taste will go downhill before you get to the halfway point. I have been there many times. 

[Bijan]

For me I don't generally have problems unless humidity nears 100% (if it's raining (which it usually is at 100%) it's even worse).

I'd just try both options and see how they fare.

If the cigar won't stay lit, turns bitter, and smokes like it's over humidified then you'll know those are bad conditions.

[BrightonCorgi]

I'll take heat over humidity any day regardless of the activity.

[KCCubano]

21 minutes ago, Bijan said:

For me I don't generally have problems unless humidity nears 100% (if it's raining (which it usually is at 100%) it's even worse).

I'd just try both options and see how they fare.

If the cigar won't stay lit, turns bitter, and smokes like it's over humidified then you'll know those are bad conditions.

You have been fortunate Bijan. If I try smoking a cuban outside in 75 rh it eventually taste like it was stored in 75 rh conditions. Then again I smoke all cigars indoors these days. 

[joeypots]

I have a lot more trouble keeping my cigars at 62%RH or thereabouts in summer than any other time of year. The #1 condition that diminishes a cigar’s performance is humidity, imho.

[Kitchen]

In terms of absolute water content, I would say the two situations would be close (just because of RH works). So, I would go with the latter.  I have found cigars do not smoke well over 90F.  

Now, if it was 82F and 98% RH, like when I was in New Orleans last October, it would be a different story.  

[Bijan]

40 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

You have been fortunate Bijan. If I try smoking a cuban outside in 75 rh it eventually taste like it was stored in 75 rh conditions. Then again I smoke all cigars indoors these days. 

Then I recommend smoking in the cooler conditions!

I'm in Canada and smoke at night. So 80f is about as high as I see, except a few warm days when I smoke in the early afternoon. Though we hit 99f this year on the hottest day so far (but this year is oddly dry).

[Enduin]

Interesting answers guys! I have actually tried both options in the past with a variety of results, I have even smoked outside under the carport during an unexpected downpour and had a good smoking experience, but in general I found that high humidity often results in a cigar that gets a very tight draw (which if not fixable does affect the flavor) after the first third, while high heat results in a flatter flavor profile. So, I usually prioritize avoiding the heat.

Obviously smoking indoors with A/C is the best option for the summer, but I hate smoking indoors so I generally avoid it...

 

 

[SCgarman]

7 minutes ago, Enduin said:

Interesting answers guys! I have actually tried both options in the past with a variety of results, I have even smoked outside under the carport during an unexpected downpour and had a good smoking experience, but in general I found that high humidity often results in a cigar that gets a very tight draw (which if not fixable does affect the flavor) after the first third, while high heat results in a flatter flavor profile. So, I usually prioritize avoiding the heat.

Obviously smoking indoors with A/C is the best option for the summer, but I hate smoking indoors so I generally avoid it...

 

 

Are you in a part of Florida that has a cigar lounge? Or do you just prefer not dealing with others and smoke alone at home?

[El Presidente]

I would take option 2. 

High temp smoking plays with your head. It is uncomfortable and you rarely get a decent relaxing outcome. 

High 20's C and 75-80 RH is perfect for me. 

Smoking a cigar late afternoon in summer  while watching the afternoon storms roll in is one of life's pleasures. 

If the humidity is into the 90's then I adjust the size of the cigar. Petit Robustos/Petit Corona/coronas/Nudies Carlota. 

[Enduin]

1 hour ago, SCgarman said:

Are you in a part of Florida that has a cigar lounge? Or do you just prefer not dealing with others and smoke alone at home?

I do prefer not dealing with others at the moment, but that aside I just like smoking in my back yard surrounded by greenery and nature; I find it enhances my enjoyment of the cigars.

I will say that I greatly prefer lounges better than indoors at home due to the high ceilings and excellent air filtration good lounges have. Still, if I have a choice it's outdoors any day of the week for me.

[SCgarman]

4 minutes ago, Enduin said:

I do prefer not dealing with others at the moment, but that aside I just like smoking in my back yard surrounded by greenery and nature; I find it enhances my enjoyment of the cigars.

I will say that I greatly prefer lounges better than indoors at home due to the high ceilings and excellent air filtration good lounges have. Still, if I have a choice it's outdoors any day of the week for me.

Agreed.

[TheDonTX]

Or option 3 which is what I do. I will take the heat and lower humidity but with a twist. I only smoke CC’s so if I am going to smoke during the summer its only on a lower humidity night and I sit in my kids pool lol. No joke. I chill in this 1 ft deep pool just lounging. Laptop, music and all. I have to here in TX. Summer nights are still roasty. Its actually become one of my favorite ways to enjoy a cigar. Super chillin. If the humid is high I wont go out. I only smoke once a week on a Fri or Sat night. If the humidity is high, I miss out that week. For awhile I could not figure out why some of my cigars would start to taste like bitter sea water 20 minutes in…Great way to ruin a nice cigar. Since figuring out cigars are literally like a sponge I have not had one issue like I was having. 

[El Presidente]

12 minutes ago, TheDonTX said:

 I sit in my kids pool lol. No joke. I chill in this 1 ft deep pool just lounging. Laptop, music and all. I have to here in TX. 

...pictures a must 

[Fuzz]

19 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

33 minutes ago, TheDonTX said:

 I sit in my kids pool lol. No joke. I chill in this 1 ft deep pool just lounging. Laptop, music and all. I have to here in TX.

...pictures a must 

 

[Nocoins]

I smoke a lot in Florida in the summer. I agree cooler is better. In the height of the day, I find the excess heat can make the taste acrid. Above 94F and I’m not really smoking much. 

[clickbangdoh]

Live in Florida, smoke outside exclusively. I only smoke at night, pretty much never during the day, but generally don't have too much issue if I remember to dry-box sticks prior. That's really the only trick. Winter I obviously don't have to,but takes a bit more planning in Summer. Will it always be the greatest experience with the greatest cigar imaginable? No, but heck, that is the description of any box of Cuban Cigars ever, so honestly not really much changes. 

[EnigmatiC]

Do you guys find that certain ring gauges do better in high heat/humidity?

[Chibearsv]

I love smoking cigars in the heat but not the real chewy sweet ones like RASS or Lusi.  HU2 or Hoyo Rio Seco are gems on a hot day.

[BlueRidgeFly]

2 hours ago, EnigmatiC said:

Do you guys find that certain ring gauges do better in high heat/humidity?

I think smaller ring gauges do better, at least in my experience in humid Virginia.

[Boxer31]

Back when I used to live in Tampa (it was a while ago) don’t remember humidity messing with my cigars especially in the summer (on the course or sitting outside in Ybor) and I spent quite a bit of time in Miami for work as well. Goes for both NC & CC.   I know did not spend much time thinking about my desktop humidors or setup.  Now in northern VA, it seems lately humidity is a problem for the cigars. Maybe I am now just an older pain in the ass and worry about too much for perfect conditions. 

[Rhinoww]

It’s currently 75 degrees. 97% humidity dew point is 74 degrees. Rain May come soon again. I’d love a cigar but not worth wasting a $20 stick outside. It’s rare that I will pass on a cigar even in the rain but it’s just too humid. The air is thick. Perhaps lunchtime tomorrow.