Sticks drying out even at 72%?

[DJSkopes]

Hey guys, I've had this issue over the past few months and I can't seem to put my finger on it. I have 2 50 counts that I've used for about 3 years. They've each got probably 30-40 sticks in at a time. But they seem to be drying out the cigars. They aren't frail or brittle but it seems like the elasticity is gone. They aren't as "spongy" and seem to firm up a bit. My sticks never last long enough to age so I'm not sure if this is what generally happens after a few months of storage, but I'd like my sticks to stay at optimal freshness. I'm using the humicare beads but over the past week or so, I've also thrown in a water pillow on the off chance my humidor is not sealing. I doubt it's leaky because it has a great seal. Any ideas or pointers would be great!

Thanks!

 

[ENV]

Maybe toss the stogies in a ziplock with a Boveda pack and reseason the humi?

 

[Monsterdg]

DJ, I recently had the same issue with a small humi I use to dry box at 65% (using a single Boveda Pack.) All of a sudden the sticks were not smoking well.

Only thing I could point to is the change in seasons, I think Rh in my home dropped some and the humi couldn't keep up. The humi is a cheapie I've had for some time; while I think it seals well enough, it's not top of the line by any stretch of the imagination, so I have some doubts on the overall ability for the box to resist changes in ambient temp/Rh changes.

I put those sticks into my wineador and re-supplied with some fresh sticks & put in 1/4# of beads. Maybe try a really well sealing tupperdor to refresh yours if that isn't an option.

 

[Rupe]

Hi DJ,

As far as the sticks being too dry, my first question would be how are they smoking? If they are smoking OK then I wouldn't worry about it.

For me, having a little bit of firmness is a good thing, as long as they are not "crunchy". I have found that sometimes B&Ms will over-humidify their cigars and that spongy "fresh" feeling that you are getting may actually mean that your cigars are too moist before you put them in the humidor.

You don't mention any Relative Humidity (RH) readings in your post so I am assuming that you are not using a hygrometer? For peace of mind you may want to pick up a couple of Hygroset II or Xikar digital hygrometers. you can generally find them online for less than $20. My preference is the Hygroset but the Xikar is easier to calibrate.

 

[DJSkopes]

Rupe, that is my fault. I did pick up a Xikar Digi. It's reading anywhere from 75% with fresh water in the beads to maybe 71-70% before I will refill the beads.


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[UtahRootBeer]

That seems to moist for most peoples likes. Have you calibrated the hygrometer?

 

[Lipher]

That seems to moist for most peoples likes. Have you calibrated the hygrometer?

+1. Salt test that bitch!


Quick fix would be tupperware/cooler with the boveda pack/beads, until you can figure out the RH issue.

 

[StogieNinja]

I'm guessing they're too wet, since you say they're not brittle. What I assume is happening is you're buying them and getting them in mid-60's rh, and as they sit in your humi, they slowly acclimate to your higher rh of 70-75.

The extra moisture at the higher rh will cause the tobacco to expand, which migh be what you're experiencing, as this can cause them to be very tight and not have any give. It'll also cause them to smoke hot, as a little bitter and acrid.

That's just my hypothesis. That or your hygro is waaaay off.

 

[bdc30]

yeah as others have said, for my tastes anyway 72%+ is way too high - and especially for aging cigars. Most of the guys I know who age stuff won't go higher than 65% and some even try to go lower for extended aging.

 

[DJSkopes]

Interesting.....perhaps the assumptions are wrong on my part. I'll "salt test that bitch" then and see where I stand. I have a ton of Camacho Corojos (my personal favorites) and a Vega Fina Sumum thats got some nice plume going. So I want to keep them for a little and want to make sure things are okay. Lilninjabuddy....that's odd that you mentioned the bitterness, because I'm smoking one of sticks now and it seems to have a little "tar" to it. Not sure if it's subliminal or what....

 

[UtahRootBeer]

I don't want to be a pessimist but if your humidity is that high it might not be plume. Lets hope not but you might want to post pics and let the guys with way more experience and knowledge than me give you a look over.

 

[bdc30]

thats got some nice plume going

oh my.

you might want to post pics and let the guys with way more experience and knowledge than me give you a look over.

This. 100000%. Plume takes a very long time to develop under optimal conditions, and at over 70% humidity, my bet is on the other kind of plume.

 

[Craig Mac]

Think I know where this one is headed. Post up some pics so we can see said "plume".

 

[DJSkopes]

I will post pics. I'm sure its not the "oh my" mold. It's what came from being properly stored in someone else's humi. It dusted off very easily. I just eant my cigars to be able to age well.

 

[FragmagnetEOD]

It dusted off very easily. I just eant my cigars to be able to age well.

Oh my!!!

 

[Jfire]

As long as its not green plume you're good!

 

[DJSkopes]

No more oh no!!!

 

[CATom]

We need a plume vs mold sub-forum. Ha


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[bdc30]

We need a plume vs mold sub-forum. Ha

lol not really. 99% of the threads would end with one reply: Not Plume.

 

[CATom]

We need a plume vs mold sub-forum. Ha

lol not really. 99% of the threads would end with one reply: Not Plume.

No doubt!


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