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Humidity while infusing cigars?

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I normally do not smoke flavored or infused cigars. However I will admit a couple times a year I do smoke one. Just to switch things up.

I decided I am going to try to infuse a couple sticks at home just to give it a shot. I grabbed a couple Macanudo cigars that have been laying in my humidor for a while. Stuck them in a new rubbermade container, the ones that seal up tight. I also took an old humidifier that use to have silica gel in it. I opened it up and dumped out the no longer working stuff. I poured a small amount of cognac in the container. I put that and a hydrometer inside the container.

I have used these containers a lot in the past for cigars. When I buy a couple flavored or infused cigars I use these them to keep them out of my humidor. They also work great for travel. I use either humidity beads ir boveda packs with them.

I expected to have a slightly higher humidity level. As it’s basically sealed. However very very quickly the humidity has jumped up to 82%. I trust this hydrometer I is accurate.

82% humidity would scare the crap out of me in my regular humidor. Is this normal for infusing cigars or is this a high risk of damage / mold? I do have a 69% Boveda humidity pack that is unopened. I thought about throwing that in there but I was told when they are fresh they don’t absorbe humidity that well. My local B&M has a variety of them.

Lastly I was thinking about removing the container and just getting a piece of sponge and dampening it to put inside.

What should I do? Thank you!
 
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No experience just thoughts

Does the alcohol in the cognac prevent mold, allowing a higher humidity while infusing?

If you are using cigars that you probably wouldn't smoke anyway what is the harm of letting it go a while to see what happens.

What happens if you try something a bit more aggressive? Mist the cigars with the cognac and allow to dry?

Wouldn't lowering the temperature reduce the possibility of mold with high humidity?
 
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As far as the “alcohol” preventing mold I have no idea I’ve never tried this before. It was a thought will smoking an MX2.

The cigars I used are not ones that I smoke regularly. I do keep a few of them in my humidor sometimes if I smoke a cigar early I like the mild profile. Also when I started smoking cigars that was my go to. Also if one of my friends who does not smoke randomly wants to smoke a cigar I recommend those. So no I’m not worried about them getting damaged.

Everything I’m reading is saying to let them infuse for 4-6 weeks. But no less than two weeks. So I’m just gonna ride it out. If the sticks go bad I’ll try something else like coffee. What I’ll probably do is when I decide I’m done infusing I’ll remove the alcohol clean out the container. I will then put the cigars back in with a 65% humidity pack and let it rest a week or so to bring down the level of moisture in the cigar.
 
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Sounds like a plan i think with coffee you are using the oils in the coffee to flavor the cigars so I've heard of people covering the cigar with the beans.
 

Rupe

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Here are a couple of random thoughts based on my experience when I played around with infusing some sticks years ago.

*I had the best success when I dry boxed the cigars first for at least a couple of weeks before I attempted to infuse them. That way when I put a small container of alcohol in with them it absorbed faster and did not over-humidify them as much.

*Infusing crappy cigars will sometimes just give you crappy cigars with a hint of rum or cognac.

* Placing a Boveda in with them while infusing will more than likely just ruin the Boveda because it will pick up the moisture from whatever you are trying to infuse them with.

* You can always dry box afterwards or use crystal kitty litter to bring the RH back down.

I have not attempted this for several years now but remember it as being a fun "science experiment" from when I first got into the hobby. Please let us know how things turn out as you play around with this.
 
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