How To Age A Cigar Using A Humidor
People can pay lots of money for a fine quality cigar. Quality cigars are usually aged over time, but you too can enjoy a quality aged cigar by doing it yourself at home using a cigar humidor. A cigar that has been aged well displays complex but subtle distinctions in flavour and texture. Like wine, an aged cigar is simply the best kind of cigar that you can enjoy.
Start with a quality cigar if you are going to age them yourself. If you use a cheap cigar, you will probably be disappointed with the end result and the time will have been wasted. It takes about a year for the ageing process to complete. This is probably the minimum time you should allow. A rule of thumb when choosing is to find one that you find too strong or odourous, and this will probably be a good candidate.
Buy a good quality cigar humidor for the purpose of ageing your cigars. The cigar humidor is used to store the cigars at a constant tempertature and humidity. There is a 70-70 rule, which translates to 70 percent humifity and 70 degrees farenheit. You use a cigar humidor because it’s sealed and provides a stable environment for it’s precious cargo.
Maintaining the stability of the environment around the cigars is paramount in the ageing process, this is why a good quality cigar humidor is used. If you have changes in the environment constantly, this will cause the cigar to expand and contract, which can lead to cracking and even worse case destroying very flavours you are trying to develop.
When choosing the best cigar humidor, try to find one made with cedar wood lining. Cedar wood is very aromatic and the oils in the wood mix and blend with the oils of the tobacco over time. Ascertain how many cigars you will need to hold and ensure the cigar humidor has about twice the volume of space internally. Obtaining a mix that is right will help you achieve the final result. You can enjoy a well aged cigar, and it will not have cost you hundreds of dollars.
