Quote:
Originally Posted by RAWMEAN
Does anyone know how long a cigar can last before it needs a humidor? And how does lack of a humidor effects the quality of a cigar? Is there other options?
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How long a cigar can last outside the humidor depends on what the cigar is stored in. A "naked" cigar with no packaging or storage environment whatsoever will last less than a day before it starts to lose the essential oils in the tobacco that provide the depth of taste. A cigar that comes in a plastic wrapper will last a couple more days before it starts to notably degrade from a taste standpoint. Cigars in a ziplock bag will go for upwards of a week without much degradation in flavor (though if you're sensitive to plastic, you may notice some transfer from the bag). Cigars that come in glass or metal tubes will last significantly longer, especially if the tubes remain unopen as they came from the factory.
The primary issue with not storing a cigar properly is that the cigar dries out and essential oils in the tobacco evaporate. Even with rehydration (a process that will take some time when done properly), the cigar never fully recovers the taste and flavor it would have had if kept moist all along. Also, the "draw" (the amount of smoke inhaled) can be adversely affected when a cigar dries out then is rehydrated. A well made cigar that has good draw can turn into a poor tasting piece of garbage if you're essentially trying to "suck the chrome off of the trailer hitch" every time you take a puff.
If you don't invest in a humidor (or don't invest the time needed to maintain your humidor), you do have a couple of options:
1) Buy tubos. Cigars in unopened tubes will last for some time if kept in a cool environment away from sunlight.
2) There are bags being sold now that come with a packet to provide the proper moisture/humidity to keep cigars fresh for upwards of 6 months. You put the cigars in the bag, deploy the packet, then seal up the bag.
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