Maybe you forgot a cigar box inside your closet. Or you neglected your humidor. In any case, your cigars are hard and as dry as your mother-in-law’s meatloaf. Do not worry, they can be restored! All you need to do is remember one essential rule: Restoring dry cigars is a slow process. Let’s take a look at several methods to restore dry cigars.
1) The Quarter Turn Method
Slowly expose the open cigar box to humidity in a cellar or other damp location rotating the cigars for about a week (longer if the cigars are extremely dry). Then place the cigars in a humidor at 70% humidity and every 2-3 days give them a quarter turn rotation until all cigars have been fully rotated at least twice. This method is recommended by Theo Rudman in his book “Complete Pocket Guide to Cigars”.
2) The Ziplock Bag Method
Make little holes on a large ziplock bag and insert the open box of cigars. Close the bag and insert it into a larger ziplock bag. Insert a slightly damp sponge in the second bag and seal. As with the previous method, rotate the cigars from top to bottom and side to side every couple of days to ensure even humidification.
3) The Damp Towel Method
Wrap the closed cigar box with a damp towel for 2 weeks.
4) The Plastic Container Method
You will need a reliable hygrometer. Place the hygrometer and the cigars in an airtight, transparent container so that you can read the relative humidity (RH) without opening the container. After a few hours, read the RH. Use a humidifier device and put a little water (+/- a teaspoon) on the sponge and place it in the container. Keep it closed. After a while, RH should go up a little. Repeat every 24 hours until RH is 70%. Once you get this level, maintain it by adding water as needed during 2 or 3 weeks. Never go under 65%, and don't panic if the RH goes up to 75%, but avoid going over this maximum. During this process, keep the container in a cool place away from light and heat.
5) The Dry Humidor Method
Let the cigars rest for a week in a humidor that hasn’t been charged recently. Then, partially fill the humidifier and let the cigars rest for a week. You can now fully charge the humidifier.
6) The Hot Shower Method
Place the open cigar box inside the bathroom while you take a hot shower (close the box if the cigars are too dry). When you are finished, close the box to trap the moisture inside. Rotate the cigars every 2-3 days. After two weeks of doing this, you can place the cigars inside a properly maintained humidor.
QuoteVanilla Gorilla - 10/5/2017 10:07 AM Thanks everyone! Anxious to get these bad boys into the humidor.....and to buy another humidor so I can have my every day sticks outside of a humi I'm wanting to open less often.....I guess the itch is back and my wallet is open to the hobby again lol
Might I suggest using a Tupperware for storage that you don't want to open as often. It will hold humidity indefinitely, and it's a lot cheaper than buying a humidor....meaning more $ to spend on cigars. I am putting together my 2nd tupperdor now and it cost me a total of $25 for the container, 2 boveda packs, and a little digital hygrometer. I currently have a 25ct humi for my "ready to smoke" and now 2 tuppers for overflow and resting. Tons of info on this site and on the internet about putting one together, it's pretty simple.
I would agree with the tupperdore method. Start with the 60 and gradually increase every few weeks but would take it very slow as too quick an increase can cause serious problems.
Most of these other methods seem too risky. Introducing the possibility of mold or splitting is a very serious concern with many of these.
Quotetoby2 - 10/2/2017 5:56 AM
i just stick them in general population and let them get back to normal in time. i can see paying extra attention to special cigars though