I’m a newbee to the world of cigars. I purchased a new humidor “JFK 70” which I seasoned as instructed. I purchased a box of Flor de los Reyes, and a box of Thomas Hinds Vintage Lonsdale – that I paid a price only a newbee would – I’m learning… While waiting for the UPS arrival I smoked Garcia y Vega on the patio enjoying the evening sunset. I was happy, the dog was happy and life was splendid. My shipment arrived and with elation I carefully placed each cigar into the humidor anticipating my evenings on the patio. NOW – after half of my Flor de los Reyes are gone and eight of the Thomas Hinds I could not be more disenchanted. The JFK will not maintain 70% humidity, the Flor de los Reyes are inconsistent and the draw is difficult. My over paid Thomas Hinds start unraveling long before the half way point and to make matters even worse my dog refuses to set with me on the patio. My cigar world is crumbing around me. Today, with renewed anticipation, I sparked another Flor de los Reyes in the hope my actions of placing a sponge in the humidor 24 hours ago would help correct my problems, it did not, and my unraveling problem persists. So, before I throw the remaining cigars in the fireplace; return to my over priced California taxed Garcia y Vega, and turn my humidor into an expensive flowerpot, I appeal to the wisdom of this board for HELP. RICKAMAVEN, Mr.Mean, BMW, joedayan and last but not least Slimboli what on earth can I do?


Thanks for your help…
Puffer48

Good heavens! First of all, relax. Patience, as you will find out is virtous in the world of cigars. The possible aquisition of dry cigars is only temporarily disastrous since they will heal, given the proper care. As most induviduals on this board do, you may want to create a temporary fix for your cigars by placing them in tupperware container and putting them in a cool place till you get your humidor established. Grab yourself a La Perla Maduro and a good beer, get your dog some distance (mine hates it too), kick a cat if you have to (there expendable) and have some patience. Trust me, this place doesn't run out of cigars, try as I may, they still have cigars.

As far as the dog goes, I have two Vizslas and they both go crazy when I open one of my humidors and go rushing outside to race around the pool as I smoke a cigar. Rememdy, get a Vizsla they will hang around you no matter what you do! As far as the cigars go, Mr. Mean is right, have a little patience and you will soon be a "veteran" in the world of cigars! No mention of wife, or "other", which can be a plus when discussions of cigars and smoking start abounding. I couldn't help but laugh when reading your post, as it is something all of us have endured! I would suggest using the Tupperware, but do not let the cigars get to humid as they go the other direction of the Hinds, and are wet soggy sponges! Keep up the efforts and you will be rewarded with some pleasurable evenings! Charlie

I know you didn't ask me, but I wanted to throw in a couple thoughts anyway.

If you put a whole bunch of dry cigars inside a humidor, it can appear that the humidor is suddenly unable to maintain humidity when it is actually the cigars that are the culprit, although it should even out in a week or so.

Do you live in a dry climate? Maybe the humidifier isn't large enough for a dry climate. In Missouri, the winter air gets very dry. I sometimes add extra humidifiers in the winter. My brother in Phoenix has had ten times the humidor problems that I've had.

Mr.Mean had good advice.

Good luck,
Pork Chop

I have your answer...When you put the cigars inside your humidor, did you "season" the humidor beforehand?...There are a few ways to do this and it is necessary for the humidor to retain the humid conditions needed for proper cigar storage...I simply take a towel and soak it with distilled water...Then wipe down the entire insides of the humidor....Make sure you removed the cigars from the humidor first 🙂...Then, close the lid and let it sit for 24 hours....After that time, the humidity should be pretty damn high...Open the lid, let it air out until the humidity is around 70%, then (as long as the inside is not wet) place your cigars inside and monitor the humidity closely making sure it doesn't creep up past 73-75% maximum...ANother thing is you need to calibrate your hygrometer beforehand also..There's a few ways to do this...One simple way I use is to wrap the hygrometer in a wet towel for several hours...I think there is a much more accurate way of calibrating it, but I'm not sure exactly what to do...Anyone?..Something to do with using a salt mixture or something and it should read a certain percentage?...Good luck Newvie and welcome!...KC/Keith

Oh, and by the way the Thomas Hinds Vintage Lonsdales are on my 10 worst smokes list! Try a better cigar once you get your humidor "adjusted"! I know that me and Keith were not asked for our opinions on this matter, but we have all gone through this at one time!
In a matter of time you will be an "expert" so to speak! Charlie

Earl, first off let me welcome you to the brotherhood of cigars smokers! Like others I know you didn't ask me, but I almost feel compelled to give you some advice. Well, not advice but just a friendly chit-chat. In the realitive scheme of life, I too am a newbie to cigars. In whole reference to your humidor problem, I can give you help. I too bought a JFK humi and it wouldn't maintain the right humidity. What I did was, I kept on "seasoning" it. I did it 3 or 4 times, and FINALLY...TAAADAAAHHH!!! IT WORKS! Just be glad that you don't have any prized smokes in there, that would almost be a heartbreaker. Well, just in case you're hoping that I'll stop yapping soon, I'll get outta here. And once again buddy, welcome...smoke on!! Btw, HOW ABOUT THEM RED SOX!

Now that you got some advise on your humidor woes, you should work on getting some cigars to sample. There can be good deals to be had here especially in the 5-pack arena. Some of my favorites: La Gloria Wavell Maduro, Onyx and Onyx reserve 550 and mini belicoso, Mayorga, Maria Mancini, Excalibur 1066, and that little slice of heaven La Perla Habana Maduro Perfecto.

It looks like you have gotten some sound advice. I hope it works for you. I also have found that a new humidor sometimes takes a while to season properly. You may have to moisten it a few times. As far as calibrating your hygrometer, I've found the best way is to borrow a friends digital and throw it in my 'dor for a while and find out what 70% really is. I've also found that some of the analog hygrometers will read true at 70%(or what ever you calibrated it to) but if the humidity moves up or down some are not very accurate. Don't give up, and try to get some better smokes. Good Luck. Barry

In addition to the fine listing of cigars that Mean sent to you might I add to that list: Padron, Hoya de Monterrey Excalibur, Henry Clay and Aristoff. All are good and can be bought on the bid board! Good smoking...Charlie

Don't give up. Get better sticks to try and you'll have no problems because you'll smoke them so fast they won't have time to dry out. Take the rest of the Thomas Hinds and make them mulch for your garden.The get a good Padron or LGC or even a Cinco Vegas. Try hundreds of different cigars(there are a least that many varieties)Find what you like and buy large quantities of those. Buy more humidors use your wifes tupperware up keep buying more cigars, bid on new stuff and you'll be just like the rest of us. P.S. My dog dosen't care if I smoke

How the hell did you enjoy a Garcia Vegas?

Tailgater, I was wondering the same thing. I don't really have any room to stand, because I liked Dutch Masters before I moved to a real mans stick! lol

Hey! He's a new guy, he'll learn. Someone gave him a pile of crap and said it was the best when he's never had the best. So he's home, smokin a turd, while we hope he gets some good stuff (without cuttin into my good stuff mind you) and can rise above the stench he has created by turd smokin and scream out to the world "This is one bad *$# #$%@#$ &*^&%$# tasty cigar!"
Neighbors will appreciate it.

After reading all the experts advice I have learned alot also..I personnally haven't broken down and bought a real humidor yet...as long as my tupperdor doesn't ruin any of my smokes i probably wont either. I have found the Flor De Los Reyes to always be dry when I have recieved them also... I find that a week or two in the magic box gets them back to smokeable condition. Some suggestions to try are Baccarat #1 or if El Mejor Gran Reserves or even The Monterro Maduros. All have excellent flavor to me.

A week or two in the magic box? Isn't that how Clinton kept his stogies fresh? (or at least aromatic)

HA! I thought that was the flavor-enhancer.

What a way to treat a good Montecristo #2! I think that was the "preferred shape" of choice for that little series of incidents! Charlie

I'm a "newbie" as well and had a similar problem with my newly purchased humidor. After what felt like hours of research on the internet, I learned how to season my humidor as well as calibrate the hygrometer (using the salt solution). Even after all of this I couldnt get it up...er...over 69%. I noticed that while seasoning the with a small bowl filled w/ distilled water I maintained the desired 70-75% humidity. So what'd I do? I left the damn bowl in their. Its quite small so it doenst take up too much space, but its been holding steady at 75% since I placed it. My hopes are that the humidor is fully absorbed overtime and I'll be able to remove the bowl....we'll see.