How to Properly Store and Age Your Cigars

A premium cigar is an investment. You've selected it carefully, you know what you're getting — and the last thing you want is to light one up six months from now only to find it's dried out, cracked, and delivering a fraction of the smoke it should. Proper storage isn't complicated, but it does require attention to a few key variables. Get them right, and your Big Daddy cigars will be in peak condition whenever you're ready.

The Two Numbers That Matter: 70/70

Every cigar storage conversation starts here: 70% relative humidity at 70°F (21°C). This is the industry standard, and for good reason. At this combination, tobacco maintains its moisture content, stays supple, burns evenly, and continues to age gracefully.

Deviate significantly in either direction and problems follow. Too dry (below 60% RH) and the tobacco loses moisture, the wrapper cracks, the draw tightens, and the cigar burns hot and harsh. Too wet (above 75% RH) and the tobacco swells, the draw becomes plugged, and mold becomes a real risk.

"The 70/70 rule isn't a suggestion — it's the baseline every serious cigar smoker works from."

The Humidor: Your Most Important Investment

If you're serious about storing cigars, a proper humidor is non-negotiable. A well-made humidor is lined with Spanish cedar — a wood that naturally absorbs and releases moisture, helps regulate humidity, and over time, imparts a subtle cedar character to the cigars resting against it.

When choosing a humidor, size matters less than quality. A cheap humidor with a poor seal will cost you more in ruined cigars than you saved on the box. Look for:

• A tight-fitting lid with a consistent seal
• Spanish cedar lining on all interior surfaces
• A reliable hygrometer (digital is more accurate than analog)
• A humidification device that suits your storage volume

Seasoning a New Humidor

Never put cigars in a new humidor immediately. The dry cedar will absorb moisture aggressively, pulling humidity from your cigars and damaging them in the process. You need to season the wood first.

Wipe the interior surfaces with a clean, lightly dampened cloth — distilled water only, never tap water. Place an open container of distilled water inside and close the lid. Leave it for 24–48 hours, then check: the RH should be reading 70–75%. Once stable, add your cigars. This process allows the cedar to reach its optimal moisture saturation level before your cigars enter the picture.

Temperature: The Overlooked Variable

Most storage guides focus on humidity and underestimate temperature. Heat accelerates the aging process — which sounds good in theory, but can also speed tobacco beetle activity. Tobacco beetles lay dormant in leaf at normal temperatures, but above 75°F, eggs can hatch and larvae will eat through your entire collection.

Keep storage below 72°F to eliminate this risk entirely. If you store in a warm climate, consider a wine cooler converted to a humidor (a "coolidor") — it holds temperature and humidity with excellent consistency.

Long-Term Aging: Making Your Cigars Better

Here's the part most smokers miss: properly stored cigars don't just stay good — they improve. The oils in aged tobacco continue to interact, the harshness mellows further, and the flavor becomes more complex and integrated over time. A Big Daddy stored properly for 6–12 months will smoke noticeably better than one smoked fresh out of the box.

For long-term aging, maintain your 70/70 baseline but handle cigars minimally. Every time you open the humidor and shuffle cigars around, you introduce dry air and disrupt the stable microenvironment you've built. Open it purposefully, not habitually.

Traveling With Cigars

Short-term travel doesn't require a full humidor. A quality travel case with a small humidification bead will keep cigars in good condition for several days. For anything longer than a week, invest in a travel humidor with a tight seal. Avoid leaving cigars in a hot car — the temperature swings will damage them within hours.

Whether you're aging a box or packing a few for the road, the goal is the same: protect your investment and ensure that when you light a Big Daddy, you're getting everything it was built to deliver. Order yours through Cigar Imports USA and store them right from day one.