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| Cigar Accesories |
Cigar Accesories
Once you make the decision to begin your own cigar collection, you will need to invest in some essential cigar accessories. Knowing what to look for and more importantly where to look can save you alot of time and money. First you will need a cigar humidor.
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Cigar humidors
The best way to store cigars is in a humidor. There are many sizes and shapes of humidors on the market today. Most humidors are made of wood or atleast lined with spanish cedar. You can find humidors made from just about anything though. As long as storage system can maintain 65 - 70 degrees and RH (relative humidity) it is doing its job.
Always use distilled water in your humidifying agent. Tap water tends to cause mold and has additives that can destroy the effectiveness of some humidifiers over a period of time and can even alter the flavor of your cigars. Cigars should always be stored at 65% to 70% humidity and at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your humidor drops below 60% humidity, your cigars will become too dry, loose flavor, crack, or even cause the wrapper to flake off.
If your humidor becomes to humid, or hot, above 72% RH and 75 degrees, you cigars will mold, and there is a higher chance the dormant tobacco beetles hatch, and they beging eating your precious cigars.
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Some humidors can be very plain, however others as fancy as the this model from TinderBox.
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Humidor "seasoning"
Once you choose a humidor, you will need to ensure it is properly "seasoned". To "season" a humidor, means you prep it for your cigar stash. You want to ensure the cedar lining your humidor becomes re-hydrated from all the moisture it lost during shipment and curing. To "season" your humidor start by dampening a paper towel with some distilled water and gently wetting the lining of your humidor. Once it is slightly damp all the way around, put a small bowl of distilled water in the middle of the humidor and seal it for a couple days.
Check your humidor after about 24 hours to ensure there is still water in the bowl. If the bowl it empty, the wood may need another dampening, if there is still water, reseal, and allow your humidor to rest longer. It is important not to rush the "seasoning" process. If the inner lining of your humidor is not properly re-humidified, it will rob the moisture from your cigars.
After a few days you can add your hygrometer and verify the humidy level of your humidor has reached 70%. Leave ONLY your humidification element in your humidor for the next 24 hours and recheck the humidity level.
If your humidor humidity level is stable at around 70% RH, you may add your cigars.
-- Note --
Once you add new cigars, you may notice your RH level drop. It is normal, as long as it comes back up after a few days. Your new cigars may be fairly dry, so it will take a few days to re-hydrate them. Do NOT add extra moisture, as it will raise the humidity level too quickly, and may cause damage to your cigars. Be patient, and your cigars will reward you.
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Humidor accesories
Your humidor accesories are very important in creating a stable and perfect environment for your cigars. The three main elements to your humidor set-up are the box, humidifier, and hygrometer.
Your box is important because you have to ensure that it seals properly. If you cannot create a good seal, you will loose any humidification you introduce. A humidor with an improper seal may also allow unwanted scents to enter, which can alter your cigar's taste and ruin its flavor.
You will also want to ensure your humidor is big enough to accomidate all of your cigars. You do not want an over crowded humidor, because it will make it harder to ensure all cigars are receiving the proper humidification, and you get a good airflow as to prevent a musky smell. It is best to figure out how many cigars you want to house, then double that number to come up with the right humidor for you.
Next, you will need a good humidification device. If you use the sponge type humidifier, ensure you do not try to overfill it because standing water will mold. Also, it is recomended to use some type of 70/70 solution. It is designed to release humidity untill your humidor reaches 70% RH, then stop. It gives you a piece of mind that your cigars will not mold.
You can also get the 69% or 70% RH crystals. They are handy little gelatine like crystals which release humidity untill your humidor reaches 70% RH, and even absorbs moisture if your humidor RH raises above 70%.
The third piece in your humidor set-up is the hygrometer. Skimping on the hygrometer is not advised. If you are going to spend any amound of time in collecting cigars and storing them, you will need to ensure you have a properly functioning hygrometer. The (most likely analog) hygrometer you got with your humidor will not suffice for long. Analog hygrometers are rarely adjustable, and tend to be fairly inacurate and have a hight rate of failure. It is recomended you spend the extra $30 - $50 to get a digital hygrometer and think of it as an insurance policy for your cigars.
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Cigar cutters
Cutting a cigar:
The two fundamental parts of a cigar are the cap and the foot. Simply put, the cap is the end that is cut in order to smoke a cigar; the foot is the end that is lit. There are four distinct types of cuts and cutters that are used to open the cap:
1) The Guillotine: guillotine cut, in which a straight across slice is taken off of the head.
2) The Punch: punch cut, in which a round sharpened metal tube is rotated into the head and a plug of tobacco is plucked out.
3) The 'V' Cutter: wherein a ?v? shaped wedge is cut into the head.
4) The Pierce: piercing is where a hole is punched through the center of the head.
One of the most popular methods, is the guillotine or punch. When making a guillotine cut, do not cut too much off the top of the head. The best guideline is to make the cut slightly above the horizontal line where the cap connects with the wrapper. That way, enough of the cap is left on the cigar to keep it from unraveling. When using the guillotine, place it on a flat surface, place your cigar in the center, and snap it closed. It is recomended you get a multi-sized punch as well. A 40 gauge punch would not work to well on your 38 gauge cigar. Most good cigar punches have four heads.
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Cigar Lighters
Only a wooden match or butane lighter should be used when properly lighting a cigar. A cardboard match is impregnated with chemicals, and the flame from a lighter fluid soaked wick leaves a residue; both of these devices will taint the taste of the tobacco.
Many aficionados have given up on microtorch lighters altogether. Microtorches burn at over 2,000?F, and it's virtually impossible to avoid turning the foot of your cigar into a cinder.
An alcohol flame burns cooler than butane, so is more gentle to your cigar. You can find one at laboratory supply houses, and it consists of a glass bowl with a capped cotton wick. Using denatured alcohol (methanol), it generates only harmless carbon dioxide and water vapor, unlike butane, a hydrocarbon.
For smoking on the go, or while Herfing, wooden matches or an ordinary butane lighter are ok, however whenever possible, use the alcohol.
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Porsche Designs Laser Flame Lighter Black
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Created on 06/29/2008 11:14 AM by mikalsan
Updated on 03/22/2009 04:37 AM by mikalsan
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