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Best Humidor: A Gentlemen’s Choice
Luxury and class are two different things. With class, you slowly get inducted into it due to your societal status.
While luxury is something one is born with deep inside. The common factor is that they both need a good financial standing.
We all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but what is a guy’s?
Men have different tastes, the same way as ladies. Some love cars, other sports, and a few love the finer things in life. And part of the vast list of those things has the most expensive cigars to puff on as they sip on some whisky or bourbon.
Buying a cigar for hundreds of dollars is not something everyone does, but when you do, you need to store them well, something the best humidor for cigars will effortlessly do.
You might be wondering why cigars need protection since they are to be lit up and smoked anyway, right? Well, what you might not know is that when tobacco products, including cigars, are let in the open air, under the sun, or exposed to drafts, they change.
Cigars need to be protected from heat since hot conditions initiate rotting in cigars. If moisture-filled air accompanies the hot climate, it brews the perfect conditions for mold growth and welcomes cigar beetles.
At cold temperatures, the cigar’s wrapping paper is what gets affected, and it may start unraveling and breaking because of temperature shock. If this coldness is accompanied by dampness, then expect your stick’s wrappers to crack and break faster. Then it will eventually break, exposing all the tobacco.
High humidity will result in the cigar absorbing the air’s moisture, and it swells, and the constituents will become damp. When this happens, everything inside swells up, closing all the airways that would have pass smoke through. As a result, smoking that cigar becomes almost impossible since no air can pass through. You will also experience uneven burning, and the intended sensation to be acquired as you puff the stick will not be the same.
When the surrounding air is dry, especially when the cigar is exposed to direct sunlight, it will dry. And a dry cigar will burn very fast. Think of the same way dry wood burns faster than moist wood. Secondly, a parched cigar might taste different since the essential oils will have been stripped off.
Thus you need to invest in buying the best cigar humidor to ensure your cigar sticks remain in top shape. Cigar humidors are a controlled box that confirms your cigar sticks stay in top condition. Everything is left intact, and, most importantly, the flavor is preserved.
Elements Found in a Cigar Humidor
Humidifiers
These are meant to raise the moisture content in the air surrounding the cigars. They are usually made of plastic with perforations. Inside, you find a sponge or an absorbent material that is generally soaked in a distilled water activation solution mixed with propylene glycol.
There are several kinds of humidifiers, namely: the Credo type and Torpedo type. The Torpedo kind only requires you to add distilled water and not append propylene glycol. Lastly, there is an electric humidifier, which needs less maintenance.
Hygrometers
These additions are responsible for creating a conducive surrounding for the cigars that have optimal humidity. It gives you the exact reading of the container’s humidity, which prompts you to take the necessary step.
It amps up or reduces the moisture in the humidor you have. They are either analog or digital. The analog will require constant calibration while the digital one will not. The optimum humidity is between 65% and 72% moisture content.
Thermometer
Since you also have to protect your cigars from temperature, quality humidors must have an instrument that tells you the humidor’s internal temperature.
The reading also indicates what you should do to ensure the cigars remain of good quality. The reading must not exceed 21-degrees Celcius and shouldn’t drop lower below 5-degrees Celcius.
Below are the best cigar humidors that contain all the elements discussed above. So without any further ado, look at them.
Best Humidor – Reviews & Recommendations For 2021
Best Overall: Woodronic Handmade Cigar Humidor
Look at this handmade piece of functional art that might make you get it just for the sake of it. But that is not even the best part of it. Wait until you read about what this beauty product can do.
Humidor features
This handmade humidor consists of a glossy buffed up piano black exterior. The wood used for constructing this piece is cedar wood with an appealing grain and texture outlook.
The interior is lined with Spanish cedar, which is the best lining as it keeps all the optimum conditions needed to keep cigars in top shape. This cedar wood lines up all the three trays, the three dividers, and the cabinet.
This piece has an inherent electronic Thermo hygrometer, foam-type humidifier, and a water dropper for refilling. The doors are airtight, and the hinges are shock absorbent.
There is also a glass display for you to see through; hence you will not need to keep opening the doors now and then. This humidor holds up to a hundred cigar sticks. One cabinet weighs 8.8 pounds.
Perks
- The polished black exterior is very appealing; thus looks terrific on any tabletop.
- The capacity this humidor hold is impressive.
- The electronic Thermo hygrometer provides accurate readings on the temperature and humidity of the piece. If there is an issue, it is sorted immediately.
- It is compact, thus can be stored and carried to any place you wish to.
Downsides
- This humidor does not contain a child-proof lock; hence children can quickly get access to the cigars.
- The glass display serves no functional purpose as you still have to open the cabinets to see the cigars.
This humidor is well suited for
It is ideal for a gentleman who likes to stock up on his cigars whenever he hosts his mates. The massive cigar count storage is enough. The finish is superb, and the brand is exquisite.
The price is around $350, but it is a worthy investment since it will serve you for a lifetime. An even better deal you get out of this top humidor is that you can get a replacement if it does not function as it should within the first year of purchase.
Runner-up: Octador Glass-Top Cedar Humidor
This piece, as the runner up on this and many other cigar humidor reviews, deserves. The exterior is a dramatic piece of woodwork fit for any gentleman’s club establishment or host. Their hydro- system is one of a kind, and it is awaiting patent approval.
Humidor features
The Octador humidor is an octagonal piece with a waxed shiny jet-black piano polish off. Perhaps the most striking feature is the real glass display top, which lets you see the box’s contents. The front of the humidor is a modern digital hygrometer and a storage cabinet for your accessories.
The doors and the whole unit’s interior is Spanish cedar, and the door closes tight using magnetism. The cedar tray is detachable, and the entire unit weighs 13.68 pounds.
You can store up to one hundred cigar sticks in this unit. One more commendable feature is that the sides have a perforation that allows you to carry the box without slipping.
Perks
- This piece is very classy and visually appealing. The octagonal shape is unique.
- The hydro system awaiting the patent’s approval is a clear sign that this design is top-notch and innovative.
- You can see the remaining supply of cigars you have in store by looking through the glass lid.
Downsides
- Besides the glass being tempered, if it is exposed to direct sunlight, the unit’s temperature could be altered a bit.
This humidor is well-suited for
Any gentlemen’s lair would relish having the Octador glass-top humidor. Its impressive storage capacity and aesthetic appeal cost around $200, making it a superior pick. It will serve you well, and for a long time.
Alternatives: Megacra Desktop Cigar Humidor
The Megacra Desktop has a beautiful brown leather outer covering, which makes this humidor very appealing, and more about this product is covered in the next segment.
Humidor features
The interior is lined with a well-crafted Spanish cedar with one spacious cigar trey with an adjustable divider. This adjustability allows you to store different sizes of cigars. Included on the lift-up lid are an analog hygrometer and a humidification system.
You either use distilled water or a particular humidifying solution in the humidifier. It holds twenty-five to fifty cigars depending on the size of the sticks. This piece weighs 4.64 pounds.
Perks
- The aesthetic appeal of the Megacra desktop humidor is impressive.
- This size is perfect for personal use at home, and you can store it on the desktop discretely.
- The company has an exceptional customer support and will assist you through any issue you have.
Downsides
- If the humidifier is not well prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions, it leaks.
- The time used to load up the humidifier is lengthy and tedious.
- You need to calibrate the hygrometer every so often.
This humidor is best-suited for
It is a compact and small humidor ideal for a guy who enjoys their cigars every weekend. It could stock enough sticks, one for each week and a few extras. If you do like classy pieces on your desktop, this brand is the best suited for you—it only costs about $60, making it the best humidor for the money so far.
Alternatives: Prestige Import Group Chalet
Available in a brown cherry tone, the Prestige Import Group Chalet is just as the name suggests Prestige and superior. Since it made it to this list, it is one of the quality humidors available.
Humidor features
The exterior is elegant yet straightforward when closed. When you flip the lid open, you find the analog hygrometer and a humidifier. The interior is lined with beautiful Spanish cedar to help preserve the cigars for the longest time possible. It holds about twenty-five to fifty cigar sticks, and it weighs 2.61 pounds.
Perks
- This unit is very lightweight, and so you can carry it with you even when you travel.
- Minimalists relish its simplicity.
- It is an affordable humidor.
Drawbacks
- One issue with this simple humidor is that the sealing could be better.
- Calibrating the hygrometer might be a challenge to many.
This humidor is best-suited for
The prestige humidor is perhaps an intimate gift for a guy who enjoys having a puff every so often. Minimalists like this piece and collectors who like medieval pieces will also find it appealing due to the analog hygrometer. It retails for only $33, making it the best humidor for money after the previous brand.
Alternatives: Scotte Cigar Humidor Jar
Of the five quality humidors discussed in this piece, this one has to be the most unique. And that is because it has an entirely different design and how it is operated. It is the only humidor with a completely detachable lid assuming the same functionality as any other jar.
Humidor features
This Scotte Humidor jar comes in a well-crafted leather vessel that houses a maximum of sixteen regular-sized cigars. The inner sections are lined with cedar, and the exterior is smooth and attractive leather.
This humidor weighs only 1.35 pounds, making it the lightest on the list. On that same note, it is, therefore, the most portable piece that you can take with you everywhere. The lid has an analog hygrometer that displays the humidity level of the canister.
Perks
- It is a lightweight unit that you can carry with you anywhere you go discretely.
- The number of cigars housed is more than enough for one to have one cigar per person to a ten-person intimate gathering.
- The package comes with everything you need for lighting up a cigar.
Downsides
- You have to season the hygrometer before usage.
- You also have to keep checking the humidor at least once a week for the moisture content.
This humidor is best-suited for
As the most portable, lightweight best humidor for cigars in this list, it is the perfect gift for a cigar smoker who travels a lot. It only costs $24, which is a very reasonable amount for what you will be getting.
Cigar Humidor FAQ
How long do cigars last in a humidor?
If you are familiar with the trend in cigar smoking circles, you will often hear that you should store your cigars in a humidor for about three months before lighting them up.
They are assumed to have matured during this time, and the taste has refined into something glorious. But this is for the common folk. If you wish, you may store your cigars inside a well-conditioned surrounding.
They could last you even five years and beyond if well-stored. Cigars, just like wine, age and become better with age. As you store them, make sure that you remove the cellophane wrapping to allow proper air circulation within the cigar sticks.
Also, keep the cigars from any aromatic substance as they may acquire that aroma and release it in the taste later on. Lastly, if you intend to store them for a long time, make sure you maintain optimum temperature and humidity inside the humidor.
How does humidor cigar work?
This storage compartments work in several ways enables the devices pre-installed on them. The first instrument is the humidifier, which adds water content in the cigars’ air to prevent the sticks from drying up.
Humidifiers also help safeguard and preserve the tasteful rich flavor in the cigars by keeping them moist. They usually need a moisture source, which is mostly water. They come in different complexities and sizes conditioned on the size of the humidor itself. They aim to maintain the humidity at 70%.
The second instrument is the hygrometer, which shows the reading of the humidor’s water content level. And using that information, you will know what to do next to either reduce or increase the humidity. Hygrometers come in two main types, analog and digital models. Most of the older versions of humidors have the analog, while the newer models consist of the digitalized version, which is easier to use and maintain. Regardless, both must be checked to ensure the humidity is up to par.
A thermometer or thermostat is the third instrument that helps you maintain the temperature of the cigars. As mentioned above, if it gets too hot or too cold, the cigars can dry up or swell up and ruin the taste.
That said, the thermostat helps you regulate that temperature to the optimal heat level, which is approximately 21-degrees Celcius, or 70-degrees Fahrenheit. Some humidors come with coolers or heaters, which automatically adjust the temperature to these levels.
The interior lining should ideally be Spanish cedar, which helps keep any pathogenic creatures away. It also does not decay, creating a conducive environment for cigars to thrive and stay fresh and in perfect condition.
Are cigar boxes humidors?
Cigar boxes are not humidors, but some can be used for the same purpose as humidors because they have all their properties.
And these properties are like having a thermostat, a hygrometer, and a humidifier. Most importantly, an all-wood cigar box is better than any made with glass, plastic, or any other material.
The thicker the box walls, the better as this brews a perfect environment for the sticks to stay unaffected by the external climatical issues like heat and humidity.
Suppose you are to keep them there, it’s advisable not to do it for too long. If you lack a humidor, they are better off in the cigar box instead of in the open air.
Should you take cigars out of the plastic in a humidor?
Yes, you should, like the plastic covering that comes enclosed hinders air circulation within the sticks. To further facilitate breathability, never squeeze your cigar sticks by packing them compactly. You should give each stick enough breathable space to make the taste rich and preserve the moisture within the cigar.
Conclusion
You may not have known much about cigars and their storage before reading this text, but by now, you sure do know a lot.
Cigars are a notch higher from cigarettes, and the taste is more refined, not forgetting to mention that the price is on the higher end.
Cigars are classier, and that is why dapper gentlemen find it appealing to have a set somewhere. Smoking cigars is seen as a prestigious act, and having them in storage at home is even better. And so this emphasizes that they should be stored in the best location to preserve their goodness.
If you wondered who makes the best cigar humidors, we have given you a head start with five we have covered in this piece. You are spoilt for choice with the five, and you can surely get one that fits your personality and tastes.
This article has also catered for the cost aspect; thus, you will find one within your budget. As well, get a piece for yourself or gift a friend who needs one. They will, for sure, appreciate the gesture and treasure the gift.
And after gifting them, make sure you educate them a thing or two about humidors you have learned through this piece. Know of the maxim sharing is caring, well; this is a great place and something to start with. Share with the people you cherish.
