Do you know what a hygrometer is? If you are finding yourself a bit confused right now, don’t be. You probably know what it is, or what it looks like, you just might not be familiar with the term.

A hygrometer is basically an instrument which measures the level of humidity. How is this important for cigar enthusiasts? Humidity is the keyword here. You should know that when it comes to storing cigars, humidity is a key factor. That is where the hygrometer enters the picture. If you have a humidor, a hygrometer should also be present. There are many different kinds of hygrometer but the important thing for you to do is to calibrate it before you start storing your cigars. How do you do this?

About.com gives detailed and practical instructions:

1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and add a few drops of water (not enough to dissolve the salt).

2. Put the cap inside of a baggie or plastic container along with your hygrometer, and seal the bag.

3. Wait 6 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag (or immediately after removing). If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.

4. If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75% by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room conditions cause the reading to change.

Now isn’t that simple enough?

Originally posted on August 25, 2008 @ 2:26 am

What in the world are dead cigars? I do not think that people technically use this term but I like to use it to describe cigars that have dried out. Sometimes, you buy a bundle of cigars and you do not smoke all of them within a short period of time. If you do not have a humidor, then the chances are that they will dry out. And sometimes, you buy dead cigars from shops. This actually happened to me just recently. I wanted to try this box of cigars from a shop I ran across at the mall. Stupid me, I wasn’t really thinking. I didn’t even check the cigars. I took it for granted that the quality would still be good. I was wrong. They were dry as a summer day.

So is there any solution to really dry cigars? The answer is yes. You see, it works both ways. If moisture can escape from a cigar, then you can also reintroduce moisture. How to do it? It is simple enough.

Get a plastic bag – the sealable type – and place the entire box of cigars in it. Make sure that you do not seal the bag entirely because you want some air to flow into the bag. You can then place a sponge that has been soaked in distilled water in the bag. Now take note the whole process will not be finished overnight. It takes time – weeks or even months. You have to patient because if you introduce moisture too quickly, what you will have are fat, soggy cigars that are useless. One last thing – make sure that you rotate your cigars.

Originally posted on August 16, 2008 @ 8:36 pm