65% vs. 70%

J

jlmarta

Joined May 2007
168 Posts | 0+
Northern California
Another newbie question I know you guys can answer for me - - I've got some Heartfelt 65% beads that I use in my little humi. I've read posts from various folks indicating that some prefer 65% and some prefer 70%. I assume there are others who prefer some other RH for their stix.

My question is: does storing at 70% rather than 65% produce a slower, cooler smoke because of the (slightly) higher RH?

Thanks for your help,

Marty
 
jlmarta said:
Another newbie question I know you guys can answer for me - - I've got some Heartfelt 65% beads that I use in my little humi. I've read posts from various folks indicating that some prefer 65% and some prefer 70%. I assume there are others who prefer some other RH for their stix.

My question is: does storing at 70% rather than 65% produce a slower, cooler smoke because of the (slightly) higher RH?

Thanks for your help,

Marty
Click to expand...
i dont think so. i think it produces an uneven burn. I cant tell the difference in taste.
 
Marty,
IMHO, it does not.
What storing at a higher RH can is do is cause you draw issues from the inner portion of the cigar expanding and blocking the air channels made by the roller. Higher RH can also cause the dreaded exploding cigar phenomenon, especially if you smoke outdoors and have low RH in your area. What happens here is that the wrapper gives up its' RH to the atmosphere, while the inside is unaffected. So, the wrapper shrinks and tears, often causing a large portion of the wrapper to unravel, making a real mess IMHO.
Lower RH will yield a better smoking experience all around, I believe.
 
Thanks, rmrdaddy. That was a very informative response and I'm glad you told me. I'm getting ready to order some more beads to use in a storage humi and if 70% had been a good choice I'd have ordered them for my regular humi and used the 65% ones I now have in the storage unit. Now, I'll just order some more 65% beads instead.Thanks again.

Marty
 
Ooops! Didn't mean to leave you out, Kuzi. You said the same thing more concisely and I appreciate it. Thanks.

Marty
 
Marty,
Lower RH for a long term storage facility is also a better bet. As it allows for a little more fluctuation without getting too far into the danger zone if you have climate spikes in your area. I personally know fellas who keep RH in the 55-60% range for deeeeepppp storage, especially in full box storage facilities. Think wine cellar.... :)
 
Good info. I appreciate all the help I'm getting - from you and from all the other forum members. I'm learning a lot and enjoying some good cigars in the process. 'Course I'm finding a few that aren't so enjoyable but then that's what learning is all about, I guess.

Have a great day.

Marty
 
rmrdaddy said:
Marty,
Lower RH for a long term storage facility is also a better bet. As it allows for a little more fluctuation without getting too far into the danger zone if you have climate spikes in your area. I personally know fellas who keep RH in the 55-60% range for deeeeepppp storage, especially in full box storage facilities. Think wine cellar.... :)
Click to expand...

Now hold on a minute here -
I always thought it was the reverse - lonng term storage should be 70/70
& lower 60/65 for smoking.

I'm going to find out the bottom line on this & get back to it.
I'm not saying 100% for certain on any of this, but will find out!!!!
I know people that will know!
 
There seems to be a great deal of debate on this subject.

Here is what one trusted friend of mine had to say:
You hear both, right? 60's in some cases, 70 in others.

I keep all of my long term stuff at 70, cause I care about oils issue. Truth is, it keeps me from the impluse smoke, cause I don't want to risk a bad experience with something I've been saving because of overhumidification.
Click to expand...

That is what I was thinking.
:?:
I've already heard other reports like:

MRN claimed to store his at 60 degrees or lower and at 60% RH. He cited Hunters & Frankau's practice as his examplar
Click to expand...

Being the weekend I'll have to wait to hear more on this.
 
More comments from serious cigar people:

I've read that the big storage guys store at 55%. I agree with ******, you're losing oils at that rate. I can tell the difference in a cigar that has been dried out. 55% is dried out imo. Also, I don't like to smoke a cigar that is fresh out of 70% storage. 65% is perfect.
Click to expand...

Not to miss out on another comment:

***** made a few posts about that on CigarWise and that it was important that if cigars are kept at a 60% RH then the temperature MUST be lower. He did cite H&F as an example and said the practice was common in Hong Kong and Geneva.

He also said (and I've read this from other sources) that higher temps and RH accelerate the aging process. According to this thinking, lower temperature and RH slows down the chemical reaction and results in a less volatile aging process, actually retaining more oils. I tend to agree with this idea since moisture and heat are the basis for fermentation (or rot).

I also agree that 55% RH is too low.
Click to expand...


I removed the name - just cause!
 
This is a very interesting topic. Personally, I keep my cigars at about 65%RH and 70F, and I have had no issues with what I smoke. I don't see myself as someone who will age my cigars for 15 years, so I can't really comment on long-term storage. It seems like it really depends on the person and his or her personal tastes.
 
I keep the walk-in and all four desktops at 62-65. Because humidity can flucuate so much in Michigan, going from 65 to 60 is better than it dropping from 70 to 60.
 
We have had an extremely dry summer. My humidity is running 61% in one humidor, and 62-64% in the other two. My cabinet occasionally gets to 65%. My cigars feel a little dry but seem to smoke okay.


DL
 
Is there any way to keep the temp down without moving the humidor or keeping your house at 70%?
My temp has reached 76 degrees in my humi and I am a little afraid that that might cause the "b" word.
My humidity is holding between 67 and 68. i would rather it be closer to 65 but i am more worried about the temp problem at the moment...any suggestions?

edit: i just read this question in another post. Seems it is not as easy as humidity...
 
i dont worry too much about temp until about 76 for a week. But to keep my humidity down in the humid summer months i decharge my beads about once every 2-3 weeks depending on how fast it climbs. however, i also freeze my questionable sticks so the b word is far from my mind.
 
I have actually removed my beads completely from my humidor and it is holding steady. I should probably state that it is a small fridge-adoor not a humidor.
 
B128thopen said:
I have actually removed my beads completely from my humidor and it is holding steady. I should probably state that it is a small fridge-adoor not a humidor.
Click to expand...

Connor just watch close. as you fridge cycles it can condense the moisture out of the air.
 
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