Resuscitating dry cigars!

[ramparts]

I was recently given some fairly nice cigars by a relative who'd kept them out of a humidor for about a year or two. So they're pretty dry and I can't imagine it'll be very pleasant when I light one up... unless I can resuscitate them I've Googled and seen some methods, but I'm curious what people here have to say on the subject. I don't have a huge time constraint (but it would be nice if it were less than a month process), but most of the remedies I've seen online require a cigar box or a humidor (of which I have neither) and, as a poor college student, I don't think I can really afford a humidor. Any solutions which will result in a nice, smokable cigar without having to make a huge cash investment would be very much appreciated!

[madurolover]

While you can make them smokeable again you will never get them to taste as they should after that much time. All the essential oils will be long dried up.

[nitemare]

get one of those humidification pillows "Humi-Care Portable Humidification pillow" or drymistat tube they will get you up to 70%rh and put them in an air tight container, open them once a week to check on them, i don't have a hygrometer and don't care for them, i go by touch and sound.


edit: i don't know how much it will take but around 6 weeks+

[ttam535]

Originally Posted by madurolover

While you can make them smokeable again you will never get them to taste as they should after that much time. All the essential oils will be long dried up.

Exactly - once the oils have dried up there is no bringing them back to what they once were. Usually 2-3 months outside of a humidor is the point where they will never be the same again. They can be brought back to a "smokeable" condition by introducing them to humidity VERY, VERY slowly over a few months. The slower they are re-humidified the better. Try keeping them in a mostly-sealed ziplock bag away from the humidifier in a humidor & they will slowly pick up moisture so they don't get too much too quickly & explode.

Good luck.

[veteranvmb]

I am still been unpacking for a few years, and have been finding cigars here and there. I am up to about thirty cigars now, anywhere up to 3 years old.
When I got my first humidor about two months ago, I set up one half of one of the top shelfs in which to try and humidify the cigars.
Some were as hard as a rock. But they were all good quality that I was given at times, and never got to smoke them.
After 2 months now, you can definately see they are starting to get moisture back in them.
I think in about a month, maybee a half dozen will be smokeable, and maybee by another 6 months or so, most should be smokeable. Not great, but smokeable. I keep them on the top shelf, because I feel they will get more circulation their. The humidity is a bit high for them their(68 %) but I am willing to take my chances.
I dont intend to smoke any except for one as an experiment, but to make these part of my free bees for the oldtimers in the park. They seem to love the "thompson specials" so I think these should be a step up. When I am expunged of the thompson specials, they will be going to my jr alternatives. I really dont mind them to bad myself in a pinch.
About a half of them are cigars ranging in price that I did not usually spend on myself. 15-20 bucks a cigar. I try not to go over 10-12.
Much regards Jerry