Dry Boxing smokes - or - how to reduce humidity?

[QWKDTSN]

Hi all.

Over the short time I've been smoking cigars I've noticed a dissappointing trend.

Sticks that have been in my humi for a while (a few days or weeks) just don't taste as good as cigars bought at a B&M and smoked that day.

For instance, I bought a Fuerte cigar locally and smoked it an hour later and it was phenomenal. It was so good I bought a box online the next day.

Now the Fuerte cigars have been in my humi at about 68% for a few days and I've had a couple and they're just not good at all compared to the one I bought from the B&M.

I don't think it's that they need more age on them - although this could be the case and I do plan on letting them rest for a good while longer - I think they're just too humid straight out of the humidor at 68%.

The taste is more of a sour flavor (not ammonia). No real draw or burn issues but the flavor just isn't there. It tastes wet and sour and unenjoyable. I smoked 2.5" of a Churchill tonight and put it down to die!

So, I intend to experiment with dry boxing - letting some cigars dry out for a day or two prior to smoking.

How long does it take a cigar to fully drop down to about 60%? I know it will take a while for the interior of the cigar to come down in humidity.

If you do let your cigars settle to a lower humidity prior to smoking, how long do you let them rest?

I have three sticks in an empty cigar box and I intend to smoke them over the next few days to see how they do.

Any tips on how to get more flavor out of my stogies? It sucks paying a bunch of money and not being able to enjoy a smoke when I get home from work because a cigar that I know should taste delicious is anything but.

[casadooley]

Short answer: Dry boxing is ok for a day or two. It sounds like you may enjoy your smokes a little dryer. I suggest keeping your humi at 65% humidity. That should get rid of that wet/sour taste and help with the burn.

[madurolover]

Sour taste, yep that would probably be too wet. I dry box and what I do is usually take a few handfulls of sticks and put them in my box. After 2 days I will start smoking these. I will let them sit in the dry box for up to a week before I put the unsmoked ones back in the humi.

[fiddlegrin]

Hi Steve,
Another approach to consider is the "Heartfelt" beads for your humidity device. You can buy them rated at 70%, 65% or 60%.

Here is a link;

Heartfelt Industries, Heartfelt Cigar Humidor Humidity Beads, Heartfelt Beads, Humidors, Quality Cigar Accessories

Hmmm, that reminds me, I was meaning to order some 60% myself for a new coolador.

Gotta Go!

[Buddha024]

Originally Posted by fiddlegrin

Hi Steve,
Another approach to consider is the "Heartfelt" beads for your humidity device. You can buy them rated at 70%, 65% or 60%.

I second this. Also, be sure to salt your hygrometer. Maybe your humidity is higher than you think. You are on the right track with the dryboxing. Just try the ones you put in there over the next couple of days and you will find the amount of time that works for you. Good luck.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by madurolover

Sour taste, yep that would probably be too wet. I dry box and what I do is usually take a few handfulls of sticks and put them in my box. After 2 days I will start smoking these. I will let them sit in the dry box for up to a week before I put the unsmoked ones back in the humi.

+1

I dont let the sticks lay in the dry box until they reach the actual humidity, which could take 2-3wks. My dry box sits at about 56%, so I leave them in for about 3days. This is enough time for the wrapper and binder to dry to the low 60's which is really all Im looking for to get a good draw and burn. Much below that and they just get harsh. I dont dry box everything, just the stuff that I know is tight, or that I know prefers to be smoked a little dryer, like most CC's.

Next time youre at your B&M, find out where they keep theirs. Better yet, take your own hygro with you in a plastic bag, sit it next to one of your go-to's on the shelf and let it come to rest while you smoke a stick in the shop.

[QWKDTSN]

Thanks guys for the helpful advice! I put the cigars back in a cigar box and the hygrometer has been reading 65% even in that box... So it's really not as dry of a box as I'd like. Humidity in my room is about 55% so maybe I will have to just leave a stick out for a day before smoking.

My hygrometer is the digital Western III which is one of the most accurate out there, so I have read. I have never salt tested it but I doubt it is off by much at all.

My humidifier is sponge type with distilled water and I have been thinking about going with some beads. I can remove the sponge from the case and fill it up with beads. I would like to get my humidor down to 63-65%.

[Juicestain]

I just dug out an old 5vegas box to use as my own dry box. I have had the same problem trying to reduce the humidity in my humidor a bit. Always seems to creek up to 70% no matter what I do, I think I would prefer closer to 65%. Thanks for this topic I had never heard of dry boxing before. Going to give it a try tomorrow after a few sticks get a chance to dry down a little tonight.

[QWKDTSN]

I'm herfing one of my Fuentes that has been in the 65% cigar box for 24 hours. It is definitely better than the one I smoked yesterday but still a little too wet. I have another one in there that I will try tomorrow and I might try leaving one out in my 55% room for 24h to try.

Definitely need to get some beads to get the RH in my humidor down to a better level. I have such a small humi right now that I'm really not aging anything, just storing it for a few days or a couple of weeks until I smoke it. I'd like to be able to pull a stick out and smoke it straight out of the humi and have the flavors I'm looking for.

[Buddha024]

Originally Posted by QWKDTSN

I'm herfing one of my Fuentes that has been in the 65% cigar box for 24 hours. It is definitely better than the one I smoked yesterday but still a little too wet. I have another one in there that I will try tomorrow and I might try leaving one out in my 55% room for 24h to try.

Definitely need to get some beads to get the RH in my humidor down to a better level. I have such a small humi right now that I'm really not aging anything, just storing it for a few days or a couple of weeks until I smoke it. I'd like to be able to pull a stick out and smoke it straight out of the humi and have the flavors I'm looking for.

If your room is at 55%, then you should just leave them out. I think you are right to get some beads. Those things are great. I would still check your hygrometer to at least reassure yourself that it is right on.

[Frinkiac7]

I also use an old 5 Vegas cedar-lined box to dry box. My humis go nuts in the humid summer months, it's hard to keep them below 70% with all of the moisture in the air in the house. If I know I'll be smoking a few sticks in advance, I'll select them and box for a day or two. Otherwise I just smoke the cheap crap and deal with the overhumidified taste.