Restoring a Dried Out Cigar

[RobustBrad]

Title says it all.

The short of it is. I got married in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico back in May. As soon as we got back from our wedding we bought a new house and began the moving process. Push come to shove, the humidor got lost in all the boxes. Well, I found the humidor yesterday along with some choice cigars that were newly acquired down in Mexico and they are dry as a bone. Below is some of the methods I researched on the web but am curious to see how you would go about restoring them, if possible at all.

Cheers,
Brad

1) The Quarter Turn Method

Slowly expose the open cigar box to humidity in a cellar or other damp location rotating the cigars for about a week (longer if the cigars are extremely dry). Then place the cigars in a humidor at 70% humidity and every 2-3 days give them a quarter turn rotation until all cigars have been fully rotated at least twice. This method is recommended by Theo Rudman in his book “Complete Pocket Guide to Cigars”.

2) The Ziplock Bag Method

Make little holes on a large ziplock bag and insert the open box of cigars. Close the bag and insert it into a larger ziplock bag. Insert a slightly damp sponge in the second bag and seal. As with the previous method, rotate the cigars from top to bottom and side to side every couple of days to ensure even humidification.

3) The Damp Towel Method

Wrap the closed cigar box with a damp towel for 2 weeks.

4) The Plastic Container Method

You will need a reliable hygrometer. Place the hygrometer and the cigars in an airtight, transparent container so that you can read the relative humidity (RH) without opening the container. After a few hours, read the RH. Use a humidifier device and put a little water (+/- a teaspoon) on the sponge and place it in the container. Keep it closed. After a while, RH should go up a little. Repeat every 24 hours until RH is 70%. Once you get this level, maintain it by adding water as needed during 2 or 3 weeks. Never go under 65%, and don't panic if the RH goes up to 75%, but avoid going over this maximum. During this process, keep the container in a cool place away from light and heat.

5) The Dry Humidor Method

Let the cigars rest for a week in a humidor that hasn’t been charged recently. Then, partially fill the humidifier and let the cigars rest for a week. You can now fully charge the humidifier.

6) The Hot Shower Method

Place the open cigar box inside the bathroom while you take a hot shower (close the box if the cigars are too dry). When you are finished, close the box to trap the moisture inside. Rotate the cigars every 2-3 days. After two weeks of doing this, you can place the cigars inside a properly maintained humidor.

These methods all have in common time and slow humidification of the cigars. Choose the one that is more convenient to you. It is always a good idea to take the cigars out of their cellophane wrappers or tubes before restoring them. Once restored, wait a few weeks before smoking until the humidity stabilizes. You may not be able to restore the cigars to their original quality but they can certainly be enjoyable smokes if you take the time to bring them back to life.


Discuss ...

[Stench]

That "shower" method is interesting, I'd be afraid that the cigars might pickup the odors of whatever shampoo or items you use. Of course not everyone has to buy the nasty smelly crap my wife buys! I think she picked up some kind of vanilla stuff last week...blech!

I hope you bring them back to life!

[JoeyBear]

Of all those ways...I wouldn't try any. I've had dried out cigars and I will put them into their own cooler/air tight plastic bin with a small cup or shot glass of distilled water and a hygrometer. Open the box or pull them all out and keep a watchful eye on them. They might come back quick or take some time, but they will come back. Don't keep messing with them, though. Leave them alone and they'll be fine. Refill the glass of distilled water as needed.

[RobustBrad]

Originally Posted by Stench

That "shower" method is interesting, I'd be afraid that the cigars might pickup the odors of whatever shampoo or items you use. Of course not everyone has to buy the nasty smelly crap my wife buys! I think she picked up some kind of vanilla stuff last week...blech!

I hope you bring them back to life!

That's freaking hilarious. Shower's out.

[JoeyBear]

Theo Rudman has way too much free time if he can keep rotating cigars 1/4 turn every day!

[RobustBrad]

Originally Posted by JoeyBear

Of all those ways...I wouldn't try any. I've had dried out cigars and I will put them into their own cooler/air tight plastic bin with a small cup or shot glass of distilled water and a hygrometer. Open the box or pull them all out and keep a watchful eye on them. They might come back quick or take some time, but they will come back. Don't keep messing with them, though. Leave them alone and they'll be fine. Refill the glass of distilled water as needed.

Thanks Joey,

I have them isolated in my old humidor right now. Have a shot glass and a wet cloth on the bottom. I figured I'd remove the cloth after a day or so then just keep the shot glass full. Hopefully they return

Cheers,
Brad

[veteranvmb]

If you go through some of my previous threads, you will find I had found dozens of cigars that are close to five years old, and most were hard as a rock. One was actually thirty years old. They were found in pockets naked, in tubes, in metal containers , in socks.
I have been very successful, just keeping them together in a humidor at a low rh at first . Maybee 62 for a couple of months, then switching them to 66 or 67 for a couple of months. I have brought back cigars that were pieces of wood to great smokeability. Yours would be a snap.

Much regards Jerry

[JoeyBear]

Good luck, Brad. They'll be fine.

On a side note, never smoke a gifted cigar from Jerry as he keeps them in his socks

[RobustBrad]

Originally Posted by JoeyBear

Good luck, Brad. They'll be fine.

On a side note, never smoke a gifted cigar from Jerry as he keeps them in his socks

That's just too funny.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by JoeyBear

Good luck, Brad. They'll be fine.

On a side note, never smoke a gifted cigar from Jerry as he keeps them in his socks

It add charachter. Thats the spice note in the last third on the tip of your tongue. You can tell fron that where the cigar has traveled around the world plus a little sock.
Maybee that flavor wheel we have should add sock to one of the catagories.

Lol Jerry

[Arnie]

I had the same thing happen. I lost a little humidor in a move and when I found it the cigars were DRY---- Colorado 17% humidity dry!! I oh-so-carefully took off the cellophane and stored them in the re-humidified humidor for a long time, almost a year before I tried one. The funny thing is those cigars have aged beautifully and are some of the best smokes! They were lost for 4 years! And they had a few years on them before I lost them. They are about 12 years old now. Puros Indios. They are much better now than when I bought them even after their ordeal lost in my garage.

[madurolover]

To be honest, I would probably toss them. They have more than likely lost their essential oils and even when re-humidified will never have the flavor they were intended to have.

If you are going to re-humidify them I would do it very slowly.

[Jimbo57]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

It add charachter. Thats the spice note in the last third on the tip of your tongue. You can tell fron that where the cigar has traveled around the world plus a little sock.
Maybee that flavor wheel we have should add sock to one of the catagories.

Lol Jerry

I'm going out on a limb here but I gotta ask...... fresh or worn? Has to impact the flavor!!

[RobustBrad]

Originally Posted by Jimbo57

I'm going out on a limb here but I gotta ask...... fresh or worn? Has to impact the flavor!!

Hahah! I'm sure both would give a vastly different taste profile.

[JPad]

This is great to know, my old humi got left with my manhood at my ex-wifes hpuse and there was some cc thbat i still had from a few trips out of the country that i will be getting back. Luckily it got packed it the botto.m of a box and has just been sitting in her garage. (Unless her lawyer reads this and then i am sure it will be an undeclared asset)