How To Acclimate New Cigars: Essential First Step Before Storing

Learn from Bespoke Unit's Paul Anthony & Charles Philippe what to do first before storing cigars! Watch our video for a step-by-step guide to acclimating your new cigars.

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CONTINUE WATCHING:

What is relative humidity? Our guide: youtube.com/watch?v=Bk5ixts2QYA

Learn what relative humidity ranges suit cigars: youtu.be/HA9WZlJsmRA

How to make a tupperdor: youtu.be/k30rM3SrPpI

Our videos on cigar storage:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfsWHCy_hDdo4W3Dy_JS…

READ ABOUT CIGARS:

Written version of the tupperdor guide above: bespokeunit.com/cigars/humidors/diy/tupperdors/

All of our written content on cigars:
bespokeunit.com/cigars

How To Acclimate New Cigars: Essential First Step Before Storing

When you pick up some new cigars, whether singles or boxes, you don't know their relative humidity, or RH.

Therefore, you need to get them to the same RH as the container you're going to introduce them into, probably between 65% and 70% RH. In order to do this, you'll first put them into a microclimate of the correct RH. We recommend using a tupperdor, that is, a tupperware-type container with an airtight seal. The cigars will go inside the tupperdor alongside Boveda packs; one standard 60g pack humidifies up to 25 cigars.

Ideally, you'll use a smart sensor or calibrated digital hygrometer in order to determine when the cigars are ready. Generally, two weeks is a good amount of time, but it depends on various factors.

[01:03] Why is acclimation necessary?

If you put a new box of cigars into your humidor, it could be at, say, 50% RH. This would shock the cigars already in your humidor which were at 65% RH or higher, adversely affecting their quality. Hence, as your cigar collection grows, this will become a very important consideration.

[01:46] How do I acclimate my cigars?

The best thing to do is to put your cigars in their own microclimate separate from the rest of your collection. A simple way to do this is with a tupperdor, which you can easily put together yourself.

You use a tupperware container with a very good airtight seal, a humidification source, and a hygrometer. For the latter, we prefer a smart sensor, as this will make it easier. You need to ensure the relative humidity inside your tupperdor reaches the level inside your main collection. When it does, your new cigars are ready to introduce into the rest of your collection.

[03:21] Easiest Solution

Even easier than the tupperdor, however, is the Boveda Humidor Bag. This serves the same purpose as the tupperdor, that is, an airtight container with a humidification source.

[03:45] Storing wooden boxes of cigars

The scenario we're showing here would make acclimation particularly necessary, as these nub cigars come in a wooden box. Therefore, not only the cigars themselves, but the wood of the box may be much drier than the rest of your collection.

[04:17] Conclusion

Acclimation is something a lot of you probably don't think about, and it's something we didn't think about before.

However, while it's an extra step in the storage process, it's one we've come to find necessary. We've arrived at our current methods after making many mistakes and trying many solutions. Still, whether your experiences are consistent with ours or not, we want to hear about them!

REMEMBER to comment! What are your experiences with acclimation and adding new cigars to humidors? Also, suggest any other cigar storage topic you'd like us to feature on Bespoke Unit!

Yours,

The Bespoke Unit Team

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How To Acclimate New Cigars: Essential First Step Before Storing
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