Can you revive a dry cigar

This is a general rule for storing cigars but becomes even more important when rehydrating them. Systematically rotate the cigars so that the cigar closest to the humidification device or sponge alternates. This allows for a more even rehumidification process.

The reasoning is similar to why you rotate an oven tray; a more even distribution of heat and cook time. No one is happy to find dried out cigars but now you know that they can still be saved. Rehydrating cigars does require some patience but once you have lit that baby it will be worth it. No cigar should go to waste!

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Read on to find out how to rehydrate cigars without ruining their texture and flavor. Can You Revive a Dry Cigar? By integrity we mean these two requirements: The cigar is not so dry that all the natural oils have evaporated The wrapper is undamaged — no cracks, no tears If the cigar still meets these two prerequisites then you stand a good chance of bringing it back to life.

Two Common Mistakes A cigar drying out does not happen overnight if you are storing it right. Empty out the humidor. Store the cigars inside a ziplock bag in the meantime. Moisten a clean cloth with distilled water and wipe the humidor interior clean. Clean the humidification device of the humidor also using a cloth moistened with distilled water.

Rehumidify the humidification device of your humidor. How this is best done depends on the specific device and humidor. Place the humidification device back in the humidor and let the humidor rest for 24 hours. After the 24 hours, remove the cigars from the ziplock back and place them back in the humidor. Every other day, switch the position of the cigars by moving those at the bottom to the top. This is to evenly and gradually rehumidify the cigars.

Continue the cigar rotations for 1 — 3 weeks. Take the smaller ziplock bag and punch in a few small holes with a paperclip. Take a clean sponge and wet it using distilled water. Squeeze the sponge to remove any excess water.

Then take a moist, but not wet, cloth and wipe the inside walls of the humidor down. Humidity and temperature work by contact. Just as when you put something in your freezer, the temperature drops little by little in intervals and not all at once, this is a gradual process. Next, remoisten the humidification device with distilled water, or place humidity control packs into your humidor.

The humidor will gradually return to the optimal percent relative humidity and the cigars will follow suit. Be careful not to over humidify your humidor in the hope of reviving dry cigars quicker. The best evidence of a dry cigar is physical. The lower and longer the humidity deficiency, the more attention and patience is required in bringing your cigars back into tip-top shape. A knee-jerk reaction is not the way to remedy your cigar collection of dried out cigars.

When you need to rehydrate, or rehumidify, dry cigars, you have to do it gradually. Premium handmade cigars lose moisture at a rate four times faster than they can safely gain it. That means you have to rehumidify them in stages. If your cigars are already in a humidor, take them out and place them in a ziplock bag.

You can also use a clean Tupperware container in lieu of a ziplock. The biggest advantage you get from using Boveda packs , or humidification bags , is that the guesswork of regulating your humidity level is eliminated. Humidity packs are manufactured to deliver predetermined humidity levels. The patented 2-way system will not release too much humidity too quickly and does not require extensive maintenance or monitoring with a hygrometer.

Cigars naturally expand and contract. Injecting a surge of humidity into your humidor or a ziplock bag will cause them to explode, literally. This is a mistake. This process can take up to three weeks. At the end of the treatment the wrappers will again look and feel smooth with only the normal gentle crackling sound when the cigars are pressed between fingers, they can then be returned to their original box.

When the cigars are not too dry they can sometimes be restored by simply wrapping the closed box in a damp not wet towel for about two weeks. After treatment it is best to leave cigars for 6 to 12 months for the three components filler, binder and wrapper again to equilibrate before smoking.

Just check on their condition every three months. It takes only a few weeks for a cigar to become dry in adverse conditions, but it takes a few months to restore them to a smokable condition.