Stale Cigars 101

Hey, we get it... there’s no buzz kill quite like lighting up to relax but realizing the cigar is stale. No one wants a stale cigar… but it can happen to the best of us. Cigars go stale when they aren’t stored and maintained properly. Once the cigar begins to dry out, the nicotine content continues to decrease. Eventually the cigar will lose all nicotine. Typically, within 2 months the nicotine content will dissipate completely. If you have your cigars placed in a humidor but they aren’t stored properly, this will be the unfortunate result.

Important tips to prevent your cigars from becoming stale:

1.) Keep cigars enclosed in the humidor.

2.) Never store or place cigars in direct sunlight. This will cause them to become extremely brittle and stale.

3.) Avoid fluorescent lights. If your humidor has built-in fluorescent lights, make sure your cigars aren’t stored directly beneath the lights.

4.) Don’t store flavored cigars near non-flavored cigars. This will distort the flavor profile and complexities of both.

When a cigar is stored properly, it can last for years. When cigars are stored properly in a humidor, the flavor profile will still continue to change. This doesn’t mean that the cigars are stale at all. Rather, it indicates that since the cigars have been stored properly they can experience a positive change in terms of flavor and aroma. Since tobacco is a natural plant product, when taken care of (and stored properly) it will still change. The tobaccos will have less of a kick or “bite” to them, causing them to be overall more mild and smoother.

Here are a few examples of the changes you’ll notice:

• Connecticut: Connecticut’s lose their flavor minimally over time. This smoke is sure to be more mellow after it’s been sitting in your humidor awhile.
• Maduro: Meet smooth perfection. Over time these cigars will become smoother and smoother allowing for a truly rejuvenating smoke.
• Ligero: Ligeros are known as robust and full bodied. Over time, the flavor profile will decline and lose intensity thereby producing a more medium bodied smoke.