Random cigar question

[skysail]

I found a few cigars still packaged from years ago in a drawer. I think they were bought in Costa Rica. Is there still a chance to save these cigars, or are they garbage? If so, how do I go about doing that. I do not own a humidor. Thanks!

 

[photoman13]

Hope there are no tobacco beatles on them. :D This is a question for cigrmaster.

 

[skysail]

Awesome, I'll give it a shot, thanks!

 

[taerin]

Could always get a humidor, some kind of humidifier, and use it not only to refresh those, but to store new ones in as well...

 

[fireman03]

Rehydrating a cigar is a long process. I have found that they might be smokable after months of rehydration, but quite a bit of flavor is lost. In the end, it didn't do the cigar justice and honestly not worth the trouble.

 

[skysail]

Yeah after doing some research, that's what I have read. I'm in no hurry at all so ill take my time and see what happens. Might just get a humidor.

 

[taerin]

Now we are talking! I have this humidor myself, looks much nicer than in the photos, is fantastic! Humidor Link, Humidity Tube Link It takes 3 of those tubes for that humidor to keep it properly humidified. I have been using this system for the last 3 years, working great, and is one of the cheapest you can get.

 

[skysail]

Looks good to me, are those tubes necessary? I was kinda looking for one that includes everything. Just add distilled water and get it to 70% humidity. This is all new to me please explain haha

 

[fireman03]

I would not buy a humidor just for a few cigars. Humidors work best when they are closer to full than closer to empty. That said, you really have nothing to lose trying. What kind of cigars were they?

 

[skysail]

I cannot remember the name, I'll check when I'm home. I do usually keep 2 cigars on hand and smoke every once in a while, I have been wanted to order sampler packs, but I dont want to do that without a humidor, or at least a homemade one.

 

[taerin]

That humidor does come with the humidifier but that type requires putting in a chemical along with the distilled water... The humidity sticks allow you to just add distilled water alone... Almost no systems allow you to just put in water only, because there's a chemical required to keep the water regulated at 70% humditity. If you added water alone to most systems, what would happen is it would reach 100% humidity and ruin everything inside.

 

[gnatjulio]

Good info. I have a few cigars from August that I need to re-hydrate.

 

[skysail]

The cigars i found is an assortment of tobaccos de la corillera. hand made in Costa Rica, Five of them. I just found another that says Cohiba, Havana Cuba, limited edition 2003, and one other churchill. Im pretty excited, I need to do this right! My dad bought them many years ago, he travels a lot.

 

[cigrmaster]

The cheapest way to try and re humidify them is to grab a small cooler, throw in a hunk of floral foam, the green stuff, soak the foam with distilled water and see what happens. I personally think those cigars will taste like crap, but it won't cost anything to find out. I am sure you must have a small cooler laying around.

 

[smokenscotch]

You can try and rehydrate, but my experience, toss em. Cigars are delicious when kept at the correct humidity and temp, but bad when dried out. There are some great cigars out there today for $5.00-$8.00. If you try the ones you have and don't like them, you may get a bad taste in your mouth (no pun intended), and walk from the wonderful world of cigars for ever. Just my opinion.

 

[fireman03]

I always reach 70/70 in my humidor with just distiller water. The chemical mix does help but is not required. A digital hygrometer is very important for keeping an eye on your levels.

 

[skysail]

Thanks for the tips. I do enjoy smoking cigars as much as pipes. As I said earlier I normally have at least a couple on hand so I'm already sucked into that world. I bought a humidor locally for around $35. I'm calibrating the analogue hygrometer right now with the salt test.