Do Cigars Go Bad?

Do cigars go bad? The short answer is yes they do, if they aren’t stored properly.

Your humidor should mimic Cuba’s Caribbean climate, with temperatures hovering around 68˚F and relative humidity at 70%.

If you don’t keep your sticks in a controlled environment, they sustain damage in just three days when they’re not wrapped in plastic, and up to 30 days if they have a plastic wrapper.

Plastic wrapping is one way to protect individual sticks from damage and keep the cigar from going bad. It won’t save it for long, however, and so storing sticks in cellophane is, at best, a temporary solution. You can protect your cigars permanently with a humidor.

Aging and Cigars

When you let your cigars sit in a slightly humid and warm environment for years, the tobacco leaves’ oils and flavors mingle and deepen. Like a fine wine, excellent Cuban cigars only get better with age.

The type of wood used in your humidor seasons your cigars, mixing a bit of a cedar taste to the tobacco’s other notes. If you preferred an unseasoned smoke, you could opt to line your humidor with unfinished mahogany.

The length of the aging process depends on your taste and cigar type in your humidor. If you have a Cuban with a strong flavor, like a Robusto, you may want to age it for more than the usual period of three to five years.

Improper Storage Ruins Cigars

The preservation of your cigars depends on the temperature and the relative humidity inside your humidor. Your cigars will be ruined if you leave them out for more than a few days, but you need to be vigilant about the conditions in your humidor.

Only used distilled water, not tap water, as your humidifying agent. Tap water can contain other elements that could cause mold to grow. If it doesn’t show visible mold, a too-damp environment could alter your stick’s burn rate or cause it to have an inconsistent draw.

If there’s not enough humidity in your humidor, your tobacco will dry out, resulting in harsh, bitter-tasting smoke and a quick burn-line. Give your humidor monthly check-ups to make sure there’s no apparent mold, examine for plume development, and make sure conditions are still optimal.

Don’t disturb the stogies while they’re aging, and many enthusiasts suggest grouping cigars of the same marca together so that the flavors marry.

Buy Quality, Not Cheap Imitations

The key to making sure your cigars stay fresh is two-fold. Buy quality Cuban sticks, not cheap imitations, and store them in a humidor to prevent them from getting too dry, too damp, or too old.

Quality cigars are an investment, and aging them properly will enhance both their flavor and value. So do cigars go bad? No, not if you take care of them correctly.

Find the premium authentic Cuban cigars at Swiss Cuban Cigars.