Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

60-70RH storage humidity is fine. Most of us seem to aim for the lower end of that range, for a few reasons: better draw, usually better burn, most cases more flavors and/or less acidic flavors from burning a wet cigar, less chance of mold.

For relights, just knock the ash off, blow gently through the cigar to purge the stale smoke and then light normally. If it hasn't been out for long, you can skip the purging at your tastes/discression. No need to clip the end unless you are talking about relighting a cigar you started a day ago, at which point you should have clipped the buring end before it went out.

----
EDIT: When I said "higher humidity" in my post previous to this, I meant the ambient humidity where you are smoking - sometimes it's hard to keep cigars lit when the weather is damp/high humidity.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

If you are relighting within an hour, then just relight and purge. If its been more than an hour and less than a day I would clip. After a day, throw it out and start over. :2

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Thanks guys! That will help when I'm going to work and cant finish one, I'll clip and relight.

And yeah my area where I live is pretty humid at times. and I too try to aim lower on that RH scale in my humidor but I cant get the vino any lower than 67-66%. Hoping maybe the hygrometer is off a bit, but not my desktop humidor I cant get it to stay at 65%. Its like 63%. Cant win haha.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

63% is great. :2

I keep my humidors at 60%-62% ish.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Is That For All Your Cigars, Or Just CCs?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

All.

I've found that for my tastes and less troublesome burns, 60%-62%-ish works great.:2

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I like my cigars at 65%

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Then how low is too low of RH? I thought 70% was the generally accepted ideal. I was about to post a question regarding why my humi won't stay at 70% (hovers around 65%) but maybe that won't be a problem afterall?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I have experimented with my RH over the years and after a recent stint at 70% (I had brought all my sticks up to 70% for around 6 months) I find that I have far too many smoking problems at that RH, also I found the higher RH to contribute to increased tar buildup in my sticks making the final third or so a bit harsh (nothing empirical to support this however)

After my Aristocrat arrived on Sept 11 I moved my RH back to 65% and have been very very happy there, it will remain my RH standard.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

70% is generally cited as the ideal, but a lot of hobbyists who've tinkered have found lower humidity levels to be better. I also prefer 65% RH. Too low is up to the individual. There are some who keep their cigars at 55-60%, but that's the lowest I've ever heard. Lower than 55% would be problematic as a generalization.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Many say that 70% is preferred for non-Cuban cigars, and 65% for Cubans. I found my NCs also smoked better at the lower humidity. I keep mine at 62%.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I've found the same. Which is why it's taste more than science :)

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Agreed. :)

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I shoot for the higher end 70-73% for long term storage. I started with a desktop and now keep the desktop at 65ish, because they'll be my "smokers" for the short term.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

IMO you're at risk for mold. Storage in that range of RH puts you in the minority, for sure.
But do whatever works for you.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I will agree with some of the above posters, I keep both coolers around 65%. So far so good!

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Agreed. Most that I know store in the mid 50's to mid 60's for long term storage, including me. Anything around 70 and above just invites mold, imo.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I keep my Acids in a separate humi, but what is the consensus on Naturals and their ilk?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

If I'm not mistaken, all drew estate cigars are infused in some way, so it is best to keep them separate. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

+1