Monday, November 29 1999
If you keep your cigars in their boxes and they are beginning to dry
out, here's a really good way to revive them. Keep in mind that if
cigars are very dry they will be difficult to revive satisfactorily.
The key here is, if moisture can escape from a cigar, it can also
be replaced. One of the simplest methods is to place the entire
box
inside a plastic bag. Be sure the bag is not completely closed because
you have to have a little air flow in there. It helps to place a sponge
dampened with distilled water or 50/50 solution in the bag, too. The
idea here is to allow slow absorption of moisture, preventing the
cigars from getting too much humidity too soon. If you shock the cigars
by adding too much moisture at once they can actually burst - the
last thing you want to do to pricey primos. This can take several
weeks to over a month, so be patient. Rotate the cigars every few
days bringing them from the bottom of the box to the top. Keep this
up continuously and in about three to four weeks you should be able
to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
If you don't have a cigar box, you can use a sealable plastic container.
Put the dry cigars in the container and seal it for the first two
days. This will trap any moisture still left in the cigars. On the
third day, add the piece of dampened sponge, but here again, you run
the risk of bursting, so be sure not to over-saturate the sponge and
to keep the lid propped open in one corner to allow air flow.
When cigars lose a certain amount of moisture, they also lose much
of their
bouquet and will probably not taste as good as a well-kept
cigar. The key to all of this is (whether you're reviving cigars in
their original box or in a
humidor) cigars lose moisture slowly, therefore,
they need to regain it slowly. Once again, be patient and never resort
to drastic measures to revive your cigars or you'll ruin them permanently.
