Monday, November 29 1999
Q. I bought a 3-cigar leather
holder that is Spanish
cedar lined. Is there anything I need to do to it before use. Do I need to wet it down, or just leave it the way it came?
- Alan S.
A. You don't really need to do anything; it's only a temporary humidor, so to speak. The holder you describe is normally used for one-day affairs. However, if you plan on keeping the cigars in the case for more than a day, and are that concerned about them staying fresh, whatever you do, DO NOT wet down the inside with distilled water. Leather and water don't mix.
One solution might be to keep some type of humidifier in the case only when you're using it. Depending on the type and size of the case, it could be anything from a Boveda humipak, to a small humidifier, or a Cigar Savor Drymistat stick, which can be used in one of the slots.
When it's not in use, a friend of mine keeps his leather pocket case in the bottom of his humidor. This seems to help add enough moisture to the case without causing it to become overly damp.
Finally, when using any leather cigar case, even one that's cedar-lined, it's best to keep the cigars in their cellos. Otherwise, the cigars will dry-out if they stay in there too long.
