Storing cigars: humidor & the peak window

A great cigar poorly stored becomes mediocre; an ordinary cigar well aged can surprise you. Storage is key. Here are the essentials.

Humidity: the 69-72% rule

Tobacco is alive. Keep your cigars between 68% and 72% relative humidity. Too dry, the cigar burns fast and turns harsh; too humid, it draws poorly and moulds. A humidor with a hygrometer (or Boveda-type packs) is essential.

Temperature: around 18°C

Aim for 16–20°C. Heat encourages tobacco beetle eggs (lasioderma). Avoid direct sun and sudden swings.

The peak window

Every cigar has an ideal period — its peak — when its aromas are most harmonious. It depends on origin, strength and size: a full Cuban often benefits from 1 to 3 years of rest, while a mild vitola is smoked sooner. Before its peak, a cigar is "resting" or "ageing".

How long to age?

No need to age forever: past its window, a cigar mellows and loses intensity. The ideal is to smoke it during its peak — neither too early nor too late.

Youmidor's smart cellar calculates each cigar's peak window and alerts you when it hits its prime.