Resting Cuban Cigars in a Humidor

Should I Leave Cigars to Rest If Bought Online

If you are buying cigars online, you might have heard the term “resting” your cigars. But do you need to rest cigars if they have been shipped to you, or can you smoke them right away? And if you should rest your cigars, how long do you need to rest them for?

Either you are thinking of ordering some expensive cigars, or have just received your delivery of premium Habanos, and want to make sure they smoke perfectly and not have any issues with the draw or burn. Here is all you need to know.

Cohiba Esplendidios Cuban Cigars Resting in a Humidor

Why do cigars need resting?

Cigars need resting due to the varying conditions when in transit. If you are ordering from overseas, it is most likely your cigars will go on a plane. Parcels on aeroplanes are not treated the same as passengers, they don’t keep them at a nice ambient temperature. Therefore, the temperature of the cigars will plummet. The package will also go into a cold warehouse, as well as a warmer sorting room, then back to the cold, and then to the warm posty’s van, etc. etc. These temperatures are at their most extremes in the middle of winter and summer. Most reputable cigar sellers will send their cigars sealed with a Boveda pouch; this does help to stop the cigars from drying out but does not help with the temperature shock. As the temperature changes quickly, the relative humidity also changes quickly. I won’t get into the science of it now, but as the temperature changes, the airs ability to hold moisture changes. This all happens too fast for the Boveda pouch to keep up with. These rapid changes can cause the overall consistency of moisture throughout the cigar to be affected. These small changes shouldn’t cause any long-term harm to the cigars, as it is usually only for a short period of time. However, it can mean that the foot or wrapper of the cigars might seem dry once you’ve received them. Don’t panic though! It’s time to rest your cigars so they recover from their journey. If you are ordering from overseas, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, the USA, China, or the UK, it is most likely your cigars will go on a plane...

What happens when you rest your cigars?

Resting your cigars after receiving them in the post allows them to acclimate to the temperature and humidity which you usually enjoy them at. It will also allow the overall moisture levels to balance back out. The wrapper, which is the thin and delicate leaf making up the outer most layer, is the most open to the elements. It will recover and look fuller, richer, and shinier as the moisture levels go back into it. The wrappers strength will also come back and help prevent any cracks or splits. As the cigar recovers it should get more spring back in it. This will allow better air flow and give you the best draw when smoking. When the moisture levels throughout the cigar are consistent, it will prevent any bursting which is caused by pockets of excess moisture heating up and bursting out. It’s not always because the cigar is over humidified, it can just be that the cigar has not been rested long enough to allow the moisture to balance out. Once the moisture has balanced out, the flavours should also go back to how they should be. There will be less bitterness and harshness, and you should be able to taste all the nuances the blender intended. All this means that your cigars will smoke, and taste better than they would if they weren’t rested.

How to rest your cigars

Ok, so now you know why resting your cigars is important, but how do you rest your cigars, and for how long?

To rest your cigars, just put them in your humidor to slowly acclimate to the temperature and humidity which you usually enjoy your cigars at. Leave your cigars long enough so that the overall moisture level balances back out throughout the whole cigar.

My simple rule of thumb is:

Rest your cigars for at least twice the amount of time they’ve been in transit.

So, if your cigars were posted on the 1st of the month, and you receive them on the 10th. Start resting them in a humidor immediately for at least 20 days. They should be ready to enjoy by the end of the month. The longer you can resist them for though, the better, as we all know they’ll only get better and better with age.

If your cigars seem a bit drier than usual, or the wrappers seem quite delicate. It could be a good idea to leave them in the bag you received them with the Boveda pouch, just for a few days. Leave them next to your humidor, so they reach about the same temperature, but come back up to humidity a bit slower. This will help prevent any cracks or splits.

Quarantining your cigars

If you are feeling extra cautious, you could also quarantine your new cigars before adding them to your main humidor. If you have purchased your cigars from a less reputable retailer, brought them back from holiday, or been given them by a friend, you may want to give them some time before adding them to your main collection. You can leave them to rest for a week or two in a sealed bag with a Boveda pouch, and then add them to your main humidor to rest further. This should help to prevent any potential mould or bug outbreaks.

Another step would be to freeze them before the quarantine period. You can freeze them in their original box, sealed in an airtight bag. This will kill off anything you might be worried about. Be careful to bring them back to temperature extremely slowly though, to ensure they do not split or damage. In my experience, freezing your cigars is quite unnecessary though. But I’ve never purchased from a very unreputable person... If you've received your cigars in warmer climates like Las Vegas, Tampa, Miami, or have brought them back from colder destinations such as New York City, Paris, or London, you may want to give them some time before adding them to your main collection...

Summary

If you have bought cigars and they’ve been shipped in the post, or you’ve spent time travelling with them, allow them to rest for at least twice the amount of time they’ve been in transit. This will ensure they smoke perfectly.