Anyone will tell you that you should store cigars using the 70/70 Rule. That's 70% relative humidity (RH) at a temperature of 70°F. So why do some aficionados deliberately dry out their cigars?
Welcome to dry boxing. As you continue to explore handmade and boutique cigars, it's a technique that provides better flavor and a more even burn. It might even help you to rescue a split stogie.
So, what is dry boxing, and what are the benefits? Read on to find out and take the next step toward becoming a fully-fledged cigar-smoking aficionado.
What is cigar dry boxing?
Cigars need a certain amount of humidity to prevent them from drying out (which can cause them to burn too fast and too hot).
That's why if you're serious about storing your cigars properly, you should invest in a good-quality humidor to manage the relative humidity and, ideally, the temperature.
An RH of 68-72% is a good target. This should keep your cigars in good shape until you're ready to smoke them and it allows the flavor profile to mature. The materials used in your humidor can enrich the flavors in the tobacco, which is why Spanish cedar is so popular.
But there's a school of thought that says you should bring down the humidity of your cigars before you actually smoke them. This makes sense for recent deliveries that were shipped with a humidifier pack, but what about cigars that have been in your humidor for a few weeks?
The benefits of dry boxing
Dry boxing cigars for 2-3 days can bring the humidity down to around 60%. And that's a good thing.
Excess humidity in the center of the stick can bring bitterness into the flavor profile, as well as affect the evenness of the burn.
You can think of dry boxing as letting your cigars breathe. They get some time to relax, allowing them to adjust from perfect storage conditions to perfect smoking conditions.
If you’re certain a cigar is too moist, dry boxing is the obvious remedy. It's easy to do, it doesn't need any special equipment (a plain wooden box is just fine), and it gives reliable results.
What can dry boxing do?
You want to enjoy your expertly blended cigars at their best. And a few days in a box can augment or even fix a premium cigar.
Besides removing excess moisture from the filler, bringing the RH down those extra few percent from 70 to 60 separates the leaves and creates little tunnels and passageways for the smoke to sneak through.
This can totally transform the draw, making the cigar easier to smoke and ensuring you get to savor the flavor profile equally in the first, middle and final thirds.
If you've already started smoking an overly moist stogie, there's a risk that the swollen stick will start to split. This isn't a disaster. Dry box it for a couple of days and try again. The results can be incredible on a premium cigar that's been shipped or stored in too high humidity.
How to properly dry box cigars
Now we know the benefits of dry boxing cigars, it's time to learn the technique. Don’t worry, it's one of the easiest methods ever.
First, you'll need a box, such as an empty wooden cigar box from a recent order. Place the cigars you wish to dry box in the container, close it up and leave it alone for 48 hours. The ideal conditions for this are away from direct sunlight, temperature extremes, and moving air currents (e.g., fans or air conditioning), all of which can dry the tobacco too fast.
Adjusting the humidity naturally and gradually allows the leaves to shift and separate inside the stick, without it becoming too dry or cracking.
On the third day, your cigars should be about ready to smoke. If you want to make absolutely sure, move them over to a humidor and use that to bring them even closer to your preferred humidity.
Common dry boxing mistakes
Dry boxing is very easy, but there are a few places where you can go wrong. Some of the most common dry boxing mistakes include:
Leaving cellophane on
On premium cigars, cellophane is for shipping, not for storage. Wrapping the stick in plastic can make it more difficult to get moisture in and out, and increases the time taken for the flavors to mature in your humidor. Take it off, and you can dry box the cigar in the usual 2-3 days.
Dry boxing in a humidor
You can use a wooden humidor for dry boxing, but that's not really what they're made for. Get a good humidor for long-term storage, but use an empty cigar box for dry boxing. That way, you can have a few sticks in different boxes to keep a daily supply of just-right smokes.
Adjusting humidity too quickly
This applies to dry boxing AND humidifying your cigars. You should never just blast a stick with a rapid change in RH, whether it's a cheap stogie or a premium hand-rolled boutique cigar. It can cause swelling or cracking and ruin the burn.
Take it easy and go gentle on your cigars during dry boxing. You'll get the best out of their burn and flavor profile every time.