B&M rh levels

[herfdog]

I visited a larger b&m yesterday, that had renovations last summer. Six wall cabinets is large in the area, beaten only by going downtown - which isnt always possible.

Up north here the winter gets rather cold (think -40) so most tobbacationists have issues keeping rh above 60.

But that store yesterday had its humis way lower...

I asked if his analog hygrometer was calibrated because it was showing 40... he said its unreliable and showed me the digital one, that showed 44.

The highest of the six cabinet was at 60, and the lowest was at 30. And it was where they store the opus. I told him if I would be to pay 85$ for his cigar, I'd expect the rh to be closer to optimum than that... 30%

I wonder if the owner knows much about cigar but the students working there sure doesn't.


What's your b&m levels?
Do you trust the cigars you buy will always have been properly stored?

I know I now have a b&m blacklist...

 

[Ducttapegonewild]

My B&M keeps it at around 72% and I trust those guys as they haven't steered me wrong yet.

 

[jmartins]

I actually don't have any B&M near me closest is over an hour away in the heart of Toronto really but down there it is usually 70-75.

 

[luckysaturn13]

the two b & m s i like to frequent normally stay 60-70 but weathers a lot nicer here. I have no idea what the liquor store I frequent with 7 stand up humidors keeps at. The dials on the top of the humis range from 10-78. I think there all broken. But all the sticks smoke great right out of them. Normally ill spark one up in the parking lot for the ride home. Did you say 85 for an opus? God bless America! lol

 

[SeaGarr]

I know I now have a b&m blacklist...

I hate vendors who know less about their product than I do. Car sales guys are the worst. You see the guys standing around all freaking day yapping to each other or playing with their phones, but if you ask them what the freaking torque is of the car they are selling... crickets. Anyway... consider yourself free from the temptation of buying great sticks that'll taste like pooh.

 

[danmdevries]

My local tends to be mid to upper 50's in the winter in their walk in. Cigars smoke perfectly out of it.

 

[luckysaturn13]

I hate vendors who know less about their product than I do. Car sales guys are the worst. You see the guys standing around all freaking day yapping to each other or playing with their phones, but if you ask them what the freaking torque is of the car they are selling... crickets. Anyway... consider yourself free from the temptation of buying great sticks that'll taste like pooh.

aww come on...not all of us car guys are like that! But, your right most don't know there product. Its amazing how many people purchase from me because I actually know what I'm selling. It separates the men from the boys! Id know even more if I wasn't addicted to this forum... hahah

 

[ZippoGeek]

My local B&Ms follow the 70-70 rule. I'd prefer 65%, but most keep things on the high side because the door to the walk-in humi is opening and closing constantly. Plus, the 'gars are getting handled all the time and are less likely to crack at 70%.

 

[eastcoast paul]

There are 2 very small shops near me but i will not buy from them, last summer i checked them out one rh was at 50 the other was 30. Today i checked the one that was at 50 and it is down to 45. I touched 5 cigars and all were very brittle and 3 were cracked. They both cary cao and macanudo (sp?) For nc and about 5 times more cubans, thousands of dollars worth of cigars and not worth a cent by now.

 

[Cigary43]

This has been a debate of sorts as to what RH should be in B&M's and it does have a movement as to what environment cigars should me in. Cigars thrive in a 70/70 environment and that is where shops should want to keep it...not below 60% and never above 70. Consistency is the over riding factor and notably there is a lot of people who go in and out of the humidor...hence a bit higher RH in the humidor itself. I've been in B&M's where the whole shop was a humidor and that seemed to work well in regulating temperature and RH. I know that some prefer an environment of less than 60% but that usually is for CC's as Domestic Stock usually does better in the mid 60 range. I've noticed for the last 20 years that more and more shop owners hire employees like grocery stores hire baggers...less than desirable skills to operate or tell customers about cigars. If I walk into a cigar store and see how they store cigars and the RH is off the charts I don't buy anything and note that I will not ever go back....it's like buying a steak that has passed it's Sell Date.

 

[herfdog]

Paid a visit to the closer b&m today to check on rh levels and they were all in the 60-70% range.

One out of three stores I guess is not too bad

 

[atbat82]

Mine keeps his around 72-74. Since i bought a membership (to smoke in the winter) and a locker, I've been considering asking him if he'd be willing to lower it.

 

[IMABEAST]

An opus at 85$ and at 30% sounds like blasphemy from all angles. @herfdog Did the owner think it was OK to store them that low?

However, that introduces a question of rehabilitation for cigars with poor storage. Will they be the same once proper humidity is restored? Let's say 3 - 6 months rest at 70%?

Would it be in poor taste to ask for a discount? Seeing as how you would not be able to enjoy the cigar right out the door.

 

[herfdog]

At lower rh cigars lose oil so the flavors can't be good. Now I don't know how long its been at that but this summer it was at a nice 65. The low temps doesn't help but a better placement of the humidors would help... as, not straight in front of the door.

I never see the owner but assume he knows rh should be higher. The students working there can't work out discounts, but I doubt I'd want to spend on such low rh anyway.

 

[mdwest]

I told him if I would be to pay 85$ for his cigar, I'd expect the rh to be closer to optimum than that... 30%

yet another reason for you to come to the Hillbilly HERF Yan...

A 3 pack tin of Opus X Perfexions cost less than $50 here in a B&M (cost about $40 from some online retailers.. and could be ordered and waiting on you when you got here..)...

F0r $85.. you could have 6 Opus....

You SAVE money coming to the HERF!

 

[TANDR2005]

I asked if his analog hygrometer was calibrated because it was showing 40... he said its unreliable and showed me the digital one, that showed 44.

The highest of the six cabinet was at 60, and the lowest was at 30.

What's your b&m levels?
Do you trust the cigars you buy will always have been properly stored?

You sure that wasn't in Celsius?! Joking, of course! Sounds like they don't know what they are doing. Might want to introduce them to BOTL.
Good News Story: I have a B&M in Savannah that maintains 70/70 in his walk-in throughout the year. He also tells his customers how long each box has been in stock. He has a repeat customer in me...

-Ron

I visited a larger b&m yesterday, that had renovations last summer. Six wall cabinets is large in the area, beaten only by going downtown - which isnt always possible.

Up north here the winter gets rather cold (think -40) so most tobbacationists have issues keeping rh above 60.

But that store yesterday had its humis way lower...

I asked if his analog hygrometer was calibrated because it was showing 40... he said its unreliable and showed me the digital one, that showed 44.

The highest of the six cabinet was at 60, and the lowest was at 30. And it was where they store the opus. I told him if I would be to pay 85$ for his cigar, I'd expect the rh to be closer to optimum than that... 30%

I wonder if the owner knows much about cigar but the students working there sure doesn't.


What's your b&m levels?
Do you trust the cigars you buy will always have been properly stored?

I know I now have a b&m blacklist...