Sick humidor?

[iergeni]

Lately, I've had a streak of sick-tasting habanos. That pine-resin taste that overwhelms all other components in the smoke.

Yesterday, that was the tatse I got from a 2012 Cuaba Tradicionales. Before that, I had the same experience with a H. Upmann Half Corona and a Hoyo Petit Robusto, both bought in 2013, and some other smokes I don't remember at the moment.

The cigars are kept in a glass jar with a water pillow. About a year ago, I took them all along on my travels in a cigar caddy travel humidor where I, due to a mis-calibrated hygrometer, managed to dry them out a little. (They have been since rehydrated).

However, all of the NCs I've smoked from the same jar have tasted OK (most recently Tatuaje Hassel). The cheap Habanos (JLP, RG Panatelas, Quintero Favoritos) as well.

So what's the deal here? A streak of bad luck with the premium Habanos or is my humidor solution actually making them sick (but not the other sticks)?

 

[skullnbones]

If it were me I'd ditch the water pillow. I have seen them start to degrade and get slimey after an extended period of time. Try using a Boveda pack instead. They need to be replaced after they dry out but they are pretty much fool proof. They even make a 65* which should be perfect for your CC's

 

[Cigary43]

Count me in as a convert to Boveda instead of the pillows. Even with the plastic jacket the pillows are put in they still tend to get slimy and Boveda comes in so many different RH...one to suit anybody. You can usually get a pak of 12 for about $14 on the auction sites.

 

[iergeni]

If it were me I'd ditch the water pillow. I have seen them start to degrade and get slimey after an extended period of time. Try using a Boveda pack instead. They need to be replaced after they dry out but they are pretty much fool proof. They even make a 65* which should be perfect for your CC's

Hm, the water pillow does feel kind of slimey, but I thought it was normal operation.

The problem is, where I live, we don't get bovedas and shipping can get quite expensive - that's the lure of the water pillow: being rechargeable, you don't need to replace them once every tho months.

But I'll look into it.

 

[rcfire77]

I don't use them, but I did just see a post or a web article about rehydrating a bovida pack yesterday. Look around, it shouldn't be hard to find. So once you get past that initial purchase you should on the same playing field you are on now with the pillows.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Definitely ditch the water pillow. And, you can recharge boveda packs when they dry out. Simply put the dried boveda packs in a small tupperware dish with a small open container of distilled water. Within days, they will plump up like new.

Where do you live?

 

[Jesse]

I'm rehydrating 2 75% boveda packs right now by the way Aloha explained, it works.

 

[Rupe]

There are a couple of threads on rehydrating Bovedas but the best one can be found here in the video posted in post #3 http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/62586-Jfires-Tips-and-Tricks

I have been using this method for a little over a year now and highly recommend it.

There is also a lot of other good information in this thread that everyone can benefit from....:thumbsup:

 

[CWS]

I have a half pound of beads that I keep in my 50 count otterbox. A Tupperware container would do the same. These are 69% beads. I have to hydrate the pound maybe once a year because it is sealed and rarely opened. I toss all Bovedas and fuente paks in there. Never at a loss for a hydrated pak.

 

[iergeni]

Definitely ditch the water pillow. And, you can recharge boveda packs when they dry out. Simply put the dried boveda packs in a small tupperware dish with a small open container of distilled water. Within days, they will plump up like new.

Where do you live?

I live in Slovenia, but I'll be going to UK quite soon for a month or so.

Anyway, thanks for the info on recharging the bovedas. That makes them a far more viable option.

 

[iergeni]

But then again - why exactly should the slime be a problem? The pillow is contained in the plastic bag anyway, and if it continues to provide the correct RH (to be determined)...?

 

[fnpaulie]

Did you say a glass jar? Is it clear and can you see the cigars. If so then they might have been damaged by the sun or light. Also, what is the temperature that you keep this jar at? I've had temperature affect my cigars in the past.

 

[fnpaulie]

You could line the inside of the circumference with Spanish Cedar sheeting.

 

[iergeni]

Did you say a glass jar? Is it clear and can you see the cigars. If so then they might have been damaged by the sun or light. Also, what is the temperature that you keep this jar at? I've had temperature affect my cigars in the past.

The jar is kept in a dark place, no direct sunlight, the temperature over the year varies between 18 snd 24 degrees centegrade.

However, a small but tasty selection is now in a travel humidor, in the boot of my car, under the scorching sun of northern france. we'll see how that goes.

 

[fnpaulie]

Probably not great...

 

[Rupe]

Did you say a glass jar? Is it clear and can you see the cigars. If so then they might have been damaged by the sun or light. Also, what is the temperature that you keep this jar at? I've had temperature affect my cigars in the past.

The jar is kept in a dark place, no direct sunlight, the temperature over the year varies between 18 snd 24 degrees centegrade.

However, a small but tasty selection is now in a travel humidor, in the boot of my car, under the scorching sun of northern france. we'll see how that goes.

18-24 C is a good temperature range and you are correct to keep them in a dark place, without direct sunlight.

Having them in the boot of your car (trunk for those of you stateside) is a bad idea however. Whenever I travel by car I keep my travel humidor in the passenger cabin, inside of a small insulated container along with a reusable ice pack to keep the temperature down. I have found that the high temperatures that can occur inside a car during the summer time are not only bad for pets and children, they can also be quite damaging for my precious cigars.

 

[cgraunke]

Did you say a glass jar? Is it clear and can you see the cigars. If so then they might have been damaged by the sun or light. Also, what is the temperature that you keep this jar at? I've had temperature affect my cigars in the past.

The jar is kept in a dark place, no direct sunlight, the temperature over the year varies between 18 snd 24 degrees centegrade.

However, a small but tasty selection is now in a travel humidor, in the boot of my car, under the scorching sun of northern france. we'll see how that goes.

18-24 C is a good temperature range and you are correct to keep them in a dark place, without direct sunlight.

Having them in the boot of your car (trunk for those of you stateside) is a bad idea however. Whenever I travel by car I keep my travel humidor in the passenger cabin, inside of a small insulated container along with a reusable ice pack to keep the temperature down. I have found that the high temperatures that can occur inside a car during the summer time are not only bad for pets and children, they can also be quite damaging for my precious cigars.

Rupe, you should do a simple breakdown of your travel setup in the storage threads area. It really is quite perfect!

 

[Ducttapegonewild]

^^^ x2

 

[Rupe]

Did you say a glass jar? Is it clear and can you see the cigars. If so then they might have been damaged by the sun or light. Also, what is the temperature that you keep this jar at? I've had temperature affect my cigars in the past.

The jar is kept in a dark place, no direct sunlight, the temperature over the year varies between 18 snd 24 degrees centegrade.

However, a small but tasty selection is now in a travel humidor, in the boot of my car, under the scorching sun of northern france. we'll see how that goes.

18-24 C is a good temperature range and you are correct to keep them in a dark place, without direct sunlight.

Having them in the boot of your car (trunk for those of you stateside) is a bad idea however. Whenever I travel by car I keep my travel humidor in the passenger cabin, inside of a small insulated container along with a reusable ice pack to keep the temperature down. I have found that the high temperatures that can occur inside a car during the summer time are not only bad for pets and children, they can also be quite damaging for my precious cigars.

Rupe, you should do a simple breakdown of your travel setup in the storage threads area. It really is quite perfect!

Sure...Happy to share!

I'll try and get some photos snapped and posted this weekend.....:thumbsup:

 

[iergeni]

Did you say a glass jar? Is it clear and can you see the cigars. If so then they might have been damaged by the sun or light. Also, what is the temperature that you keep this jar at? I've had temperature affect my cigars in the past.

The jar is kept in a dark place, no direct sunlight, the temperature over the year varies between 18 snd 24 degrees centegrade.

However, a small but tasty selection is now in a travel humidor, in the boot of my car, under the scorching sun of northern france. we'll see how that goes.

18-24 C is a good temperature range and you are correct to keep them in a dark place, without direct sunlight.

Having them in the boot of your car (trunk for those of you stateside) is a bad idea however. Whenever I travel by car I keep my travel humidor in the passenger cabin, inside of a small insulated container along with a reusable ice pack to keep the temperature down. I have found that the high temperatures that can occur inside a car during the summer time are not only bad for pets and children, they can also be quite damaging for my precious cigars.

I agree wtih you on the temperature issue, but at the moment, that was the most I could have done. At least they're not in the roof-top box. (also, the boot / trunk is practically a part of the cabin).

By the way, stopping over in Paris, I bought a PL Montecarlo which turned out to be quite moldy, making me think I'm not the only one with humidity issues.