Many cigar enthusiasts spend a small fortune amassing a considerible collection of premium, and in some cases difficult to find cigars only to house their priceless gems in the most inexpensive humidor that could be found at the given moment. The vast majority of these “bargain” humidors are mass produced in China using inferior materials and construction methods. These boxes are aesthetically pleasing but will ultimately fail to maintain a perfectly constant environment for your collection, especially if you reside in a geographical area that features a continental climate.

• The interior should be lined with unfinished Spanish cedar having a thickness measuring no less than 3/8″. Most budget humidors only have a veneer of Spanish cedar measuring a few milimeters. This is not enough wood to aid the humidification device in retaining a moist environment. Additionally, the corners of the humidor should be mitered, dovetailed, or splined.

• Test the integrity of the seal. Lift the lid a few inches and abruptly drop it. A well sealing lid will ride a cushion of air and softly close. Lids with an inferior fit will slam shut. Now, shut the lid on a strip of paper. The paper should not pull free easily. Be sure to test all four sides of the humidor in this manner.

• Shoppers often overlook the bottom of the humidor. During the dry winter months a considerable amount of moisture can be lost through a humidor’s thin bottom. Check for this possibility by tilting the humidor to one side and assertively tapping the bottom with a finger. Your ear should be greeted with a reassuring thud. Pass on any humidor that makes a hollow sound.

• Lastly, consider the size. It is unlikely that you will be able to cram as many cigars in a humidor as claimed by the manufacturer. If you plan on storing two boxes you will need a humidor rated for close to 100 cigars, not 50.

 photograph by  valde_