Cigar storage or ageing: what a humidor changes
Storing a cigar means keeping it in good condition until you smoke it. Ageing it means accepting that it will change over time. Both call for a humidor, but not necessarily for the same expectations.
Two different goals
For storage, the goal is stability: a cigar that stays fresh, supple and true to what its maker intended. For ageing, the goal is a change in taste. This distinction is ours; it helps clarify choices, not impose a rule.
What ageing changes
According to a reference in the cigar world, ageing gives softer, rounder flavours. One specialist believes Cuban cigars keep evolving, and that this is less marked for other origins. Taste remains subjective.
How long?
There is no universal duration. The same reference suggests a personal test: compare the same cigar after six months and after a year. Long storage in good conditions does not harm cigars.
The role of cedar
Cedar is said to add more complexity than a neutral container, such as glass or metal, which leaves the tobacco on its own. This is one of the reasons Maison LAC stays with genuine Spanish cedar (read our article).
Humidity and temperature for long keeping
Humidity: Maison LAC recommends 68 to 72% for its humidors. Other makers and specialists give slightly different values; stability matters more than the number on the dial.
One source cites about 62% for prolonged ageing; the others make no such distinction. For temperature, Maison LAC recommends 19°C.
What cannot be promised
Neither the result of ageing nor its ideal duration can be guaranteed: they depend on the origin, the format, the blend of the cigar and your own taste.
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