Premium hand-rolled cigars age much like fine wines.  Most premium smokes will continue to improve for up to their first 15 years after being picked from the sun drenched fields they’re grown in.  Just like fines wines, they do need a little tender loving care along the way. 

The humidifier in your cigar humidor should always be filled with either humidification solution or distilled water (available in most supermarkets for the price of a couple postal stamps). Humidification solution is simply a mixture of distilled water, polyglycol and a mold inhibiter and will guarantee that your cigar humidor is kept at 70% relative humidity (give or take a couple percent).  You should always try to position your humidor in a location with a consistent temperature which never exceeds 70F. The optimum temperature you’re looking for is between 66F and 70F. 

You should be able to use your cigar humidor as soon as you add the water to the humidifier, there is no need to wait a few days to test the condition of your cigars.  To make sure your humidor is doing its job, press with the pad of your thumb just below the band of the cigar. The cigar should feel firm but have a little spring to it if it is being properly cared for.  If it feels hard and brittle then you screwed up and you’re lips should never touch the soft leathery Cohiba wrapper again... Of course we’re kidding, simply fill your humidifier again or consider getting an extra humidifier if you think your humidor is a little too large for the humidifier you bought.

Remember that premium cigars need fresh air every now and again. Be sure to open your humidor periodically and be sure to rotate the cigars.  If you are storing your cigars for a relatively long period of time, at the end of each week put the cigars on the bottom layer of your cigar humidor to the top layer of the humidor to insure consistency from cigar to cigar.

Placement of your Cigar Humidor:

Store your humidor on a flat, level surface which will prevent your little bratty niece from knocking over your prized collection of aged smokes and causing a family war.  Never store your humidor in direct sunlight which may fade the wood, fade your beautifully cigar wrappers and heat the inside of the humidor.

Cleaning your Cigar Humidor:

Always use a soft cloth when cleaning your humidor. Any over the counter dusting spray or wax is fine to use on the outside of your humidor.  Try not to use harsh chemicals on the inside of the humidor as these chemicals will be cycled throughout the environment and your cigars will taste like they were rolled by Mr. Clean. Regular dustings will help keep your humidor looking as good as new.  Be sure to change the water in your humidifier every couple weeks and when doing so, check for any bugs.  Occasionally some premium cigars have tiny tobacco bugs that come over from their native countries.  These little guys can prove disastrous to your cigar stock and are normally kept at bay by the scent of the Spanish cedar lining your humidor.