Even the most experienced aficionado has had a relaxing afternoon with a favorite cigar be stopped in its tracks due to a dry stick. What was supposed to be your moment of tranquillity turns into disappointment.
But don’t go throwing that stogie away; you can bring it back from the brink of a dehydrated demise with a few established methods.
We’ll run you through the whens, whys, and hows of rehydrating cigars so you can get your sticks back to peak condition.
Why do cigars go dry?
Cigars dehydrate when left in low-humidity conditions or dry environments. This happens because cigars are hygroscopic, absorbing and releasing moisture based on their environment.
Tobacco leaves are packed with oils and flavors that contribute to the unique flavor of a cigar. To ensure these don’t dry out, they must be stored at humidity levels between 60% and 70%.
Improper storage tends to be the culprit of cigars drying out. Leaving your sticks in a dry, warm room, exposing them to prolonged sunlight, or subjecting them to fluctuating temperatures can cause the tobacco leaves to lose their moisture.
This is why humidors are such an essential piece of equipment for seasoned cigar smokers. Set it up correctly, and it’ll maintain the ideal humidity for your cigars to smoke as intended by their makers months and even years later.
How to tell if a cigar has gone dry
You can tell if a cigar has gone dry before you even light up. Gently squeeze it with your fingers. If the cigar makes a cracking or crunching sound or feels overly hard, it’s likely dried out. In extreme cases, the cigar might even feel overly brittle and crumble in your fingers.
The wrapper can also show signs that your cigar has gone dry. Look for cracks or splits, as these are a telltale sign your stogie’s dehydrated.
If your cigar smells musty or stale, this indicates that some of those precious tobacco oils have been lost.
Ideally, you’ll follow these steps before lighting your cigar to ensure it will smoke at its best. However, if you forget in the excitement of lighting up, you’ll be able to tell your cigar is dry through an overly harsh, bitter taste and a rapid, uneven burn.
How to rehumidify a cigar
You can rehydrate cigars by gradually reintroducing humidity and moisture through a humidor or a Boveda pack.
There’s also a makeshift method that involves using a sponge and some Ziploc bags. We’ll outline these processes below, though you should follow the slow and steady principle for each. Rehydrating too quickly can cause the cigar to burst or crack.
Boveda packs method
Boveda packs, also known as rehydration packs, are small pouches that gradually release humidity into their environment up to a set point. For example, a 62% Boveda pack will maintain its surroundings at 62% humidity.
Boveda packs are the best option as they allow you to easily control the rehydration process without affecting other cigars you may be storing in your humidor.
- Place a Boveda pack in a small, sealed plastic container or Ziploc bag with your cigar. Start with a 62% pack and leave it for two weeks.
- Replace the 62% pack with one that’s slightly higher in humidity, such as 65%. Leave it for another two weeks.
- Repeat this process, gradually increasing to a 72% Boveda pack, if needed.
Check the hydration level of your dry cigar every one or two weeks to determine if you need to continue with the incremental process.
It’s better to slowly creep up the humidity level of your Boveda packs, as this prevents the possibility of over-humidifying your cigars.
Humidor method
Alternatively, you can rehydrate a cigar using your humidor, but you’ll need to increase the humidity gradually, just like with Boveda packs.
- Place the dry cigar inside and use your hygrometer to ensure the humidity remains within the ideal range. Initially, you want to set this to around 62-65%.
- Gradually increase the humidity level of your humidor up to the usual 70-75% range over two to six weeks.
It’s important to regularly check the cigar through the squeeze method we mentioned earlier to ensure it’s rehydrating properly without becoming over-humidified, which can cause additional issues.
Sponge and plastic bag method
For a quicker, but riskier method:
- Place your dry cigar inside a Ziploc bag, seal it, and then poke some small holes into it.
- Place this bag inside another bag with a slightly damp sponge and securely seal the outer bag.
Doing this creates a humid environment that can rehydrate cigars faster than the methods mentioned above.
But, this method has a higher risk of over-humidification, as you cannot monitor the humidity level. Rotate the cigar every few days to ensure even moisture distribution. Hydrating too quickly can cause your stogie to burst, so ensure the sponge isn’t too damp.
How long does it take to rehydrate cigars?
Rehydrating a cigar can take anywhere from two to six weeks with the recommended Boveda pack and humidor methods. The amount of time will depend on how dry the cigar has become and the thickness of the ring gauge.
If you choose the riskier sponge and plastic bag method, you can rehydrate your cigar in a few days. The risks outlined above mean you’ll need to pay greater attention and accept that you might ruin your cigar if you’re not careful.
When can’t you rehydrate a cigar?
While most dry cigars can be rehydrated, those left to get excessively dry and damaged cannot. Typical indicators of this are when the wrapper is beginning to flake or, in more extreme cases, has cracked or split entirely.
Overly dry tobacco inside the cigar can indicate that those all-important essential oils have been permanently lost. In these cases, rehydrating will not restore the original flavor or smoking experience.
Testing the cigar
Before lighting up, you can check that your cigar has been rehydrated by giving it a gentle squeeze with your fingers. It should feel firm but not too rigid.
If you hear a crunching noise, the cigar is still too dry, and you’ll need to humidify it. If it feels soft and soggy, it’s over-humidified, and should be left to dry in an empty wooden cigar box for a few days.
Slow and steady is the way here. If you over-humidify your cigars, you run the risk of inhibiting their flavors and hindering the overall smoking experience.
You’re ready to light up if your stogie passes the squeeze test. The stick should now have a regular, consistent burn and flavor for its duration. To make sure this doesn’t happen in the future, check out our guide on how to care for your cigars.