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Looking for some advice on cigar storage from any serious smokers out there. I don't mind an odd good cigar and I love the smell of them. We go to places like Cuba and Dominican and purchase a box but I basically waste them by drying out. My wife said to get a humidor. I want low maintenance and have been looking at electric ones. Anyone have the electric style and if so any pros and cons they have?

Sounds like you're just a casual cigar smoker. If I were you I'd just buy a cheap humidor on Amazon and buy some boveda packs and they will keep your gars nice and fresh. Bovedas work like magic no need to monitor humidity. Use one pack per 25 cigars and you are good.. This setup will last you a couple years easy. Bovedas also work excellent for your cannabis if you enjoy it too. Keeps it just perfect!!  
 
Edited by Jackson67, 2020-02-28 18:43:03

I use a traditional humidor with a glycerol based solution to maintain humidity. I haven't used an electric humidor. Maintaining 70% humidity is a challenge in our dry winter climate. I find that even with the glycerol soaked sponge I have to top up with a sponge soaked in distilled water from time to time. I don't rely on the mechanical hydrometer. I have an electronic hydrometer which is internet based so I get alerts if the humidity drops too low.  
 
I have many Cuban cigars and stock up on my winter trips to the Caribbean, although I am a casual cigar smoker at best.  
 
A word of caution, which is tobacco beatles. I bought some beautiful Partagas Lusitanias in Cayo Coco a few years ago. The next summer when we were away I turned off the AC in our house and the temperature got high enough to activate the eggs in the cigars. I came home to cigars with pinholes and dead bugs in the humidor. I pulled everything salvageable out, put them in zip lock bags and froze them for a week. Now, every time I bring in a new batch from down south they spend no less than 72 hours in the freezer before going into the humidor to kill any eggs in the tobacco. I know it sounds gross but you can't know what may be on those tobacco leaves.  
 
Invest in a good humidor and check on it weekly, like a house plant, and you'll be fine. I also find that the more cigars in the humidor, the easier it is to maintain the humidity because they humidify each other. If you look after them, they'll last for decades.

If you have or suspect beetles you should start by putting them in plastic bag with most of the air removed and first introducing them to the fridge rather than directly to the freezer. If not the extreme temp change can be fatal! Also 72 hours is a little long in my opinion. It only takes a few hours in the freezer to kill the larve/eggs. Then they should be unthawed in the fridge for 24 hours. After that they should sit in a cool, dark place for a day before being placed back in humidor. Lastly if you purchase your cigars from reputable stores like Habanos there is no need to worry about beetles. If you buy them from a "friend who works in the factory" you run the risk of beetles and more. If you are buying them from a reputable store in Canada they have already went through the freeze process during importation so nothing to worry about, at least I can't recall hearing of a case of beetles... Enjoy the smoke!  
 
Edited by Jackson67, 2020-02-29 09:30:49

After visiting a cigar factory in Dominican I fell in love again with the cigars. I used to smoke them before but have quit for almost 15 years now. I don't inhale lol but being in the humidor room seeing about 3 million dollars in cigars and that flood of smells.......God I was in heaven lol. It was great watching them make the boxes, gold stamp the logo on a red velvet inlay, roll the cigars, cure the tobacco, everything. I am getting older and figured what the hell I need a vice besides my fishing gear.