Reviving Dried Cigars

Reviving dried cigars to their original state has caused much debate. If a cigar has a non-cracked wrapper even though it is dried, and it is still unravelled, the cigar can be revived. However do reviving a cigar must be done with patience and at a slow pace.

If however the wrapper has been broken, then there is little that can be done to revive the cigar, so it should simply be thrown away. A completely dried out cigar can never be revived and will fall apart between your fingers despite your best care.

If you are able to revive a dry cigar to a suitable smoking condition, the chances of them being as good as they were originally are very slim. There are a few methods of treating dry cigars:

They should be removed from any cellophane wrappers, cedar or aluminium tubes before you try to restore them. Leave the lid open on the box if the cigars aren’t very dry and place them in a walk-in humidor. If a walk-in humidor isn’t available then a cellar or other damp location will be suitable. They should be kept in an environment which is as close to 70%. After a few days the top and bottom rows should be changed and then left in those positions for another few days.

You can try a similar process using two ‘Zip n Seal’ bags if you do not have access to a walk-in humidor or damp cellar. You first have to put many little holes into the smaller of the two bags before placing the opened box into the bag and then close it. Secondly place the smaller bag into a larger bag which should contain a couple large humidification pads. Once the larger back is sealed it should be left for 4 to 6 days and after that time the cigars should be taken out of the box in order to be exposed to the full humidity. As long as the cigars are rotated 25% every two or three days then you shouldn’t worry if small water bubbles appear. To complete the process, ensure the cigars have been completely rotated twice to ensure they are exposed to the humidity evenly.

By now there should be no more water bubbles. The revival process can take up to around three weeks and at the end of this process the cigar wrappers should look and feel smooth once again. Once they do feel smooth again they can be returned to their original box. However please do consider the following points before you begin the process of reviving a dried cigar:

If you use the 'Zip N Seal' bags, use one or more of our humidity pads and humidification solution.
When the cigars are not too dry they can sometimes be restored by simply wrapping the closed box in a damp (not wet) towel for about two weeks.
After treatment it is best to leave cigars for 6 to 12 months for the three components (filler, binder and wrapper) again to equilibrate before smoking. Just check on their condition every three months.
It takes only a few weeks for a cigar to become dry in adverse conditions, but it takes a few months to restore them to a condition of which you can smoke them again.
Store the different brands of cigars (i.e. Havanas and non-Havanas) separately.
Restoring Extremely Dry Cigars - If you provide extremely dry cigars with too much humidity, too quickly, then the wrappers will split. It is best to keep them in their box in a large or walk-in humidor or 'Zip N Seal' bag for about a month before opening the lid. Then they can be removed and then undergo the previously described rotation method.

The best tip I can give you about reviving dried cigars is – don’t let them dry out in the first place!