Have you ever gone to spark a stogie in the dry, colder months of winter, only to have it crack on you, or not burn properly? The reason behind this cataclysmic catastrophe likely has nothing to do with the construction of the cigar itself, but in how it was stored just prior to lighting. Simply put, the cigar probably did not get "dry boxed" properly.
While our in-depth blog on the art of dry boxing cigars will go into greater detail on the topic, the following paragraph will provide you with a brief synopsis of what this methodology involves, and how it will improve your cigar smoking experience.
Dry Boxing Cigars Explained (in brief)
Dry boxing is a preparation process where you remove your cigars from humidification prior to smoking. May it be a day or two in a repurposed cigar box, an unhumidified Humidificateur Klaro, or a étui à cigares, allowing cigars to slowly acclimate to a dry environment is crucial to your smoking success. That's not to say that those premium cigar blends need to be bone-dry, but they do need to reach a relative humidity of about 60% versus the average 65–72% that est found within a healthy humidor.
Ways to Safely Dry Box Your Cigars
Being that we are forever eager to try out new cigar storage and aging methods, I took it upon myself to see what kind of dry boxing works best. Having experimented with both Tupperware and cigar storage bags in the past, I knew full well that these methods would not release enough humidity in a timely fashion. So I turned toward more traditional, Spanish cedar-based methodologies.
And while unhumidified humidors and repurposed, sturdy cigar boxes did a damn fine job of dry boxing my smokes at the house, they were either entirely too bulky or were utterly imperfect for transport in a suitcase or a backpack. Again, bringing cigars with you to the campsite or on vacation is the name of the game here, so having a dry box that can tag along with you in your carry-on is ideal.
This conundrum eventually led me to what I have found to be the ultimate balance between a traditional Spanish cedar-lined humidor environment, and an on-the-go cigar storage unit: The Maxwell 8-Cigar Travel Case.
Meet Maxwell: The Spanish Cedar King of Cigar Travel Cases
With its durable hard-shell case, soft vegan leather exterior, locking latches, and hardcore hinges, Maxwell is a travel humidor that not only ensures your cigars are protected, but absolutely crushes when it comes to dry boxing. Why? Because no other cigar travel case packs this amount of Spanish cedar, and in such a specialized way as well.
In case you missed the memo, Spanish cedar wood not only provides the perfect environment for preserving the aroma and flavor notes of premium cigars, but il also does a bang-up job of absorbing and releasing humidity. So by taking those properly humidified stogies, and stuffing them in a cigar travel case such as this, you are allowing them to gradually reduce in humidité while improving in aroma and flavor.
Furthermore, I have found that the contoured machined interior of these genuine Spanish cedar wood walls excels at keeping larger cigars secured tightly behind Maxwell's elastic bands. Maxwell loves to be maxed out, so stuffing eight large cigars inside is no issue, including large ring-gauge smokes, Churchill vitolas, and even tapered figurado cigars.
That said, if you ever feel like your stogies may be drying out too much during their temporary stay at "Motel Maxwell," you can always pop a humidity pack inside, which coincidentally comes in each order from the Klaro Cigars portfolio. Just keep a few handy in a separate sealed baggy et they will literally stay fresh for months to come...
