How long a cigar will last is one question that many cigar enthusiasts want to have the answers to and understand. Smokers of cigars wish to know because they must have spent hundreds of dollars selecting the finest cigars and wouldn’t want to watch them go bad.
Cigar aficionados are, therefore, constantly asking how long do cigars last? If they are correctly humidified, a handmade cigar can be kept indefinitely, with the quality intact. It is best to invest in a professionally made humidor to deliver the anticipated results.
It is essential to ensure that the humidity and temperature are constant when storing cigars. When there are fluctuations in heat and moisture, the cigars can crack or even split.
Some cigars, however, do not require additional humidity to remain fresh. For instance, some European cigars are rendered through a baking process during the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for further storage. Some other cigars are individually wrapped in foil or cellophane to ensure that they stay fresh without humidity.
Generally, cigars can stay fresh for anywhere from 12-24 months; so far, you don’t expose them to extreme temperatures or humidity levels. They can remain in excellent condition for as long as five years.
How Long Do Cigars Last
How Long Can a Cigar Last After It’s Been Lit?
Some cigar smokers tend to puff on their cigars too often. For some reason, this is not a good idea.
Philosophically, a cigar should be enjoyed and savored. Smoking too fast will not make the experience enjoyable. It is best to take one’s time with a cigar.
There are other reasons why a cigar smoker should enjoy his cigar at a slower pace.
Smoking your cigar at a hyper-frequent puff will cause your cigar to be overheated and make it bitter, which is irreversible.
A cigar should burn slowly so that the smoker will enjoy the flavor at a progressive pace. There are no fixed laws on how long a cigar should last after being lit; a cigar smoker should enjoy a five-inch cigar for at least 45 minutes.
Smoking a five-inch cigar in the space of 10 minutes is like smoking a cigarette, which is a huge mistake. Puffing between 30 seconds to a minute is an appropriate interval.
Bear in mind also that smoking too slowly can cause negative consequences. If cigar smokers puff too infrequently, the cigar will most likely go out, which will require you to relight it again. Lighting an extinguished cigar can expose the cigar to unpleasant flavors of carbon, char, sulfuric fumes, and bitterness.
Cigar smokers are supposed to leave the ash on for as long as possible. The ash works to regulate the temperature and reduce contact between the lit tobacco and air, therefore keeping it cool. Good cigars are made out of whole leaves and not chopped up tobacco, which will make them last longer.
Can You Cut and Relight a Cigar?
The idea of cutting a cigar is basically to create a smooth opening without ruining the cigar.
Cutting a cigar means removing some portion of the cigar’s top while leaving the portion around the base to keep the cigar filling intact.
Cigar smokers should cut from about one-sixteenth of an inch from the end.
Without a precision measuring device, you can cut it from the joining part of the cigar. Here are some great cigar accessories, a must-have for enthusiasts.
Lighting an already cut cigar is not like lighting a cigarette; it requires patience. Keep the cigar above the flame but not directly on the fire.
Then rotate it gradually until all parts of the tip are heated equally. After lighting the cigar, blow gently on the embers to have smooth and evenly rounded ash.
Bottom Line
How long cigars last depend on how they are stored and their exposure. They can last for as long as five years if you don’t keep them at high humidity levels and temperature for cigars of good quality. After being lit, cigars can remain on for about 45 minutes while enjoyed and savored at a slow pace.
Finally, with the right tools and knowledge, a cigar smoker can accurately cut and relight a cigar to make it serve its purpose.
