A humidor keeps cigars fresh by storing them at 65-to-70 percent humidity. Cigars, like wines, are organic so temperature and humidity are important. A properly maintained humidor can keep cigars fresh for years.

Desk- and table-top humidors can hold from a dozen cigars to 100, and can range from simple to elegant in design and finishes. On the inside, humidors are lined with Spanish cedar, a wood renowned for its moisture-holding and moisture-releasing capabilities.

When shopping for a humidor, be sure to check these things:
• Size – The size of the box you buy depends on how many cigars do you plan to keep for yourself and/or give out to friends. Don’t be afraid to buy a box slightly bigger than you think you’ll need. Better to have a little more space than a little less.
• Extras – Will you want an upper tray, divider, a box that locks, accessory drawer?
• Seams and corners – Look to make sure seams are perfect and corners square.
• The Lid and Inside Rim – The lid should be heavy, seal squarely, and allow a little bit of air to circulate in and out of the box. When you open the lid slightly and let it fall, you should hear a “swoosh,” a sign of a good seal.

Humidification Devices
The most important humidification device you can have for your humidor is you. It is up to you to add necessary distilled water or solution regularly. Humidification devices come in sizes appropriate for the size of the box. For years, humidification devices used sponge-type material. Now the technology has moved to crystals that implode and emit humidity when wet with propyl glyclene solution. This solution lasts longer than distilled water.

Measuring the Humidity
Most humidors come with hygrometers, a gauge that measures the box’s humidity. While hygrometers come in analog or digital models, we recommend digital because they are more reliable and accurate. The best humidity range to keep cigars fresh is 65 to 72 percent with 70 percent the optimum. If cigars seem too dry, add solution to the humidification device.

Keeping Your Humidor in Top Working Order
Always keep the lid closed until cigars are ready to be smoked. Add propyl glyclene solution or distilled water periodically to the humidifying device. Never use tap water. Minerals in tap water will collect in the humidification device and keep it from absorbing and emitting humidity.

One More Thing – Don’t put your humidor where it can be exposed to temperature extremes like near a window or a heating vent, or anywhere where it can get cold. Inside your humidor, don’t pack your cigars too tight. You will want to rotate them from time to time for good air circulation. The reason for this is that while humidors have a tight seal on the lid, they are not airtight and not supposed to be. In an airtight humidified container, cigars can and will get moldy.

For more information, call your Rockford Tinder Box/Vino100 at 815-226-4441, or visit our website at tinderbox-rockford.com.

At Tequila Los Abuelos, they are committed to producing the finest Tequila possible. Their Tequila is made using traditions established centuries ago, from 100% stone milled agave, entirely produced on their estate. They are located in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, first populated in the 1530’s by their Spanish forefathers. The land is nestled in rich valley at 4,000 feet of altitude, in the foothills of the 9,560-foot tall, Volcan de Tequila. Here is where their blue agaves grow for seven to eight years, caressed with the warmth of the Mexican sun, nourished by the summer rains, and protected from the harsh and cold winter winds.

Our Tequila is produced entirely within the walls of their estate, using centuries old, traditional methods, which although are very labor intensive, create a tequila, which is unequaled in taste and smoothness. Using the age-old brick oven, with its meter thick walls, they cook our agave for thirty six hours. Then they crush or mill the agave as my Tartarabuelo did over 135 years ago in the stone mill called the Tahona. The crushed agave is then washed with the pure mountain water from the Volcan de Tequila to separate the pulp from the woody fibers to create an agave juice called mosto. The woody fibers of the agave, called bagazo, are removed at this time, and taken to the fields to use as compost. The agave mosto is then naturally fermented for five days in small wood vats, and then double distilled using small, labor-intensive copper pot stills. Their glass bottle is hand-blown in Tonala, Jalisco by artisan glassmakers and our bottle tops, artisan designed to represent the harvest agave, or Pina, are hand-made by our workers.

ABV: 6.9%

Poured Appearance: Whiskey Cloudy. Slightly opaque.

Color: Rich golden orange.

Aroma: Mild moonshine Tennessee woods, soft spicy rye whiskey, ripe apple.

Flavor: Dry, subtly spicy rye whiskey, butterscotch, faint banana & ripe apple with mild apple-skin tannins. Full bodied sexy finish.

Final Blend: 63% fermented apple-wine, 23% Gravenstein fresh-pressed apple juice.

Unfiltered & blended from apple-wine straight from the rye whiskey barrels. Give a solid, firm bottoms-up tilt and swirl to disperse sediment evenly to best enjoy whiskey aromas and unique bouquet. Best enjoyed at cellar temperature, 50/55F, with or without 1 or 2 ice cubes.

Stagger Lee is most certainly worthy of aging in your cellar.

Hold It!
When shopping for a pipe, take time to hold it. The pipe has to feel right – balanced, comfortable – not awkward or heavy. Look at the different pipes and their finish (smooth or rough), color (light or dark), the stem (straight or bent), and especially the shape. Don’t worry. You don’t have to make it an information overload on yourself. Glance at different pipes and see what catches your eye first, then go from there.

Get in Shape
Briar pipes are available in many standard shapes. The choice of shape is entirely personal. Smokers my have a single favorite shape of pipe or many different shapes in their collections. Briar pipes are also available in a unique “freehand” design that follow no particular shape and are carved according to the grain and size of the briar.

Ahem! A Bit about the Stem
Also consider the stem. Would you prefer a straight or bent shape? Most pipe stems are made from vulcanite, a hard rubber, or Lucite, a type of plastic. Vulcanite is less expensive and can be hand cut to all pipe shank shapes. Vulcanite will oxidize and turn white especially near the mouthpiece bit after time, but, can be cleaned and polished to look like new. Lucite does not tarnish or lose its color around the bit. And Lucite can come in different swirl stem designs that can make a pipe look absolutely fantastic.

Expensive Versus Inexpensive Pipes
So, what’s the difference between a $30 pipe and a $230 pipe? The biggest difference is in the briar. The older briar, the finer the grain and more dense it is. The density and curing of the wood is crucial. The lighter a pipe’s weight, the longer it has been cured and is free of wood resins and moisture. A lightweight pipe that is aged well and cured will offer a good tasting, cool smoke.

Due to Mother Nature and conditions under which briar grows, a small percentage of pipes produced have a uniformly fine grain pattern and perfect finish. These are called “firsts” and are considered the best of the best. The remaining pipes may have tiny surface flaws or sandpits. Some are practically undetectable while others may require putty fills. These tiny imperfections affect the aesthetic appearance of the pipe, but not the pipe’s smoking qualities. Known as “seconds,” these pipes are sold under numerous brand names and represent the best values in pipe smoking. Bowls are smooth-polished and or sandblasted or carved for a rough texture.

Buying a Pipe for a Gift?
If you’re buying a pipe as a gift for someone, it can be fun if you know that person and his or her tastes. If you don’t know that person well and choose a pipe, be sure to ask for a gift receipt from your Tinder Box associate. If you are unsure, we recommend a Tinder Box gift certificate.

One final note, it is better to choose a pipe that does not use any kind of filter or condensing system. These systems trap moisture in the shank and prevent the effective use of the pipe cleaners during the smoke.

If you have any questions, call us at 815-226-4441, or e-mail us at tinderbox-rockford.com.

The Humo Jaguar, handmade by Nestor Plasencia, won first place this year at the annual Humo Jaguar Festival, held in Copan, Honduras. Honduran cigar manufacturers present their cigar lines and also make a special cigar for the festival. Manufacturers compete against one another with more than 200 judges smoking all the blends and selecting a winner. This year, Nestor Plasencia’s special blend won, and in honor of the award, he named his blend after the festival.

The Humo Jaguar comes to cigar smokers at a great time. Honduran tobacco is making a strong comeback in popularity. The Humo Jaguar has a complex Oscuro wrapper that, according to various cigar reviews, features hints of black pepper, chocolate, and more. The binder is from the Talanga Valley and the filler is Cuban-seed from Honduran farms. In fact, according to information from Cigars.com, the Jaguar has a Cuban-esque flavor from its 100-percent Honduran tobaccos.

First, the beer – the bottle is caged and corked (like a champagne – cool!) and the pour is somewhat cloudy.  For a tripel (meaning three times the malt is used in the brewing process) my expectation was a chocolate-dark color.  Silly me; it’s only a couple shades darker than Blahblahblah Light.  The aroma is chalky pear, and circus taffy.  The sweetness surprises, and while the balanced bitterness of the hops is present initially, it fades quickly to be followed by the aggressive alcohol pushing its way to the front of the line.

Pair this delicious, sweet, boozy brew with spicy chili for contrast and balance and you’ve got all the makings of a fun adventure worthy of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Indiana Jones is going to love the chili’s heat and Marion will be enticed by the sweetness (but you’ll recall she can handle her alcohol!)

Try this chili recipe and be a hero…

http://chicksdigguysthatcook.blogspot.com/2011/12/affligem-tripel-like-raiders-of-lost.html

Wrapper: Habano Sungrown

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligeros

Background: Oliva Serie V is a high rated, proven powerhouse. It has earned 92 and 94 ratings by Cigar Aficianado in 2007 and 2008 as well as two top 25 Cigars of the Year awards. It has also been rated 94 twice by Cigar Insider.

The wrapper is smooth, vein free and has a nice oily sheen to it. The construction is always on par with any of the Oliva lines. I’m very excited to smoke this since i haven’t had one for quite some time. The draw is smooth and easy, toasting the foot is leaving some pepper/spice on my lips. It is definately full bodied and full flavored, but well balanced. As their slogan says… “Where strength and smoothness meet.” As you continue smoking, you will find it smoothing out and less of the subtle peppery kick that was there at the beginning. But the best part of the “V” is the end as it becomes more intense.  I don’t find this to be as complex as some others, but it is consistant and an overall very enjoyable smoke. If you like full bodied, you have to try this.

**tim**