Frequently Asked Questions

The design elements of the cabinet differ. The Reliance cigar end table series offers supreme materials, construction and technology. The mahogany cabinet features an exterior locking drawer for loose cigar storage and a locking door. The Reliance series has rounded edges and the finest joinery, the exterior drawer goes on a wooden slide and it has a New England style design. You can customize the end table with a glass top or door and your choice of finish. It comes standard with our Sentry Analog electronic humidity systems but you can upgrade to a either the Guardian digital humidity system or the Climatech temperature and humidity system. The Sentinel model is our most affordable high quality cabinet. It’s design has simpler lines and a full overlay door. You can customize it by choosing between a glass or wood top and locking door. It too comes with our Sentry analog humidity system that can be upgraded to either our Guardian digital or Cimatech temperature and humidity system. Check out our cigar humidor end tables and see for yourself.

A cedar lining is not as strong as mahogany, and can form natural “gum pockets” that may remain wet and ooze onto the surrounding surface. This may result in bacteria and could harm your cigars. This is why we use Spanish Cedar in all of our cigar drawers and bins to allow for the imparting of flavor into the cigars but use the highest quality Mahogany, a stronger, more consistent and beautiful wood to make the cabinets. The interior of the humidor is left unfinished to absorb humidity and allow for proper cigar storage.

Spanish Cedar, while great for cigars is not a great wood for the cabinet. All Vigilant humidors are constructed using MDF core, not particle board, with a mahogany veneer. The interior of the humidor is left unfinished to absorb humidity and allow for proper cigar storage. Due to this fact, we do not use solid wood, as it will warp when exposed to moisture. Other than the carcass and shelves, all our humidors are solid wood.

The proper species of Cedar to use in a humidor is Spanish Cedar. Spanish Cedar has a wonderful smell that does blend with and enhance the taste of the cigars, but we suggest that Spanish Cedar only be used on the interior of your humidor for lining bins and drawers. A hardwood such as Mahogany is the best wood to use for the exterior of your humidor.

You can leave the cellophane on since the humidified air will still get to the cigar. However, if you don’t like the idea of the cigar aging next to a man-made material, you can certainly remove the cellophane.

It’s really a matter of personal preference. Either way, as long as the plastic is removed from the box, the humidified air is able circulate whether the box is open or closed.

Cigars do impart flavor to each other when they are touching. We recommend separating loose cigars in your humidor if they’re not covered with plastic wrap. When possible, keep cigars in their original box for as long as possible. This will prevent flavor mingling and wrapper damage.

Better known to entomologists as Lasiodorma Serricorne, the tobacco beetle strikes fear in the hearts of cigar smokers. Beetle infestation happens when cigars are rolled. While cigar manufacturers have made tremendous strides in fighting the tobacco beetle with pesticides and other organic methods, there’s a chance that your cigar, especially if it’s Cuban, will have beetle larvae rolled into it. The larvae remain dormant and are undetectable until they become active and decide to eat their way out of your cigar. Exposing your cigars to temperatures of 80 degrees F for extended periods of time (more than a week or two) at 70% RH can create the conditions for the larvae to hatch. The beetle usually makes its appearance known by the destruction it leaves behind, but it’s rare to actually see these little critters. When the 1/16″ larvae hatch, they’ll eat continuously and grow to three times their original size. The carnage may be tiny pinholes in the wrapper or visible channels along the exterior of the cigar or small pieces of tobacco littering the area. If you recognize beetle infestation, you must act quickly and decisively. You’ll need to freeze your cigars immediately or risk losing your entire collection. Determine how extensively the beetles have infested your humidor. If the infestation appears to be isolated to a single box of cigars, then you can take a risk to freeze only those smokes. We recommend that you treat all the cigars in the humidor. There is a chance, however, that some of your cigar wrappers may burst when the moisture expands in your cigars as they freeze. Here’s how to do it: Take all your cigars and place them in airtight containers to keep in the moisture of the cigars. Ziploc bags and Tupperware work well. Leave them in the freezer for 48 hours. The cold will kill the beetles and make the larvae dormant again. Next, wipe your humidor down thoroughly with rubbing alcohol (which is safe on wood), to kill any remaining beetle larvae. After 48 hours, take out the unopened containers of frozen cigars and let the containers and the contents return to room temperature. Once they are warm again, return the cigars to your humidor.

Some people even repair the damaged cigars by grafting wrapper leaf from other cigars. If you decide to go this route, you’ll need an Exact-o-knife, a vegetable-based adhesive and lots of patience. If you collect Cuban cigars, the country from where these beetles generally originate, the key to preventing beetle infestation is: Buy from a reputable source Eliminate temperature extremes by protecting your cigars in a temperature-controlled humidor Check you cigars regularly for signs of beetles to prevent their growth