My Coolerdor – keeping cigars with ease and thrift

Almost everyone in my circle who loves an occasional or daily cigar quickly learns that keeping cigars can be a tricky proposition. (I’m more in the occasional camp, but when I want a cigar, I want it to be ready in perfect condition.)

There are many different considerations, but in the end, humidity is king. Too dry and your cigars will dry up, lose their life and flavor, potentially crack, and in some cases, your cigars could be ruined beyond repair. Too humid, and your cigars will mold, and nobody likes that.

To keep your cigars at the ideal humidity, you often need to buy a humidor. Once you get the humidor, your issues aren’t instantly resolved. You must first season it, which simply means adding moisture to its interior before use. You also need to calibrate your hygrometer, as knowing the exact relative humidity (RH) level is important. Then, you have to choose your method of humidification. Many humidors come with a standard humidifier that depends on you regularly refilling the foam core with distilled water. Honestly, this is too imprecise and too much work for me.

Traditional humidors are often very attractive and can easily blend into your study or living room. However, I have found that humidors come with a couple of significant drawbacks. First – cost. You truly get what you pay for, so if you want a humidor that holds more than one box of cigars and actually seals well (preventing loss of humidity), you will need to spend quite a bit. Second – maintenance. Even quality humidors require careful upkeep, especially during dry winter months. I know many cigar lovers enjoy the ritual, but I prefer something effective and simple.

After some careful research and a bit of trial and error with a small, traditional humidor, I chose the homemade humidor often called – The Coolerdor (or is it coolidor? Does it really matter since it’s a made-up name?).

The concept of the coolerdor is simple: coolers are easy to keep clean, relatively inexpensive, and have a tight seal. After acquiring your cooler, you choose a humidifier, then add an optional dose of Spanish cedar (Spanish cedar lines the interior of the best humidors), and you are in business.

I built my coolerdor about two and a half years ago, so I have given it a serious test drive. I must say that I am very pleased with the results and I can’t imagine abandoning my coolerdor. I recommend this method to anyone interested in keeping cigars in their home.

The How To – Building Your Own Coolerdor

First, you need some equipment:

• Engel 30 Quart Dry Box Cooler
• Four cedar cigar trays (12.5 inch x 7.5 inch)
• One Boveda cedar 4-pack holder
• Boveda packs 72% RH

I chose the Engel dry box because it had some of the best ratings for sealing tightly. I knew that the issues I experienced with my traditional humidor all stemmed from it leaking humidity; I didn’t want a cooler that did the same. I selected the 30-quart model because of its interior size. This cooler comfortably, but not too loosely, held the 12.5 inch by 7.5 inch cigar trays. I opted for the cedar cigar trays because they offered a lot of cedar surface, which is valued in quality humidors. It has proven to be a wise choice for my coolerdor.

First, I thoroughly cleaned the interior of the cooler and allowed it to dry and air out for two days. Next, I installed the Boveda cedar 4-pack holder on the back wall of the coolerdor. The kit includes easy-to-use adhesive magnetic material that lets you remove and replace the holder effortlessly. Then, I loaded the holder with four Boveda packs. (There are many humidification methods, but I prefer Boveda packs because they are simple and effective.) I filled the trays with my cigars and stacked them neatly inside the coolerdor. Finally, I installed a hygrometer on the inside lid, completing my coolerdor setup. I closed it, and within two days, it maintained an optimal 72% RH. Due to the excellent seal on my coolerdor, I replace the Boveda packs roughly every four to five months.

What I have described here may have some purists banging their heads but, for the rest of us, it’s a tidy solution. Also, it has probably occurred to many of you that the coolerdor has a handle! This makes it easy to bring your cigars to a friend’s home, your backyard, or wherever you would like to have access to your stash. If you have any questions about building your own coolerdor just message me.

Once you get your coolerdor operational, you are going to want a beverage. Might I suggest a Stout, or a Whiskey Cocktail.