Question 1

How long do cigars last?

Accepted Answer

Cigars do not have an expiry date. Kept between 65% and 70% relative humidity at 16-20°C they last indefinitely and many improve for years. Left loose in a centrally heated British room they dry out and become harsh within about a week. What kills a cigar is humidity, not age.

Question 2

How to calibrate a hygrometer

Accepted Answer

Seal the hygrometer in an airtight bag with either a Boveda 75% calibration pack or a bottle cap of damp salt, leave it 24 hours at room temperature, then compare the reading with 75%. The difference is your offset: adjust the hygrometer if it allows it, or subtract that figure from every future reading.

Question 3

How much do cigars cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

A decent single cigar in the UK costs roughly £8 to £25, and a box of 10 to 25 runs from about £90 to £600 depending on brand and size. UK prices are high because excise duty and 20% VAT are charged on tobacco before it reaches the shelf, and both are already included in the listed price.

Question 4

What are the rules on buying and smoking cigars in the UK?

Accepted Answer

You must be 18 or over to buy cigars in the UK. Cuban cigars are entirely legal here, unlike in the United States. Smoking is banned in enclosed public places and workplaces, so cigars are smoked outdoors, at home, or in a small number of venues with outdoor or exempt areas.

Question 5

How do you tell if a Cuban cigar is genuine?

Accepted Answer

A genuine Cuban cigar sold in the UK carries the green English Market Selection stamp applied by Hunters and Frankau, the sole authorised UK importer, alongside the Habanos S.A. warranty seal with its holographic strip and barcode. The box also carries a factory and date code stamped on the underside.

Question 6

Is that mould on my cigar, or plume?

Accepted Answer

Mould on a cigar is fuzzy, raised, usually blue-green or grey, spreads in patches and smells musty. Plume is a fine white crystalline dust that sits flat and brushes off cleanly leaving no mark. If it has colour, texture or a smell, treat it as mould and isolate the cigar immediately.

Question 7

Can you take cigars on a plane?

Accepted Answer

Cigars themselves travel fine in hand luggage or the hold with no quantity limit for a flight itself. Cutters and lighters are the problem: guillotine cutters are frequently refused at security, and jet or torch lighters are banned from both cabin and hold by most airlines. Separate allowances apply when bringing cigars into the UK.

Questions, answered