Do cigars go bad?

Updated November 2026

The short answer

Premium cigars don't expire if they're kept at the right humidity; many smokers age them for years. Left in the open, they dry out within days or weeks and smoke hot and harsh.

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Signs a cigar has gone bad

• Fuzzy blue, green or white spots that smear: mould. Throw it away.
• Tiny round holes: tobacco beetles. Throw it away and check the rest of the humidor.
• Cracked, crunchy wrapper: too dry.
• Spongy, hard to draw, won't stay lit: too wet.

Reviving a dry cigar

Rehydrate slowly. Put it in a sealed bag with a two-way humidity pack, or in a humidor away from the humidity source, and give it a week or more. Rushing it can crack the wrapper.

Keeping them fresh

Store cigars at about 65–70% humidity and 65–70°F. See our guide to storing cigars and the humidor calculator.