Humidor Review: Early Impressions of the Yohtron YC-488

Over the years, I’ve used a variety of plastic “tupperdors” and a small electric “wineador” humidor from NewAir to store my cigars. Most recently, the NewAir housed my loose sticks, while the plastic containers held the few boxes I’d acquired. Boveda humidification packs did their part to keep everything in good condition. Still, I’ve long desired a large display cabinet humidor — something that could bring all my cigars together in one place.

As my collection grew, the NewAir unit became increasingly crowded, and its electronics had long since failed. Finding a specific cigar often meant opening every drawer and sifting through layers — sometimes repeating the hunt more than once before finding what I was after. More frustratingly, I began passing on deals — especially on full boxes — simply because I had nowhere to put them.

For the past year, I’d been researching the new generation of electronic all-in-one humidors. These modern units heat, cool, and humidify — a true turnkey solution. After reviewing the latest offerings and comparing features that mattered most to me, I settled on the Yohtron YC-488. Yes, I went big. This luxurious unit is rated for up to 2,500 cigars — ten times the capacity of my NewAir 250, though I expect the real-world number to be a bit less.

Getting this beast into the house was no small feat. It’s bulky and weighs over 200 pounds. With a friend’s help, we managed to get it inside. After letting it sit for the required 24 hours to let the compressor oil settle, I powered it on, set the humidity level 5% higher than my target of 69%, and waited. I let it run at that level for three days to allow the Spanish cedar interior to properly season. It’s now been running for a little over week with the cigars inside, and I wanted to share my early impressions.

First off, the construction is impressive. The unit is fully lined with Spanish cedar. (Trivia: “Spanish cedar” isn’t actually cedar — it’s in the mahogany family and native to Central and South America.) The seven cedar drawers are mounted on smooth cabinet rails. They lock into place when pushed in and, crucially, don’t tip when pulled out fully. The generous spacing between drawers makes it easy to see the contents, and there’s ample room to stack boxes if needed. Interior LED strips run the full length of both sides of the cabinet, making it easy to browse — something many units lack.

The 5-liter water reservoir for the humidification system is located at the bottom of the cabinet and is very easy to refill with distilled water — no funnel needed. The drawer includes water level markings on the front to prevent overfilling. One note of caution: the reservoir drawer isn’t on rails, so you’ll need to open it carefully to avoid spills. Above the reservoir is an accessory drawer of sorts — though it seems like filler space to conceal internal electronics.

Temperature and humidity control in the Yohtron have proven impressively stable. I installed three Govee WiFi hygrometer/thermometer sensors, along with a couple of other digital hygrometers, to verify the onboard display. I found that the unit’s display reads about 1.5% to 2% lower than actual humidity. 

That quirk sorted, I was able to adjust the settings to reach an average humidity holding steady around my 69% target. The Govee sensors show less than 2% variation throughout the day, with consistent readings from top to bottom — exactly the kind of stability I was looking for. I suspect the environment would be even more stable if the humidor were fully stocked with cigars. Before using the Govee units, I had never even considered measuring humidity in tenths of a percent. The temperature in the cabinet remains just as steady. 

This inside consistency throughout the unit is aided by the four circulation fans behind the shelves, which evenly distribute air from bottom to top. That airflow ensures a uniform environment regardless of how many, or how few, cigars are stored — a critical factor, especially since I don’t plan to ever fill the cabinet to its max capacity. 

The Yohtron provides an attractive display, and selecting a cigar has never been easier. I still use the Cigar Scanner app to track my inventory and browse my options, but I no longer need to open every drawer and dig around to find my choice. Even better, I can simply turn on the lights and browse before opening the door. To be honest, sometimes I turn on the lights just to admire the cigars inside. The cabinet currently sits in our dining room, across from my bourbon shelves. Despite its size, its clean design keeps it from feeling overly obtrusive — at least in my somewhat biased opinion.

Initially, I was leaning toward one of the smaller Yohtron units — they all share the same core features. But my wife made the most compelling case for going big: “You won’t have to worry about filling it.” I believe she’s right. And now, I can take advantage of cigar deals without wondering where I’ll store new additions.

Cheers!

Humidor Thoughts

The proper storage of cigars is a frequent topic of discussion among enthusiast. It's also something that people may fret over too much, especially new smokers. I was telling someone recently about my "custom" setup, and thought I'd share here as well. 

If you're buying a few cigars to smoke in the near term, the plastic bag they came in from the shop, along with a Boveda pack is sufficient and economical. But if the cigars are more than a few in number, more long term protection is required. Plastic storage containers with good seals are a nearly perfect solution and are available in various sizes. In fact, if one searches for "cigar storage" on Amazon, several of these containers are included in the results, along with the more traditional options. For a long while, this was my choice. I still use them for some boxes that don't fit in my "main" humidor.

Eventually I wanted a bit more though. Wooden desktop humidors seemed too unreliable for long term, so I opted for one of the many mid-size "wineadoor" offerings. These electronic storage units typically provide cooling and sometimes heating, and many of the newer models contain built-in humidification systems. A few years ago I purchased a (now discontinued) 250 count NewAir unit. The unit is unobtrusive enough that was deemed okay to keep in the dining room. In the years since, it's undergone several modifications to fit my needs and preferences.

One of the first things I did was replace the two shelves with drawers. The slats on the shelves were oriented across the width of the unit and allowed cigars to roll out when the drawer was opened. The original unit came with an analog hygrometer. Those cheap units are not accurate and serve more as decoration than functionality. An electronic replacement required only minor modification of the opening. A Dremel tool made easy work in the soft Spanish cedar. In the larger space at the bottom, two trays are stacked to add even more storage. 

For humidification, I have 8 60 gram 69% Boveda packs spread out among the shelves. This keeps the humidity between 67% and 69% consistently even with frequent opening of the door, akin to standing in front of the open refrigerator deciding what to eat, or in this case, smoke. How did I come top with 8? Simple, the Boveda are sold in packs of 4.

The biggest "customization" made involves the cooling functionality. I originally kept the unit set to 69°. That's pretty close to an average house setting as well. The unit worked, and though fairly quiet, still had the persistent hum of the fan going. On day I noticed the temperature setting had gone to the default of 64°. I thought maybe I had inadvertently hit the adjustment button, or perhaps we had experienced a brief power outage. I reset it to my preference, and a few days later noticed the same. Again I made the adjustment back. A few days later we were sitting in the living room and heard a beep. I went in search for the source and saw the unit was lowering the temperature setting -- all on its own! Must be a glitch in the circuit board or the push button switch. I unplugged the humidor, and it has been like that for a couple years now. To no ill effect.

The temperature in my house sits at a perfectly acceptable level for the cigars. If you are comfortable, your cigars will likely be as well. The NewAir serves now as a well-sealed environment to maintain the humidity of my cigar collection. No hum from fans, and a moderately attractive piece of furniture.  

Though rated for 250 cigars, that rating represents a tighter stuffing than practical. My collection averages between 100-150 at any time. I find that getting down to 100 or lower makes the humidity slower to adjust and maintain. (Or maybe that's just my justification for buying more.) I buy few full boxes, preferring the variety of buying in singles or 5 packs. (How or why 5 became to standard small pack offering is a mystery to me.)

I keep the plastic containers on hand for the occasional box purchase, until the number of cigars left in gets down to 5 or less. I also frequently keep a few from the box in the humidor for easy access. I often think that if I hear of someone disposing of a non-functioning, but intact unit like mine, I'd attempt to acquire it specifically for box purchases. I actually saw a very inexpensive one for sale online recently but the seller was a couple states away. Naturally, I still dream of a large cabinet humidor someday.

Cheers!

Chores and Rewards

This past week we embarked on a long overdue "purge" of unneeded and unused items our house. After 21 years here, there was just too much "stuff' accumulated. We don't intend on moving anytime soon, but there are ongoing renovations to make room for. We rented a 20 yard dumpster and set about decluttering. 

Each afternoon or evening during the week, we spent time hauling items from the basement, the garage, and the storage area under the deck. It's a remarkably satisfying, if exhausting, process. Each day ended with aching muscles, and more than a few cuts and scrapes. The major lifting is complete, and the next few days will involve only tossing in some odds and ends before the container is hauled away. 

On Friday evening, after what seemed an extra long week, I headed over to 1781 Brewing for an Oliva Cigar event at the Olde Towne Tobacconist Lounge. There I took advantage of the promotion and picked up a box of one of my favorites, as evidenced here, the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial Torpedo. 

I'm excited to smoke these, even if I did have to change the shelf layout in my small humidor to squeeze in the box. Among the freebies with my purchase, was this Oliva Serie G box-pressed torpedo. I opted to smoke it right away while I enjoyed a pint of 1781 Brewing Washington's Hare Porter. The cigar features a Camaroon wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler. Despite the ever increasing winds churning up, the box-pressed cigar burned well. The medium bodied sweetness of the cigar worked well with the porter. 

Despite the evening starting out around 70°, the wind and sudden rain shower quickly dropped the temperature to the low 50° range. Too cold for my short sleeved short, so I called it an early evening.

The clean up work continued through the weekend and beyond. However, there was still time made for more fun treats before the work week begins again. More to come on that soon.

Never Too Hot For A Fire

Or a bourbon. Or a cigar.

After shooting the Cavalier IDPA match in the morning, followed by moving furniture around in the afternoon, I was sitting on the deck, on the verge of nodding off. We had discussed using the fire pit in the evening, but the temperature was still well above 80º and it would have been easy to forgo the fire.

But we had an old Swedish Fire log that needed to be burned before it rotted. And there was the bottle of Henry McKenna Single Barrel which had yet to be opened. This bourbon won Best in Show Whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. So we lit the log and opened the bourbon. Of course, that called for a cigar, in this case La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva Maximo.

We just had to sit a ways back from the fire.

Thursday Evening Fire Pit

With the longer days, and still cool evenings, Thursday presented an opportunity to enjoy some time around the fire pit. We enjoyed an early dinner and then decided to head outside. The fire was going strong as the sun set gave way to a starry night sky.

The flames were quite mesmerizing, even if I was distracted enough to make note of some yard work awaiting. Even though the next day was still to be a workday, the relaxing evening set a perfect tone for the weekend to come.

Seasonal Chores, Gun Range, and Craft Beer

Yea, pretty much a typical weekend.

Our weekend was focused on getting the Christmas lights hung. But first, I needed to trim some of the shrubbery in front of the house — there always seems to be a "pre-chore" to the chores. That led to blowing leaves out of the beds, which led to blowing leaves out of the rest of the yard.

Finally, it was time actually get to the lights. Hmm, that string doesn't light. Wait, this one only lights halfway. I have to wonder, how do Christmas light strings go bad between packing them up in January and unpacking them in December? So, it's off to the hardware store for more lights in order to finish the task. I must say, it looks good once we're finally done so it was worth all the extra work.

After Mass on Sunday, Colleen asked "Are you going to the range?" I hesitate and she tells me she's going to do more decorating. "So you should go," she says. Who am I to argue?

I packed up the little Walther .380 that I'm considering shooting in IDPA BUG matches next year. I've not shot it in a few years, so figure it'll be fun. Anticipating the sting, I jerked the first shot, but the next 11 from 7 yards were right on.

I ended up putting 50 rounds through the little gun, shooting from 7-15 yards. I was pretty pleased, even if I did walk away with a bit of blood on the web of my hand. The tang on the handle digs in a bit. It's not too bad, but 50 rounds was enough "fun" with that gun. A bit more shooting with the SIG P226 rounded out the quick trip.

Returning home, it was time to sort through more extension cords and finish the window candles. That task completed, we decided to head over to Harry's Alehouse for a snack, and a beer or two. Having this place so close to home is going to be detrimental to my wallet, and my waistline. We opted for a couple appetizers; Pulled Pork Tostadas and Grilled Texas Wings. Either appetizer would make a full meal, and the tostadas were especially tasty.

Founders Nitro Oatmeal Stout &
Stone Enjoy By 12.25.16 Unfiltered IPA (Virginia Prototype)

Standing outside admiring the lights on the house Sunday evening, it truly seemed like winter. It felt cooler than the 37° shown on the wall thermometer, and is but a preview of the weather to come. The trips to the range may be less frequent, but at least it's always warm at the pub.

A Better Way To Halloween

Rather than spend the evening getting up repeatedly to answer the door bell for the trick or treaters, this year we set up the portable fire pit at the end of the driveway. With a supply of wood, candy, and some Blue Mountain Kölsch 151, we were ready for the hordes to descend.

The long driveways and spread out houses mean the kids arrive in groups, generally hauled in decorated utility trailers pulled behind cars. The ebb and flow of visitors meant we had a lot of time to sit quietly and enjoy the fire.

Once it got dark, we had three cars in a row drive by without stopping. Perhaps they thought we were merely sentries guarding the homestead. I set a lantern on the table with the candy bowl, and that seemed to allay any questions on whether we were "open" or not.

After a couple hours, the trick or treating stopped. We doused the lantern and watched the fire die down. It was, I thought, an exceptional way to spend an evening.

An Expensive Target Holder

Much to my chagrin, we've had to make some major HVAC "investments" recently. But, they say when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade. So I'll look on the bright side and make use of the nice target stands the contractor left street side.

All ready for the rifle range.

Observations

A few hours on the range and I find myself in need of a nap.

A few hours in the pub and I find myself in need of a nap.

Perhaps it's just my body paying me back for the all the naps I refused as a child.

And then there's this...

Socks with sandals?

Maybe I'm just getting old.

Because Saturday

Deck time on a rare Saturday spent at home. Beautiful weather. No chores that can't be ignored.

Because Morning

Because Afternoon

Important Deliveries

All the essentials...

Checking the those status updates made me smile.

Thirty Years!

September 15, 1984. That's the day, thirty short years ago, that Colleen and I made our promise before God that we would spend the rest of our lives together. And it's been a wonderful and amazing thirty years. We've had our share of both joy and sadness. We've gone through times of plenty, as well as the inevitable lean periods. But whether we are experiencing immense happiness, or unimaginable sorrow, we have had each other to lean on.

I cannot imagine my life without this beautiful lady. No matter what trials life may bring, I am thankful she is by my side. When life brings joy, I am thankful that she is there to share it. I thank God every night for her presence in my life. I give thanks again every morning that He put us together, and gave us the son we have raised.

In trying to write this post, through multiple drafts, I came to realize that there is little I can say that doesn't sound cliché. It also made me think about how true and lasting love, and (real) marriage itself, has become cliché and even passé in our culture. Thats too bad. To my shame I am often better at describing a beer than expressing my undying love for my wife. I am, nonetheless, forever blessed by the commitment we began those thirty years ago.

The photos may fade, but love grows stronger with time. Happy Anniversary Colleen. I love you and look forward to the next thirty years.

 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife. And they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. --Mark 10:6-9

29 Years!

On September 15, 1984, a beautiful and loving lady agreed to be my wife. To this day, I still remember kneeling at the altar and feeling my legs and my feet shake with nerves and excitement. And to this day, twenty-nine years later, I still feel that same excitement whenever I am with her. She's a true blessing to my life and to the life of our son.

♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you Colleen for completing my life. I don't always show it, but I love you each day a little more than the day before.

"For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." --Matthew 19:5-6

When the Water is Bad, Drink Beer

For a couple of weeks now, we've been dealing with a water issue at the house. So like people throughout history, I must turn to beer for my liquid sustenance since the water can't be trusted. Besides, after days dealing with multiple contractors, with no resolution in sight, I just really needed a beer!

My choice this evening was Devils Backbone Vienna Lager. I poured my beer into one of the "stolen" Devils Backbone glasses. The beer begins with a robust off-white head. So much so that I initially slowed my pour, and was thankful for the oversize glass. As it turned out, the head dropped quickly so no overflow was encountered. The color is a very attractive copper color with a mild aroma of caramel and roasted malt. The flavor is slightly sweet malt with a toasted, nutty character. The finish is dry and mildly sweet, clearing off to leave behind a lasting hint of bitterness.

As reported previously, this was the most popular of the beers we served at a recent gathering. It's easy to understand why folks kept returning to it. I selected this lager for the menu in the hope that it would appeal to both the adventurous and non-adventurous palates. And it was very successful in meeting that requirement. Devils Backbone Vienna Lager is a refreshing, enjoyable beer that I suspect I'll be picking up regularly — even after we get clean water flowing once again.

28 Years!

Twenty-eight years ago today, I made a lifelong commitment to a beautiful lady, and she made the same commitment to me. (I think I got the better part of the deal.) Through ups and downs, for better or worse, she's been there. This wonderful person has brought many blessings to my life, and to the world around her. Together we've raised a son who is growing into a fine young man. She is my last thought each night and my first in the morning, as I thank God for bringing us together.

Thank you Colleen for the best 28 years of my life. I look forward to many, many more. 

Happy Anniversary Colleen! I love you with all my heart.

♥ ♥ ♥

Derecho 2012

From Wikipedia: A derecho (Spanish: derecho "right", pronounced [de̞ˈɾe̞tʃo̞][1]), is a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line usually taking the form of a bow echo. Derechos blow in the direction of movement of their associated storms, similar to a gust front, except that the wind is sustained and generally increases in strength behind the "gust" front. A warm weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially June and July in the Northern Hemisphere. They can occur at any time of the year and occur as frequently at night as in the daylight hours.

What was up there...

is now down here.

Simply put, tornado-force winds moving through in a straight line. More of the same weather is possible later today. Since I was outside all morning helping to set up for the Fredericksburg USPSA match tomorrow, I'm much too tired for chainsaw wrestling now. Cleanup will wait until a cool morning. I need some reserves left for tomorrow! Frankly, it's not going anywhere and the dog is loving the new, endless supply of sticks.

We were lucky, and for that I am thankful. Not so others.

Diversions Of The Day

Unexpected events at work extended Thursday into Friday, and Friday into Saturday. I spent the vast majority of Saturday with my laptop on my lap and phone in hand. I never thought I'd be so thankful for the ability to communicate via SMS and voice at the same time! I had plans to hit the range during the day but it wasn't looking promising. And then late afternoon there was a lull, when I was waiting for others to complete their parts. So I quickly threw the gear in the car and headed over to the range.

Arriving I was pleasantly surprised to see the club had put down gravel in the pistol bay. No more mud, for a while anyway. But, before I even got out of the car my phone rings again. Then I see another car heading towards the bay. Yikes, if I sit in the car and talk, I'll lose my spot. So I walked with the phone in my ear while I set up targets. The person on the other end never commented on the distant sounds of rifle fire! 

As I left the house I spied my losing Mega Millions ticket on my desk and had stuffed it into my pocket. Once I got to the range I reminded that ticket that things could have been different between us! 

I put about 150 rounds downrange. Mostly working on drawing from the holster and target transitions, as I worked my way back from 7 to 20 yards. I totally forgot work for little while. (Okay, there was that one email that needed answering.) I cleaned up my brass, which was easy to do in the fresh gravel, and headed back home, and back to the task at hand. 

A few more hours on the phone and reviewing documents and I was ready for another break. This time my search for a diversion took me to the basement fridge, where I found a bottle of New Belgium Snow Day. Back to my favorite chair, laptop in place and beer in hand, I found some time to read my favorite blogs before diving back in.

I made a good day of it, despite the unexpected projects at work! I am thankful I have these great hobbies to provide the needed breaks.

I Need A New Hat

Sometimes you just have to say goodbye to an old friend. My Blue & Gray Brewery cap has been my constant companion for many years. It's traveled to numerous beer festivals, shooting matches, and plenty of other outdoor activities. I grabbed it the other day to pack for the Fredericksburg USPSA match and noticed that the ol' boy had seen better days. The embroidered logo was faded and unrecognizable, the brim and top were stained, and there certainly wasn't any shape left to it. Even though I'm not given to vanity, I decided that perhaps it wasn't fit for wearing. It's time to retire this cap.

The next order of business is finding another suitable cap. But I don't wear just anybody's advertising. Any of my favorite breweries or shooting sports businesses want to send a new cap my way?

Labor Day Earthworks

Labor Day in the U.S. is the traditional last day of Summer, even though there is still plenty of time left for summer activities. Many folks have the day off and celebrate by doing no labor. This is also the season the moles seem to be active. Unfortunately the canine member of our household has been busy at work. He seems to be quite adept at sniffing them out, digging, and yes, catching them.

As annoying as they are, the moles are fascinating creatures. I watched one quickly tunnel back into the ground after we called off the dog. It was amazing how quickly it could burrow through the hard compacted ground. Looking at the bright side, that part of the yard needs work anyway, and the dog has certainly loosened up the earth.

Hopping Mad - Critter vs. Plant

While ordering plants this Spring to fill pots and planters on our deck, Colleen thought it would be nice to add a hop plant. We don't home brew, and don't expect to harvest the cones, but the vine would be an interesting addition to the foliage outside.

The plant was potted up, and a small trellis added. The vine adapted quickly and has been putting out new growth. Today, when we came home from Mass, the disorder pictured here greeted us. This is actually the second time in a few weeks that some creature, we're assuming a squirrel, has dug into this pot. Not a single other flower pot on the deck is touched. The same potting soil is used in all the pots. Neither the plant nor the roots appear to be eaten. There's certainly something about this plant that sends the critter into a digging frenzy.

Frustrating? Yea.