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Last post 21 years ago by cwilhelmi. 14 replies replies.
Cigar fermentation?
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[email protected] Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 9:39 AM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 9,719
Ok all ... about 10-11 months ago I placed several 'fresh' boxes of cigars in my second Avallo humidor (not as fancy as the one upstairs and is therefore kept in the basement where I usually sleep as well).

Anyway - I went down this morning to put together a 'grab-bag' of a dozen or so cigars for a friend's 40th Birthday party ... to my (both) astonishment and amazement, when I opened the door -
- I got a wiff of a very pungent & acrid smell with tones of ammonia ... WHAT THE HELL !!!!!
It's almost as "if" the cigars were shipped freshly rolled & still wet - uncured in the rough ....
anyway - they all (were all) nice sticks per say and I'm wondering about 'how long' (based on experience here only please) it will take me to 'air-out' these sticks that ended up curing in my humidor.... I'm going to turn one of the fans so that 'new' air is drawn in and old air is expelled everytime the humidification system turns on ....
No, I haven't smoked any of these yet - I don't want to think of part of my stash as being 'too ripe' ... I did pull a few to 'air-out' per say and will try one in a few days ....

Any suggestions? Similar experiences?

p.s. This humidor had not been opened for at least 6 months ... I'm thinking that was at least part of the problem ...
sammydaddy Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 11:14 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2001
Posts: 201
I try to open my humiador's about once a week to "air them out". I read somewhere that it is necessary to freshen the air fairly often. I must say that I have never had a problem with mold or beetles or anything like that and my smokes have never dried out either.
xibbumbero Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 11:20 AM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Jimmy,Have you checked your cigars for mold? Also check the Humidity level in the humidor. Could the air in your basement is stale,in which case an air purifier might be called for. X
[email protected] Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 1:47 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 9,719
No mold, no bugs - humidification/dehumidification device with ozone generator & charcoal/hepa air purifier throughout, clears/refreshes basement air also. I'm still leaning towards the 'fresh air' scenario where the air needs to be exchanged every so often .... (scratching head still)
xibbumbero Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 2:29 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Jimmy,burn one,that'll tell ya. X
delarob Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 4:02 PM EST
Joined: 06-28-2001
Posts: 5,318
The only solution is to wrap them air tight, and ship them to me. Under careful, and painstaking care, by myself, I will smoke them, and make sure you have not caused a deadly chemical reaction. Selfless...yes. But I do it for you.
goldengoose7 Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 6:06 PM EST
Joined: 06-28-2002
Posts: 310
Ammonia smell usually means over humidfication.

I agree with the other guys about giving your humidors an open once a week if possible just to let some fresh air in and stale air out.
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Aug 23 2002, 6:21 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
change the sheets, air out the bed.

stir the cigars and air out the humidor.
rayder1 Offline
#9 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 10:44 AM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
I would like to have that problem. My cigars get fresh air 2-3 times a week. Mine don't hang around long enough to worry about gassing off ammonia.
cigarsmoke Offline
#10 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 3:44 PM EST
Joined: 07-14-2002
Posts: 100
happened to a friend but he found out his large humidor that was given to him by an aunt was once used as a clothes hamper and sure enough under all those cigars was an old pair of sock (non matching of course)
Slimboli Offline
#11 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 5:27 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
The ammonia you smell, is nothing more than the natural process all cabon based materials go through as they age (decompose).

This is called the cigars 'sick period', and will usually go away as they cure. Most of the time this will only happen with yourng cigars, or cigrs that were not aged enough before release.

It is good to air out your humidor every so often ...
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#12 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 8:28 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
Slimboli

"the natural process all cabon based materials go through as they age'

and it doesn't matter how many showers i take per day, the ammonia i smell, still lingers.
[email protected] Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 8:56 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 9,719
Problem resolved?

Sticks are 'moist' to say the least.
Humidity was at 70; temp was 73.
Lot's of fresh bundles were out; no cello.
No air exchange was a definate contributing factor.
The 'questionable' cigars taste 'freshly rolled' still.
Found Beetles in a few cigars in sealed 5-packs; no additional spread noted.
Increasing fresh air intake; stale air exhaust:
1/4" holes with fan assist and a temporary tape-over to regulate quantity of air; will install a louver of sorts - looking at using the plastic tops parmesan cheese to control 'size' of air flow paths to bring in/exhale air.
The above is due to me not being around all the time to monitor personally.
I will post a follow-up in about two months when the ammonia smell is gone.
Thank you all for the inputs.

About the Beetles .... how to rid? My idea is to place them in plastic bags and place in the freezer for about 5-6 hours to 'freeze & kill' the noticed ones and ensure no further spread..... inputs on this idea?
cwilhelmi Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 9:09 PM EST
Joined: 07-24-2001
Posts: 2,739
The recommended way to get rid of beetles is to do as you thought, but you need to leave them in the freezer for 3 days and then put them in the fridge for a day to thaw. I've also heard the reverse of 1 day freeze and three fridge, but the freezer doesn't hurt them so I figure it;s btter to be safe than, sorry.



The thing you need to worry about whith your sticks is the temp, when it gets over 72 degrees the beetles can hatch. So try and keep the temp down as a preventative measure as well. But definitely freeze them!! chris
cwilhelmi Offline
#15 Posted: Sat, Aug 24 2002, 9:14 PM EST
Joined: 07-24-2001
Posts: 2,739
also... Thelouver sounds like a good idea, good luck..
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