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Last post 6 years ago by MACS. 15 replies replies.
beetles say you? no, not the band...
gummy jones Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
Crying

since we cant post pics i will just link to the post i made on another site

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-cigar-discussion/249113-plume-mold-neither-beetles.html
gummy jones Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
Quote:
So two weeks ago I went through ever single cigar I owned, inspecting for anything suspicious. Everything looked fine so I did some reorganizing of the tupperdors. My RH stays at a rock solid 67 and the temperature is always below 70 degrees.

Flash forward to a couple night ago when I opened one of my humidors to grab an illusione 88 maduro that my local had on clearance for $3.33. I wasnt sure why it was on clearance but certainly couldnt pass up such a deal. Knowing that the RH and temp are always very off in their walk-in (always warm and the humidity is so thick it is uncomfortable to breathe), I put it down for a 2 month nap. When the time came to spark it something caught my eye. Is that what I think it is? Cant be. Yes, it was. Holes that are too perfect to be a flaw in the wrapper. Tap test, yikes - dust. My heart sank.

Luckily the other cigars in that tupperdor seemed to be fine but everything has gone into the freezer just in case.

I freeze all boxes I buy but admittedly not all cigars I receive from other folks. I have always been of the mindset that if you keep the environment of your humidor precise, beetles shouldnt be a problem. Why did I think that? Probably just because it made me feel better.

My takeaways from this crummy experience:
1) No sources can be trusted. These insects are naturally occurring with the product. They are not less likely with boutique brands or from "trusted" shops/vendors.
2) I am certain that this particular cigar was completely fine <2 weeks before it was not fine. Over that time the cigar did not experience any drastic swings in temp or RH. That's not a lot of time for an outbreak to take place. Had it been the winter hiatus and I not checked things for a month or so who knows how bad it would have been.
3) Freeze everything. Yeah, it sets you back a bit as the cigars may take a little longer to acclimate but if you maintain a large volume of cigars the convenience is not worth the risk.
4) While some humidor environments may make full blown infestation less likely, beetles can survive most humidor environments.
bgz Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
Ya, I've seen a few Illusione boxes at locals with infestations over the years.

From what I hear, Illusione doesn't flash freeze their stock. I forget who actually told me that Illusione doesn't freeze, but I've seen enough holes on them at shpos to believe it.

I freeze everything from everywhere and everybody... peace of mind.
Hank_The_Tank Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 11-15-2016
Posts: 3,677
Never heard of freezing cigars to make sure there are no beetles. How long do you do that for and how long do you let them rest in the humi before smoking?
gummy jones Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
here is a pretty neat little chart a lot of people go by

http://imagestore.puff.com/2013/04/01/p_3826995_0.jpg

the easiest/safest way is to put them in a freezer bag
thrown them in the fridge for a day
the freezer for 2-3 days
the fridge for a day
and then on the counter for a few hours before putting back in humidor

thats my routine (even though as i admitted in the thread im not as diligent about as i should be) but that certainly isnt the only way
gummy jones Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
after freezing a cigar, in my opinion, it takes a minimum of 2 months to approach normal taste (for me) and doesnt negatively effect the long term taste

i experimented with a box of mf le bijou 1-2 years ago and smoked one starting at:
1 month after freezing - was awful
6 weeks - not very good, still bordering on awful
2 months - smokeable
3 months - they were back to norm for the most part
1.5 years later - excellent
NapalmMan67 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 05-22-2015
Posts: 2,514
Bummer. Hope you got it in time so as not to lose to many.


IF the pens lose tonight, you can wait to send me the payout.
gummy jones Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
thanks
i only found 2 holes in 1 stick but never can be too careful
if pens lose what i send you will have been frozen for at least 2 days
rfenst Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,100
I would skip the refrigeration as it is totally not necessary. In fact, it may make some beetles eggs or hatched beetles more resistant to being killed in the freezer. Also, leave in the freeze for at least five days if not a week,
bgz Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
I usually leave mine in for a few days.

My freezer is about -18C or so.

I don't do the fridge thing, I'll just freeze, then from there straight to the humidor.

I've smoked cigars straight out of the freezer before... no ill effects (I don't make a habit of this).

I guess if you buy stuff that got rushed out of the factory, they'll be bad for the first several months regardless of whether you freeze or not.
Whistlebritches Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
Not one cigar has entered my closet humidor in the last five years without first spending 72 hours minimum at -24f.One outbreak was all it took to convince me.
bgz Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
That's one way to do it. 72 hours is good, it's what I strive for, but I usually forget about em... then be like, OH S*%T.
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
rfenst wrote:
I would skip the refrigeration as it is totally not necessary. In fact, it may make some beetles eggs or hatched beetles more resistant to being killed in the freezer. Also, leave in the freeze for at least five days if not a week,


Robert is wise.
gummy jones Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
rfenst wrote:
I would skip the refrigeration as it is totally not necessary. In fact, it may make some beetles eggs or hatched beetles more resistant to being killed in the freezer. Also, leave in the freeze for at least five days if not a week,


i know many do not do the refrigeration
i mostly do it so as to maybe reduce the risk of wrapper fracture from sudden temperature changes (water swells when frozen)

im never in a rush and usually, as noted by others, forget about them for a while

as to the beetles evolving if cooled prior to freezing, im not sure there is much scientific data for that nor can i think of why that would make any difference
MACS Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 02-26-2004
Posts: 79,593
Thunder.Gerbil wrote:
Robert is wise.


In the many years enjoying cigars, I've had 1 cigar with a beetle hole. Unless and until it becomes more of an issue than 1 in thousands, I'll carry on wif bidness as usual.
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