What's everybody's opinion in shipping cigars in this extremely cold weather? I'm not just talking about the drying effect this cold has. But does being in freezing temperatures for a few days affect the nature of the cigars (taste included)? I once had some Bauza's sit at my doorstep for a few hours in 20 degree weather, and even though I brought them back to proper humidity, the outer wrappers were falling off on almost every one which I figured was from the cold. What do you guys think?

There are articles saying to freeze your 'gars if you find tobacco beetles in them. I'm sure it effects them somewhat, though. I think the way you "bring them back" is the key. Gotta watch the temp and humidity. Too much, too fast is NO GOOD !!

Low

Sluggo, the fact that the cigars freeze won't change the taste. However, you should definitely let them sit in a humidor for a little while before you smoke them. Otherwise, it may not smoke well.

Sluggo,
If your shipment sits outside long enough to freeze? Immediatly put them into your fridge in the produce drawer just the way they come out of the box they were send in. It will allow them to thaw very slowly without introducing to much or too little moisture. I freeze everything I get for 3 days when it arrives and then thaw in the fridge for 2 days and then let rest in humi for atleast a day before smoking and I have never had a problem with peeling wrappers or splitting or anything for that matter!
Good luck and happy herfing!!!

rck_1 - Are you kidding? I never thought about freezing my sticks first. How does that effect the taste? I mean sure, if my gars are infected with a bettle or something freeze them to kill the bettles and slowly introduce them back to room temperature like you stated but freezing everyone of them first....Hmmmm.

Regards,

B

I think bringing them back too fast may have been the problem with the Bauza's. When I got them, I was so upset about the cold that I immediately put them into one of my higher humidity humidors (75%-80%). I'll assume that's what made the wrappers fall off. So what's the proper way to reintroduce them to the humidor? Do I let them sit in the box unhumidified for a certain amount of time? I don't know about the freezer/refridgerator thing unless I have beetles. What do you guys do when it takes a few days to get your smokes and they arrive ice cold?

Sluggo, since they will be dry, you must introduce them to the moisture in your humidor slowly. For best results, place them further from your humidification element(s) to start. Then, slowly move them closer to the element(s) as you notice a difference or after a few days. This will reduce the risk of them cracking.

Billy,
I am out of town on business sometimes for 2 weeks at a time. I dont rely on my wife to monitor my humi`s for me. I use cigar oasis devices for all of my humi`s and rely on power to keep a stable 70/70. I lost half of a 150 count humi a while back to them bastids or bettles as you call them, lol. Anyways I dont take chances anymore and kill em right off the git go. So far I have not had any issues with taste or construction as long as they are thawed properly. If you are able to monitor on a daily basis I think this extreme measure is not needed but I dont take any chances nowadays!!

Happy herf`n!!
Rob

Rob,

Them dam beetles...Got to hate them but I agree with your assesment. Kill Em All!

Regards,

B

Rob,

Them dam beetles...Got to hate them but I agree with your assesment. Kill Em All!

Regards,

B

Hmmm, I guess I double posted. Sorry!

G'night All!

Regards,

B

I received a box of some La Auroras that had the wrappers flaking off too...possibly due to the inclimate weather?

Mike at customer service fixed me right up....

The second box was just fine...

A general rule of thumb, if you can see your nipples through your sweater, don't ship cigars! Let us know if you need help making the decision.

I thought it was apparent...

A cold front moving through? Send pics! 🙂

A WET cold front at that!

I had some wrapper problems when my 5 pack sat in the mailbox at -15F.