Help...Ron, (or anyone!) can these VSG's be saved?

[jayfaro]

Hey gang,
Went to the mall today with the wife and child to hang out for a while after the snowstorm and kill some time. Walked into the local cigar shop and they're going out of business and offering 70% off all single sticks. Apparently, they decided to stop running their humidifier and the humidity was a balmy 38 degrees inside the walk-in humidor. Most of the sticks inside were either cheap crap or in very bad condition. I found an open box of Ashton VSG Spellbound but upon close examnination, they were in REALLY bad shape and all had numerous holes which led me to believe they were infested by beetles. Next to this box was an open box of Ashton VSG Sorcerer. There were 5 sticks in good shape other than being VERY dry and they showed no signs of beetles. Having said that, i'm too nervous to put them in my humidor. The gal at the counter gave me Connoisseur 90 day Humi-Pouch which is currently working as i'm typing this. Can these be saved and humidified back to smoking quality? I know they have a better chance at living inside my humidor but i just dont want to take the chance of beetles infesting it. Should i leave these in the humi-pouch for several weeks and see what happens? Is there anything i can do to help with the recovery? The gal then gave me an additional 10% off so i bought 5 at $2.40 each...i thought that was a cheap enough price for these since they sell for between $10 and $12 each and worth a chance at recovering. I took a chance with these but dont want to take the chance of killing my humidor...thanks in advance.

Jay Faro

 

[Volusianator]

You really need to know how long they were at such a low RH. Once the essential oils are gone from the leaf, you can get the stick re-humidified, but the oils are gone forever.

 

[Asher]

Given that the next box over was infested with beetles, there's no way you should put these sticks in your humidor. Cheap sticks are not worth an infestation. Leave the sticks in the pouch for a month or two then smoke them, but don't risk your humidor in the process.

 

[jayfaro]

I figured that would be inportant...unfortunately, the employees (other than the gal at the counter) were not very helpful as im sure they werent happy about losing their job. if i had to guess, i'd say probably...for quite some time. I'm looking at the sticks thru the pouch and they still seem to have a little oil left in the wrappers as they look pretty normal though not quite as oily. Dang, i was going to go back and purchase a few more but i just dont know of it's worth it...i guess i wont know until i get them re-humidified but as you said, if the oils are gone, its not going to be a very good smoke. I have to admit, i was heartbroken to see the humidor in that shape, especially with the beetle problem with the Spellbound. Thanks Vol...

 

[diesel]

How long does it take for a stick to go bad out of the humidor?

 

[Altercall]

Depends on the humidity around it. A week or two isn't too bad in the summer because the humidity tends to be up.

Honestly, though, I don't think anyone can give you a good answer. It's all relative with temp, humidity level and lots of other stuff. Heck, some people like their sticks really dry and wouldn't tell much difference. Some people would taste the intricate differences of a stick left out for a few days and re-hydrated.

 

[diesel]

I think that was a good answer.

 

[indyrob]

So how long is too long? I don't think that the oils are going to evaporate for a while, even without humidity the cigars are not going to be worthless in a time frame like 6 months or so. I know for a fact that when Pepin re-worked several boxes of the Lancero he let them dry out for 120 days before re-humidifiying the tobacco to be rolled again.

If the cigars we have were that delicate, I doubt that there would be any market for aged cigars worldwide.

 

[RonC]

So how long is too long? I don't think that the oils are going to evaporate for a while, even without humidity the cigars are not going to be worthless in a time frame like 6 months or so. I know for a fact that when Pepin re-worked several boxes of the Lancero he let them dry out for 120 days before re-humidifiying the tobacco to be rolled again.

If the cigars we have were that delicate, I doubt that there would be any market for aged cigars worldwide.

as cigars are are both a hobby and business for me, I have experience from many different directions. As time goes by, I tend to agree with Indyrob more and more. Cigars are not as fragile as we think. I used to lay awake at night worrying if my humidity dropped by a single point. Now, as long as the damned thing lights, I am happy.

Not to say we shouldnt take care of our cigars. Maintainance is part of the hobby. I enjoy aging unopened boxes of cigars for 10 years, and having them smoke perfect. But dont panic if you have a little bit of trouble.

I would keep those VSG's in the pouch. Maybe slip a piece of spanish cedar in there. I betcha they smoke great in a month or so.

 

[jayfaro]

GREAT! Ron, and the rest of the guys, thanks! I've heard from a few people to freeze them and the refridgerate them and then throw into my humi. I'm a little concerned about how dry they. I did just see one of the sticks has had a small piece of the wrapper flake off even in the 2 short hours they've been in the humi-pouch. Time will tell i guess...i'll let them sit for a couple of months in the pack and see if they come back to life! I'm not expecting much for the price i paid...having said that, do you think it's worth going backand picking up some more of these as well as the Ashton cabinets for even less $ and see if i can re-humidy them all or just leave it alone?

 

[Donk]

I would buy as many of those sticks as you can, I mean the VSG's and Let the sit isolated for a month or two at 65% humidity. I bet you in a month or so in good solid humidity they will smoke just fine.

 

[RonC]

GREAT! Ron, and the rest of the guys, thanks! I've heard from a few people to freeze them and the refridgerate them and then throw into my humi. I'm a little concerned about how dry they. I did just see one of the sticks has had a small piece of the wrapper flake off even in the 2 short hours they've been in the humi-pouch. Time will tell i guess...i'll let them sit for a couple of months in the pack and see if they come back to life! I'm not expecting much for the price i paid...having said that, do you think it's worth going backand picking up some more of these as well as the Ashton cabinets for even less $ and see if i can re-humidy them all or just leave it alone?

just keep them seperate from your other cigars. forget freezing at this point.

 

[jayfaro]

ok...thanks for the advice. They had probably 5 open boxes of VSG's, most were the smaller sticks. I might be going back to see what is available. I'm not a fan of smaller ring cigars which is why i was heartbroken when i saw the beetle holes in the VSG Spellbound. I'll keep everyone posted...thanks again. I'd offer to buy a pile of these and see if anyone is interested but im a little leary to send these to anyone because i dont want to be responsible for causing a beetle outbreak! LOL

 

[indyrob]

ok...thanks for the advice. They had probably 5 open boxes of VSG's, most were the smaller sticks. I might be going back to see what is available. I'm not a fan of smaller ring cigars which is why i was heartbroken when i saw the beetle holes in the VSG Spellbound. I'll keep everyone posted...thanks again. I'd offer to buy a pile of these and see if anyone is interested but im a little leary to send these to anyone because i dont want to be responsible for causing a beetle outbreak! LOL

Hell, go back and buy a box for me! I'll reimburse you for time & effort. Buy within oyur means or send me a note for what costs what.

 

[jayfaro]

Ron,
I went back today and picked up 3 Ashton Cabinet Torpedo's (70% off $12/$3.60 each), 1 Cabinet Toro (70% off $10/$3 each) and 1 Ashton Cabinet Belicoso (70% off $9/$2.70 each)...these are all still in their cello. My question is can beetles still penetrate the cello or are these safer than the open singles? i saw no evidence of beetles in any of the sticks with cello so i hope these are safer...i have them in my humidor and i'm VERY nervous so i thought id ask...i also bought 2 more the VSG Sorcerer ($3/each) and i picked up 2 VSG Illusion (70% off $10/$3 each)...i really dont know if these are going to come back to life but i paid $29 for about $98 worth of smokes...couldnt pass these up. Besides, you got me fired up (no pun intended) when you said you think these would be ok once theyve had some time to re-humidify. They had 2 open and almost full boxes of the VSG Illusion but some were in pretty bad shape. Thanks again. Please let me know your thoughts on the Cabinets being safe from beetles in their Cello. Take care,

Jay

 

[Volusianator]

Beetles can chew through cello like I can chew through a nice block of cheddar.

 

[jayfaro]

Vol,
If there are no signs (holes, etc) does that mean they're free from beetles or they just havent surfaced yet? I'm wondering if i should pull them from my humi...sounds like the safe thing to do huh?

 

[RonC]

keep them seperate

 

[jayfaro]

i just went sprinting thru my house to get to my humi so i could pull them out! Man, I'm winded!!! LOL...now, if i keep all these sticks separate for a couple of months and they dont show any signs of beetles, will they be safe to put in the humidor?

 

[RonC]

i would go 6 months and be sure