freezer / beetles

[SuprHasan]

If a new box if cigars arrive home in excellent condition, are we to assume that they'd be at LEAST 60% humidity?
If we then take them, nuke 'em in a microwave, wouldn't all that moisture get super heated and f*** the cigar?

Anyone want to try it out? I sure ain't willing.

 

[wowsley]

Nope, never had a problem. My humi's kept in the basement at 65 deg/65% year round, so that does ease the mind some.

I'm a bit scared of the freezer ... but if I had an infestation I'd do anything possible to save my stash.

 

[smelvis]

Never had a problem, But with all the recent infestations in summer at least I am now freezing.

 

[Speedboy]

Only when i'v bought them on a hot or warm day or when i buy them from a store were i don't know the owners that well. My local B&M's never had beetle problems so i'm trusting them.

 

[GregoryD]

Had a problem on two occasions: once from a handful of sticks in an old desktop humi that came from a shop that ended up shutting down because they had an infestation problem, second was on some custom rolls... the custom rolls it pained me to burn through them quickly, but they were very tasty!

 

[rabbgp]

Hey Greg. You ought to slide over to the Introductions thread and, well, introduce yourself! :thumbsup:

 

[dvickery]

i freeze all my smokes...have since 2002.you dont want to know why.

i have asked...at the partagas factory and at 5th and 16th...were is the facility that freezes all the cigars...neither had any idea. doesnt mean they dont just no one seems to know.

even if habanos freezes/fumigates everything since 2002(or whenever)...somebody at a b&m store may put em next to a '97 box that still has viable beetles/eggs in it.

my chest freezer gets to -17 c(about 0 f)...others should be close.

you can smoke a cigar right out of the freezer...i have...didnt have any mechanical problems(burn was good , didnt split , didnt get soggy etc etc)and it tasted like a cigar.

somebody was wondering about time to 100% lethality...i have included an attatchment that gives those times for adult larvae and eggs...should end that debate.

this works for me...

all into zippy's
fridge...1 day
freeze...3 days
fridge...1 day
kitchen table still in zippy's...1 day
new arrivals cooler...6 months or so(call me paranoid on this one)
humi
smoke

derrek

 

[ahbroody]

While I used to freeze everything. I only freeze certain stuff now if it will be going down for a long time. Everything I will be smoking regularly goes into a humidity that I am in a few times a week rummaging so I don't bother as I am in those boxes once a week to once every two weeks. I do think its important to freeze anything you wont be looking at for a year or few years.

I will respectfully disagree though as to not changing the taste. I believe they are muted when they come out and require a month or so. Maybe I need to change the bagging system, because freezing pulls moisture out and that's the experience I had.

How are you bagging before you put them in the freeze?

 

[Adriatico]

Habanos is freezing all cigars before shipment. Davidoff is using gas. It is perfectly OK to freeze cigars for 48 hours on -18 celsius min. You put them in tight plastic box straight inside the deep freez and after freeze you put them to regular fridge to warm up slowly. It does not affect quality of cigars.

 

[ahbroody]

I know thats Habanos story, but as others have said people have recieved new stock with active beetle infestation. Also I thought I remember people saying they have not actually seen the freezer. I know I recieved an 09 box with beetles. The only argument that then can be made is they must have been active in the short window of post production to freezer. Its Cuba do you really expect honesty?

 

[Adriatico]

I know thats Habanos story, but as others have said people have recieved new stock with active beetle infestation. Also I thought I remember people saying they have not actually seen the freezer. I know I recieved an 09 box with beetles. The only argument that then can be made is they must have been active in the short window of post production to freezer. Its Cuba do you really expect honesty?

I have shipment from Cuba every month for last 14 years and they never come contaminated. When buying from parallel source (Guatemala and Costarica i.e.) there is a big chance you will get the bugs. Never from genuine source. There is a freezer and there is a very high level of honesty and professionalism in Cuba as well as a lot of prejudice about it.

 

[ahbroody]

Never is a strong word. I don't know I would feel so comfortable using it. Things happen. One of these days I would like to see pictures or a video clip of _the freezer system. Sorry given the inconsistencies that occur in many aspects of cigar production I will remain a skeptic

 

[Adriatico]

Never is a strong word. I don't know I would feel so comfortable using it. Things happen. One of these days I would like to see pictures or a video clip of _the freezer system. Sorry given the inconsistencies that occur in many aspects of cigar production I will remain a skeptic

As I said based on experience. Feel free to join me on Habanos festival in February, I will show you the freezer and you will have the chance to check all phases of the production by yourself.

 

[ahbroody]

Well given the difficulty of an American going to Cuba and the fact I am just a working stiff the odds of that happening are slim to none. Would love if you could snap some pictures though and post them up here. I am sure it would help ease some of our concearns.

Like I said though I only freeze stuff going down for long term storage and more for peace of mind.

Clearly you have much more experience with Cuba then I do. Are you a vendor in your country?

 

[Adriatico]

Well given the difficulty of an American going to Cuba and the fact I am just a working stiff the odds of that happening are slim to none. Would love if you could snap some pictures though and post them up here. I am sure it would help ease some of our concearns.

Like I said though I only freeze stuff going down for long term storage and more for peace of mind.

Clearly you have much more experience with Cuba then I do. Are you a vendor in your country?

Few of my friends went from US to the festival and there was no hassle at all.
I will take some pictures. Vendor and distributor of Habanos in Croatia and Slovenia.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

No problems yet.......Knock, Knock.........on wood!!

+2! :thumbsup:

 

[Thecatch83]

+2! :thumbsup:

Same here.......new sticks go right in my coolidor! I try and keep things right at 65/65 so it's a non-issue for me personally.

 

[JNT]

If I were to get a box fresh from out of the country I said I would. But if its bought local, and been there a while, I dont

 

[txaggie9307]

I freeze everything now. I had my lonesome PL Magnifico in my humidor for about 2 years and outta nowhere this is what happened:

I now freeze everything. I was saving this smoke for my first born (which will come in less than 2 months, God willing!).

 

[UberHuberMan]

I've only had one outbreak, but that was when I had just gotten started and lived in LA where I had no temperature control for my smokes. I hadn't opened my little desktop humi in about two weeks, and when I did I discovered completely ravaged cigars and tiny beetles crawling around in the bottom of it. Not one to take any chances, I tossed the compost that was left inside and got rid of the humi... just in case.