Revivable?

[kwkincer]

I just found a shrink wrapped box of Garcia & Vega cigars, dated 5/2010. Looking them up on the web, they're machine made, cheap, but folks seem to like them.

My question - can these be revived, or should I just toss them? I don't know how long a cigar can last in a non-controlled environment, or a controlled env as far as that goes... Would it be worth the tuppidor space for this box of 30 cigs?

 

[AmmoEd]

Even though I have never had a Garcia &Vega, I would give it a shot. It's not like it is a lot of heavy labor on your part (like splitting firewood). The worst that could happen is that you don't like them and pitch them at a later date.

 

[whodeeni]

Seriously bro, if I were you, i wouldn't waste my time.

 

[kwkincer]

How long do you think it would take for them to absorb the moisture? Day, week, month? I might try smoking one as is and put 2-3 in the tuppidor. Might make a good mosquito repellant if nothing else...

 

[PLUSH]

Revivable? Depends what you consider such. Being that they are a cheap smoke I would not expect much. Have they been out since 2010? The concern I would have is cigar beetles just hanging out in hot temps for that long. Have you opened them? How do they look, what about a pinch test? Is there any sponginess left in them or are they just sticks? The issue with cigars sitting out this long is that the oils that were once in the leaves get lost. But as I said, being cheap cigars as they are, I would not expect much.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

Seriously bro, if I were you, i wouldn't waste my time.

Agree with this. They're not a great cigar to begin with and honestly, you're out a total of $3 for the box. You really have nothing to gain.

 

[icehog3]

I agree with most of the BOTLs above, if they have been unhumidifed for 2 years, it's not worth the effort for GV.

 

[kwkincer]

Thanks guys, I will just toss them. they did come in tubes, which I can salvage for newer better sticks.
On opening one, it appears poorly wrapped. No sponginess, but the wrapper has a lot of texture and coming apart. As dry and crackly as this one is, I bet they'll make great fire starters!

One last question (for now): how long will a stored cigar actually last in a controlled environment? Just looking for the average expectation, not a specific...

 

[Monsterdg]

FYI: you can still get Garcia & Vega (not that you would really want to) at Walgreens and the like.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

Thanks guys, I will just toss them. they did come in tubes, which I can salvage for newer better sticks.
On opening one, it appears poorly wrapped. No sponginess, but the wrapper has a lot of texture and coming apart. As dry and crackly as this one is, I bet they'll make great fire starters!

One last question (for now): how long will a stored cigar actually last in a controlled environment? Just looking for the average expectation, not a specific...

Depending on the cigar, some begin going downhill after a couple years, some get better for decades.

 

[SDShark]

Definitely keep the tubes, that's all.

 

[Alwayslit]

If they survived shrink wrapped keep them.

 

[justbrew77]

You can revive them but Garcia & Vega I wouldn't waste the time and effort. You have to slowly rehumidify a dry cigar like these, it probably take around a month to do it correctly. If you just throw them in a humidor that is at 65% RH they will all crack and be worthless. Even if you do it correctly it doesn't always work, sometimes they come out having a nasty mildew flavor.

 

[Dave]

Many years ago I bought a box of GyV for $20 that had been well maintained. After a half dozen I felt that I overpaid by about $19.

 

[Cigar_Boss_App_Sonny]

These are what my buddies in high school would roll blunts with