what to do with a cedar wrapped cigar

[sneak_a_cigar]

I have an anejo that I got today. It's wrapped in cello and cedar. I'm going to take the cello off after a little while in my humidor. I'm not so sure what to do with the cedar. I'm wary of taking it off just before lighting the cigar.

How long before smoking do I remove the cedar sleeve?

 

[pbibby]

That's really up to you. There is no right or wrong answer, it is all about personal preference. Some Brothers have found that leaving the cedar on in the humidor can cause the cigar to grow mold.

 

[ATL]

Because of mold issues with the anejos, I recommend removing the cedar and inspecting it before putting it in with your others. I have been lucky with my two boxes and, up until a recent purchase, never removed the cello or the cedar. The purchase in question was a # 55, one I had never tried. When I got home for some reason I removed the cello and the cedar to reveal what I thought was plume. Low and behold, that same night, someone started a thread asking if his cigar had plume or mold, the 55 had the same thing. All of the membership who responded said MOLD!!! So I wiped it clean and kept it in a baggie with a boveda and smoked it asap as the mold had not yet reached the foot. Needless to say, that was the night the rest of my Anejos became naked.

 

[Fox06WRX]

Is the mold problem only on those or does it happen to all cedar wrapped cigars? I have a couple in my humi right now a Le Bijou 1922 and a CAO Black Gothic. Should I be inspecting these?

 

[ATL]

I went on a tear and removed all the cello from most of my cigars. I am tempted to remove the cedar from the others as well. I'm interested to see what others think about this as well.

 

[thatrev]

I bought an anejo two weeks ago. I took the cedar off the next day when I got home and found a lot of mold. Luckily it didn't reach the foot, but it sure would have if I would have pulled it out in two years, as was my plan. I never leave the cedar on my Anejo's for that very reason. I'd rather it be naked and not looking as cool, than wondering every day if it's growing mold.

 

[Rick]

What is the significance of mold reaching the foot? Is the concern that once it reaches the foot it can spread within the filler?

 

[thatrev]

By the way, I called that B&M to tell them about it, and they said it wasn't mold. They said it was just a rejection with the oils that made the white substance. They said it's white, and mold is green. That's not true at all, as most mold on cigars is white.

 

[ATL]

By the way, I called that B&M to tell them about it, and they said it wasn't mold. They said it was just a rejection with the oils that made the white substance. They said it's white, and mold is green. That's not true at all, as most mold on cigars is white.

I got mine from the biggest and best in my area as well. They told me the same thing. "mold isn't white, it's blue, and it stinks," they said. They are very proud of all the plume on their cigars.

 

[Fourtotheflush]

Post some pics and some folks here can advise you

 

[thatrev]

With mine, it looked exactly like the mold pics other guys posted with their Anejo's. I have had plume on a cigar, and this unfortunately was not it.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

I went on a tear and removed all the cello from most of my cigars. I am tempted to remove the cedar from the others as well. I'm interested to see what others think about this as well.

Most all mold I've seen on cigars is on cigars without cello, unless the cigar also has a cedar wrap.

My rule of thumb is leave all cigars in cello. For cigars that come wrapped in cedar, I remove the cedar and put right back into the cello.

This isn't directly related, but robusto joe had a great read on his storage issues, specifically the mold he found a several of his cigars. Check it out:

http://robustojoe.com/tobacco-cigars/cigar-storage/

 

[James]

Very good to know as i recently recieved a box of HDM resposado and cedros and never even thought about the cedar causing a greater possibility of mold! Thank you to tobacco giant for the link.

 

[ciggy]

By the way, I called that B&M to tell them about it, and they said it wasn't mold. They said it was just a rejection with the oils that made the white substance. They said it's white, and mold is green. That's not true at all, as most mold on cigars is white.

I got mine from the biggest and best in my area as well. They told me the same thing. "mold isn't white, it's blue, and it stinks," they said. They are very proud of all the plume on their cigars.

Ummm...Say whaaaaat!!!??? Plume is like a crystallized powder over the cigar. I'd have to see pics but that sounds terribly wrong. Mold starts out as white and turns blue if not caught in time.

 

[Fox06WRX]

I went on a tear and removed all the cello from most of my cigars. I am tempted to remove the cedar from the others as well. I'm interested to see what others think about this as well.

Most all mold I've seen on cigars is on cigars without cello, unless the cigar also has a cedar wrap.

My rule of thumb is leave all cigars in cello. For cigars that come wrapped in cedar, I remove the cedar and put right back into the cello.

This isn't directly related, but robusto joe had a great read on his storage issues, specifically the mold he found a several of his cigars. Check it out:

http://robustojoe.com/tobacco-cigars/cigar-storage/

Looks like I will be inspecting mine tonight. I really like the way that cedar looked too

 

[Nemo]

I went on a tear and removed all the cello from most of my cigars. I am tempted to remove the cedar from the others as well. I'm interested to see what others think about this as well.

Most all mold I've seen on cigars is on cigars without cello, unless the cigar also has a cedar wrap.

My rule of thumb is leave all cigars in cello. For cigars that come wrapped in cedar, I remove the cedar and put right back into the cello.

This isn't directly related, but robusto joe had a great read on his storage issues, specifically the mold he found a several of his cigars. Check it out:

http://robustojoe.com/tobacco-cigars/cigar-storage/

Looks like I will be inspecting mine tonight. I really like the way that cedar looked too

I'm right there with ya. I kinda like the way the cedar looks, silly I know, but now after reading this thread, I'm gonna say, better safe than sorry from now on.

 

[Vicster]

Funny thing, I pulled a Anejo out this morning for later today and pulled the cedar off and mold. I went through everything in the humi after that and pulled all of the cedar off everything, didn’t find any more moldy sticks. I lightly wiped down the stick with a damp cloth, all the mold basically fell off. I threw it in an old cigar box for the day and will give it a try tonight. Sucks, this stick was around 3 years old…

 

[sneak_a_cigar]

Thanks for all the replies. I took the cedar off of the cigar today and placed it back in the cello after a quick inspection. No mold on the cigar. The wrapper looks very nice and dark.

If I get more cedar wrapped cigars I might just take the cedar off before leaving the shop. That way I can exchange it if there is a problem.

 

[ckay]

I pull all cedar sleeves and ribbons off of my sticks. I had Sharks grow mold underneath the decorative ribbon so it isn't just a problem with the cedar sleeves.

I keep the cedar for lighting when I feel elegant, which is rarely ever.